Find Public Records in Clarkstown

Clarkstown public records are maintained by the Town Clerk, the Rockland County Clerk, and state agencies. Clarkstown is the largest town in Rockland County with roughly 86,000 residents, centered around the hamlet of New City, which serves as the county seat. The Town Clerk handles local government records and FOIL requests, while the Rockland County Clerk manages court filings, land records, and county-level documents right in New City. Many court records are available online through the state system.

Rockland County Records

Clarkstown is part of Rockland County, and New City (the main hamlet in Clarkstown) serves as the county seat. This means the Rockland County Clerk's Office is right in town. Court records and land filings go through the County Clerk. The Clerk is the registrar of deeds and the clerk of the Supreme and County Courts. Civil case data is available through the state eCourts portal.

See our Rockland County public records page for full details on county-level search tools and records.

Clarkstown Town Clerk's Office

The Clarkstown Town Clerk keeps local government records, meeting minutes, and licensing records. This office serves as the Records Access Officer for FOIL requests aimed at the town. Vital records for births, deaths, and marriages that happened in Clarkstown can be obtained here. The Clerk also issues dog licenses, handles notary services, and files oaths of office.

Certified copies of birth and death certificates cost $10 each. Marriage licenses are $40. Bring a valid photo ID. Since the Rockland County Clerk's Office is also in New City, Clarkstown residents have the convenience of visiting both the town clerk and the county clerk without a long drive. Most town and county offices are within a short distance of each other.

How to Search Clarkstown Public Records

For court records, use the state online tools. WebCivil Supreme has civil case data from Rockland County Supreme Court. Search by party name or index number. Cases involving Clarkstown residents or properties show up in the Rockland County data.

Criminal records are limited online. WebCriminal covers pending cases with future court dates in Rockland County. For a statewide check, use the Criminal History Record Search from the Office of Court Administration. It costs $95 and searches all 62 counties. Results come by email.

Property records for Clarkstown are at the Rockland County Clerk in New City. You can search deeds, mortgages, and liens through the Clerk's portal. Tax records and assessment data sit with the Rockland County Real Property Tax Service. The Clarkstown town assessor keeps local assessment rolls too.

Local government records like building permits, zoning board decisions, and planning documents are at the relevant Clarkstown department. Most of these need a FOIL request to the Town Clerk. The town website at clarkstown.gov posts some meeting agendas and minutes online, which may save you a formal request for recent documents.

FOIL Requests in Clarkstown

New York's Freedom of Information Law covers all Clarkstown town offices. Under Public Officers Law Section 87, government records are presumed open. The Clarkstown Town Clerk is the Records Access Officer for FOIL requests.

Write your request and send it to the Town Clerk at 10 Maple Avenue, New City, NY 10956. Be specific. Include dates, names, and descriptions. The town has five business days to respond. They will either give you the records, deny the request with a stated reason, or ask for more time to find what you need.

Copy fees are 25 cents per page. Labor charges can apply if the request takes more than two hours of staff time. Denied requests can be appealed within 30 days to the town supervisor. The Committee on Open Government at (518) 474-2518 provides guidance on FOIL rights and can help with disputes between requesters and town agencies.

Clarkstown Public Records Resources

The New York State Department of Health maintains vital records for the entire state. You can order birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates for events in Clarkstown. Certified copies cost $30 each. Mail processing takes 8 to 10 weeks.

The Department of State FOIL page gives instructions for making records requests to state agencies. The Corporation and Business Entity Database is free and lets you look up businesses registered in New York. Search by name to find filing dates, status, and registered agent information.

Voter registration records for Clarkstown residents are at the Rockland County Board of Elections. Public voter data includes name, address, party enrollment, and voting history. Protected data is not available to the public. Use the Online Voter Registration portal to register or make changes to your voter file.

The Clarkstown Police Department handles its own records for incidents and accident reports in the town. Contact the department's Records Access Officer for copies. Some records may need a written FOIL request. The Clarkstown Justice Court handles traffic tickets, small claims, and minor criminal matters for the town.

Since New City is the Rockland County seat, Clarkstown residents have easy access to county offices for land records, court filings, and other county-level documents. The Rockland County Courthouse on Main Street in New City handles Supreme Court and County Court matters. The Surrogate's Court for probate and estate matters is also in New City. Probate records are public and can be searched by the name of the deceased.

Rockland County Records

Clarkstown is in Rockland County. For county-level court records, land records, and more, visit our county page.

Nearby Cities and Towns

Other Rockland County communities with public records pages on our site.