Search Orleans County Public Records
Orleans County public records are held at the County Clerk's Office in Albion and through the New York State court system. This small western New York county keeps court filings, land records, and other government documents that anyone can search. The Clerk's Office is the main source for local records, while statewide online tools cover court case data from all 62 counties.
Orleans County Quick Facts
Orleans County Clerk's Office
The Orleans County Clerk handles court records, land filings, and other public documents. The office records deeds, mortgages, and property liens. It stores Supreme and County Court case files. Licenses and passport applications go through this office too.
| Office | Orleans County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 3 South Main Street, Albion, NY 14411 |
| Phone | (585) 589-5459 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | orleansny.com |
Orleans is one of the smaller counties in New York. The Clerk's Office in Albion handles a manageable volume of records, which often means shorter wait times than you would find in bigger counties. Walk in during business hours to search records and get copies. The staff is small but helpful.
Fees follow the standard state schedule. Copies cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies are $1.25 for the first page, 50 cents for added pages, plus a $5 certification fee. Recording fees for new documents vary by type. Call ahead if you are not sure what you need or what it will cost.
Because Orleans County is rural, many of the land records relate to agricultural property. Farm land transfers, conservation easements, and related documents are common filings here. The Clerk's Office has records going back many decades, including older documents on microfilm that cover the county's long agricultural history.
How to Search Orleans County Records
You have a few options for searching records in Orleans County. Online tools work for court cases. In-person visits work for land records and other local documents.
The eCourts portal gives you free access to civil Supreme Court cases from Orleans County. Search by party name, index number, or attorney. The system is updated daily and covers case data going back years. It shows filing dates, case status, and party names.
For criminal records, the Criminal History Record Search covers all 62 counties for $95 per search. You need an exact name and date of birth. Results come by email and include convictions and open cases from all court levels. Sealed records are not included in the results.
Land records are best searched at the Clerk's Office in Albion. The staff can look up deeds, mortgages, and liens by name or property details. Indexes are available for in-person searching. For historical records, older documents may be on microfilm. Some records could also be available through third-party title search services online.
Birth and death certificates come from the New York State Department of Health. Marriage licenses are issued by the Orleans County Clerk and by town clerks in the county. You can order vital records online through the state website or apply in person at the local level.
Types of Records Available
Orleans County offices hold court records, land records, vital records, and other government documents. Court records include civil cases, criminal matters, family court filings, and probate proceedings. The Supreme Court and County Court handle the bigger cases. Town and village courts deal with traffic tickets and minor offenses.
Land records include deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, liens, and UCC filings. Every real property transaction in Orleans County gets recorded through the Clerk. These records are public and can be searched by anyone. Maps and survey documents tied to Orleans County properties are also on file.
Business name certificates, federal tax liens, and judgments are part of the Clerk's records. Historical documents including old naturalization papers may be available for genealogy and research purposes. The Surrogate's Court keeps wills, estate records, and guardianship filings.
FOIL Requests in Orleans County
New York's FOIL law applies to all Orleans County government offices. You can request records by writing to the records access officer at the department that has what you want. Be clear about what records you are looking for. No reason is needed.
The agency has five business days to respond. They will provide the records, deny the request and explain why, or ask for more time. If denied, you can appeal to the agency head. The Committee on Open Government provides guidance on FOIL matters. The Department of State FOIL page has templates and information about the process. FOIL copy fees are 25 cents per page.
Orleans County Resources
Orleans County is in the 8th Judicial District along with several other western New York counties. Supreme Court and County Court cases are heard in Albion. The Surrogate's Court handles estates and wills. Family Court covers custody and support matters.
Legal aid is available through the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo for qualifying residents. The Genesee County Bar Association (which also covers the area) can refer you to local attorneys. The state court system offers self-help forms and guides online for people handling legal matters without a lawyer.
The Orleans County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement records and police reports. The District Attorney's Office prosecutes criminal cases. For property tax data, the county Real Property Tax Services department maintains assessment rolls and tax maps. Town courts in Barre, Carlton, Clarendon, Gaines, Kendall, Murray, Ridgeway, Shelby, and Yates handle local traffic and minor criminal matters.
The county also has a Board of Elections that keeps voter registration records, which are public under New York law. The county legislature's records, meeting minutes, and resolutions are available through FOIL or on the county website.
Nearby Counties
Records for areas near Orleans County may be filed in these neighboring offices.