COVID-19 changes the world of legal documents.
While many states have internet access to public documents, accept Court filings electronically, and other legal services by virtual means, New York State has lagged behind the world for decades. Sadly, some counties still do not have electronic access to public records. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has expedited this need very quickly.
Many counties are now rolling out virtual access to public records and major metropolitan areas (where the majority of legal work is done) are now accepting electronic filing (e-File).
To the left of this page are some links to local virtual sites that allow searching and viewing of most public documents. Please be aware that the transfer of countless older documents will take a while to convert to digital. Some documents may not be electronically available and will require physical searches.