Suffolk County Courts

Suffolk County is geographically located in the easternmost part of New York. It has a total area that spans 2,373 square miles. The county was founded in 1683 and named after Suffolk County in East England. The City of Riverhead serves as its county seat, and about 7.6 percent of New York residents live in Suffolk County (1.53 million).

According to the New York State-Paid Trial Court Caseload Trend report, annually, Suffolk County accounts for approximately 160,000 case filings. Out of these, 40,000 constitute local criminal filings, and 1,900 cases are filed in the Supreme and County Courts. Furthermore, 41,000 cases make up family case filings, while probate cases account for about 9,000 filings. On average, Suffolk County disposes of about 158,000 of these cases.

Suffolk County Courts are geographically distributed to serve its diverse population. It has a decentralized court system with courthouses located in several towns and villages. The county seat hosts the majority of the county's court facilities; however, other courts are in several key locations. The following is a list of the types of courts located in Suffolk County:

• Suffolk County Supreme Courts are trial-level courts of general jurisdiction. They handle civil litigations, matrimonial proceedings, criminal, and guardianship matters.
• Suffolk County Courts handle civil cases with claims up to $25,000 in damages. They also handle appeals from town and village courts.
• Suffolk County Family Courts are designed to resolve issues with a focus on protection, support, and rehabilitation. They handle child abuse, juvenile delinquency, and Persons in Need of Supervision (PINS) cases.
• Suffolk County Surrogate Court is a specialized court with jurisdiction over probate of wills and adoption cases (foreign, adult, and infant).
• Suffolk County District Courts are local trial courts with jurisdiction over criminal, civil, and housing-related matters in the towns of Brookhaven, Huntington, Islip, Smithtown, and Babylon.
• Suffolk County Town and Village Courts handle a range of legal matters, including landlord-tenant, small claims, and misdemeanor cases. They also conduct arraignments for felony and traffic cases.

How To Access Suffolk County Court Records

The public's right to view non-confidential court records is governed by the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). FOIL requests for court records are to be made to a court clerk, who is obliged to provide records unless specific exemptions exist under the law prohibiting the public disclosure of such records. Some court records exempt from public disclosure in Suffolk County include those considered by law to constitute an invasion of privacy and records that contain certain confidential information, such as trade secrets. To search court records in Suffolk County, individuals may visit the appropriate court clerk's office and submit a valid ID and a case number in a request.

Online

Anyone may find court records pertaining to Suffolk County online through the New York State Unified Court System website. Dockets are available by providing specific information such as names of parties involved, the attorney's name, the case number, or the index number.

Interested persons may also find case information and docket numbers about cases adjudicated in Suffolk County on the CourtCaseFinder platform. Individuals may search using a case number and the names of the parties involved in the case to view court records. The CourtCaseFinder offers case searches not only for Suffolk County residents but also across all state-level courts.

Individuals may use the PACER case locator (PCL) to search federal court cases in the United States. The PCL is a national index of court cases. A case lookup may be performed using a case number, party name, and court location. Furthermore, individuals may access court records on the PACER website for $0.10 per page; however, fees are waived if you accrue less than $30 per quarter.

In-Person

Individuals may schedule a visit to the appropriate clerk's office, depending on the type of case they wish to access. Requesters may also call ahead to verify the hours of operation and bring along the required fee for the record. Furthermore, certain courthouses offer public computer terminals for easy case access. These terminals are located at designated public access areas, specifically in major courthouses, and offer user-friendly help desk support. Accessing court records typically costs a fee; the public may request plain copies of records for $0.65 per page in Suffolk County. However, certified copies cost $1.25 per page.

Old and Archived Records

The public may find records that are no longer active or have been preserved at the Suffolk County court record archives. This archive is a repository for civil, criminal, divorce, and court minutes related to legal proceedings in Suffolk County. Interested persons may visit the Suffolk County archives record address at 310 Center Drive South, Riverhead, NY, to obtain records. In addition, members of the public may find Suffolk County's archived court records on the New York State Archives website. Common-law and Supreme Court records dating back to 1800 are available to the public at:

How To File a Case in Suffolk County

The filing process for a case in Suffolk County may be either elaborate or straightforward. However, this depends on the type of case, whether you are self-represented or you are represented by an attorney. If you are filing a lawsuit without an attorney, you are required to follow the stipulated legal procedures to successfully file your case.

To proceed with filing a case, litigants are required to first determine the court with jurisdiction to handle their case. Also, they may contact the specific court clerk to verify that such a court has jurisdiction over the case type brought to court. Fees are often an integral part of the filing process, and litigants navigating the Suffolk County court system are required to pay case filing fees.

Suffolk County filing fees are structured to reflect the New York Civil Practice Law and Rules. However, various filing fees depend on the type of court involved. A small claims filing fee for claims between $1 and $1000 costs $15, excluding other court fees. On the other hand, individuals may file a small claims case at the Town and Village Courts for $10 only. Suffolk County, however, offers fee waivers to indigent parties; that is, individuals who lack the financial means to cover filing fees.

Such individuals may fill out the Application to Waive Court Costs, Fees, and Expenses Form (UCS-FW1) to apply for a fee waiver and submit it to the appropriate court clerk. Individuals applying for a fee waiver are required to provide a sworn affidavit explaining their financial situation. They must state their income, assets, and expenses to prove their indigency. The following outlines the process for filing a case in Suffolk County:

• Prepare your documents: For civil cases, this usually involves a summons and verified complaint signed under penalty of perjury. However, individuals are required to use the appropriate forms to file their case.
• Choose your filing method: You may file your case in person at the clerk's office In addition, you may do so by submitting a mail request and attaching supporting documents to the clerk of the appropriate court. Litigants may also utilize the NYSCEF system for e-filing.
• Pay filing fees: Filing a case requires a filing fee in addition to other costs required by the court. This may include fees for appeals and motions for civil cases.
• Serve the other party: In most cases filed in Suffolk County, New York, the party initiating the legal action (the petitioner) is required to notify the other party (the respondent) of the filed petition. This may be done by someone over the age of 18 who is not a party to the case or a professional process server.

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

There are several types of support available to ensure broader access to justice for individuals across the United States. Most especially, individuals who lack the financial means to hire an attorney may benefit from a range of accessible legal support services. Legal aid organizations, which are nonprofit entities funded by the federal government, serve significant functions in facilitating public access to the U.S. court system. They offer free or low-cost legal assistance to low-income individuals and families. They also provide legal advice, representation in court, and assistance with legal documents. Legal aid organizations typically help with the following across the United States:

• Housing and eviction
• Domestic violence and family law
• Disaster recovery
• Employment and income stability
• Consumer rights and fraud matters

In addition, the public may utilize court-based self-help centers when pursuing a legal case. These self-help centers provide legal referral services and help with court forms and procedures. Suffolk County offers various tools and services to assist residents in resolving legal matters:

• Suffolk County Court Self-Help Resources: This is located inside the Supreme Court libraries in Central Islip and Riverhead. They provide legal research assistance and general information about court procedures.
• Legal Aid Society of Suffolk County: They offer legal representation or advice, especially in the areas of family and criminal law.
• Suffolk County Bar Association (SCBA): It hosts periodic free legal clinics for veterans covering disability claims, divorce, guardianship, and bankruptcy cases.
• Lawyer Referral Services: A 30-minute consultation with a qualified attorney is available to individuals for a fee of $25. It provides guidance across nearly 50 legal topics, such as consumer debt, estate matters, criminal proceedings, and family law.
• NeedHelpPayingBills: This platform offers rent assistance, food aid, and legal services. It targets senior citizens, low-income families, and the residents of Suffolk County.

Online Self-Help Tools

• Court help - NY State Courts: It offers guides on court basics, fees, and forms. The platform specifically covers topics such as evictions, small claims, and child custody.
• LawHelpNY: Provides LawHelp Interactive sessions (LHI) to the public. It guides users through interactive interviews to generate court forms and legal documents.

Suffolk County residents have access to robust pro bono legal assistant programs. Some of them include:

• Suffolk County Pro Bono Project: It is primarily coordinated through partnerships between the Suffolk County Bar Association (SCBA) and Nassau Suffolk Law Services. This project provides free legal assistance to low-income residents in civil matters. It also attends to guardianship and probate of will cases.
• Suffolk County Bar Association Pro Bono Foundation: The SCBA offers support through its pro bono foundation, which works closely with Legal Services of Long Island. In addition, volunteer attorneys provide representation in civil matters and mentoring for new attorneys.
• Legal Services of Long Island: It focuses on cases dealing with the survival needs of people with low incomes, involving shelter, food, healthcare, and family law issues. Services are free for eligible persons.

Types of Courts in Suffolk County

Suffolk County is served by multiple courts with jurisdictions of various subject matters. Several courts, such as 3 Supreme Courts, 2 Family Courts, 1 County Court, 1 Surrogate Court, 6 District Courts, and 33 Town and Village Courts. The following are the types of courts that exist in Suffolk County:

Supreme Courts in Suffolk County

Suffolk County Supreme Court

Jurisdiction: It issues restraining orders and hears personal injury lawsuits.

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Suffolk County Supreme Court

Jurisdiction: It is a trial court of unlimited original jurisdiction. It hears cases outside the jurisdiction of other trial courts.

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Suffolk County Supreme Court

Jurisdiction: Civil and criminal cases are heard in this court.

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County Courts in Suffolk County

Suffolk County Court

Jurisdiction: The County Court has jurisdiction over felony prosecutions and hearscivil cases where the amount in dispute is $25,000.

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Family Courts in Suffolk County

Suffolk County Family Court

Jurisdiction: It handles legal matters involving family and children. It adjudicates cases involving child welfare and establishes legal parentage.

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Suffolk County Family Court

Jurisdiction: This court assigns guardianship responsibilities. It also oversees legal processes for adoption and foster care placement.

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Surrogate's Courts in Suffolk County

Suffolk County Surrogate's Court

Jurisdiction: The Suffolk County Surrogate's Court has jurisdiction over legal matters involving the administration of estates and validation of wills.

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District Courts in Suffolk County

Suffolk County 1st District Court - Criminal

Jurisdiction: Criminal cases, traffic, and motor vehicle violation cases are heard at this location.

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Suffolk County 1st District Court - Civil

Jurisdiction: The First District Court is a central court serving the towns of Babylon, Brookhaven, Huntington, Islip, and Smithtown.It hears civil, commercial, small claims, landlord-tenant, and town ordinance violation cases.

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Suffolk County 2nd District Court

Jurisdiction: The Second District Court serves the town of Babylon. It hears civil, commercial, small claims, landlord & tenant, and town ordinance cases.

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Suffolk County 3rd District Court

Jurisdiction: It hears civil, commercial, small claims, landlord-tenant, and town ordinance cases in the town of Huntington.

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Suffolk County 4th District Court

Jurisdiction: The Fourth District Court serves the town of Smithtown. It hears civil, commercial, small claims, landlord and tenant, and town ordinance matters.

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Suffolk County 5th District Court

Jurisdiction: It hears small claims, landlord-tenant, and town ordinance cases as well as commercial disputes.

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Suffolk County 6th District Court

Jurisdiction: This court hears small claims, landlord-tenant, commercial, civil, and town ordinance violations in the town of Brookhaven.

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Town Courts and Village Courts in Suffolk County

Amityville Village Justice Court

Jurisdiction: The Amityville Justice Court handles small claims, eviction, and misdemeanor criminal cases.

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Asharoken Village Court

Jurisdiction: It specifically addresses parking violations, driving with a suspended license, DWI, and municipal code violations.

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Babylon Village Court

Jurisdiction: The Babylon Village Court adjudicates traffic citation cases and misdemeanor cases.

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Belle Terre Village Justice Court

Jurisdiction: It handles village ordinance infractions and small claims disputes within the village of Belle Terre.

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Bellport Village Court

Jurisdiction: It hears local infractions and traffic violation cases within the village of Bellport.

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Brightwaters Village Justice Court

Jurisdiction: The Brightwaters Village Justice Court handles village ordinance infractions and small claims cases.

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East Hampton Justice Court

Jurisdiction: This court hears traffic and parking violation cases as well as small claims cases.

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Head of the Harbor Village Court

Jurisdiction: It is a court with jurisdiction over village-level matters. It also handles civil actions up to $5000 in claims transferred from the County or Supreme Courts.

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Huntington Bay Village Justice Court

Jurisdiction: It hears local law violations and traffic ticket cases.

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Islandia Village Court

Jurisdiction: Islandia Village Court handles misdemeanors and small claims cases involving monetary disputes of $3000 or less.

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Lake Grove Village Court

Jurisdiction: The Lake Grove Village Court handles minor cases within the village's jurisdiction and traffic violations.

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Lindenhurst Village Court

Jurisdiction: It hears vehicle and traffic violations, as well as ordinance violations.

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Lloyd Harbor Village Court

Jurisdiction: The Lloyd Harbor Village Court conducts arraignments and preliminary hearings for serious criminal cases. It also hears civil claims up to $3,000.

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Mastic Beach Village Court

Jurisdiction: The Mastic Beach Village Court handles traffic tickets, misdemeanors, and code enforcement violations.

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Nissequogue Village Court

Jurisdiction: The Nissequogue Village Court is a local justice court that handles traffic infractions such as speeding. It also handles civil cases within its monetary jurisdiction.

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Northport Village Justice Court

Jurisdiction: It enforces village-specific laws and has general trial jurisdiction over misdemeanor cases.

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Ocean Beach Village Justice Court

Jurisdiction: The Ocean Beach Village Justice Court hears misdemeanor offenses and ordinance infractions.

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Old Field Village Justice Court

Jurisdiction: It hears non-felony criminal offenses such as DWI cases and cases involving the violation of traffic laws.

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Patchogue Village Justice Court

Jurisdiction: The Patchogue Village Justice Court hears building and housing code violations and motor vehicle infractions.

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Poquott Justice Court

Jurisdiction: This court is overseen by an elected village justice who ensures local ordinance laws are adhered to.

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Port Jefferson Justice Court

Jurisdiction: It adjudicates low-level criminal matters occurringwithin the village boundaries.

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Quogue Village Justice Court

Jurisdiction: The Quogue Village Justice Court handles local ordinance violations that affect community standards.

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Riverhead Town Court

Jurisdiction: This court serves as the first point of contact for many legal issues arising in the Town of Riverhead. It handles town code violations.

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Sag Harbor Justice Court

Jurisdiction: It conducts arraignments and preliminary hearings for more serious crimes such as felonies.

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Saltaire Village Court

Jurisdiction: It handles real property cases up to $3000 and conducts preliminary hearings for criminal matters.

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Shelter Island Town Court

Jurisdiction: The Shelter Island Town Court, as part of its jurisdiction, handles civil matters within the town's boundaries.

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Shoreham Village Court

Jurisdiction: It handles misdemeanors and violations under the New York Penal Law.

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Southampton Town Justice Court

Jurisdiction: The Southampton Town Justice Court hears cases relating to traffic and village code violations.

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Southampton Village Justice Court

Jurisdiction: It handles civil matters within the village's limits, eviction, and vehicle violation cases.

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Southold Town Justice Court

Jurisdiction: The types of cases handled in the Southold Town Justice Court include penal law offenses (misdemeanors) and small claims up to $3000.

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Village of the Branch Justice Court

Jurisdiction: It handles small claims cases typically under $5000 and adjudicates criminal cases.

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West Hampton Dunes Justice Court

Jurisdiction: It hears landlord-tenant disputes and violations of village code laws.

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Westhampton Beach Justice Court

Jurisdiction: The Westhampton Beach Justice Court handles civil matters within the village's jurisdiction. It also handles zoning code violations.

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Federal Courts in Suffolk County

There is a federal courthouse in Suffolk County, which also serves the Eastern District of New York. It hears federal civil and criminal cases, as well as bankruptcy cases. The address is located at:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Suffolk County Courts