How to Search Kings County Court Records
The first step is picking the right portal. The state runs four free systems that hold Brooklyn cases. WebCivil Supreme holds civil Supreme Court cases. WebCriminal holds upcoming criminal court dates in NYC. NYSCEF holds e-filed civil matters and, since September 8, 2025, authorized Kings County criminal e-filings. WebSurrogate holds estate files. The New York eCourts hub links all four portals from one page.
The picture below links to the official WebCivil Supreme search page, which is the main entry point for civil case lookups in Kings County.
The portal supports four search modes and includes a Kings County limiter so the result list stays short and on point.
- Open WebCivil Supreme. Choose the Index, Party, Attorney/Firm, or Justice search mode.
- If you have an index number, enter it in NNNNNN/YYYY format. If you do not, switch to Party Search.
- Limit the search to Kings County. The portal lets users Ctrl-click to add or drop counties.
- Pick HTML or PDF output and click Search. Open the case to view docket entries.
- For e-filed documents, click through to NYSCEF or open the document image from the case detail page.
- If a certified copy is needed, contact the Kings County Clerk at 360 Adams Street, Room 189.
Kings County Court Records Search Fields
WebCivil Supreme is the main portal for civil Supreme Court lookups. The official state FAQ lists four search modes. The field table below is taken from the WebCivil Supreme page and the state FAQ description. Sealed cases and Article 81 Mental Hygiene cases never appear in the result list.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes / Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| What to Search | Radio/tab | Yes | Index, Party, Attorney/Firm, or Justice/Calendar search |
| Index Number | Text | Conditional | Format NNNNNN/YYYY; up to six digits plus four-digit year |
| Party Name | Text | Conditional | Full or partial name; useful when index number unknown |
| Attorney/Firm | Text | Conditional | Search by attorney or firm name; supports calendar lookup |
| Court(s) | Multi-select | Optional | Choose Kings County; Ctrl-click to add more counties |
| Output | Radio | Yes | HTML or PDF |
For criminal court dates, the state runs WebCriminal. Its rules differ. The CourtHelp guide explains how to set up a defendant or docket lookup and is shown in the official screen below.
WebCriminal will not show warrants, finished cases, or sealed cases. Use it only for upcoming court dates.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes / Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last Name | Text | Conditional | Minimum first 3 letters required |
| First Name | Text | Conditional | Minimum first 2 letters required |
| Docket Number | Text | Conditional | Full format CR-######-YYSU |
| Court | Dropdown | Conditional | Choose "Criminal Court" for NYC lower criminal lookups |
| Courtroom / Part | Text | Conditional | Use part number such as D31 or D44, not the judge's name |
Types of Kings County Court Records
Brooklyn court records fall into several broad classes. Each class has its own forms, its own filing fees, and its own access rules. Civil Supreme Court records include high-dollar civil cases, foreclosure files, name-change petitions, matrimonial files, mental hygiene matters, and elder law cases. Criminal Supreme Court records cover felony cases in Kings County. Surrogate's Court records hold estate and adoption files. Family Court records hold child-related matters.
Lower NYC courts also serve Brooklyn. The NYC Civil Court hears claims up to $50,000, small claims up to $10,000, and Housing Part landlord-tenant cases. The NYC Criminal Court hears misdemeanors and runs arraignments. Each court keeps its own file even when a case moves up to Supreme Court.
- Civil Supreme Court files: foreclosure, matrimonial, mental hygiene, name change, commercial, elder law, and general civil litigation.
- Criminal Supreme Court files: felony indictments, motions, dispositions, sentences, and certificates of disposition.
- Surrogate's Court files: probate petitions, administration files, wills, estate accountings, and adoption papers.
- Family Court files: child support, custody, visitation, abuse/neglect, foster care, juvenile delinquency.
- NYC Civil Court files: small claims, housing, and consumer debt cases.
- Judgments and liens: the Kings County Clerk records judgments and liens on Brooklyn block-and-lot parcels.
What Kings County Court Records Show
A typical Kings County court record holds case management data, parties, assigned judge, docket entries, and any uploaded documents. Civil Supreme Court records can include decisions that court staff scan and upload. E-filed documents come from NYSCEF. The table below maps the fields that most often appear on a portal result.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Caption | Plaintiff v. defendant, petitioner/respondent, estate name, or People v. defendant. |
| Case Number | Civil index NNNNNN/YYYY; criminal docket CR-######-YYSU; estate file number from Surrogate's Court. |
| Filing Date | Date the action or proceeding was opened. |
| Case Type | Foreclosure, matrimonial, felony, estate, family offense, or other class. |
| Assigned Justice / Part | The judge or court part hearing the case. |
| Disposition | Dismissal, judgment, plea, sentence, decree, or settlement. |
| Documents | Decisions, orders, and e-filed papers pulled from NYSCEF or WebSurrogate. |
| Status | Open, disposed, sealed, transferred, calendared, or closed. |
Update timing varies by system. WebCivil Supreme refreshes Kings County data four times each day. WebSurrogate only links to document images filed on or after February 19, 2014.
Public Access Framework for Kings County Court Records
New York keeps two parallel access frameworks. Agency administrative records run through the Freedom of Information Law at Public Officers Law §§ 84-90. Court case records run under Judiciary Law § 255 and court rules. The Unified Court System's own FOIL page makes the split clear. Use FOIL for agency administrative records. Use the clerk or records room for case files.
Anyone can request a Kings County court file. Some files need a court-stamped certified copy for legal use. Civil Supreme Court certified copies come from the Kings County Clerk at 360 Adams Street, Room 189. Criminal certificates of disposition come from the Criminal Term Records Room at 320 Jay Street. Surrogate's Court file copies come from 2 Johnson Street. Family Court access is restricted under Family Court Act § 166.
Note: WebCivil Supreme, WebCrims, WebSurrogate, and NYSCEF are free to use, but they do not provide certified copies; certified copies must come from the issuing court.
Records That Are Sealed or Confidential in Kings County
Several statutes seal Kings County court records or block public access. CPL § 160.59 lets eligible people seal certain convictions ten years after sentence or release. CPL § 160.55 seals most violations and traffic infractions on conviction. Family Court Act § 166 keeps Family Court records out of indiscriminate public inspection.
Civil sealing has its own rule. Uniform Rule 216.1 says a civil court may not seal records without a written good-cause finding. To view a sealed Kings County record, a person must usually file a motion in the issuing court, show standing, and serve the parties. The judge can grant access in part or deny the motion outright. For criminal sealing details, see the Domestic Relations Law § 114 adoption provisions and the CPL § 160.59 text.
The statute text explains the eligibility window, the petition steps, and which convictions remain off-limits to sealing.
In-Person Court Record Requests
Some Kings County records can be pulled only in person. The Kings County Clerk's Office at 360 Adams Street handles Supreme Court civil records, certifications, and judgments. The Record Room is in Room 079. The Jury Division is in Room 156. Bring a government ID, the index or docket number if known, party names, and payment for any certification fees.
Kings County Clerk's Office
360 Adams Street, Room 189
Brooklyn, NY 11201
347-404-9772
Mon-Fri 9 AM-5 PM
Criminal Term Records Room
320 Jay Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
347-296-1076
Mon-Fri 9 AM-5 PM
NYSCEF and EDDS for Kings County Filings
NYSCEF is the state e-filing system. It started in civil cases and expanded over time. On September 8, 2025, Kings County Supreme Court Criminal Term became one of the first criminal courts to launch NYSCEF for authorized criminal case types. EDDS, the Electronic Document Delivery System, lets the public submit PDF documents to a Kings County court for review. Each tool has its own login rules and document review process.
Use NYSCEF to view or file documents in a case that has opted into e-filing. Use EDDS for one-off requests to send a court a document or to request a record. Neither tool guarantees instant acceptance. A Kings County judge or clerk reviews the submission before it joins the official case file.