Court records of St. Lawrence County, New York, can be found through several channels. StLawrenceCourt.us allows you to search for public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, official state court resources, the County Clerk's office, and public terminals in the courthouse in Canton provide access to case materials, hearing schedules, and court documents.
St. Lawrence Court System & Jurisdictions
Several courts operate in St. Lawrence County, each handling specific categories of cases. Understanding this structure will help determine where to search for the required docket.
Supreme Court — the general jurisdiction court of New York State. It handles serious civil claims (amounts over $25,000), divorce cases, and real estate disputes. The County Clerk's office is responsible for filing Supreme Court cases.
County Court handles felony-level criminal cases. Felony conviction records are stored in the County Clerk's office.
- Family Court — cases regarding child custody, support, adoption, protective orders, and juvenile delinquency. Most Family Court records have restricted access.
- Surrogate's Court (similar to probate court) — wills, estate management, and guardianship appointments.
- City Courts and Town/Village Justice Courts — minor criminal cases (misdemeanors), traffic violations, small civil claims (small claims up to $5,000 in Town/Village Courts and up to $10,000 in City Courts). Numerous local Justice Courts operate in places like Canton, Ogdensburg, Massena, and Potsdam.
State-level criminal cases are also tracked by the Division of Criminal Justice Services, which maintains the official New York criminal history database.
St. Lawrence Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
To find out the schedule of hearings for today, tomorrow, or the current week, use the New York State Unified Court System — eCourts. On the iCourts portal (https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/ecourtsMain), you can search the civil case calendars of the Supreme Court and County Court by party name or index number.
For criminal cases, the schedule is usually posted directly in the court. Contact the clerk of the specific court:
- Determine which court is handling your case (Supreme, County, Family, local Justice Court).
- Call the appropriate court or visit it in person — local Justice Courts often do not have online calendars.
- For Supreme and County Court, check the eCourts portal or contact the County Clerk's office at 48 Court Street, Canton.
Family Court and Surrogate's Court may have separate schedules available only at the court office or by phone.
How to Get a Copy of a St. Lawrence Court Document
There is a difference between a certified and an uncertified copy. A certified copy has the official stamp of the clerk and is accepted by other courts and government agencies. An uncertified copy is suitable for informational purposes.
Ways to Obtain Copies
In Person. Visit the St. Lawrence County Clerk's office:
As of June 2024, requests for criminal or civil searches require a special form, which can be found on the Court Records page.
By Mail. Send a written request to the above address. Include the full name of the party, approximate date of the case, and type of document. Include payment by check or money order payable to the St. Lawrence County Clerk.
Electronically. The clerk's office supports e-Recording for real estate documents. For court documents, electronic access is limited — check the eCourts portal or contact the clerk.
Records related to juvenile cases, sealed cases, and some categories of Family Court are usually not accessible to the public.
St. Lawrence Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees are set by the state of New York and may change. The current list of fees is published on the Fees page of the Clerk's office.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Document copying (per page) | $0.65 |
| Document certification | $1.25 for the first page, $0.65 for each additional |
| Court records search (criminal or civil) | $15.00 |
| Filing/termination of UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) | $40.00 |
| Filing UCC | $25.00 |
| Satisfaction/cancellation | $5.00 |
| Document recording (deed, etc.) | $60.00 |
An additional fee of $10 is charged for recording residential deeds. Payment is accepted in person, by mail (check or money order). Check with the clerk if credit card payment is available.
If you need a state-level criminal history check, contact DCJS — this process has a separate procedure and fees. For public records from other government agencies, you can submit a request through Open FOIL NY.