Wayne County, New York State Court Records
When a case is filed in any court, every document created or received during the case is compiled to create the Wayne County court records. These records could include criminal, family, probate, and civil cases. The Wayne County Clerk of the Court maintains and disseminates court records in compliance with the New York Court Rules and the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIA). These records are generally public unless sealed for privacy reasons. The Clerk of the Court issues them primarily online and in person.
Record seekers may find that court records are sometimes connected to other public records, such as arrest or vital records. The relationship between a court and an arrest record begins when an arrest leads to formal charges and the arrested person is tried in court. Vital records intersect with court records when a court issues a divorce decree, which is reflected in a divorce record, or when a judge approves a legal name change that updates a birth certificate.
Are Wayne County Court Records Public?
Yes. All courts in Wayne County, in accordance with the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIA), make available their records for public inspection and copying. Anyone seeking court records should file a written application with the records access officer during business hours. The application must contain sufficient information that may help identify the court records. The records staff must respond to the requested record within five (5) business days. The response may be to grant, deny, or acknowledge receipt of the request, and to provide a date by which a decision is expected.
A Wayne County Court may deny access to records, or portions of them, if the desired record is specifically exempt from public disclosure. Examples of such records are:
- Matrimonial actions
- Mental health records
- Family court proceedings
- Criminal history records
- Court records about minors
- Adoption and grand jury records
- Juror questionnaires and records
- Sex offender registration records
- Involuntary commitment proceedings
- Civil commitment records about the Mental Hygiene Law
What Information is Available in Wayne County Court Records?
The information contained in Wayne County court records differs depending on the case type:
-
Criminal records
- The defendant's name and birth year
- Incident and arrest (incident date, CJTN, arrest date, arrest number, and arresting agency)
- Attorney information (name, address, type, and phone number)
- Next appearance (date, time, court, judge's name, and part)
-
Civil records
- Court's name, index number, case name, and case type
- Classification, filing date, disposition date, and judge's name
- Attorney's name, address, and type
- Appearance date and time, purpose, and outcome type
- Motion number, filer, order signed date, decision date, and nature of decision
-
Probate records
- Court's name, the deceased person's name, and filing date
- Estate attorney, disposition date, judge's name, and date of death
- Documents submitted during the petition and the signed date
Wayne County Court Records Search
Members of the public may find Wayne Court records via the following methods:
Online Access
The New York State Unified Court System has a Case Search system with several portals where individuals may find Wayne County court records. The specific portal to use for a search depends on the court or case type. For example:
- WebCivil Local: This tool is for civil court records only. Users may perform a search by index, party, attorney/firm, or judge.
- WebCivil Supreme: This database reveals court information from the Supreme Court. Therefore, users may find criminal and divorce records from this tool. The search criteria include index, party, attorney/firm, or justice.
- WebCriminal: This platform provides information on criminal cases. Users may find Wayne County criminal court records via this portal by case number or defendant's name.
- WebFamily: This tool contains family court records. The search parameters include the file number, case docket number, or the name of the attorney/firm.
- WebSurrogate: The portal provides probate case information, and the search options include name, file, old index, index pages, or will.
In-Person Access
The Wayne County Courts permit access to court records from Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The record staff will provide the requester with a form to complete to facilitate the search. Once the desired record is located, a fee will be required before it is released.
Phone, Fax, and Email Requests
Record seekers should visit the website of the specific court where the case was heard to retrieve the phone, fax, or email for requesting court records. Provide sufficient information about the case to help the court staff process the request.
Fees for Court Records in Wayne County
There are no fees for accessing Wayne County court records through official search portals. However, copies of records cost $0.25 per page while certified copies cost $8 per copy.
Wayne County Courthouse Locations
The Family Court, Supreme & County Courts, Surrogate's Court, and Justice Courts (Town and village courts) make up the Wayne County Court system. These courts are located at the addresses below:
4576 Butler Center Road
Wolcott, NY 14590
Phone: (315) 594-2272
100 East Miller Street
Newark, NY 14513
Phone: (315) 331-1334
1890 State Route 31
Macedon, NY 14502
Phone: (315) 502-4220
6 South Park Street
Clyde, NY 14433
Phone: (315) 923-9375
10880 Lummisville Road
Wolcott, NY 14590
Phone: (315) 594-6511
43 Phelps Street
PO Box 373
Lyons, NY 14489
Phone: (315) 946-4213
3827 N Main St
PO Box 94
Marion, NY 14505
Phone: (315) 926-4461
3827 N Main St
PO Box 94
Marion, NY 14505
Phone: (315) 926-4461
100 East Miller Street
Newark, NY 14513
Phone: (315) 331-7666
1846 Ridge Road
PO Box 580
Ontario, NY 14519
Phone: (315) 524-6511
144 East Main Street
Palmyra, NY 14522
Phone: (315) 597-6757
144 East Main Street
Palmyra, NY 14522
Phone: (315) 597-6757
5074 North Main Street
North Rose, NY 14516
Phone: (315) 587-4418
1564 North Main Street
Savannah, NY 13146
Phone: (315) 365-4008
14-16 Mill Street
Sodus, NY14551
Phone: (315) 483-6807
3600 Lorraine Drive
Walworth, NY 14568
Phone: (315) 986-8544
Wayne County Courthouse
54 Broad Street
Lyons, NY 14489
6380 Route 21
Suite 2
Williamson, NY 14589
Phone: (315) 589-8250
6070 Lake Avenue
P O Box 237
Wolcott, NY 14590
Phone: (315) 594-8257
6015 New Hartford Street
P.O. Box 85
Wolcott, NY 14590
Phone: (315) 594-6437
Criminal Records Access in Wayne County
The New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA) provides criminal history record search (CHRS) for a fee of $95.00. Individuals may submit a CHRS request online or by mail. The search criteria are by name and date of birth. Mail requesters must submit a completed Criminal History Record Search (CHRS) Application Form alongside the search fee in the form of a check or money order to:
NYS Office of Court Administration
Division of Technology and Court Research
Criminal History Record Search Unit
25 Beaver Street (Room 940)
New York, NY 10004
Email: CHRS@nycourts.gov
Requests are processed within the next business day. The OCA will respond to the request by email or mail.
Wayne County Courts hear criminal matters, including misdemeanor and felony cases. Members of the public may use the New York State Unified Court System's WebCriminal portal to view records of these cases without charges. Either a case number or a defendant's name is required for the search. Requesters may also visit the courthouse during business hours to obtain copies of criminal records. They may be required to provide case information or complete a form for the search. A fee is required to obtain a copy of criminal records.
Wayne County Probate Records
The Wayne County Surrogate's Court hears probate cases, including wills, estates, and trusts. All information and documents filed during the proceeding are used to create the probate records. These records are considered public documents and are available to everyone. Interested persons may use the New York State Unified Court System's WebSurrogate portal to find probate information for free. Users may search by name, file, old index, index book pages, or will. Alternatively, requesters may visit the courthouse during business hours to perform a search. The records staff may provide a form that must be completed to facilitate the search. The desired records will be released only upon payment of a copying fee.
Wayne County Family Court Records
The Wayne County Family Court hears family-related matters, including child abuse and neglect, guardianship, family violence, foster care approval and review, juvenile delinquency, and child support, custody, and visitation. However, the family cases the Wayne County Supreme Court handles are divorce, separation, and annulment. Most family court records are confidential and therefore not available to the public. Only a few family court records, such as divorce records, are public.
The New York State Unified Court System provides two portals (WebCivil Supreme and WebFamily) through which individuals may access public records from the Wayne County Family Court. The search criteria include index, party, attorney/firm, file number, case docket number, or justice. Those seeking copies of family court records should visit the courthouse to submit a request.
Federal Court Records in Wayne County
The United States District Court for the Western District of New York handles federal court records in Wayne County. The Clerk's Officeissues copies of federal court records by mail. Interested persons may submit a completed Copy Request Form and the appropriate fees. The clerk charges $0.50 per page for non-electronic documents and $0.10 per page for electronically filed documents. The processing is 72 hours. Those seeking certified copies may visit the clerk's office Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the address below:
2120 Kenneth B. Keating Federal Building
100 State Street
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 613-4000
Fax: (585) 613-4035
Certified copies of federal court records cost $12. Individuals may also obtain copies of electronically filed documents through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER). Access to case information via this portal costs $0.10 per page, and a single document is capped at $3.00.
