Westchester County is the seventh most populous county in New York State, with an estimated population of 1 million. Covering an area of 450 square miles, the county has 23 villages, 19 towns, and six cities. The City of White Plains serves as its county seat.

Courts in Westchester County

Westchester County is part of the 9th Judicial District of New York State. The county has trial-level courts that tend to legal matters under their respective jurisdictions. The Supreme Court and County Court consist of civil and criminal departments. The Supreme Court has unlimited original jurisdiction over most civil and criminal cases in the county. Its civil division also handles proceedings concerning legal separation, annulment of marriage, or divorce.

The County Court hears cases involving crimes that are committed within the county’s boundaries. The court’s civil division has limited jurisdiction in civil cases involving monetary disputes of $25,000 or less.

Westchester County has three Family Courts locations in White Plains, New Rochelle, and Yonkers. Cases brought before the Family Court usually involve legal issues concerning minors and families. The court has jurisdiction over child custody and support cases, adoptions, guardianships, juvenile delinquencies, child abuse and neglect, and domestic violence between household members.

The county’s Surrogate's Court is responsible for handling probate matters, including executing wills and administering the estates of the deceased.

The Westchester County City Courts have jurisdiction over criminal cases involving misdemeanors and lesser crimes. It also has jurisdiction over non-criminal proceedings in which the monetary dispute is up to $15,000 and small claims housing disputes of $5,000 or less. In addition, City Court judges preside over arraignments and preliminary hearings in felony cases. The City Courts are located in Peekskill, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Rye, White Plains, and Yonkers.

The Towns and Village Courts in Westchester County are courts with jurisdiction over misdemeanor proceedings, non-criminal cases with claims of up to $3,000, and traffic infractions. These courts also hold arraignments and preliminary hearings for people charged with serious offenses.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Westchester County

In Westchester County, the County Clerk is the designated custodian of court records. The Clerk is also responsible for disclosing court records for inspection. Court records can be accessed by searching case information on the public terminals that are in the Clerk’s office. Public court records in Westchester County can also be requested by mail, in person at the Clerk’s office, or searched online.

Types of Public Court Records in Westchester County

Westchester County may provide the following types of court records to the general public:

• Civil Court Records
• Criminal Court Records
• Family Court Records
• Probate Court Records

Confidential Court Records in Westchester County

Confidential Court Records in Westchester County are records that are sealed by court orders or exempt from public disclosure under New York State Law. While most court records in Westchester County are open to public inspection, confidential court records are available only to the parties in the case and their attorneys.

The following are regarded as confidential court records in the county:

• Divorce Records
• Adoption Records
• Medical Reports
• Juvenile Records

Juvenile Delinquency in Westchester, NY

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Westchester County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in New York often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 415 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Westchester County. Of that total, 67% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 279 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Westchester County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Westchester County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Westchester County, NY

https://www.ny.gov/

County Seat:	White Plains
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1683
Total Square Miles:	500
2019 Population:	980,244
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	148 Martine Ave 800 Michaelian Office Building White Plains , NY 10601-3311 https://www3.westchestergov.com/

Westchester County, NY Courts