Yates County Public Records Search

Yates County public records are filed with the County Clerk in Penn Yan. This small Finger Lakes county sits between Keuka Lake and Seneca Lake. The Clerk's office records deeds, mortgages, liens, and judgments for the county. Court records from the Supreme and County Courts are kept here as well. You can search records in person at the Liberty Street office, by mail, or use state online tools for court case data. Yates County is part of the Seventh Judicial District and has one of the smallest populations of any county in New York.

Yates County Clerk

The Yates County Clerk handles land records and court documents for the county. Deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, lis pendens, and mortgage satisfactions are all recorded here. The Clerk serves as Clerk of the Supreme and County Courts, managing civil case files and related court papers. The office also handles passports and files business certificates.

Fees follow the state schedule. Plain copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies of recorded documents cost $5.00 for the first page and $1.25 for each page 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 office.

Yates County is small, and the Clerk's office reflects that. The staff handles a modest number of filings compared to larger counties, which means you can often get personal attention when you visit. If you call with a specific question about a document, they can usually check quickly. The Finger Lakes wine region has driven some real estate activity in the county, particularly around Keuka Lake, so property records from those sales are all filed here.

How to Search Yates County Records

For court cases, use the eCourts system. This free state tool lets you search Supreme Court civil cases from Yates County by name or index number. It covers all 62 counties.

Land records are searched at the Clerk's office. The grantor/grantee index books let you trace documents by the names of the parties. Find the liber and page number in the index, then pull the full document. The staff can help you get started with the search. Call (315) 536-5125 ahead of time if you want to ask about a specific record.

Criminal records are available through the Criminal History Record Search. This statewide tool checks for convictions in all New York courts. You need a name and date of birth, and there is a fee.

FOIL requests give you access to any government record in the county. Write to the records access officer at the agency. Be clear about what you need. They must respond in five business days. The FOIL page at the Department of State has all the details.

Types of Records

Land records at the Clerk's office include deeds, mortgages, mortgage discharges, easements, liens, maps, and subdivision plats. Court records cover Supreme Court and County Court civil cases, judgments, and court orders. The office also files business certificates (DBAs) and military discharge papers.

Vital records are handled by other offices. Birth and death certificates come from the New York State Department of Health or from local town registrars. Marriage licenses are issued by the town clerk where the couple applies. The County Clerk does not issue vital records of any kind.

Surrogate's Court manages probate, wills, and estate matters. Family Court handles custody, support, and juvenile cases. Most Family Court records are sealed. Both courts keep their own files and you need to contact them directly. The County Clerk does not have those records.

Property tax records are kept by the county's Real Property Tax Service. The Clerk records transfers and mortgages, but the tax office manages the assessment rolls and tax data. Contact the Real Property office for tax questions on a specific parcel.

FOIL in Yates County

New York's Freedom of Information Law covers all government agencies in Yates County. You can ask for records from any county office. Write a clear request and send it to the records access officer at the agency. No reason is needed for any request.

Agencies must respond within five business days. Denials must cite a reason. You can appeal to the agency head, and if that fails, the Committee on Open Government can step in. Copy fees under FOIL are $0.25 per page for standard documents.

State Court Search Portal

Use the eCourts portal to look up civil court cases from Yates County Supreme Court. The tool is free and shows case details, filing dates, and case status for all New York counties.

Yates County Resources

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

Cities and Towns in Yates County

Yates County has no cities that meet the population threshold for a separate page. Penn Yan is the county seat and largest village. Other communities include Dundee, Dresden, and Rushville. All land records and court filings for these areas go through the Yates County Clerk in Penn Yan. Town clerks in each municipality handle marriage licenses and some local records, but the County Clerk is always the office for deeds, mortgages, and court documents.

Nearby Counties