Is New York a Public Record State?

As a resident of New York State, you have the legal right to inspect public records through the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIL). There are no limits on how many members of the public can request records. Find municipal acquisitions, contract awards, public hearings and other notices. Choose Albany Allegany Bronx County Broome Cattaraugus Cayuga Chautauqua Chemung Chenango Clinton Columbia Cortland Delaware Dutch Erie Essex Franklin Fulton Genesee Greene Hamilton Herkimer Jefferson Kings (Brooklyn), Lewis Livingston Madison Monroe Montgomery Nassau New York (Manhattan) Niagara Oneida Onondaga Ontario Orange Orleans Oswego Oswego Otsego Putnam QueensRichmond (Staten Island), sselaer Rockland Saratoga Schenectady Schoharie Schuyler Seneca St.

Record applicants should contact the New York department or agency responsible for maintaining or issuing the recording. Keep in mind that public records may remain accessible to the public if the document is crucial to the safety and interests of the public. In addition, members of the public can access sex offender information for free through the New York Sex Offender Registry. However, record holders must demonstrate that the registry is exempt from access under the state's public records law. In addition, record applicants can use a generalized Freedom of Information Act request form (see the example of the New York City form) to submit a request to various New York custodial agencies.

Records applicants generally do not need a statement of intent before obtaining New York public records. In addition, payment options for obtaining a public record in New York include debit or credit cards, cash payments at the branch's physical address, money orders, and cashier's checks. You can learn about current criminal cases in New York City, Nassau and Suffolk counties, the county courts of the 9th Judicial District (Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Dutchess counties), the Erie County Court, and the Buffalo City Court. To check public records in New York, record applicants must identify the basics of requesting their preferred document. In addition, both residents and non-residents can inspect, make copies and request corrections to public records maintained by custodial agencies.

Some custodians, such as law enforcement agencies and county clerks, allow interested and eligible individuals to view public records during business hours. However, these materials may become accessible to the public if they are used in connection with public affairs. For example, divorce records in New York are not available to the general public, only registry subjects and legal professionals can request access to documents. The Freedom of Information Act prevents custodians from disclosing certain public information to the public.