Kings County Residents Directory
The Kings County residents directory covers public records for Brooklyn, the most populous borough in New York City. Kings County has over 2.7 million residents, making it the largest county in the state by population. The Kings County Clerk's Office manages court records at 360 Adams Street in Brooklyn. Property records for Kings County go through the NYC Department of Finance ACRIS system rather than the county clerk. You can search many of these records online or visit the offices in person. This guide walks you through where to find public records, how to request them, and what resources are available in the Kings County residents directory.
Kings County Overview
Kings County Clerk's Office
The Kings County Clerk's Office sits at 360 Adams Street, Room 189, Brooklyn, NY 11201. The current County Clerk is Nancy T. Sunshine. The office can be reached at (347) 404-9700. Hours run Monday through Friday, typically 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Clerk serves as Clerk of the Supreme and County Courts and as an agent for state and federal governments.
The Kings County Clerk handles several types of records and filings. Business certificates for DBA filings are processed here. Notary public registrations go through this office, though renewals now must be sent to the NYS Secretary of State per Executive Law Section 131(2). Naturalization records dating back to the 19th century are maintained for historical and genealogical research. Judgment dockets and lien records for Supreme Court and Civil Court matters are also kept by the Clerk.
| Office | Kings County Clerk's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 360 Adams Street, Room 189 Brooklyn, NY 11201 |
| Phone | (347) 404-9700 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
One key thing to know: the Kings County Clerk does NOT accept documents for filing that relate to real property such as deeds and mortgages. The New York City Register handles those filings for Kings County. If you need to record a deed or mortgage in Brooklyn, you go to the City Register's office instead. The Clerk does accept notices of pendency, building loan agreements, mechanics' liens, sidewalk liens, and assignments of lending.
Kings County Residents Directory Property Records
Property records for Kings County are searchable through ACRIS, the Automated City Register Information System. ACRIS covers Brooklyn along with Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx. You can search by address, party name, document type, or Borough-Block-Lot number. Records go back to 1966. Documents from before that year must be requested in person at the Brooklyn City Register Office.
The Brooklyn City Register Office is at 210 Joralemon Street, 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 4:30 PM. You can submit documents, research and print property records (limited to one hour per visit), request certified copies, and pay filing fees. Certified copies run $4 per page when ordered through ACRIS. Uncertified copies printed at the office cost $1 per page. There is no charge for documents you print from your own computer through ACRIS.
UCC Financing Statements for co-ops in Kings County are filed through ACRIS at the Brooklyn office. Payments must be made by check to "NYC Department of Finance." The office also accepts credit cards including Visa, Mastercard, and Amex for all transactions. Property tax bills in Brooklyn go out quarterly for properties assessed under $250,000 and twice a year for properties valued above that amount.
How to Search the Kings County Residents Directory
Kings County public records are spread across several agencies. Court records go through the Kings County Clerk. Property records go through ACRIS and the Department of Finance. Vital records for Brooklyn residents are handled by the NYC Department of Health. For FOIL requests to city agencies, the NYC OpenRecords portal serves as the centralized system.
The OpenRecords portal lets you submit requests to over 100 city agencies. That includes NYPD Brooklyn precincts, the Department of Finance Brooklyn office, and Brooklyn Community Boards 1 through 18. You get a confirmation number to track your request. Agencies must respond within five business days under Public Officers Law Sections 84 through 90. Electronic records that can be emailed come at no cost. You can also search requests that others have already submitted to find information that has been released before.
For court records, the New York State eCourts system provides some access online. WebCivil Supreme lets you search Supreme Court cases by party name or index number. WebCriminal covers criminal cases. Not all documents appear online. For the full case file, sealed records, or certified copies, you contact the Kings County Clerk's Office directly at the Adams Street location.
Vital Records in Kings County
Birth and death certificates for Brooklyn residents are issued by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Their main office is at 125 Worth Street, New York, NY 10007. Call 212-788-4500 for assistance. Birth records are available from 1910 forward, and death records from 1949 forward.
Marriage licenses in Kings County are handled by the NYC City Clerk, not the County Clerk or the Health Department. You can reach the City Clerk at 212-669-8898. Applications can be submitted online, by mail, or in person. Eligibility rules and fees apply based on the type of certificate and how you order it. Email requests alone are not accepted for vital records due to privacy and security rules. The Department of Health also oversees the Adoption Information Registry, which helps adoptees get non-identifying information about birth parents.
State Resources for Kings County
Several state agencies provide additional records that apply to Kings County. The Division of Criminal Justice Services runs the Sex Offender Registry. Level 2 and Level 3 offenders appear in the public online directory. Sign up for NY-ALERT to get notifications if a listed offender moves into or out of Brooklyn. For Level 1 offenders, call 800-262-3257 with the person's name and an identifier.
The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision has an incarcerated individual lookup covering all 44 state facilities. Under Correction Law Section 9, data for certain non-violent offenders is removed five years after they finish their sentence. The voter lookup tool lets Kings County residents verify their registration status and find their polling place. Election Law Section 3-103(5) limits voter data to election-related use.
The Open Data Portal has datasets covering health, education, public safety, and other topics relevant to Brooklyn. The State Archives preserves historical records from the 17th century forward, including colonial records and military service records that may relate to Kings County families.
Kings County in the Residents Directory
Kings County is coterminous with the Borough of Brooklyn in New York City. All public records for Brooklyn go through the county and city agencies listed above. For more about public records across all five boroughs, visit the New York City page in the residents directory.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Kings County or are nearby in the New York City area. Each has its own clerk's office and set of public records.