Find Ontario County Court Docket Records

Ontario County court docket records are maintained at the County Clerk's Office in Canandaigua. You can search for case filings, docket entries, judgments, and other court records through the office or using state online portals. Ontario County is in the Finger Lakes region of western New York. The clerk's office handles all Supreme Court and County Court filings for the area. Canandaigua is a small city, but the courthouse still processes a steady flow of civil and criminal cases each year. Whether you need to track a pending case or pull copies of old court docket filings, the clerk's office is where you start.

Ontario County Court Docket Office

The Ontario County Clerk's Office is the main source for court docket records in the county. The office sits in the county courthouse complex in Canandaigua. Staff handle all filings for Supreme Court and County Court cases. They can help you search for case files, pull copies of docket entries, and get certified documents.

As Clerk of the Supreme and County Courts, the office keeps every paper filed in those cases. This includes the full docket from filing to disposition. The clerk also records deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land records. Under Judiciary Law § 255, the County Clerk must maintain and give public access to all court docket records. You can walk in and ask to see any case file that is not sealed.

The clerk's office also keeps historical records. Old naturalization papers, census data, and marriage records are part of their collection. Court docket filings go back to when the county was established in 1789. Ontario County is one of the older counties in New York, and its records collection reflects that long history. If you need older records, call ahead to see if they are on site or in off-site storage.

Search Ontario County Court Docket Records

You can search Ontario County court docket records online or in person. Online searches are free. In-person visits let you see the full case file and get copies right away.

The WebCivil Supreme portal covers civil Supreme Court docket records for Ontario County. Search by index number, party name, or attorney name. The system shows case status, appearance dates, and docket entries. For criminal cases, the WebCriminal system has pending cases in Ontario County courts. Both tools are free and run by the New York State Unified Court System.

E-filing through NYSCEF is now mandatory for new civil cases in Supreme Court. Documents filed through the system become part of the court docket. You can view them using the NYSCEF Guest Search without creating an account.

The Ontario County Clerk's page at co.ontario.ny.us has details on services and court docket access.

For estate and probate matters, the Ontario County Surrogate's Court handles those cases. You can search surrogate records through the WebSurrogate system online. These are separate from the County Clerk's court docket files.

The NYS Court Records Information page explains all the online tools and how to request records that are not available through the web portals.

The Ontario County government portal at co.ontario.ny.us has links to all county departments, including the clerk's office.

Ontario County Court Docket Fees

Ontario County follows the state fee schedule for court docket copies and services. Uncertified copies cost $0.65 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 per page. These fees apply to all court documents, including docket sheets, judgments, and case filings.

Filing a new Supreme Court case requires an index number at $210. This is the same across all 62 New York counties. Other fees include recording charges for deeds and mortgages, and search fees for name-based lookups of court docket records.

A Criminal History Record Search through the Office of Court Administration costs $95.00 per name and covers all counties statewide. Results come by email the next business day. A local search at the Ontario County Clerk's Office only covers Ontario County records.

Court Docket Records in Ontario County

The Ontario County Clerk keeps a wide range of court docket records. Civil case files from Supreme Court include the full docket from initial filing through judgment. County Court records cover felony criminal cases and civil matters up to $25,000. Judgment rolls, satisfaction records, and lien filings are all part of the collection too.

Under Judiciary Law § 255-b, the County Clerk must keep a docket book for each case where a Request for Judicial Intervention or appeal is filed. That docket book lists every paper filed in the case in order. Each entry shows the date, document type, and who filed it. This is what makes the court docket a reliable tool for tracking the full history of a case.

Ontario County was formed in 1789 and has records going back to that time. Land records, naturalization papers, and old court filings are part of the collection. The county's history in the Finger Lakes region means property disputes and land records have always been a significant part of the clerk's work. Some of the oldest records may be on microfilm or stored at separate locations.

Public Access to Ontario County Court Docket

Court docket records in Ontario County are open to the public. You do not need to be a party to a case to view the records. Judiciary Law § 4 requires all court sittings to be public, and that principle extends to the records. Walk into the clerk's office, ask for a case file, and staff will help you.

Some records are sealed by court order or restricted by law. Juvenile cases, certain family court matters, and records sealed under CPL § 160.50 after a case ends favorably for the defendant are not available. But the default is open access. If a record exists and is not sealed, you can see it.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Ontario County. If you are not sure which county handles your case, check the address where the case was filed.