Court records in Cattaraugus County, New York, are maintained by the County Clerk's Office and the individual court clerks across the county's trial court system. CattaraugusCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Cattaraugus County. You can also access records through the Cattaraugus County Clerk's Office, the Cattaraugus County Court System portal, and various New York State government resources described below.
Cattaraugus County Court System Overview
Cattaraugus County is part of the 8th Judicial District of New York State, which also includes Allegany, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming counties. The New York State trial courts for Cattaraugus County include Supreme Court, County Court, Family Court, and Surrogate's Court. The county has two multi-bench courthouses. The County Court handles felonies and other serious matters, while the Supreme Court has broad civil jurisdiction. Town and village justice courts throughout the county handle local criminal, traffic, and small claims matters. The primary courthouse is located in the county seat of Little Valley.
Courts Serving Cattaraugus County
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Cattaraugus County Supreme Court | 303 Court Street, Little Valley, NY 14755 | 716-938-2599 |
| Cattaraugus County Court | 303 Court Street, Little Valley, NY 14755 | 716-938-2599 |
| Cattaraugus County Family Court | 303 Court Street, Little Valley, NY 14755 | 716-938-2599 |
| Cattaraugus County Surrogate's Court | 303 Court Street, Little Valley, NY 14755 | 716-938-2599 |
| U.S. District Court – Western District of New York | 2 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY 14202 | 716-551-1700 |
| U.S. Bankruptcy Court – Western District of New York | Olympic Towers, 300 Pearl Street, Buffalo, NY 14202 | 716-551-4130 |
In addition to these courts, numerous town and village justice courts operate across Cattaraugus County. These local courts handle vehicle and traffic violations, misdemeanors, violations, small claims, and civil matters up to $15,000. Examples include the Town of Olean Justice Court, City of Olean Court, City of Salamanca Court, and Town of Ellicottville Justice Court, among others.
What Types of Cases Cattaraugus County Courts Hear
The courts serving Cattaraugus County residents handle a wide range of case types:
- Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, violations, infractions
- Civil litigation: Contract disputes, personal injury, property disputes, monetary claims
- Small claims: Informal resolution of disputes involving limited dollar amounts
- Family law: Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, orders of protection, adoption
- Probate and estates: Wills, estate administration, guardianships, trusts
- Juvenile: Juvenile delinquency, persons in need of supervision (PINS), child protective proceedings
- Traffic: Moving violations, DWI/DUI, license suspensions
District Court Cases in Cattaraugus County
New York does not use a "district court" structure in Cattaraugus County. Instead, the County Court and Supreme Court serve the functions that district courts fill in other states. The Cattaraugus County Court has jurisdiction over all felony prosecutions originating in the county. Cases typically begin in a local justice court or city court, where the defendant is arraigned. If the grand jury returns an indictment, the case moves to County Court for trial. The County Court judge presides over felony trials, sentencing, and post-conviction proceedings. Supreme Court handles major civil litigation without a fixed dollar-amount cap, as well as matrimonial cases including divorce. Appeals from County Court criminal matters go to the Appellate Division, Fourth Department.
Magistrate Court Cases in Cattaraugus County
Cattaraugus County does not have a separate magistrate court. Town and village justice courts serve a comparable role. These courts, presided over by locally elected justices, handle:
- Misdemeanors and violations
- Felony arraignments and preliminary hearings before cases are sent to County Court
- Civil cases up to $15,000
- Small claims up to $5,000 (or $3,000 in town courts)
- Vehicle and traffic violations, including DWI arraignments
The City of Olean and City of Salamanca each operate city courts with broader jurisdiction than town justice courts, including the ability to handle certain misdemeanor trials and civil matters. High-volume traffic and criminal caseloads are common in these courts given the county's geography and population distribution.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Cattaraugus County
Family law: Cattaraugus County Family Court handles custody, visitation, child support, paternity, orders of protection, and family offense proceedings. Divorce and matrimonial actions are filed in Supreme Court. Adoption proceedings may be heard in either Family Court or Surrogate's Court depending on the circumstances.
Probate: The Cattaraugus County Surrogate's Court handles decedent estates, probate of wills, estate administration, guardianship of incapacitated persons, and trust matters. Court files and records are located in the County Center in Little Valley. The Surrogate's Court staff consists of a Chief Clerk and support staff who can assist with filing questions.
Juvenile: Juvenile delinquency cases and PINS (Persons in Need of Supervision) proceedings are heard in Family Court. Child protective proceedings under Article 10 of the Family Court Act are also handled there. Juvenile records are confidential under New York law and are not available to the general public.
How Cases Move Through the Cattaraugus County Court System
- Filing / Initiation: Criminal cases begin with an arrest or the filing of a criminal complaint. Civil cases start with the filing of a summons and complaint. Family and probate matters are initiated by petition.
- Arraignment or Initial Appearance: In criminal cases, the defendant is arraigned in a local justice court or city court. In civil cases, a scheduling conference or return date is set.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Both sides exchange discovery, file motions, and may engage in plea negotiations (criminal) or settlement discussions (civil).
- Grand Jury / Indictment (felonies): Felony cases are presented to a grand jury. If an indictment is returned, the case is transferred to County Court.
- Trial or Resolution: Cases may be resolved by plea agreement, bench or jury trial, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal cases proceed to sentencing. Civil judgments may be enforced or appealed. Appeals from County Court go to the Appellate Division, Fourth Department.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Cattaraugus County
The courts in Cattaraugus County are administered under the New York State Unified Court System, with the 8th Judicial District Administrative Judge overseeing operations. Day-to-day administration at the county level is managed by the Chief Clerk of each court.
Local rules: The 8th Judicial District has its own set of local rules and forms. You can find commonly requested court forms through the Cattaraugus County Clerk's Office resources page. The New York State Courts website also publishes uniform and local rules for each judicial district.
Public access: Under New York's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), most government records are presumed public. Cattaraugus County has a dedicated FOIL request process, and you can download the FOIL request form from the county website. Court records are generally accessible, though sealed records, youthful offender records, and certain family and juvenile files are restricted by statute.
Attending hearings: Most court proceedings in Cattaraugus County are open to the public. Some proceedings may be conducted by video or telephone, particularly in Family Court or for certain preliminary appearances. Contact the specific court clerk for current remote-hearing availability.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Cattaraugus County
- Court records online: The Cattaraugus County Clerk's Office has made county records available online. The New York State Courts Electronic Filing system (NYSCEF) provides access to Supreme Court case documents for participating counties.
- Public records requests: You can submit a FOIL request to obtain government records not available online. The county's public records page provides additional guidance.
- Court forms and self-help: The Clerk's Office maintains a resources page with links to New York State Court forms for Family Court, Supreme Court, and other courts.
- Inmate lookup: To find someone incarcerated in a New York State facility, use the DOCCS Incarcerated Lookup tool. For individuals held locally, the Cattaraugus County Jail is a 148-bed maximum security facility. Jail visitation is available on Tuesdays (2:45 PM – 10 PM) and Fridays (7:45 AM – 3 PM) by appointment.
- Most wanted: The Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office most wanted list is available on the county website.
- Sex offender registry: Search the New York State Sex Offender Registry by county, including Cattaraugus.
- Criminal justice records and statistics: The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services provides criminal records information, crime statistics, and related resources.
- Police blotter and news: The Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office publishes news and press releases. New York State Police blotter reports for the region are available through the NYSP Blotter Reports portal.
- Property records: Cattaraugus County Real Property & GIS Services maintains deed records, tax maps, and parcel data.
- Sheriff's Office: For general law enforcement inquiries, contact the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office at 301 Court Street, Little Valley, NY 14755.