Chemung County, New York State Court Records
A court record is a document or set of documents that covers facts and details essential to a case instituted within a court of competent jurisdiction. For cases originating in Chemung County, records are produced regardless of whether the matter is criminal, civil, juvenile, or a family law or probate issue.
When seeking court records, it is crucial to identify the court where a case occurred. Chemung, being in New York, has Supreme, County, Surrogate's, and Family Courts. Each has a separate docket (although some share jurisdiction in certain matters) and distinct records archives.
Many standard court filings can be accessed online because the county is fully integrated into the statewide case system. However, while filings, motions, and even judgments may be downloadable, evidence from external sources is seldom available online. People who want a full picture may need to visit a court clerk to examine the complete case file.
Are Chemung County Court Records Public?
Yes. The New York legal system encourages the public to actively engage with the court system. Hence, the implementation of laws and policies that ease the burden of access, whether it is filing papers, attending sessions, or searching for records.
With respect to record searches, the default position is that clerks accede to requests to review or copy standard documents (N.Y. Jud. Law § 255). Statewide electronic systems reinforce this policy by making case records available to anyone with an internet connection, without requiring registration or payment.
Although not every type of court record is public in this way, there are cogent reasons for those unavailable for general inspection. The legal system categorizes some types of cases as confidential, meaning documents filed or tendered in those proceedings likewise become confidential. Anything that involves children, most matters in family court, medical records, and intimate personal details are protected by exemption laws.
What Information is Available in Chemung County Court Records?
Court records are broadly split into case information and case documents. The former provides the particulars of a case, while the latter consists of court filings and judicial orders.
Case Information
- Party details
- Filing dates
- Case history and status
- Court schedules/calendar
- Disposition details
Case Documents
- Initiating pleadings
- Motions
- Orders
- Settlements
- Judgments
Chemung County Court Records Search
The court system in New York is unified. This makes digital access easier than searching across different databases maintained by disparate entities. Thus, Chemung County electronic court records are accessible through the same broad archives, regardless of record type or court jurisdiction.
At the same time, the physical records are maintained separately in accordance with powers vested in each record custodian.
- The Chemung County Clerk is responsible for civil and criminal records, which emanate from the Supreme and County Courts.
- The Family Court Clerk manages court papers for family law cases within the court's jurisdiction.
- The Surrogate's Court Clerk maintains custody of documents related to wills, estates, trusts, and other probate matters.
The three sections below enumerate the actual ways to access court records.
Online Access
The New York Judicial Branch maintains two platforms to meet the general public's desire for online access to court material. The county also has its own digital database for county records, bringing the total to three usable official sources.
- New York State Court Electronic Filing Case Search (NYSCEF)
- UCS eCourts
- Chemung County Online Records Search
The NYSCEF portal has a guest mode (already linked) for public case searches. The default view is a case number search with extra filters for county, case type, and filing date to help narrow the results. The "Name" search option can be used if a full personal or business name is available. People can also use this portal to find newly added cases on the Supreme Court docket. This platform may be all that is needed for certain searches, as it also provides PDFs of specific filings and judicial pronouncements as free downloads.
The eCourts portal, by contrast, is mainly a case information system. No filings or documents here; what it offers is case status, parties, appearances, and calendars. It does this through the following specialized services:
- WebCivil, for cases in the Supreme and city courts
- WebCriminal, for felonies and other criminal cases
- WebFamily, for family law matters and domestic violence matters
Chemung County Online Records Search is a subscription service that provides digital access to documents held by the local county clerk. There is a guest mode that lets people view indices, but PDFs are not available there. Subscribers have two options to unlock full access: a $15/day one-day account or a $250/month plan. Both plans offer document downloads for 65 cents a page. The site has records of judgments (from 1992) and civil records (from 1994), but it does not host family law or guardianship documents.
In-Person Access
Individuals can purchase certified copies of court documents from the county clerk at 210 Lake Street, Elmira, NY 14901. The office is open between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Deputy clerks are on hand to handle record requests, while courthouse kiosks with computerized case records may also be available there.
The Surrogate's clerk is located at 203-205 Lake Street within the same Hazlett courthouse complex, while the Family Court custodian is based at the Justice Building on 203-209 William Street, Elmira, NY 14901. The latter two offices might ask a visitor to present valid identification, as they often handle requests for restricted documents.
Mail and Phone Requests
The County Clerk's mailing address is
P.O. Box 588
Elmira, NY 14902
The other custodians may also accept mailed requests. However, requests must be written, contain all essential details of the record needed, and include the correct payment and return postage.
The table here provides phone numbers and email addresses for the major courts in Chemung. The various record offices use these channels to address questions, respond to inquiries, and offer clarifications.
|
Office |
Phone |
Fax |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
County Clerk |
(607) 873-9450 |
(646) 963-6605 | |
|
Family Court Clerk |
(607) 873-9500 |
(212) 884-8950 | |
|
Surrogate's Clerk |
(607) 873-9440 |
(646) 963-6606 |
Fees for Court Records in Chemung County
The Chemung County Clerk's Office outlines these fees for court records. The other major custodians use a similar copy-fee schedule for non-specialized documents.
- 65 cents per page for a plain copy, up to a $40 maximum fee per document
- Certification:
- $5 to prepare and certify a document 1-4 pages long
- $1.25 to prepare and certify a document at least 5 pages long.
- $10 for a transcript of judgment
Chemung County Courthouse Locations
Below are the addresses and phone numbers for Chemung County's various courts.
General Courts
Chemung County Courthouse
224 Lake Street
Elmira, NY 14901
Phone: (607) 873-9450
Justice Building
203-209 William Street
Elmira, NY 14902
Phone: (607) 873-9500
Hazlett Building
203 Lake Street
6th Floor
Elmira, NY 14901
Phone: (607) 873-9449
Chemung County Surrogate's Court
Hazlett Building
203-205 Lake Street
Elmira, NY 14902
Phone: (607) 873-9440
Chemung County Drug Treatment Court
203-205 Lake Street
Elmira, NY14902
Phone: (607) 873-9446 or (607) 873-9474
Municipal Courts
Elmira City Hall
317 East Church Street
2nd Floor
Elmira, NY 14901
Phone: (607) 873-9520
3663 6th Street
Wellsburg, NY 14894
Phone: (607) 398-7119
622 Breesport North Chemung Road
Lowman, NY 14861
Phone: 607-967-7465
476 Maple Street
Big Flats, NY 14814
Phone: 607-562-0009
1448 Chambers Road
Beaver Dams, NY 14812
Phone: (607) 739-5598
48 Rotary Road Extension
Chemung, NY 14825
Phone: (607) 529-3532
215 Elmwood Avenue
Elmira Heights, NY 14903
Phone: (607) 737-6750
1255 West Water Street
Elmira, NY 14905
Phone: (607) 734-4069
1138 Breesport Road
Erin, NY 14838
Phone: (607) 739-8681
150 Wygant Road
Horseheads, NY 14845
Phone: (607) 739-2113
202 South Main Street
Horseheads, NY 14845
Phone: (607) 739-0158
1139 Pennsylvania Avenue
Elmira, NY 14904
Phone: (607) 734-4446
6 Gee Street
Van Etten, NY 14889
Phone: (607) 589-4925
4049 Watkins Road
Millport, NY 14864
Phone: (607) 739-3337
Criminal Records Access in Chemung County
A criminal record may consist of a single arrest, especially if the individual was released without charges. More typically, it includes criminal court cases, the judge's sentence, and a record of time spent in jail or fines paid in lieu.
Criminal case information is available on WebCriminal, the UCS eCourts' dedicated sub-platform. The current iteration requires users to register an account to review dockets and court calendars. With that information, an individual can proceed to the County Clerk's Office to request physical copies. Courts in cities, towns, and villages also hold records of local misdemeanors, violations, and arraignments.
If the objective is to access someone's entire prosecution history across the state, one can turn to Criminal History Record Search (CHRS), a service offered by the Office of State Administration (OCA) in New York. It runs the subject's name and date of birth through a database of criminal court cases and returns a report. It costs $95 and is available either as an electronic service or by mailing a completed request form.
The Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) offers a criminal background check that is broader than the CHRS, because it includes arrest, conviction, and post-conviction information. This resource is for authorized entities only, although anyone can order their own record for $17.50.
Chemung County Probate Records
The Surrogate's Court in Chemung handles matters related to decedents' estates and related issues, including
- Probate
- Administration
- Estate accounting
- Guardianships
- Trusts
- Wrongful death settlement proceedings
Other cases involving beneficiaries, fiduciaries, and creditors also fall under the court's ambit, but it does not handle adoptions.
WebSurrogate is a service that hosts records generated in Surrogate's Courts across the state, including recent filings and historical documents. The system is searchable by name or file number. Physical files of wills and other estate filings remain with the clerk and are accessible to qualified parties in person or by mail.
Probated wills in Chemung County are public documents, but death certificates, estate tax returns, and certain financial/confidential papers are not. 22 N.Y.C.R.R. § 207.64 additionally restricts guardianship proceedings from disclosure. However, the Court's index of filings is considered public and therefore freely viewable.
Chemung County Family Court Records
Family cases in Chemung County revolve around adoption, child custody/visitation, child neglect and abuse, child support, foster care placement, and juvenile delinquency. Family offenses (examples: harassment, menacing, sexual abuse, disorderly conduct, stalking) are also heard under family law.
Understandably, most records in family cases are under lock and key. While access to some is restricted to related parties only, others are sealed entirely under applicable laws.
Searchers who have a docket or file number, or who can provide an attorney's name, can run a search on WebFamily. A calendar search for viewing a judge's upcoming caseload is also available. People who qualify to view a family court record can visit the clerk in person to obtain copies.
Federal Court Records in Chemung County
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York covers the federal caseload for Chemung County, including criminal, civil, and bankruptcy matters. The District Clerk maintains related records in such cases. Its offices are open for copy or certification requests during regular business hours.
Nonresident searchers can use Public Access to Court Electronic Records instead of visiting the clerk or calling the clerk's office. PACER holds a variety of digital records, ranging from basic dockets to public case filings. Access level varies by case and record, but each user is charged 10 cents for billable actions such as searching by name or reviewing a PDF.
