Sullivan County Public Records

Sullivan County public records are held by the County Clerk's office in Monticello. Located in the Catskills region of New York, Sullivan County maintains land records, court documents, and other public filings through the Clerk's office. The Clerk records deeds, mortgages, and liens while managing court files for the Supreme and County Courts. Public record searches can be done in person at the courthouse, by phone, or through state-level online tools. Sullivan County is part of the Third Judicial District.

Sullivan County Clerk

The Sullivan County Clerk is the central office for land records and court filings. Deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, and lis pendens are all recorded here. The Clerk serves as Clerk of the Supreme and County Courts. Civil case files, court orders, and related documents pass through this office.

Fees follow New York State standards. Plain copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies of recorded documents cost $5.00 for the first page and $1.25 each after. Court record copies are $5.00 per document. Recording a deed or mortgage starts at $15.00 for the first page. Cash, checks, and money orders are accepted at the counter.

Sullivan County sees a fair amount of real estate activity, especially around resort areas and vacation properties. The Clerk's office handles property transfers for these along with all other land records. If you are searching for a specific deed or mortgage, have the names of the parties or the property address ready. The staff maintains index books and can help you locate documents.

How to Search Sullivan County Records

Start with state online tools. The eCourts system lets you search Supreme Court civil cases by name or index number for free. This covers Sullivan County and all other counties in New York.

For land records, visit the Clerk's office in Monticello. The office has grantor/grantee indexes and some computerized records. You can search by name to find deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents. Call (845) 807-0500 ahead of time if you want to check whether a specific record can be found.

Criminal history checks are done through the Criminal History Record Search. This statewide tool checks for criminal convictions in New York courts. A fee applies, and you need the person's name and date of birth.

FOIL requests let you ask for any government record. Write to the agency that has what you need. Be specific. They must respond in five business days. The FOIL page from the Department of State has sample request letters and explains the appeal process if you get turned down.

Types of Records

Land records are the biggest category at the Clerk's office. This includes deeds, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, easements, liens, and notices of pendency. Court records cover Supreme Court and County Court civil cases, including judgments and court orders. Business certificates (DBAs), maps, and military discharge papers are also filed here.

Vital records come from other offices. Birth and death certificates are issued by the New York State Department of Health or local registrars. Marriage licenses are issued by town and village clerks. Do not contact the County Clerk for vital records.

Surrogate's Court handles wills, estates, and probate. Those records are at the court, not the Clerk's office. Family Court files cover custody, support, and juvenile matters and are mostly sealed. Contact each court directly for access to their records.

Property tax records and assessments are kept by the county's Real Property Tax Service Agency, not the County Clerk. The Clerk records deeds and mortgages, but actual tax bills and property assessments come from the Real Property office. Each town in Sullivan County has its own assessor who sets the value of land and buildings. If you need tax data on a specific parcel, contact that office directly.

FOIL Requests

The Freedom of Information Law covers all government agencies in Sullivan County. You can ask for records from any county office. Write a clear request. State what documents you want. You do not need to say why.

Agencies respond within five business days. They can approve, deny with a reason, or request more time. If denied, appeal to the agency head. The Committee on Open Government can help resolve disputes. FOIL copy fees are $0.25 per page for standard documents. Electronic copies may be free if the agency can produce them easily in that format.

State Court Search Portal

Use the eCourts portal to search for civil court cases in Sullivan County Supreme Court. Enter a name or index number to find case details, filing dates, and status. The tool is free and works for all 62 New York counties.

Sullivan County Resources

• Sullivan County Clerk - Land records, court filings, recording
• NYS eCourts - Search Supreme Court civil cases
• Criminal History Record Search - Statewide criminal conviction records
• NYS Vital Records - Birth, death, marriage certificates
• FOIL Information - Public records access rights

Cities and Towns in Sullivan County

Sullivan County has no cities with a population large enough for a dedicated page. Monticello is the county seat and largest village. Liberty, Fallsburg, and Mamakating are other sizable towns. All public records for these communities go through the Sullivan County Clerk. Town clerks in each municipality handle local matters like marriage licenses, but land records and court filings are always at the county level. If you need to look something up for any town in Sullivan County, start with the Clerk's office in Monticello.

Nearby Counties