Rockland County Public Records Search
Rockland County public records include court filings, land records, and vital records held at the County Clerk's Office in New City. This suburban county sits just north of the New Jersey border and west of the Hudson River. The Clerk's Office and state court system tools provide multiple ways to find the documents you need, whether you are looking for a deed, a court case, or other government records.
Rockland County Quick Facts
Rockland County Clerk's Office
The Rockland County Clerk handles court records, land records, and other public documents. This office records deeds, mortgages, liens, and property-related filings. It holds Supreme and County Court case files. The Clerk also processes passport applications and handles pistol permit records.
| Office | Rockland County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 11 New Hempstead Road, New City, NY 10956 |
| Phone | (845) 638-5070 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | rocklandcountyny.gov |
The Clerk's Office is at the Rockland County government campus on New Hempstead Road in New City. Parking is available on site. Walk-in visitors can search records and get copies during regular hours. The office serves a population of about 330,000 and handles a high volume of land filings and court records.
Rockland County is the smallest county in New York by land area outside of New York City. But it is densely populated. That means the Clerk's Office stays busy with property transfers, court filings, and records requests. Calling ahead for complex searches is a good idea. The staff can let you know what documents are on file and what fees will apply.
Standard fees apply to all copies. Simple copies cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies are $1.25 for the first page, 50 cents for each added page, and a $5 certification fee. Land document recording fees vary by type and page count. Bring photo ID for certified copies.
How to Search Rockland County Records
Online tools and in-person visits both work. The best approach depends on what type of record you need.
The eCourts portal is the top choice for civil court cases. It covers Supreme Court civil cases from Rockland County. This free state tool lets you search by party name, index number, or attorney. Data updates daily. You can see case summaries, filing dates, and party names with no charge or registration.
For criminal history, the Criminal History Record Search covers all 62 New York counties. The fee is $95 per search. You need the exact name and date of birth. Results come by email and include convictions and open cases. Sealed records are excluded.
Land records are searched at the Clerk's Office in New City. You can look up deeds, mortgages, liens, satisfactions, and other property documents by name or property details. Rockland County may offer some online access to land record indexes through the county website or commercial providers. For full document copies, the Clerk's Office is the source.
Vital records are available through the New York State Department of Health for birth and death certificates. Marriage licenses come from the Rockland County Clerk or from town clerks. The five towns in Rockland County (Clarkstown, Haverstraw, Orangetown, Ramapo, and Stony Point) each have clerks that issue marriage licenses.
Types of Records in Rockland County
Court records in Rockland include civil lawsuits, criminal cases, family court matters, and surrogate proceedings. Supreme Court handles major cases. County Court covers felonies and some civil disputes. There are no city courts in Rockland County. Town justice courts handle local matters like traffic tickets and small claims. Surrogate's Court manages wills, estates, and guardianships. Family Court deals with custody, support, and domestic relations.
Property records are a big part of the Clerk's holdings. With a dense population and active real estate market, deed transfers, mortgage filings, and liens are filed constantly. Every property transaction in Rockland County is recorded through the Clerk. UCC filings, lis pendens notices, and other documents are on file too.
Other records include business name certificates, federal tax liens, judgments, and court orders. Historical records may include naturalization documents and older filings. Maps, surveys, and subdivision plats for Rockland County properties are maintained by the Clerk's Office.
FOIL Requests in Rockland County
New York's FOIL law applies to all Rockland County agencies. You can request records from any department by writing to the records access officer. Most government documents are available. Specific exemptions are the only basis for denial.
Describe the records you want clearly. You do not need to state a reason. The agency has five business days to respond. They will provide the records, deny with an explanation, or ask for more time on large requests. FOIL covers police records, meeting minutes, contracts, internal documents, and much more.
If denied, appeal to the agency head first. Then go to the Committee on Open Government for advisory opinions. The Department of State FOIL page has sample letters and information about the law. FOIL copy fees are capped at 25 cents per page.
Rockland County Resources
Rockland County is in the 9th Judicial District. Supreme Court sits at the courthouse in New City. County Court handles criminal and some civil matters. Surrogate's Court processes wills and estates. Family Court addresses custody, support, and juvenile issues.
Rockland has five towns and no cities. Each town has a justice court that handles traffic tickets, small claims, and minor offenses. Clarkstown, Haverstraw, Orangetown, Ramapo, and Stony Point town courts all process local cases. Records from these courts are often searchable through the state eCourts system.
Legal Services of the Hudson Valley provides free civil legal help to qualifying residents. The Rockland County Bar Association operates a lawyer referral service. The state court system offers self-help centers and online resources with forms and guides for people without attorneys.
The Rockland County Sheriff's Office handles police reports. Town police departments in the five towns also generate law enforcement records. The District Attorney's Office prosecutes criminal cases. Real Property Tax Services maintains assessment data and tax maps. The county legislature's meetings and resolutions are public records.
Cities in Rockland County
These towns in Rockland County have their own pages with local record information.
Nearby Counties
Records from neighboring areas may be held at these county offices.