Kings County Court Records

Court records in Kings County (Brooklyn), New York, are maintained by the clerks of the respective courts and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the court clerk's office. KingsNYCourt.us will help you find public information about court records in this county. Additional sources include the New York State Unified Court System portals, the ACRIS electronic system for property records, and requests under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL).

Kings Court System Overview

Kings County is one of the five boroughs of New York City, known as Brooklyn. The county's court system is part of the New York State Unified Court System and is included in the Second Judicial District, which encompasses Kings County and Richmond County. The administrative judge of the Second Judicial District coordinates the work of all courts in this district.

The main Kings County court complex is located at:

Besides the Supreme Court, the Brooklyn court district buildings house the Criminal Court, Civil Court, Family Court, and Surrogate's Court. The magistrate-level cases in New York are handled by the Criminal Court and Civil Court — they do not have a separate "magistrate division" in the classical sense.

Courts Serving Kings

What Types of Cases Kings Courts Hear

Kings County courts hear a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:

• Criminal cases: felonies, misdemeanors, violations/infractions
• Civil claims: disputes over $25,000 (Supreme Court), disputes up to $25,000 (Civil Court), small claims (up to $10,000)
• Family law: divorce, custody, child support, orders of protection
• Probate law: inheritance cases, guardianship, trust management — through Surrogate's Court
• Juvenile matters: delinquency, child protection, adoption — through Family Court
• Traffic violations: handled through the New York State Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB)

District Court Cases in Kings

In New York, the role of "district court" for serious cases is performed by the Supreme Court. The Kings County Supreme Court handles:

• Felonies — after an indictment by a grand jury
• Civil claims over $25,000
• Appeals from Criminal Court and Civil Court
• Post-conviction motions

Cases are assigned to Supreme Court judges through the Individual Assignment System (IAS). Criminal cases come here after the Criminal Court conducts preliminary hearings and the grand jury approves the indictment. Civil cases begin with the filing of a complaint with the Kings County Clerk's office.

Magistrate Court Cases in Kings

The magistrate-level function in Kings County is performed by two lower-level courts.

Criminal Court handles misdemeanors, violations, preliminary hearings in felony cases (arraignments), and DWI cases if they are classified as misdemeanors.

Civil Court has jurisdiction over civil disputes up to $25,000. A separate Small Claims Part handles claims by individuals up to $10,000 — the procedure is simplified, and an attorney is not required. The Housing Part of this court resolves disputes between landlords and tenants. Traffic violations within the five boroughs of New York City are handled not by a court but by an administrative body — the Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB) at the DMV.

Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Kings

Family Law. Kings County Family Court handles cases of child custody, child support, paternity, orders of protection, and termination of parental rights. Divorce, however, is handled by the Supreme Court — that's where a divorce action is filed.

Probate Law. The Surrogate's Court of Kings County has exclusive jurisdiction over wills, estate administration, appointment of guardians for incapacitated persons, and trust-related cases. The court clerk's office is located at 2 Johnson Street, Brooklyn.

Juvenile Matters. Family Court also handles juvenile delinquency cases, child protective proceedings, and adoptions. Juvenile records are confidential under New York State law. Requests for reports of child abuse are made through the Office of Children and Family Services portal.

How Cases Move Through the Kings Court System

1. Case Initiation. A criminal case begins with an arrest or a summons. A civil case starts with the filing of a complaint and payment of a fee. A family case begins with a petition to Family Court.
2. Judge Assignment. In the Supreme Court, the IAS system is used: one judge receives the case and handles it to completion. In Criminal Court and Civil Court, cases are distributed by categories and parts.
3. Initial Hearings. In criminal cases — arraignment (charging, setting bail). In civil cases — preliminary conference.
4. Pre-trial Phase. Motions, discovery, and in criminal cases — plea bargaining.
5. Trial or Resolution. By jury or judge, settlement, plea, or default judgment.
6. Post-Decision. Sentencing, appeal to the Appellate Division (Second Department), or enforcement of the court's decision.

Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Kings

The administrative judge of the Second Judicial District oversees the work of all Kings County courts. Each court has its Chief Clerk responsible for the daily management of the clerk's office.

Local rules for New York courts are published on the New York State Unified Court System website (NYCourts.gov). For the Supreme Court, in particular, the Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and separate criminal procedure rules apply.

Public Access to Records. According to the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), records of public agencies are generally public unless they fall under specified exceptions. Court records in criminal and civil cases are usually open for viewing. Sealed records, juvenile cases, and some family cases have restricted access. FOIL requests to city agencies can be submitted through the OpenRecords portal.

Attending Hearings. Most hearings are open to the public. Some hearings are held virtually via Microsoft Teams — schedules and links are available on the specific court's website. For format confirmation, contact the respective court's clerk's office.

Court Records and Related Court Resources in Kings

• Online Case Search. The WebCivil Supreme system allows searching for Supreme Court civil cases. For criminal cases — WebCrims. Both tools are available on the NYCourts.gov website.
• Property Records. ACRIS (Automated City Register Information System) provides access to property documents in Kings County. The City Register office is located at 210 Joralemon Street, 2nd floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Information about property deeds can also be obtained through NYC311.
• Property Taxes. Property assessment search and information on property taxes are available on the NYC Department of Finance website.
• Marriage Records. Marriage records are issued by the NYC City Clerk. For an apostille, the document is submitted to the NYS Department of State.
• Criminal History. A personal criminal history check (rap sheet) can be ordered through the NY Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) by calling 518-457-9847.
• Police Report Requests. Copies of NYPD police reports can be obtained through NYC311 or by contacting the NYPD Records Division. FOIL requests to the police are submitted through the NYPD FOIL Unit.
• Arrest Warrants. Information about arrest warrants issued in New York City can be obtained through the Criminal Court information line.
• Inmate Lookup. For individuals held in NYC Department of Correction facilities, use P.I.C. Lookup or Person in Custody Lookup. For state prisons — DOCCS Incarcerated Lookup. The Commission of Correction provides links to all locators.
• Crime Statistics. NY DCJS Criminal Justice Statistics publishes data for all 62 counties, including Kings County.
• State Police Records. FOIL requests to the New York State Police are submitted through the State Police records request portal.