New York Background Check Resources

Background checks are governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Most state laws concerning public records and background checks are very liberal and straightforward. In the State of New York, public records are readily available to anyone wishing to obtain them through appropriate official state agency channels. Background checks are instrumental in the parties' ability to enter into various legally binding contracts, and as such, are always a good idea. Background checks generally require a written permission prior to performing the inquiry. Occasionally, it is possible to obtain such reports without permission, but the results may lack in-depth details.

If the background check adversely affects the consumer, the party accessing public records must provide a copy of the report and a summary of the consumer's rights under FCRA, and allow the consumer reasonable time to contest the report. Due to the increasing threat of identity theft, some states (i. e. California) may now require the employer to provide a copy of the background check report to the consumer regardless of its content.

Call the telephone numbers listed below (or visit the listed websites) to learn how to access the specific background check information you're seeking. Public information may be accessible online or by phone, mail or in person.

It's always best to call before sending written inquiries in order to obtain exact addressing/ordering information.

NEW YORK STATE INFORMATION HOT LINE:
(518) 474-2121

NEW YORK STATE WEB SITE:
www.state.ny.us

Governor's Office

Attorney General's Office

Legislative Records

State Archives
Criminal Records
Division of Criminal Justice Services
4 Tower Place
Albany NY 12203
(518) 457-6043
(518) 457-6550 (fax)
(212) 428-2810
(telephone number for NYC area)

Incarceration Records

www.criminaljustice.state.ny.us

Driving Records
Division of Motor Vehicles
Certified Document Center
6 Empire State Plaza
Albany NY 12228
(800) 225-5368 (in state)
(518) 473-5595
(fax number not provided)
www.nydmv.state.ny.us

Vehicle Ownership Information
Division of Motor Vehicles
Certified Document Center
6 Empire State Plaza
Albany NY 12228
(518) 474-0710
(518) 474-8510
(fax number not provided)
www.nydmv.state.ny.us

Vital Statistics (NYC only) [birth and death only]
Department of Health
125 Worth St., Rm. 133
Church Street Station
New York NY 10013
(212) 788-4520
(212) 962-6105 (fax)
www.nyc.gov/html/doh

Vital Statistics (NYC only) [marriage only]
City Clerks Office
Dept of Records & Information
1 Centre Street Rm. 252
New York NY 10007
(212) 669-8090
(fax number not provided)

Vital Statistics (NYC only) [divorce only]
County Clerk
Divorce Records
60 Centre Street
New York NY 10007
(212) 374-4376
(fax number not provided)

Vital Statistics (outside NYC) [birth, death, divorce, marriage]
Vital Records Section
Certification Unit
PO Box 2602
Albany NY 12220
(518) 474-3038
(877) 854-4607 [fax]

Business/Corporate Records
Division of Corporations
Department of State
41 State St.
Albany NY 12231
(518) 473-2492
(fax number not provided)
www.dos.state.ny.us

Workers Compensation Information
NY Workers Compensation Board
Claims Office
20 Park St #401
Albany NY 12207
(518) 474-6670
www.wcb.state.ny.us

UCCs and Tax Liens
Department of State
UCC Division
41 State St
Albany NY 12231
(518) 474-4763
(518) 474-4478 [fax]

It's always best to call before sending written inquiries in order to obtain exact addressing/ordering information.

Note: Government agencies are continually updating and expanding online access to their records; consequently, this page is continually updated and expanded. Check back for the latest information!

City-County Cross Index

Open Civil Cases From 62 County Supreme Courts

Albany County
Eagle St.
Albany, NY 12207
(518) 487-5118

ONLINE: Naturalization Records
www.albanycounty.com

Allegany County
7 Court St.
Belmont, NY 14813
(585) 268-9270

Bronx Borough
851 Grand Concourse
Bronx, NY 10451-2937
(718) 590-3647

Broome County
P.O. Box 2062
Binghamton, NY 13902
(607) 778-2255

Cattaraugus County
303 Court St.
Little Valley, NY 14755
(716) 938-9111

ONLINE: Warrants, Most Wanted
www.sheriff.cattco.org

Cayuga County
160 Genesee St.
Auburn, NY 13021-3424
(315) 253-1271

Chautauqua County
P.O. Box 170
Mayville, NY 14757
(716) 753-4339

Chemung County
P.O. Box 588
Elmira, NY 14902-0588
(607) 737-2084

Chenango County
5 Court St.
Norwich, NY 13815-1676
(607) 337-1450

Clinton County
137 Margaret St.
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
(518) 565-4701

Columbia County
560 Warren St.
Hudson, NY 12534
(518) 828-3339

Cortland County
60 Central Ave.
Cortland, NY 13045
(607) 753-5021

Delaware County
P.O. Box 426
Delhi, NY 13753-0426
(607) 746-2123

Dutchess County
22 Market St.
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
(845) 486-2139

Erie County
25 Delaware Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 858-7766

ONLINE: Property Data (click on Internet Mapping System)
http://erie-gis.co.erie.ny.us/website/erie_help/help.htm

Recordings, Property, Civil Court Records
http://ecclerk.erie.gov

Essex County
P.O. Box 247
Elizabethtown, NY 12932
(518) 873-3601

Franklin County
63 W. Main St.
Malone, NY 12953
(518) 481-1681

Fulton County
P.O. Box 485
Johnstown, NY 12095
(518) 736-5539

Genesee County
P.O. Box 379
Batavia, NY 14021-0379
(585) 344-2550

Greene County
P.O. Box 446
Catskill, NY 12414
(518) 943-2050

Hamilton County
Rt 8, P.O. Box 204
Lake Pleasant, NY 12108
(518) 548-7111

Herkimer County
109/111 Mary St.
Herkimer, NY 13350
(315) 867-1133

Jefferson County
175 Arsenal St.
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-1200

Kings Borough
360 Adams St.
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 643-5894

Lewis County
P.O. Box 232
Lowville, NY 13367
(315) 376-5333

Livingston County
6 Court St.
Geneseo, NY 14454
(585) 243-7010

Madison County
P.O. Box 668
Wampsville, NY 13163
(315) 366-2261

Monroe County
39 W. Main St.
Rochester, NY 14614
(585) 428-5151 (Property, Liens, Judgements, Court Records searches)

Montgomery County
P.O. Box 1500
Fonda, NY 12068-1500
(518) 853-8113

Nassau County
240 Old Country Rd.
Mineola, NY 11501
(516) 571-2272

ONLINE: Property, Assessor
www.mynassauproperty.com

New York Borough
County Clerk
60 Centre St., Rm. 103
New York, NY 10007
(212) 374-4704 (Supreme Court- Civil Div)
(212) 374-4190 (Supreme Court - Criminal Div)
(212) 361-7550 (Recorder)

Niagara County
P.O. Box 461
Lockport, NY 14095
(716) 439-7030

ONLINE: Recorded Documents
http://www2.landaccess.com:8003

Oneida County
800 Park Ave.
Utica, NY 13501
(315) 798-5776

Onondaga County
401 Montgomery St.
Syracuse, NY 13202
(315) 435-8200

Ontario County
20 Ontario St.
Canandaigua, NY 14424
(585) 396-4205

Orange County
255-275 Main St.
Goshen, NY 10924
(845) 291-3080

Orleans County
3 S. Main
Albion, NY 14411
(585) 589-5334

Oswego County
46 E. Bridge St.
Oswego, NY 13126
(315) 349-8616

Otsego County
P.O. Box 710
Cooperstown, NY 13326
(607) 547-4276

Putnam County
40 Gleneida Ave.
Carmel, NY 10512
(845) 225-3641

Queens Borough
88-11 Sutphin Blvd.
Jamaica, NY 11435
718) 298-1000

Rensselaer County Courthouse
105 Third St.
Troy, NY 12180
(518) 270-4080

Richmond County
18 Richmond Terrace
Staten Island, NY 10301
(718) 390-5389

Rockland County
27 New Hempstead Rd.
New City, NY 10956
(845) 638-5070

Saint Lawrence County
Clerk's Office
48 Court St.
Canton, NY 13617
(315) 379-2237

Saratoga County
40 McMasters St.
Ballston Spa, NY 12020
(518) 885-2213

Schenectady County
620 State St.
Schenectady, NY 12305-2113
(518) 388-4222

ONLINE:
County Clerk - www.scpl.org

Schoharie County
P.O. Box 549
Schoharie, NY 12157-0549
(518) 295-8316

Schuyler County
105 9th St.
Watkins Glen, NY 14891-1496
(607) 535-8133

Seneca County
1 Di Pronio Dr.
Waterloo, NY 13165-1396
(315) 539-1771

Steuben County
3 Pulteney Square
Bath, NY 14810-1573
(607) 776-9631

Suffolk County Clerk
310 Center Dr.
Riverhead, NY 11901
(631) 852-3793

Sullivan County
P.O. Box 5012
Monticello, NY 12701
(845) 794-3000

Tioga County
16 Court St.
P.O. Box 307
Owego, NY 13827
(607) 687-8660

Tompkins County
320 N. Tioga St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 274-5431

Ulster County
P.O. Box 1800
Kingston, NY 12402
(845) 340-3770

Warren County
1340 State Rte. 9
Lake George, NY 12845
(518) 761-6426

Washington County
383 Upper Broadway
Fort Edward, NY 12828
(518) 746-2170

Wayne County
P.O. Box 608
Lyons, NY 14489-0608
(315) 946-7470

Westchester County
110 Martin Luther
King Blvd.
White Plains, NY 10601
(914) 995-3070

DID YOU KNOW...

The Investigative Directories page of Background Check Gateway contains one of the most comprehensive listings of public records directories on the Internet.

Wyoming County
P.O. Box 70
Warsaw, NY 14569
(585) 786-8810

Yates County
110 Court St.
Penn Yan, NY 14527
(315) 536-5120