Kings County (Brooklyn), New York court records are available through several channels. KingsNYCourt.us allows you to search for public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, records can be found through the official online portals of the state court system, court clerk's offices, and public terminals installed directly in court buildings.
Kings Court System & Jurisdictions
Kings County — one of New York City's five boroughs, known as Brooklyn — is served by several judicial structures of different levels of jurisdiction.
New York State Courts in Kings County
- Supreme Court, Kings County — handles civil cases without a limit on the amount of the claim, as well as serious criminal cases (felonies). Divorce cases and real estate disputes are also conducted here.
- Kings County Criminal Court — the local criminal court for misdemeanors (less serious offenses), violations of city ordinances, and initial hearings in felony cases before they are transferred to the Supreme Court.
- Kings County Civil Court — civil claims up to $50,000, housing disputes (Housing Part), and small claims (Small Claims) up to $10,000.
- Kings County Family Court — cases regarding custody, alimony, protective orders, adoption, and juvenile justice.
- Kings County Surrogate's Court — equivalent to a probate court: wills, estate administration, and guardian appointments.
Traffic violations are handled by the Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB), which operates separately from the court system and is subordinate to the state's Department of Motor Vehicles.
Federal Court
Kings County is part of the Eastern District of New York (U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York) with its main facility in Brooklyn. Federal criminal and civil cases, bankruptcies, and appeals are processed here. Access to federal files is provided through the PACER system.
Kings Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
To find out when a hearing is scheduled, use one of the tools listed below.
- WebCivil Supreme Portal — on the New York State Unified Court System (NYSCOURTS.gov) website, you can search the Supreme Court schedule by index number or party name. The calendar is updated daily.
- WebCrims — an online system for viewing the schedule of criminal cases in Criminal Court Kings County. A case number or defendant's last name is required.
- Criminal Court Phone Line — information about hearing dates and arrest warrants can be obtained by calling the criminal court clerk's office.
- In-Person Visit — public terminals in court buildings on Jay Street and Adams Street in Brooklyn allow real-time viewing of the session calendar.
For federal cases, the schedule is published on the Eastern District's website; electronic notifications are sent to registered PACER/CM-ECF users.
How to Get a Copy of a Kings Court Document
You can obtain a copy of a court document in three ways — online, by mail, or in person. Each is described below.
Online
Through the WebCivil Supreme portal, non-certified copies of decisions and motions in Supreme Court civil cases can be downloaded. For criminal cases, electronic access is limited — you usually need to contact the clerk's office.
In Person
The Kings County Clerk's Office issues both regular and certified copies of documents. A certified copy contains the official seal of the clerk and is suitable for submission to other institutions.
To obtain a copy, you will need the case index number or file number and the full name of the party.
By Mail
Send a written request specifying the case number, document type, and contact information to the address of the clerk's office listed above. Include a check or money order for the appropriate fee (see the table below). Processing of mail requests may take several weeks.
Real estate records — deeds, mortgages, liens — are available through the ACRIS (Automated City Register Information System). The Brooklyn City Register's Office is located at 210 Joralemon Street, 2nd floor. Information on obtaining copies of property deeds is also provided by NYC 311.
If you need records held by other city agencies, submit a request under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) through the OpenRecords portal.
Kings Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees are set by the CPLR and Uniform Rules for Trial Courts of New York State. Below are typical rates — confirm the exact amount with the clerk's office, as certain case categories may have different rates.
| Service | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Filing a civil claim (Supreme Court) — Request for Judicial Intervention | $95 |
| Filing a claim (Civil Court) | depends on the claim amount; from $15 to $70 |
| Certified copy of a document (County Clerk) | $1.25 per page + $5 for certification |
| Non-certified copy | $0.65 per page |
| Registry search (by name, for two years) | $5 |
| Exemplified copy (double certification) | $10 additional |
Acceptable forms of payment: money order or certified check made out to "Kings County Clerk". Some clerk's offices also accept credit or debit cards for on-site payments. Not all departments accept cash — check in advance.
For criminal records — such as a rap sheet — contact the NY Division of Criminal Justice Services. The fee for checking your own criminal history is $65 (money order payable to DCJS).