Access Kings County Public Records

Kings County public records cover Brooklyn, the most populated borough in New York City. The Kings County Clerk maintains Supreme Court civil records and land filings, while the city and state run additional systems for criminal, family, and housing court records. With over 2.7 million residents, Kings County has one of the highest volumes of court filings and land recordings in the state. Multiple offices and online portals serve the public, and knowing which one to use saves a lot of time.

Kings County Clerk Office

The Kings County Clerk serves as Clerk of the Supreme Court and handles civil court records and land recordings for Brooklyn. This is a high-volume office that processes thousands of filings each year. The office records deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land instruments, and maintains Supreme Court case files for civil matters. Criminal Supreme Court records are handled by a separate office within the court system.

Land records in Kings County go back over a century. Every property transaction in Brooklyn gets recorded with the County Clerk. The office indexes documents by grantor and grantee, block and lot, and document type. Because Brooklyn has such dense real estate activity, the volume of recordings is enormous. Title companies, attorneys, banks, and developers use these records constantly. The Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS) provides online access to land records for all five boroughs, making it possible to search Kings County property filings from anywhere.

Supreme Court civil files at the Kings County Clerk include everything from personal injury cases to commercial disputes, foreclosures, and other civil actions. The office stores all papers filed during a case. You can visit in person to review a file, or use the online eCourts system to check case status and docket information remotely. The Kings County Supreme Court Criminal Term at 320 Jay Street handles felony cases separately.

How to Search Kings County Public Records

Kings County has more search options than most counties because it is part of New York City. The WebCivil Supreme portal covers civil Supreme Court cases from Kings County and every other county. Search by party name, index number, or attorney. The tool is free and updates throughout the day.

For criminal records, the Criminal History Record Search costs $95 and covers all court levels statewide. It returns open cases and convictions using an exact name and date of birth match. For pending criminal cases specifically in Kings County, the WebCriminal system also lets you search by name or docket number. This covers Supreme Court criminal cases in all five boroughs.

Land records in Kings County are searchable through ACRIS, the city's online land records system. You can search by address, block and lot, party name, or document type. ACRIS covers all five boroughs and has records going back to the 1960s for some document types. This is one of the best online land record systems in the state and is free to use.

Vital records for events in New York City come from the NYC Office of Vital Records, not the state Department of Health. Birth, death, and marriage certificates are available through the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The office at 125 Worth Street, Room 133, handles in-person requests. You can also order copies online or by mail. For events outside the city, contact the state Department of Health.

The Kings County Surrogate's Court at 2 Johnson Street handles probate and estate matters for Brooklyn. Some surrogate records can be searched through the eCourts system. The NYC Department of Records and Information Services (DORIS) also maintains municipal archives with historical records from city agencies.

Types of Public Records in Kings County

Kings County has the full range of public records you would expect from the largest borough in New York City. Court records span civil, criminal, family, housing, and surrogate matters. The County Clerk holds Supreme Court civil files. Criminal cases go through the Supreme Court Criminal Term. Family Court, Housing Court, and Civil Court each maintain their own records.

Land records include deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, assignments, liens, and other instruments. The ACRIS system gives online access to most of these documents. Voter registration is handled by the NYC Board of Elections. Business records for companies registered in New York are at the state Department of State. Municipal records from city agencies are available through FOIL requests directed to the city or the specific agency that holds the records.

FOIL Requests in Kings County

The Freedom of Information Law covers all government agencies that serve Kings County, including both city and state offices. Under Public Officers Law Section 87, most government records are open. For city agencies, you can submit requests through the NYC OpenRecords portal, which is the city's centralized FOIL system. For state and county offices, write to the Records Access Officer directly.

Agencies must respond within five business days. Copy fees are 50 cents per page maximum. The Department of State FOIL page explains the state process. The NYC OpenRecords system makes it easy to track your request and communicate with the agency. If denied, appeal within 30 days. The Committee on Open Government handles questions about FOIL and can help with disputes.

Kings County is home to many city agencies, police precincts, schools, and other public offices. Each one has a Records Access Officer. If you are not sure which agency holds the records, the Committee on Open Government can point you in the right direction. Their phone number is (518) 474-2518.

Legal Resources for Kings County

Brooklyn has many legal aid organizations. Legal Services NYC, Brooklyn Legal Services, and the Legal Aid Society all serve Kings County residents with free civil and criminal representation. Brooklyn Volunteer Lawyers Project offers pro bono help with civil matters. The Brooklyn Bar Association has a referral service and a volunteer lawyer program.

Self-represented litigants can get help at the Kings County Supreme Court Help Center. The New York Courts website has forms and instructions for common filings. For housing court matters, the Brooklyn Housing Court at 141 Livingston Street has its own resource center. If you need guidance on accessing public records, the Committee on Open Government at (518) 474-2518 is the statewide resource.

Cities in Kings County

Kings County is coextensive with the Borough of Brooklyn, which is part of New York City.

Nearby Counties

Kings County borders other New York City boroughs and counties. Each has its own County Clerk and public records offices.