Using New York’s Online Docket Search & Filing Websites
When you have a case pending, it can be difficult to keep up with its status. Keeping track of court dates, organizing documents – the task can be overwhelming. In New York, several websites assist with this process. These websites provide for docket searching, document access, and electronic filing.
Finding a Civil, Family, or Criminal Docket
In New York, basic information about many cases can be found on eCourts (https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/ecourtsMain). For the categories of WebCivil Local and Supreme, visitors to the website can access many of the civil courts in the state. Specifically, this includes active cases in local city courts and district courts. It also includes active and disposed cases in supreme court.
Under WebFamily, individuals can access information on active family court cases in every county in the state. Additionally, it allows for access to information on Integrated Domestic Violence (IDV) Court cases in counties which have such court.
WebCriminal provides information on pending criminal cases with future appearance dates for selected courts throughout the state. Additionally, this website will provide the date of the arrest, the arresting agency, and a list of criminal charges. Note that WebCriminal does not include criminal cases from town or village courts.
Finally, WebSurrogate (available at https://websurrogates.nycourts.gov/) provides information on estate proceedings and other filings. On this website, users can search files, retrieve documents, and view historical records that are considered public information.
Online Filing and Tracking a Docket
A service available through eCourts is called eTrack. Specifically, this is a case tracking service which will automatically send a user an email notification when activity occurs in chosen cases. Additionally, eTrack allows users to schedule reminders before court appearances.
In addition to eCourts, New York utilizes other websites for electronic filing of documents. For example, NYS Courts Electronic Filing (NYSCEF) (https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/) is where parties can file documents related to many civil matters and appeals. Additionally, there is the NYS Electronic Document Delivery System (EDDS) (https://iappscontent.courts.state.ny.us/NYSCEF/live/edds.htm) which provides for filing of documents to courts that do not usually permit electronic filing.
Published Decisions From the Courts
Lastly, to find a reported decision from one of the courts, one can visit the New York Official Reports website (https://www.nycourts.gov/reporter/Decisions.shtml). Maintained by the Law Reporting Bureau, this is where the decisions from all state appellate court are published, as well as selected decisions from the state trial courts. Additionally, this website publishes motion decisions from the Court of Appeals.
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