Find Public Records in Bronx County

Bronx County public records are maintained by the County Clerk, the New York City court system, and multiple city agencies. As one of the five boroughs of New York City, the Bronx has a unique setup where city and county government overlap. The Bronx County Clerk at 851 Grand Concourse handles Supreme Court filings and land records. Bronx County is in the Twelfth Judicial District. Court data gets updated four times daily in the state eCourts system, making Bronx County one of the fastest-updating counties for online record searches. Millions of public records are on file across the various Bronx County offices.

Bronx County Clerk's Office

The Bronx County Clerk serves as the Clerk of the Supreme Court. This office receives all papers that start actions and special proceedings in the Supreme Court. Every case file goes through here. The Clerk keeps the official record of civil cases, and also maintains land records for Bronx County. You can look up Supreme Court civil cases through WebCivil Supreme, which has Bronx data going back to around 1986.

The Clerk's Office accepts filings and provides copies of court documents to the public. Fees for copies are set by statute. Certified copies of judgments and orders cost extra. The office handles a very high volume of filings each year given the size of the Bronx population.

How to Search Bronx County Records

Bronx County is one of the best counties for online record searches. The eCourts system updates Bronx data four times per day. WebCivil Supreme has civil cases going back to 1986. You can search by index number, party name, or attorney. For local civil cases, WebCivil Local covers NYC Civil Court matters in the Bronx.

Criminal case lookups use WebCriminal, which shows pending cases in Bronx County with upcoming court dates. The Bronx County Supreme Court Criminal Term at 265 East 161st Street handles felony cases. For a complete criminal criminal history search, the Criminal History Record Search costs $95 and covers all courts across the state. It uses exact name and date of birth matching. Results that find records go through manual review before delivery.

For Bronx County vital records, the process is different from upstate counties. Birth, death, and marriage records for the Bronx go through the NYC Office of Vital Records at 125 Worth Street, not the state Department of Health. Divorce records, however, are handled by the state for all counties including the Bronx. The NYC Municipal Archives holds older Bronx vital records for historical research.

The NYC Department of Records and Information Services (DORIS) manages municipal archives and city records that may include Bronx County public records not held by the County Clerk or courts.

Types of Public Records in Bronx County

Bronx County has a large volume of public records across many categories. Court records are the biggest set. The Supreme Court handles major civil matters and felony cases. The County Clerk keeps the official files. Under Public Officers Law Section 87, these records are open to the public unless sealed by court order. Civil cases include contract disputes, injury claims, foreclosures, and commercial litigation.

Land records in Bronx County cover deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, and other documents tied to real property. The County Clerk records and files these documents. Anyone can search land records. There are no restrictions on who can look them up. Property tax and assessment records are handled by the NYC Department of Finance rather than a county real property office, since the Bronx is part of New York City.

The Bronx Family Court at 900 Sheridan Avenue handles custody, support, paternity, and juvenile matters. These records have strict limits on public access. Most Family Court files are not online. You need to go in person and may need proof of your relationship to the case to get access. Adoption records are sealed by default.

FOIL Requests in Bronx County

You can use New York's Freedom of Information Law to get records from any Bronx County or New York City government office. Under Public Officers Law Article 6, a record is anything an agency has in any form. FOIL requests go to the Records Access Officer at the specific agency. For Bronx County, that could be the Borough President's office, a city department, or any local government body.

The agency has five business days to respond. They will provide the records, deny the request with reasons, or send an acknowledgment saying they need more time. Copy fees are up to 50 cents per page. If the agency denies your request, appeal within 30 days. The Committee on Open Government can assist with questions about access to Bronx County public records.

Bronx County Legal Resources

The Bronx has many legal aid groups that can help with record searches and court matters. The Department of State Corporation Database lets you search for businesses registered in New York, including those operating in the Bronx. The search is free and shows entity name, type, status, and registered agent.

For voter registration records, the Bronx County Board of Elections handles the local portion of the NYSVoter system. Driver's license and social security numbers are shielded from public view under Election Law Section 5-614. The Online Voter Registration portal is the quickest way to register or update your information.

Criminal Procedure Law Section 160.50 provides for the sealing of arrest records that do not lead to convictions. Sealed records are not available to the public. Civil Rights Law Section 50-a, which once protected police discipline records, was repealed in 2020. That means some law enforcement records that were previously off limits are now accessible through FOIL in Bronx County.

The Bronx and New York City

Bronx County is one of the five boroughs that make up New York City. Public records for the Bronx are split between county offices (like the County Clerk) and city agencies (like DORIS, the Department of Finance, and the NYC Office of Vital Records).

Nearby Counties

Bronx County sits at the southern tip of the New York mainland, bordering Westchester County to the north and sharing water boundaries with other NYC boroughs.