Queens County Public Records
Queens County public records are managed by the Queens County Clerk and through the New York State court system. Queens is the largest borough in New York City by area and one of the most diverse places in the country. The County Clerk serves as the Clerk of the Supreme Court and maintains civil court records and land records for the entire borough. Online state tools and NYC-specific resources give you several ways to search these records.
Queens County Quick Facts
Queens County Clerk's Office
The Queens County Clerk serves as the Clerk of the Supreme Court for Queens. This office maintains Supreme Court civil case records and land records for the borough. The Clerk files deeds, mortgages, liens, and other real property documents. It also handles jury management and other court support functions.
| Office | Queens County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435 |
| Phone | (718) 298-0600 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | nycourts.gov |
The Queens County Clerk's Office is in the Queens County courthouse complex on Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica. This is a busy office that handles a very high volume of filings and requests. Getting there by subway is easy since the courthouse is near the Sutphin Boulevard-Archer Avenue station. Plan for wait times, especially for land record searches and certified copies.
Queens is one of the five NYC boroughs, so the record-keeping setup is different from upstate counties. The County Clerk handles land records and Supreme Court files, but other records go through NYC agencies. The city's Department of Finance handles property tax records. The Department of Records and Information Services (DORIS) manages city archives. Birth and death certificates are handled by the NYC Department of Health.
Copy fees follow state rates. Standard copies are 50 cents per page. Certified copies cost $1.25 for the first page, 50 cents for each page after, plus a $5 certification fee. For land record recordings, fees depend on the document type and page count.
How to Search Queens County Records
Multiple search tools cover Queens County records. The state court system and NYC-specific systems both apply here.
The eCourts portal covers civil Supreme Court cases from Queens County. Search by name, index number, or attorney. This free tool updates daily and has case data going back decades. You can view case details, filing information, and party names at no charge.
The Criminal History Record Search covers criminal cases from all 62 counties, including Queens. The $95 fee gets you a search by exact name and date of birth. Results include convictions and open cases from every court level. Sealed records are not included.
For land records in Queens, the Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS) is the main tool. ACRIS is run by the NYC Department of Finance and covers property records for Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. You can search deeds, mortgages, liens, and other property documents online for free. ACRIS has records going back to the 1960s for most document types.
NYC handles vital records differently than upstate counties. Birth and death certificates for Queens residents come from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Marriage licenses are issued by the NYC City Clerk's Office. You can apply for a marriage license at any NYC City Clerk location, not just the one in Queens.
The Queens County Surrogate's Court handles wills, estates, and guardianship cases. It is located at the same address on Sutphin Boulevard. Probate records and estate filings can be searched there.
Types of Records in Queens County
Court records in Queens cover a huge range of matters. Supreme Court handles major civil and criminal cases. Queens Criminal Court processes misdemeanors and violations. Queens Civil Court handles smaller civil cases, housing matters, and small claims. Family Court deals with custody, child support, domestic violence, and juvenile cases. Surrogate's Court manages estates, wills, and guardianships.
Land records for Queens are extensive. Every deed transfer, mortgage filing, lien, and satisfaction gets recorded. Queens has one of the most active real estate markets in New York City, so property records are filed constantly. ACRIS makes most of these searchable online. Title companies and real estate attorneys use these records every day for closings and due diligence.
Other records include judgments, UCC filings, federal tax liens filed at the county level, and lis pendens notices. NYC-level records like building permits, violations, and business licenses are handled by separate city agencies but are also public. The NYC Open Data portal provides access to many city datasets.
FOIL Requests in Queens County
New York's FOIL law applies to all city and county agencies serving Queens. You can file FOIL requests with Queens County offices, NYC agencies, and any state agency that holds records related to Queens.
Write to the records access officer at the agency holding what you need. NYC agencies each have their own FOIL process. The NYPD, for example, handles requests for police reports through its Records Access Bureau. Other city agencies have their own officers and procedures. Describe what you want clearly and submit in writing.
Agencies have five business days to respond. For NYC agencies, the process can take longer due to volume. If denied, appeal to the agency head. The Committee on Open Government provides guidance on all FOIL matters in New York. The Department of State FOIL page has forms and instructions. Copy fees are 25 cents per page under FOIL.
Queens County Resources
Queens County is in the 11th Judicial District. The Supreme Court, Criminal Court, Civil Court, and Family Court all sit in the courthouse complex in Jamaica. The Surrogate's Court is at the same location. This makes Jamaica the center for almost all court-related business in Queens.
Legal aid in Queens is provided by several organizations. Queens Legal Services serves low-income residents with civil legal problems. The Legal Aid Society has a Queens office that handles criminal defense for those who can't afford a lawyer. The Queens County Bar Association runs a referral service. The court system offers self-help centers at the courthouse with free forms and assistance.
For property records, the NYC Department of Finance provides ACRIS for online searches and the RPIE system for property tax data. The NYC Department of Buildings has permit and violation records. DORIS holds historical city records. The Queens Borough Public Library can also help with genealogy and historical research related to Queens.
The NYPD handles police reports for Queens. Each precinct can provide reports for incidents in its area. The Queens District Attorney's Office handles criminal prosecutions. For immigration-related records in this diverse borough, federal offices including USCIS have a Queens field office.
Cities in Queens County
Queens is a borough of New York City. For city-wide record details, see the New York City page.
Nearby Counties
Adjacent counties and boroughs where records may overlap.