Kings County public records in the form of marriage, divorce, warrants, arrests, court and criminal records are available to the public due to New York’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) and the overarching Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Accessing New York public records can prove to be a complicated and time consuming process for individuals who may not know the type of the record they are searching or which government agency is the custodian. Additionally, public records in Kings County tend to be located in multiple agencies which makes the process of retrieval more complicated. In some cases, records may be restricted to certain individuals and only accessed by consent.
Records page offers resources such as links and guidance tools to make it easier to navigate public agencies. It is possible to quickly and conveniently run a free public records search regardless of record type or which jurisdiction holds them.
How To Find Arrest Records for Free Through the Kings’ County Sheriff’s Office
The Kings’ County Sheriff’s Office is the primary law enforcement agency in Kings County and is tasked with arrests, seizing property, and serving court mandates, among other services; they would be the primary point of contact to obtain arrest records.1
Pursuant to New York’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), the majority of criminal records in the state are public records–with the exception of sealed court records or those from the New York State DCJS (Division of Criminal Justice Services) which will be expounded in the sections that follow.
With that said, arrest records can be sought from the sheriff’s office. However, the Kings’ County Sheriff’s Office does not maintain a jail roster that can be accessed online for those who are looking to find out if someone is in jail.
Therefore, to obtain daily arrest records of Kings County bookings, the Kings’ County Sheriff’s Office will need to be contacted directly and can provide insight into jail records by phone or in person:
Office of the Sheriff
Brooklyn Municipal Building
210 Joralemon St, 9th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Retrieve Free Arrest Records Through the New York Police Department
Other than the sheriff’s office, interested parties can turn to the only police department that is located within the county–the New York City Police Department (NYPD). Interested parties who are looking to find recent arrest reports may benefit from knowing that offenders who have been arrested in the past 24-48 hours but have not yet appeared before a judge can be located by calling (212)-639-9675 (212-NEW-YORK) or calling 311:2
In these cases, the NYPD will inform the requester ONLY whether the individual is in custody and the location where they will be arraigned.
Citizens that have exceeded this time frame will be transferred to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS). The DOCCS has a database of offenders in custody, which can be accessed using the New York Arrest Records Search Tool. This resource can be queried using book and case number or NYSID, first name, and last name.
The results show varying information including the inmate’s data such as date of birth, height, and weight. Nevertheless, interested parties hoping to find someone’s mugshot cannot do so through this tool since photographs of inmates are not displayed.
How To Request Kings County Marriage & Divorce Records
Interested persons who are looking to either find out if someone is married or order divorce decrees will have multiple government agencies through which to access said records; such custodians include the Office of the New York City Clerk, the Kings County Clerk’s Office, and the New York State Department of Health (DOH).
The state of New York has stringent laws when it comes to accessing vital records, with the majority of them not being able to be accessed by the public after several years—to be specific, marriage records can only one be accessed by the public once they are 50 years old and divorce decrees are sealed permanently.3, 4
Therefore, outside of these timelines, Kings County divorce records and marriage documents can be accessed from government agencies only by the subject of the record, spouse, or an individual authorized by the court such as an attorney or legal representative.
Obtain Divorce Decrees & Exemplifications From the Kings County Clerk’s Office
Divorce decrees and exemplifications can be obtained from the Kings County Clerk’s Office, but only persons who are party to the record, legal counsel and an individual who has authorization from the party of the record via an affidavit or notarized letter.7
They may be requested through either mail (whether or not a requestor has the index number) or in person.
Mail Requests for Divorce Decrees and Exemplifications: These types of requests can be completed regardless of whether the public index number is known or not. The procedures for both scenarios are outlined below.
Known Public Index Number Requests—In cases where the index number is known, the office will inform the requester of the exact cost. The certification fee is $8.00 and additionally costs $0.65 per page (minimum charge of $1.30 for copying fees applies). Exemplifications of decrees cost $25.00 and there is a 2 week processing time.
Ensure to provide the index number when making the request. Payments can be made by certified check, postal or bank order, cash or NYS attorney’s check. Cash and personal checks are not accepted. Fees should be made payable to “Kings County Clerk.”
Unknown Index Number Requests—In cases where requestors don’t have an index number, the office will need to conduct a search. There is a $10.00 fee for a 2 year search. If more years are needed, the fee would be $5.00 for each additional 2 year search period. Therefore, make sure to send payments for each 2 year period, the office will return unused money orders.
The request should be accompanied with a notarized letter from one of the parties. List the names of the parties and the years that need to be searched.
Requests will need to be mailed in self-addressed stamped envelopes to the Kings County Clerk:
Kings County Clerk
Room 189
Window #6
360 Adams Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Any inquiries and concerns should be directed to: [email protected].
In Person Requests for Divorce Decrees and Exemplifications: To request divorce decrees in person, proceed to the courthouse with a valid government issued photo ID—if the requestor is not party to the record, then they will need a notarized letter or affidavit that has been signed by either party of the record.
The fee for this certification is $8.00 and an exemplification of the decree will cost $25.00. Payments can be made by certified check, postal or bank order, cash or NYS attorney’s check. Cash and personal checks are not accepted.
Requests for divorce decrees can be made at the Kings County Clerk:8
The Kings County Clerk Supreme Court Building
Window 5
360 Adams Street
Room 189
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Secure Kings County Marriage & Divorce Records From the New York City Clerk
Marriage records can be obtained from the Office of the City Clerk – City of New York either through online, in person or by mail. Divorce records can on the other hand be requested through a phone or in person request—they can only be requested online through the county office which will be delved into below.
Marriage Record Requests From the Office of the City Clerk – City of New York
Only marriage records issued from 1950 to present are available as Kings County public records and can be obtained through the New York City Clerk’s office.5
Fees for marriage records which are “short certificates” (for domestic use) are $15.00 for the 1st copy and $10.00 for additional copies. If an “extended certificate” (for foreign use) is required, the fee is $35.00 for the 1st copy and $30.00 for additional copies. Payments can be made by either money order or certified check payable to the “The City Clerk of New York.” Processing time is 4-6 weeks.
This fee covers the search, certification, hand signature and placing the raised seal. An Apostilled (gold seal) can be requested for extended certificates; for more information on this, visit the apostilled document authentication.
Online Requests—Complete the request for a marriage record form (1950 to the present). Upon receipt of the confirmation number, either make an in person visit or mail the documents to the City Clerk’s Office. Acceptable ID must be included in the application, which includes U.S. driver licenses, U.S. Certificate of Naturalization, or valid passport.
Mail Requests—Gather all the required documents including payment and ID and mail to this address:
City Clerk of New York
141 Worth St.
New York, NY 10013
Attention: Record Room
In Person Requests—In person requests can be done by visiting the Manhattan City Clerk’s Office’s records room division at the address above; make sure to bring valid ID.
Historical Requests Marriage Records From the Office of the City Clerk – City of New York
For records of marriages recorded before 1950, the Historical Vital Records of NYC provides access to digitized records that can be downloaded or ordered as certified records dated 1855-1949.6 An appointment (same day available) must be scheduled to visit the Archives by emailing either the Library & Archive Research – [email protected] or the Family History Research – [email protected].
The Archives also has a Historical Marriage Records Search Tool which can be accessed online for free and queried either by certificate number or name, but it is in beta testing and may not give accurate results.
Divorce Record Requests From the Office of the City Clerk – City of New York
As stated earlier, divorce records are not available for public consumption and copies of divorce judgments can be obtained by one of the parties or legal representation. These divorce record requests can be made by visiting the Supreme Court or by phone to the Brooklyn County Clerk, as Brooklyn is coextensive with Kings County.
In Person Requests—In person requests should be done at the Supreme Court whose address appears below:
Supreme Court
360 Adams St.
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone Requests—Divorce records can be requested over the phone by contacting the New York Courts at the number located below during business hours:
New York Courts
Brooklyn County Clerk
Acquire Kings County Marital Records Through the New York State Department of Health (DOH)
Finally, marriage and divorce records and certificates can be ordered from the New York State Department of Health (DOH) through two ways: mail requests and online/phone requests through VitalChek.
Mail Requests for Marriage & Divorce Records and Certificates: Requests can be also made for marriage records and divorce records through the mail.9, 10 To obtain a marriage and divorce certificate, download and print an application for a marriage certificate and application for a divorce record respectively. Required ID should be included in the application. The details can be found in the forms.
The fee for mail orders is $30.00 and can be paid via postal money order, personal check and certified check that should be made payable to “NYS Department of Health.” Cash is not accepted.
Mail requests should be sent to the NY Department of Health:
NY State Department of Health
Vital Records Certification Unit
PO Box 2602
Albany, NY 12220-2602
Any inquiries, comments or concerns should be directed to the Vital Records Call Center at +1(855)-322-1022.
Online Requests for Divorce Records and Certificates Through VitalChek: Online and phone requests in Kings County are only available for divorce records and certificates and not Kings County marriage records. Visit VitalChek. First copy of the divorce record costs $45.00 and the processing fee for VitalChek is $8.00 (excluding shipping costs). Additional copies are $45.00.
Phone requests are completed by calling VitalChek at +1-(877)-854-4481 and furnishing the relevant information.
How To Locate Criminal Records in Kings County
There are multiple options available to obtain public criminal records from federal, state, and county government agencies—these include:
- New York State (NYS) Office of Court Administration, New York City Criminal Courts, Kings County Clerk’s Office and the New York State Unified Court System – WebCriminal
- New York State DCJS (Division of Criminal Justice Services)
- State agencies like the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) and the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Sex Offender Registry
- Federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Bureau of Prisons
A free criminal record check can be run through either the New York State (NYS) Office of Court Administration or the Kings County Clerk’s Office. These public agencies can quickly and conveniently provide a way to locate criminal records found in court records through online means.
However, if the requestor does not have means to do so, then they may do so in person at the courthouse—this is explained further in the below section.
Find Out if Someone Has Committed a Crime Through the New York State Office of Court Administration
It is possible to request criminal records for either yourself or someone else from the New York State (NYS) Office of Court Administration by ordering a Criminal History Records Search (CHIRS) which costs $95.00 per record search.11 This type of search is not a nationwide or FBI background check and does not include civil, family, or federal court information.12
The application can be done either online or in person:
Online—This type of search is accomplished by using the Criminal History Record Search – Direct Access and creating an account that allows up to 5 searches. Payments are made through debit/credit card or checking account (ACH). It is also possible to create a corporate account that allows up to 50 searches.
In Person— This is accomplished by downloading and printing the CHRS Application which can be filed in person at the address below during business hours. Payment is made via money order or check payable to the “NYS Office of Court Administration.”
New York State Office of Court Administration
Criminal History Record Search
Room 840 (Front Counter)
25 Beaver St. New York, NY 10004
Search for Kings County Criminal Records by Utilizing the New York State Unified Court System — WebCriminal
WebCriminal is a search feature that gives users access to criminal cases that are yet to take place and will do so in future court dates for particular New York State Courts of criminal jurisdiction. The tool is free to use and requires no registration. It has three search criteria; namely, searches can be performed by defendant name, case identifier, or court calendar.
Locate Criminal Records Through the New York City Criminal Courts: The New York City Criminal Courts does not have a central online database that can be used to locate criminal records. However, requesters can either contact the court by phone or in person to acquire criminal records.
Obtain Criminal Records Through the Kings County Clerk’s Office: The County Clerk Office has an online Kings County Clerk’s Office Criminal Records Search tool that can be used to conveniently locate Kings County criminal records for free. It is possible to register for an account, but this database can be accessed as a guest.
Look Up Criminal Records in New York via the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)
The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is the primary public records repository for New York’s criminal history information records and is the only official source of these documents.13 These records are not considered public due to the state’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL)—as a result, these requests can only be done by the subject of the record and their legal counsel but cannot be done on someone else.
Criminal record requests through the DCJS are fingerprint-based (biometric). Requests can be personal, or for employment or licensing (if mandated by law); a positive match will return a criminal history information (rap sheet) or a “no record” response which verifies that subjects do not have New York criminal records.
The request can either be suppressed (limited) or unsuppressed, in which case the records will be unrestricted and will therefore include all criminal records including those that are sealed by court order.
Requesting Criminal History While Resident in New York: Set up an appointment to have prints captured by visiting the IdentoGo site or by calling (877)-472-6915. Select the type of record desired which may be either a suppressed record (15464Z) or an unsuppressed record (15465F). Make sure to bring acceptable ID for fingerprinting.
Parents or legal guardians making a request for minors between 11-17 years of age and who have no acceptable ID will need to complete the NY photo ID waiver for minors form.
Payment of $13.50 can be made via credit card, money or check; this should be made payable to “Idemia.” Processing time and a return of responses through U.S. mail will take 3-4 weeks. They cannot be picked up in person.
The response will also have information in case the requestor wants to challenge the record.
Requesting Criminal History While Residing Outside New York: The same steps are followed as while residing in New York except for a few differences. Once the type of record is selected by inputting the service code, requesters should find an enrollment center near them by clicking on “Locate an Enrollment Center” where they may enter zip code, city and state. They may then schedule an appointment to have their fingerprints captured and should bring acceptable forms of ID.
The fee for the background check would then be $43.50. If there is no nearby IdentoGo location, interested parties can download and print the FBI (FD-258) fingerprint card after which they can contact the Kings County Sheriff’s Office or New York Police Department to schedule to have their fingerprints captured. Separate fingerprinting fees will apply.
Even if completed independently, individuals should still complete the enrollment for Cardscan submission enrollment at the IdentoGo site providing the type of search they want (suppressed or not).
After making a payment, citizens will receive a confirmation page which will need to be printed, signed. and mailed along with completed fingerprint cards at the address below. The requests are processed in 3-4 weeks including U.S. mail postage time.
IDENTOGO
Cardscan Department-New York Program
340 Seven Springs Wy., Ste. 250
Brentwood, TN 37027
Questions and concerns can be directed to (518)-457-9847 or (518)-485-7675 during business hours or email [email protected].
Find Criminal Records for Free Through State & Federal Agencies
In addition to searching through local and county government agencies, individuals who are looking to check if someone has a criminal record may do so from federal and state bodies including the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) and the Sex Offender Registry.
New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS)— DOCCS has a New York Criminal Records Search feature and Current New York State Prisoner Look Up tool that can be used to locate inmates who are on parole and those that are incarcerated respectively.
The Sex Offender Registry—The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) maintains a Sex Offender Registry of level 2 and 3 offenders and individuals who are in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody or in prison.
Bureau of Prisons (BOP)—The BOP has a Federal Criminal Records Search Tool that can query an online directory of inmates that are both in prison and those that have been released after having been convicted of federal crimes.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)—Additionally, criminal records can be obtained at a national level by submitting a biometric (fingerprint) based background check. This Federal criminal history check can be submitted online or via a written request which is performed by completing a fingerprint card and enclosing a money order or certified check of $18.00 payable to the “Treasury of the United States.”
Written requests are sent to:
FBI CJIS Division – Summary Request
1000 Custer Hollow Rd.
Clarksburg, WV 26306
Conduct Professional & Personal Background Checks in Kings County, New York
There are two types of background checks that are carried out in New York and in Kings County, these are personal background checks and professional background checks conducted by employers and government agencies.
Personal Background Checks
While criminal history information records (CHIR) is not considered public record, the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) allows for a provision to run a background check. This permits individuals to check and ensure the correctness of their CHIR.
By knowing the information that may be on their records, individuals have a better idea of what is on their CHIR before consenting to employee mandated checks. Additionally, personal checks are often done to obtain some information about members of family, friends, neighbors, or even new acquaintances.
Rather than the DCJS, individuals who may want to perform checks on themselves and others may do so through the New York State (NYS) Office of Court Administration (as seen above).
Often, individuals may have apprehension about running checks through government agencies. Under these circumstances, they can elect to conduct searches through third-party vendors for a fee, as these services can check public records simultaneously for quick results.
These services are convenient to use because there is no need to know the location or agency that has custody of the records. By not interacting with government agencies, there is also an element of privacy.
Information from background checks should not be used for purposes such as threatening or intimidating other citizens. This information must be treated respectfully as it pertains to the privacy of persons.
Professional Background Checks
Professional checks like those conducted by government bodies and employers are done for several reasons, including but not limited to:
- Data gathered from background checks place employers in a better position to make informed decisions before hiring.
- These checks are done when obtaining licensing for firearms or state issued licenses.
- They are used by home owners when renting to tenants.
- To safeguard public safety in the state, New York has mandated that state background checks through the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and the Federal Bureau of Information be submitted for employees who work at public schools including teachers, bus drivers, coaches and volunteers.
There are two types of background checks that are performed by employers; these are name-based checks also known as level 1 checks and fingerprint-based checks which are also referred to as level 2 checks are always carried out by government agencies.
Background Check Statutes & Protections for Kings County Employees
New York has several laws and statutes that protect employees in the state and its counties and cities, Kings County included. New York does not prohibit employees from obtaining background checks on employees—nevertheless, the state does have ban-the-box laws in place in certain counties and cities including New York City, Suffolk and Westchester counties.14
Ban the box laws prohibit employees from requesting an applicant’s criminal history or any police reports they may have during the initial employment application.
In addition to ban-the-box laws, certain federal agency laws such as the Fair Credit Reporting Acts (FCRA) provide a series of laws that protect employee rights. This includes making it obligatory for employers to obtain written consent from job applicants before running any criminal history checks.
The Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) does confer protection to employees in regards to background checks such as providing a roadmap for employers to assess an applicant’s criminal record.
Get a Background Check Done on Anyone in Kings County, New York via Official Agencies
Background checks can be conducted through county and state resources— these are the New York Police Department (NYPD), the New York State (NYS) Office of Court Administration and the New York City Criminal Court.
Background Checks via the New York Police Department (NYPD): The New York Police Department (NYPD) through its Criminal Records Unit is a conduit for reports of crime and this information can be obtained by either the public or authorized entities.
The request can either be done online through this NYPD verification of crime link or by mail by downloading this record request form (this form can also be picked up at any police precinct). When mailing the request, 2 copies of the form should be mailed and a self addressed envelope:
New York Police Department/Criminal Records Unit
375 Pearl St.
16th Floor (Suite 4)
New York, NY 10038
Background Checks via the New York State (NYS) Office of Court Administration and New York City Criminal Court: Interested parties can also obtain state criminal history information records (CHIR) through the New York State (NYS) Office of Court Administration which cost $95.00 and can be done online or in person. The New York City Criminal Court also provides criminal records access.
Additionally, individuals may obtain personal checks for themselves as well as professional background checks for New York and by extension, Kings County through the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)—these will cost $13.50. The process for performing these was detailed earlier.
How To Check Current Warrants in Kings County at No Cost
Those looking to check if someone has a warrant have a couple of options for obtaining these Kings County public records. These include the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and the New York City Police Department (NYPD).
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS): When conducting background checks which was delved into earlier, warrant information would be part of the CHIR. In this way, someone may be able to perform a warrant search on themselves.15
New York City Police Department (NYPD) & New York City Criminal Courts: Kings County warrants information can be obtained from the NYPD by either contacting the office of arrest or the criminal court.16 It is possible to visit in person as well, but those with outstanding warrants run the risk of being arrested by law enforcement.
New York Courts – Criminal Court Division
New York City Criminal Court Information Line
New York City Criminal Courts
Kings County
120 Schermerhorn St.
New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS): The DOCCS has a New York’s most wanted list that can be viewed to obtain individuals that are wanted for severe crimes. The list also has mugshots of the offenders.
Other than these government agencies, requestors may obtain warrant information from third-party sites who are permitted to have access to this data in the spirit of the state’s public records laws.
However, these sites may not have up to date information but do provide a sense of privacy by eliminating the need to communicate with government agencies. They also perform an all-encompassing nationwide search.
How To Gain Insight on Kings County Probationers for Free via the New York City Department of Probation
Interested parties seeking probation information may contact the New York City Department of Probation & the U.S. Probation Office for the Eastern District of New York. Probation is a form of a sentence that is ordered by either a criminal or family court imposed on an offender where they are released from jail into the community under supervision.17
Probation information is not considered public record and is governed by the New York State law and Office of Probation & Correctional Alternatives mandates. As such, probation information from government agencies is limited in scope.18 Conversely, these agencies are always able to receive information about probationers from the public.
Contact information for the New York City Department of Probation can be found here. The office also allows Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests to the Department of Probation which are submitted through NYC open records requests.
The U.S. Probation Office for the Eastern District of New York is the overseer of community corrections for the federal courts—the Brooklyn-Main Branch office serves Kings County.
How To Access Court Records for Free (Kings County Supreme Court Clerk, County Clerk’s Office & eCourts)
Court records of all types are obtained by contacting the Kings County Clerk Supreme Court, which is part of the New York State Unified Court System.19 There are several types of courts in Kings County, and each can be found using the Court Locator. Court types that can be searched include:
- Appellate Divisions
- Appellate Terms
- City Court
- Civil Court NYC
- County Court
- Court of Appeals
- Court of Claims
- Criminal Court NYC
- District Court
- Family Court
- Supreme Court (Criminal Term & Civil Term)
- Surrogate’s Court
- Town Court
- Village Court
Public access to Kings County judicial records is not granted by the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), but rather falls under the Judiciary law (section 255) and hence the task of distributing these documents is the responsibility of the County Clerk of the Court.20
All court records can be retrieved from the Kings County Clerk of Supreme Court and Commissioner of Jurors either online or in person by visiting the courthouse.
Find Court Records Using eCourts: Most court records–whether they are heard by civil, supreme, probate, or family courts–can be found online using eCourts, which has different tools for the different court records:
Access Court Records by Contacting the Kings County Clerk of Supreme Court: Court records from the Kings County Clerk’s Office can be retrieved either online or by requesting them from the clerk’s office in person. As mentioned earlier, all court records in the county can be retrieved from the Kings County Court Records Case Search Tool at no cost.
Users can use this Kings County case search feature as a guest or create an account, which would allow them to view additional information from court records.
Alternatively, requesters can make an in person visit to the Kings County Clerk’s Office to access the court records for free. However, to make copies using the public photocopiers, there is a cost incurred but is at a low price point of just $0.50 per page, pursuant to CPLR § 8019(f).21
How To Request Kings County Birth & Death Records & Certificates
Birth and death records are not considered Kings County public records unless they satisfy certain stipulations—if these requirements are met, these documents may be requested from either the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene – Office of Vital Records or the New York State Department of Health (DOH).
The stipulations referenced are that these types of vital records can only be requested by the owner of the record, immediate family members, and authorized persons such as legal representatives. Birth records are only accessible to the public once they are 75 years old and death records are only openly available once they are 50 years old.
Order Certificates of Birth & Death From the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene — Office of Vital Records
It is possible to request birth and death certificates and records from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene – Office of Vital Records in person or via mail, or online through the third-party state-endorsed entity called VitalChek (discussed in the next section).22
These certificates are issued only for individuals who were born or have died in NYC; the department also provides services to correct issued certificates that have errors. Online requests are the fastest way to order these vital records and are explained further below.
Mail Requests for Birth and Death Certificates: To order birth and death certificates, interested parties should download and print either the birth certificate application (Spanish) or death certificate application (Spanish) respectively.
There are several other application forms in different languages such as Italian, French, Polish and Arabic that can be found using the previous link.
The application should be accompanied by the relevant processing fees and a photocopy of a government issued photo ID.
The completed application and other documents should be mailed to the NYC Department of Health. Requests are processed in 6-8 weeks.
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Room CN-4, Room 119
125 Worth St. New York, NY 10013
In Person Requests for Birth and Death Certificates: In person requests can be done by visiting the Office of Vital Records in Manhattan, but an appointment must be made beforehand as walk in service is not available. Applicants can schedule an appointment and visit the office located at the following address:
Office of Vital Records
125 Worth St.
New York, NY 10013
Any questions about the process of requesting a certificate from the office of vital records can be emailed to [email protected].
Obtain Kings County Records of Birth & Death From the New York State Department of Health (DOH)
As with marriage and divorce records, birth and death records and certificates can be requested from the New York State Department of Health (DOH) using two methods–either mailed requests or online/phone requests via VitalChek.
Mail in Requests for Birth and Death Records: Mail in requests can be made for birth certificates and death certificates.23, 24 To obtain either, citizens can download and print an application for a birth certificate or an application for a death certificate, respectively. A photocopy of a valid government-issued ID should be included in the application. The details can be found in the forms.
The fee for mail orders is $30.00 and can be paid via money order, personal check, or certified check made payable to “NYS Department of Health.”
Mail the application to the NY State Department of Health:
NY State Department of Health
Vital Records Certification Unit
PO Box 2602
Albany, NY 12220-2602
Questions can be directed to the Vital Records Call Center at +1-(855)-322-1022.
Online/Phone Requests for Birth and Death Records & Certificates Through VitalChek: Copies of a certificate of death or certificate of birth can be ordered online via VitalChek. Both types of certificates cost $15.00 with an additional VitalChek fee of $8.30. Phone requests can be made by calling VitalChek at +1-(877)-854-4481.
How To Look Up Kings County Property Records for Free Through the New York Department of Finance — ACRIS
It is possible to quickly and easily obtain Kings County property records through the New York Department of Finance, which has an online tool known as the Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS).25 This tool can be used to find local property records and document images from 1966 to present. ACRIS does not charge for online records to be viewed, downloaded, or printed.
When looking for property records, users have several search criteria to choose from:
- Party name
- Parcel identifier (borough, lot, block)
- Transaction number
- Document type
It is also possible to obtain these records in person by visiting the Brooklyn City Register Office or calling 311 or (212) NEW-YORK (212.639.9675). Certified copies cost $4.00 per page and uncertified copies cost $1.00 per printed page.
A Summary of Kings County Public Records Searches & Record Custodians
In summary, those who want to access Kings County arrest records or look up someone’s criminal record may do so from several public agencies:
- Kings County Sheriff’s Office
- New York Police Department
- New York State DCJS (Division of Criminal Justice Services)
- New York State (NYS) Office of Court Administration, New York City Criminal Courts, Kings County Clerk’s Office and the New York State Unified Court System – WebCriminal
All types of court records in Kings County can be retrieved using the Kings County Court Records Case Search Tool.
Limited probation information can be queried from the New York City Department of Probation and the U.S. Probation Office for the Eastern District of New York.
Warrant information can be sought from the New York City Criminal Courts and the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).
Those looking to check if someone is married or requiring vital records pertaining to divorce can contact these agencies: the Office of the New York City Clerk, Kings County Clerk’s Office and the New York State Department of Health (DOH).
Birth and death records can be gathered from the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene – Office of Vital Records.
A free records search for property records in Kings County can be retrieved from the New York Department of Finance– ACRIS.
Citizens have the right to access Kings County public records, but tracking down documents through various agencies can be tedious; this streamlined resource eases that burden and helps searchers find desired information seamlessly and efficiently.
References
1York, C. o. (2023). Sheriff. Retrieved 2023, from <https://www.nyc.gov/site/finance/sheriff-courts/sheriff.page>
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