New York People Search
New York holds a vast network of public records that can help you find people and learn about them. The state has 62 counties, and each one keeps its own set of court files, vital records, and property documents. You can run a New York people search online through several free state databases, or you can visit a county clerk's office in person. Many records go back over a century. The key is knowing which office holds the type of record you need and how to request it. This guide walks you through the main sources for searching people in New York State.
New York People Search Overview
How New York People Search Works
A people search in New York pulls from many types of public records. The state splits record-keeping between state agencies, county clerks, and city or town offices. No single database has it all. To find someone, you may need to check court records, vital records, property filings, or professional license databases depending on what type of info you need.
The New York State Unified Court System runs the eCourts portal where you can look up case info from courts across the state. The system covers civil, criminal, family, and commercial cases. You can search by name, case number, or case type. It shows party names, case status, and future court dates. The eCourts portal also lets you sign up for case tracking so you get automatic updates when a case status changes. For Supreme Court cases filed through NYSCEF (New York State Courts Electronic Filing), a guest search lets you view publicly available documents without creating an account. This makes it one of the most useful tools for a New York people search.
The Criminal History Record Search costs $95 per search and provides a full look at criminal case records maintained by the court system. This covers records from courts that participate in the unified court system database.
The New York State Department of Health Vital Records Section is another key source. It maintains birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates for the entire state outside of New York City. Records go back to 1881 for most areas. You can order certified copies online through VitalChek, by mail, or in person at the office in Menands. Processing takes 8 to 10 weeks by mail.
The screenshot above shows the NYS Department of Health Vital Records portal where you can search for and order birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates.
People Search Through New York Vital Records
Vital records are some of the most useful documents for a people search. They can confirm a person's full name, date of birth, parents' names, marriage history, and more. New York keeps these records at both the state and local level, so where you search depends on the type of record and where the event took place.
Birth records are confidential under New York State Public Health Law. Only the person named on the certificate, a parent listed on it, or someone with a court order can get a certified copy. Each certificate costs $30 from the state office. For genealogy, birth records must be on file at least 75 years and the person must be deceased. The toll-free number for questions is 855-322-1022. The state will not verify records by email. Applications must go through official channels.
New York City runs its own vital records system separate from the state. The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene issues birth and death certificates for all five boroughs. The office is at 125 Worth Street, Room 133, New York, NY 10013. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. Call 311 or (212) 639-9675 from outside the city. Each certificate costs $15 plus processing fees. Short form and long form birth certificates are both available. Post-1949 marriage records are held by borough offices of the NYC City Clerk.
Historical vital records are available at the New York City Municipal Archives. This collection covers records from 1760 to 1949 including birth, marriage, and death registers and certificates. The archives hold original birth records from before 1910 and marriages before 1938 for the five boroughs. Many have been digitized. The archives are at 31 Chambers Street, Room 103, New York, NY 10007.
The NYC Department of Records and Information Services provides access to vital records, historical documents, and the OpenRECORDS portal for public records requests.
New York People Search Using Court Records
Court records are public in New York. Anyone can ask to see them.
The state court system processes millions of cases each year across criminal, civil, family, and commercial divisions. Each county has a County Clerk who serves as the keeper of Supreme Court records and other legal filings. County Clerks maintain business certificates, judgments, liens, and property records along with court case files. Most County Clerk offices accept credit card payments and offer online search tools. Copy fees run about 65 cents per page with a minimum charge of $1.30. Certified copies cost $5 for the first four pages plus $1.25 per additional page.
The Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) gives you the right to request access to government records in New York. Under New York Civil Rights Law Article 5, the state protects personal privacy while still allowing public access to many government records. FOIL requests must be in writing and sent to the appropriate records access officer. Some records are exempt from disclosure, including those that would be an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
New York State Senate legislation covers privacy protections and public access rules that affect people search records.
Surrogate's Courts handle probate records including wills, estates, guardianships, and adoptions. These records have been maintained since 1787 in some counties. Probate records can help with genealogy research and people search efforts since they often list family members, addresses, and assets.
Search People Through Property Records
Property records are fully public in New York. They can reveal where a person lives or has lived, who they bought property from, and what liens or judgments are attached to them. These records are one of the most reliable tools for a people search because they tie a name to a physical address.
For New York City, the Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS) is the go-to database. It covers all five boroughs with property records from 1966 to the present. You can search by address, borough-block-lot number, party name, or document type. It is free to use. ACRIS holds deeds, mortgages, liens, UCC filings, and federal tax liens. You can view scanned images of the actual documents. Property Profile Reports show every filing on a specific property. The customer service help line is 212-487-6300.
ACRIS lets you search NYC property records by name, address, or document type. It is one of the best free tools for a people search in New York City.
ACRIS also has a fraud alert feature. Property owners can sign up to get automatic notifications when new documents are recorded against their property. They can even designate a family member or legal representative to get these alerts too. Outside of New York City, each county clerk maintains property records for their area. Many counties have put records online, though the depth of coverage varies. Erie County, Monroe County, Suffolk County, and Nassau County all offer online property record searches through their clerk websites.
People Search With Professional Licenses
The New York State Education Department Office of the Professions licenses over 50 professions including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, engineers, and architects. The online license verification tool lets you confirm whether someone holds a valid professional license in New York. You can look up a person by name and see their license number, date of issue, current status, and any disciplinary actions. This has been in place since 1891 when medicine became the first profession licensed by the Board of Regents.
The Office of the Professions provides free online license verification for over 50 regulated professions in New York State.
Voter registration records are another people search tool. The New York State Voter Registration portal lets you check voter registration status. To register, a person must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, and a resident of the county for at least 30 days before an election. Under N.Y. Election Law section 5-508, victims of domestic violence can apply for confidential voter registration to keep their records sealed from public view for four years.
The New York State voter registration portal shows registration status and can help locate people through their county board of elections records.
Public Safety Records in New York
The New York State Sex Offender Registry is maintained by the Division of Criminal Justice Services. It is free and open to the public. You can search by name, county, city, town, or zip code. The registry shows photos, addresses, physical descriptions, risk levels, and conviction details for registered offenders.
Offenders get one of three risk levels set by a judge. Level 1 is low risk. Level 2 is medium risk. Level 3 is high risk. Level 2 and Level 3 info is available online. For Level 1 offenders, you need to call 800-262-3257 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. You must provide the person's name plus one of these: an exact address, date of birth, driver's license number, or Social Security number. Level 3 offenders must verify their address with police every 90 days. Level 1 and Level 2 offenders submit updated photos every three years. Level 3 offenders update photos each year.
The New York State Sex Offender Registry allows free public searches by name, location, or zip code across the entire state.
You can also sign up for email alerts to get notified when an offender moves into your area or when their info changes. Local law enforcement agencies receive notifications when offenders relocate to their jurisdictions too.
More New York People Search Resources
The New York State government portal connects you to all state agencies and their records systems. It is a good starting point if you are not sure which office holds the records you need.
The NYC Department of Records and Information Services maintains the city's historical archive. You can file FOIL requests through their OpenRECORDS portal, explore digitized photographs and maps, and order vital records. The department also provides access to over 1,400 NYC data sets through the Open Data portal. These data sets are free. They cover everything from property assessments to public notices and contract awards.
The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance maintains tax records that can sometimes help with a people search. Property tax records in particular can confirm ownership and address details for properties across the state.
The NY.gov portal provides a central hub for accessing all New York State agency records and services.
The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles maintains driver license records and vehicle registration information. However, the Personal Privacy Protection Law restricts public access to most DMV records. Only authorized entities like law enforcement can access personal information from DMV files. You cannot use DMV records for a general people search.
Note: DMV records in New York are restricted by the Personal Privacy Protection Law and are not available for general public people search requests.
Browse New York People Search by County
Each of New York's 62 counties has its own County Clerk who maintains court records, property records, and other public filings. Pick a county below to find local contact info and people search resources for that area.
People Search in Major New York Cities
People in New York cities use their county's offices for most public records. Pick a city below to find which county handles records for that location and how to search for people there.