Putnam County Court Records
What Is Putnam County Court Records
Court records in Putnam County, New York, are official documents generated by the judicial system in the course of legal proceedings. These records encompass a broad range of materials, including case files, dockets, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, transcripts, exhibits, and sentencing records. Each document type serves a distinct function: dockets provide a chronological index of case activity, pleadings contain the formal allegations and defenses of parties, and judgments reflect the court's final determinations on matters before it.
Court records are distinct from other categories of public records maintained in Putnam County. Property records, for example, are held by the Putnam County Clerk's office and document ownership, transfers, and encumbrances on real estate. Vital records — such as birth, death, and marriage certificates — are maintained by the Department of Health. Court records, by contrast, are generated exclusively through judicial proceedings and are custodied by the clerk of the relevant court.
The following courts maintain records in Putnam County:
- County Court — handles felony criminal cases and civil matters exceeding $25,000
- Supreme Court (New York State) — hears major civil litigation and certain criminal matters
- Surrogate's Court — administers probate, estate, and guardianship proceedings
- Family Court — adjudicates matters involving children, custody, support, and domestic violence
- Town and Village Justice Courts — handle misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and small claims
- Small Claims Court — resolves civil disputes involving limited monetary amounts
Records span civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters. Under New York Judiciary Law § 255, county clerks are designated as clerks of the Supreme and County Courts and are responsible for maintaining associated records.
Are Court Records Public In Putnam County
Court records in Putnam County are presumptively open to the public under New York law. The New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), Public Officers Law § 87, establishes the right of members of the public to inspect and obtain copies of government records, including judicial documents not otherwise sealed or restricted.
The following categories of records are generally available for public inspection:
- Most civil case files, including complaints, answers, and supporting documents
- Criminal case files following the filing of formal charges
- Judgments and court orders
- Docket sheets and hearing schedules
- Sentencing records in criminal matters
It is important to distinguish between state and federal court records. Records from the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York — which has jurisdiction over federal matters arising in Putnam County — are governed by federal law and are accessible through the federal PACER system, not through state court portals.
Certain records are exempt from public disclosure under state law, including sealed criminal records pursuant to Criminal Procedure Law § 160.50, juvenile delinquency records, adoption proceedings, and records subject to protective orders. The New York State Office of Court Administration issues administrative rules governing access to court records statewide, and those rules apply uniformly to all courts within Putnam County.
How To Find Court Records in Putnam County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Putnam County may access them through several official channels. The process varies depending on the court type and the nature of the records sought.
In-Person Access:
- Visit the Putnam County Clerk's Office, which serves as the clerk of the Supreme Court and County Court, to request case files, judgment dockets, and related documents
- Present a valid government-issued photo identification when requesting records at the public counter
- Submit a written records request if the file is archived or not immediately available at the counter
- Pay applicable copy fees, which are set by statute and posted at the clerk's office
By Mail:
- Submit a written request identifying the case by name, index number, or approximate filing date
- Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order for applicable fees
- Address requests to the Putnam County Clerk, 40 Gleneida Avenue, Carmel, NY 10512
Online:
- Use the New York State Courts Electronic Filing system (NYSCEF) for cases filed electronically
- Access the eCourts Case Search portal maintained by the New York State Unified Court System for docket information
- Use the Putnam County Public Access Portal for property and related county records
How To Look Up Court Records in Putnam County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to Putnam County court records, depending on the court and case type.
New York State eCourts (WebCivil Supreme / WebCriminal): The New York State Unified Court System operates the eCourts Case Search platform, which allows members of the public to search Supreme Court civil cases by party name, index number, or attorney. The portal displays docket entries, motion schedules, and appearance dates.
Steps to search:
- Navigate to the eCourts Case Search portal
- Select "Supreme Court" and choose "Putnam" as the county
- Enter the party name, index number, or attorney name
- Review the case summary and docket entries displayed
NYSCEF (New York State Courts Electronic Filing): Cases filed electronically through NYSCEF are accessible to registered users and, for public documents, to unregistered visitors. Users may search by index number or party name and download filed documents at no charge for public filings.
WebCriminal: The WebCriminal portal provides access to criminal case information for County Court matters, including appearance dates and case status.
Town and Village Justice Court Records: Records from local justice courts are not currently available through a centralized online portal. Members of the public must contact the individual town or village justice court directly to obtain records from those proceedings.
How To Search Putnam County Court Records for Free?
New York law guarantees members of the public the right to inspect court records at no charge. Under Public Officers Law § 87, agencies — including courts — must make records available for in-person inspection without imposing a fee for the act of inspection itself. Fees may be charged only for copies of records.
The following resources are currently available at no cost:
- eCourts Case Search — free to search Supreme Court civil dockets by party name or index number
- NYSCEF — free access to publicly filed documents in electronically filed cases
- WebCriminal — free case status and appearance information for County Court criminal matters
- In-person inspection at the Putnam County Clerk's Office — no fee to view records at the public counter
Certified copies and paper reproductions are subject to statutory fees. The Putnam County Clerk currently charges $5.00 for the first page and $1.25 for each additional page for certified copies, consistent with New York County Law fee schedules.
What's Included in a Putnam County Court Record?
The contents of a court record vary by case type, but generally include the following categories of documents:
Civil Case Records:
- Summons and complaint
- Defendant's answer and affirmative defenses
- Motions and supporting memoranda
- Court orders and decisions
- Judgment and enforcement documents
- Transcripts of hearings and trials
Criminal Case Records:
- Indictment or information
- Arraignment records
- Bail and release orders
- Plea agreements
- Trial transcripts
- Sentencing minutes and orders
- Probation reports (subject to access restrictions)
Family Court Records:
- Petitions for custody, visitation, or support
- Orders of protection
- Dispositional orders
- Permanency hearing records (subject to confidentiality rules)
Surrogate's Court / Probate Records:
- Wills and petitions for probate
- Letters testamentary and letters of administration
- Inventory and accounting filings
- Decree of distribution
Traffic and Small Claims Records:
- Summons and complaint
- Judgment or dismissal order
- Payment records
How Long Does Putnam County Keep Court Records?
Retention periods for court records in Putnam County are governed by schedules established by the New York State Archives and the Office of Court Administration. The applicable schedule is the New York State Court Records Retention and Disposition Schedule, which mandates minimum retention periods for all court record types.
Current retention periods include:
- Felony criminal case files — retained permanently
- Misdemeanor and violation case files — retained for a minimum of 10 years following disposition
- Civil case files (Supreme Court) — retained for a minimum of 10 years after final judgment; cases involving real property are often retained permanently
- Surrogate's Court records — wills and probate files are retained permanently
- Family Court records — retained for a minimum of 10 years; certain juvenile records are subject to sealing and separate retention rules
- Small claims records — retained for a minimum of 5 years following judgment
- Traffic infraction records — retained for a minimum of 4 years
Records that have exceeded their retention period may be destroyed in accordance with the approved disposition schedule. Members of the public seeking older records should contact the relevant court clerk to confirm availability.
Types of Courts In Putnam County
Putnam County is served by courts operating within the New York State Unified Court System. The court hierarchy proceeds from local justice courts at the base, through the County Court and Supreme Court, to the Appellate Division (Second Department), and ultimately to the New York Court of Appeals as the state's highest court.
Putnam County Supreme and County Court 40 Gleneida Avenue Carmel, NY 10512 Phone: (845) 208-7800 Putnam County Clerk Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Putnam County Surrogate's Court 44 Gleneida Avenue Carmel, NY 10512 Phone: (845) 208-7860 New York State Unified Court System – Surrogate's Court Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Putnam County Family Court 40 Gleneida Avenue Carmel, NY 10512 Phone: (845) 208-7805 New York State Unified Court System – Family Court Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Town Justice Courts (examples):
Town of Carmel Justice Court 60 McAlpin Avenue Mahopac, NY 10541 Phone: (845) 628-1500
Town of Kent Justice Court 25 Sybil's Crossing Kent Lakes, NY 10512 Phone: (845) 225-3461
Town of Patterson Justice Court 1142 Route 311 Patterson, NY 12563 Phone: (845) 878-6500
Town of Philipstown Justice Court 238 Main Street Cold Spring, NY 10516 Phone: (845) 265-3329
Town of Putnam Valley Justice Court 265 Oscawana Lake Road Putnam Valley, NY 10579 Phone: (845) 526-3740
What Types of Cases Do Putnam County Courts Hear?
Each court within Putnam County exercises jurisdiction over specific categories of matters as defined by New York State law.
Supreme Court:
- Major civil litigation involving amounts exceeding $25,000
- Matrimonial actions (divorce, separation, annulment)
- Article 78 proceedings against government agencies
- Injunctive relief and declaratory judgment actions
County Court:
- Felony criminal prosecutions
- Civil cases involving amounts between $0 and $25,000 (concurrent jurisdiction)
- Appeals from Town and Village Justice Courts
Surrogate's Court:
- Probate of wills and administration of decedents' estates
- Guardianship of minors and incapacitated persons
- Adoption proceedings
- Trusts and estate accountings
Family Court:
- Child custody and visitation disputes
- Child support and spousal support petitions
- Juvenile delinquency and persons in need of supervision (PINS) proceedings
- Orders of protection and family offense petitions
- Foster care and termination of parental rights
Town and Village Justice Courts:
- Misdemeanor criminal matters
- Vehicle and Traffic Law infractions
- Small claims (up to $10,000)
- Landlord-tenant proceedings
- Arraignments and preliminary hearings in felony matters
How To Find a Court Docket In Putnam County
A court docket is the official chronological record of all filings, orders, and proceedings in a case. Members of the public may access Putnam County court dockets through the following methods:
Online Search:
- Use the eCourts Case Search portal to retrieve Supreme Court civil dockets by party name or index number
- Use the WebCriminal portal to search County Court criminal dockets
- Search NYSCEF for electronically filed cases and view the full docket with linked documents
In-Person Search:
- Visit the Putnam County Clerk's Office at 40 Gleneida Avenue, Carmel, NY 10512, during public counter hours (Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM)
- Request access to the docket books or electronic docket terminals available at the public counter
- Provide the case index number, party name, or approximate filing date to assist staff in locating the record
By Telephone:
- Contact the Putnam County Clerk at (845) 208-7800 to inquire about case status and docket availability
- Contact the relevant Town Justice Court directly for docket information on local criminal and traffic matters
Which Courts in Putnam County Are Not Courts of Record?
A court of record is a court whose proceedings are officially documented, preserved, and subject to review by a higher court. Under New York Judiciary Law § 2, courts of record in New York include the Court of Appeals, the Appellate Division, the Supreme Court, the County Court, the Surrogate's Court, the Family Court, and the Court of Claims, among others.
Town and Village Justice Courts in Putnam County are not courts of record under New York law. This designation has the following practical consequences:
- Proceedings in justice courts are not transcribed as a matter of course
- Appeals from justice court decisions are heard as new trials (de novo) in the County Court, rather than as reviews of a written record
- Justice courts are not required to maintain the same level of formal documentation as courts of record
- Docket entries and case files from justice courts may be less comprehensive than those maintained by courts of record
Members of the public seeking records from Town Justice Courts in Putnam County — including the courts of Carmel, Kent, Patterson, Philipstown, and Putnam Valley — must contact each court individually, as no centralized online portal currently aggregates justice court records.