Hempstead Public Records
Public records in the Town of Hempstead are handled by the Town Clerk and the Nassau County Clerk. Hempstead is the largest town in Nassau County by population, with over 750,000 residents spread across dozens of villages and hamlets on Long Island. The Town Clerk keeps local vital records, issues licenses, and processes FOIL requests for town government records. For court filings, land records, and other county-level documents, you go through the Nassau County Clerk in Mineola. Understanding which office holds the records you need is the first step in any search.
Hempstead Public Records Overview
Nassau County Handles Court and Land Records
The Nassau County Clerk is the main office for court records and land filings in Hempstead. The Clerk's office is at 240 Old Country Road in Mineola. Supreme Court cases, property deeds, mortgages, and liens are all filed there. You can search many of these records online through the Nassau County Clerk's website, which has a land records search tool and a court case lookup system.
Nassau County sits in the 10th Judicial District of the New York State court system. Cases from Hempstead are heard in the Nassau County courts. The eCourts portal covers Supreme Court civil cases from Nassau County. For District Court cases, which handle smaller civil matters and misdemeanors, the WebCivil Local search is where you look. The District Court for Hempstead cases is the First District Court in Hempstead village.
Property records for Hempstead go through the Nassau County Clerk. Deeds, mortgages, satisfied mortgages, and other land documents are recorded there. The online search system lets you look up records by name, address, or instrument number. Older records may need an in-person search at the Clerk's office.
Hempstead Town Clerk
The Hempstead Town Clerk is the local records office for town-level documents. The office is at 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, NY 11550. Call (516) 489-5000 for hours and info.
| Office | Town Clerk, Town of Hempstead |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, NY 11550 |
| Phone | (516) 489-5000 |
| County | Nassau County |
The Town Clerk handles birth, death, and marriage records for events that took place in the town. These are local copies. The state Department of Health also keeps copies. If you need a certified copy of a vital record, you can request one from either the Town Clerk or the state, though the Town Clerk is often faster for local events. The Town Clerk also issues dog licenses, maintains town meeting minutes, and files local laws and resolutions.
For records from town departments like Building, Planning, or Parks, contact those departments directly or file a FOIL request through the Town Clerk. The Town Clerk serves as the Records Access Officer for Hempstead town government, so all FOIL requests for town records should go to that office.
How to Search Hempstead Public Records
Start with the type of record you need. Court records and land documents are at the county level. Vital records and town government files are with the Town Clerk. Here is a simple breakdown.
For court cases, use the eCourts system. It is free. Search by name or case number. Supreme Court civil cases from Nassau County show up there. For criminal history, the Criminal History Record Search costs $95 and covers cases statewide, including any filed in Nassau County courts.
For property records, the Nassau County Clerk has an online land records database. You can search by owner name, address, or document type. It covers deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded instruments. Certified copies can be ordered online or in person.
For vital records from the Town of Hempstead, call the Town Clerk at (516) 489-5000 to ask about availability and fees. The New York State Department of Health is the backup source for vital records if the local office does not have what you need. Birth, death, and marriage records from the state go back to 1881.
FOIL Requests in Hempstead
The Freedom of Information Law gives you the right to ask for records from any government agency in New York, including the Town of Hempstead. Send your request to the Town Clerk at 1 Washington Street. Be clear about what you want. Include dates, names, and any details that help the office find the records.
The town has five business days to respond. They can give you the records, deny the request, or say they need more time. Copy fees are up to 25 cents per page under state law. If you want electronic copies, the town must provide them in that format if it can. Large requests may take longer. You have the right to appeal any denial to the town's designated appeals officer. The Department of State FOIL page explains the full process and your rights under the law.
For county-level records, file your FOIL request with the Nassau County agency that holds the records. Each county department has its own Records Access Officer. The Committee on Open Government can help if you run into problems with any FOIL request at the town or county level.
Legal Resources
Nassau County has several free and low-cost legal help options. Nassau Suffolk Law Services provides civil legal assistance to low-income residents. They handle housing, family law, public benefits, and consumer issues. The Nassau County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service where you can get a low-cost initial consultation.
The Nassau County courts have a Self-Help Center in Mineola that can help with court forms and basic procedural questions. LawHelp NY at lawhelpny.org connects people to legal aid providers across the state. The Legal Aid Society of Nassau County also provides free representation in certain case types for people who qualify based on income.
Nearby Cities
Other cities and towns near Hempstead with public records pages: