Search Queens County Residents Directory

Queens County is one of five boroughs that form New York City, and it ranks as the second most populous county in the state with roughly 2.4 million people. The Queens County residents directory pulls together public records from the County Clerk, the City Register, and a range of state and city databases. Because Queens is part of New York City, record-keeping splits between the county clerk and several city agencies. Court filings, property records, vital records, and FOIL requests each go through a different office. This page breaks down where to look, how to search, and what you can find in the Queens County residents directory.

Queens County Clerk's Office

The Queens County Clerk's Office is at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica, NY 11435. Audrey I. Pheffer serves as the current County Clerk. The office is open Monday through Friday, with morning hours from 9 AM to 1 PM and afternoon hours from 2 PM to 5 PM. There is a midday break. If you call 718-298-0601, that line handles passport appointment scheduling. The clerk sits within the 11th Judicial District and manages Supreme Court case files, indices, and related filings.

A few changes have taken effect in the last few years. Since September 1, 2023, the Queens County Clerk no longer processes notary renewals. Those now go straight to the New York Secretary of State, as laid out in Executive Law Section 131(2). Trust documents have not been accepted since March 10, 2023. All Supreme Court civil matters must now be filed through NYSCEF, the state electronic filing system. These shifts mean less foot traffic at the Sutphin Boulevard office, but the clerk still handles DBA filings, judgment dockets, lien records, and naturalization records that go back well over a century.

Criminal record requests no longer go through this office either. Since June 8, 2021, certified criminal records have been handled by Queens Supreme Court Criminal Term at 125-01 Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens, NY 11415. If you need a certified copy of a criminal case, that is where to go. The County Clerk keeps civil court records and indices only.

Property Records in the Queens Residents Directory

Property records in Queens County do not go through the County Clerk. The ACRIS system handles all deed, mortgage, UCC, and federal tax lien filings for the borough. ACRIS stands for the Automated City Register Information System. It covers Queens along with Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx. You can search by name, address, or Borough-Block-Lot number. Records from 1966 to the present are available online at no charge.

The Queens City Register Office sits at 144-06 94th Avenue, Queens, NY 11435. Hours run Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM. Certified copies ordered through ACRIS cost $4 per page. Copies you print at the office run $1 per page. Anything you pull up and print from home is free. Payments at the Queens office can be made by check to "NYC Department of Finance" or by credit card. If you need to record a deed or a mortgage, the City Register is the filing point, not the County Clerk.

Staten Island is the one exception in the city. Its property records go through the Richmond County Clerk rather than a City Register office. For Queens, though, ACRIS is the sole source for property filings and searches.

Residents Directory Search Options for Queens

Searching for records in Queens County means knowing which agency holds what. Court records are one thing. Property records are another. Vital records sit in a third place. The residents directory for Queens County connects these different systems so you can find what you need without guessing where to start. Public Officers Law Sections 84 through 90 set out the rules for how agencies must respond to records requests in New York.

For court filings, the eCourts system provides online access to Supreme Court civil cases. You can search by party name or index number. Criminal cases are also searchable through the WebCriminal portal. Not every document shows up online. For a full case file or a certified copy, contact the Queens County Clerk or the Criminal Term court in Kew Gardens, depending on the type of case. NYSCEF holds electronic filings for Supreme Court civil matters, and that database is searchable by the public.

FOIL requests for Queens go through the NYC OpenRecords portal. That system covers all city agencies. You can submit a request to any of the 14 Queens Community Boards (CB1 through CB14), local NYPD precincts, the Department of Finance, and dozens of other offices. Agencies must respond within five business days. You get a tracking number when you submit. Electronic records sent by email carry no fee. Paper copies cost $0.25 per page. You can also browse requests from other people to see what has already been released.

Vital Records for Queens County Residents

Birth and death certificates for Queens residents come from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The main office is at 125 Worth Street, New York, NY 10007. Call 212-788-4500 for help. Birth records go back to 1910. Death records are available from 1949 forward. You can order online, by mail, or in person. Fees and processing times vary by method.

Marriage licenses are a separate matter. The NYC City Clerk issues those, not the County Clerk and not the Health Department. Reach the City Clerk at 212-669-8898. Applications go through the city's online system or in person at a City Clerk location. The New York State Department of Health handles vital records for events that took place outside of New York City. If a Queens resident was born upstate, the state office would hold that record rather than the city. Domestic Relations Law Section 13 sets the rules for marriage license applications and the 24-hour waiting period after issuance.

State Databases in the Queens Residents Directory

Several state-run systems add depth to the Queens County residents directory. The Sex Offender Registry from the Division of Criminal Justice Services lists Level 2 and Level 3 offenders in a public database. You can search by name, county, or zip code. Sign up for NY-ALERT to get notified if a registered offender moves into or out of your area. Level 1 offenders do not appear online, but you can call 800-262-3257 with a name and one identifying detail to check.

The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision runs an inmate lookup tool. It covers all 44 state correctional facilities. Under Correction Law Section 9, records for certain non-violent offenders are removed five years after they complete their sentence. The voter lookup tool from the State Board of Elections lets Queens residents check their registration status. Election Law Section 3-103(5) limits the use of voter data to election purposes only.

The New York Open Data portal has datasets that cover health, education, public safety, transportation, and more. Many of these datasets include Queens-specific data. You can filter, sort, and download records for free. The platform is run by the state and updated on a rolling basis.

Passport Services in the Queens Residents Directory

The Queens County Clerk's Office is a passport acceptance facility. Appointments are required as of February 1, 2024. Walk-ins are no longer accepted for passport services. Call 718-298-0601 to schedule. You will need a completed DS-11 form, proof of citizenship, a valid photo ID, a passport photo, and the correct fees. Standard processing takes six to eight weeks. Expedited service cuts that to two to three weeks for an extra fee.

If you cannot get an appointment at the Queens location, other acceptance facilities exist across the city and on Long Island. The U.S. State Department website lists all locations. For passport renewals, you can mail your application directly to the State Department and skip the acceptance facility altogether. Renewals use form DS-82 rather than DS-11.

Cities in Queens County

Queens County is coterminous with the Borough of Queens in New York City. There are no separate cities within the county. All public records for the borough go through the county and city agencies described on this page. For records that span all five boroughs, visit the New York City page in the residents directory.

Nearby Counties

These counties sit next to Queens or are close by in the metro area. Each one has its own clerk and its own set of public records offices.