Access Richmond County Residents Directory

The Richmond County residents directory covers public records for Staten Island, the southernmost borough of New York City. Richmond County has a population of roughly 490,000 and a unique government structure that sets it apart from the other four NYC counties. The Richmond County Clerk is the only county clerk in New York City who also serves as the City Register, which means property records here are handled differently than in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, or the Bronx. This guide explains where to find records, how the clerk's office works, and what tools are available to search the residents directory for Staten Island.

Office of the Richmond County Clerk

The Office of the Richmond County Clerk (ORCC) is Staten Island's oldest governmental institution. It was founded in 1683, making it older than the United States itself. Today it operates as a constitutional office and a diversified government service organization with four core business segments. The office sits at 130 Stuyvesant Place, 2nd Floor, Staten Island, NY 10301. You can reach them by phone at (718) 675-7700.

What makes Richmond County truly different from the other NYC boroughs is the dual role of the clerk. In Kings County, Queens County, New York County, and Bronx County, property records are filed through the NYC Department of Finance's ACRIS system. But on Staten Island, the Richmond County Clerk serves as both the county clerk and the city register. That means property records for Staten Island go through the clerk's office directly, not through ACRIS. If you are searching for a deed or mortgage on Staten Island, you need to go to the Richmond County Clerk rather than the citywide ACRIS database. This catches a lot of people off guard, especially those who are used to how things work in the other boroughs.

The office manages millions of vital legal documents and public records. Staff handle recordings, indexing, and preservation every business day.

Property Records in the Residents Directory

As the Chief Recording Officer for Staten Island, the Richmond County Clerk records all property-related documents for the borough. This includes deeds, mortgages, assignments, satisfactions, judgments, and liens. The records go back to colonial times, with some documents dating to the 17th century when Staten Island was still under Dutch and then English rule.

You can search land records online through the clerk's website. The system allows lookups by name, address, block and lot number, or document type. When you find a record, you can view the index information and in many cases pull up a scanned image of the original document. Certified copies are available for a fee. Keep in mind that the online system may not include the very oldest records, which exist only in physical form at the clerk's office. For anything recorded in the last few decades, though, the digital search works well and saves you a trip to Stuyvesant Place.

The clerk also processes DBA filings for businesses operating on Staten Island and handles notary registrations. If you need to file a business name certificate or register as a notary, this is where you go.

Court Records in the Richmond Residents Directory

Richmond County sits in the 2nd Judicial District of New York State. The eCourts portal lets you search civil case records for Supreme Court and County Court filings. You can search by party name, index number, or attorney. The tool is free and provides case type, filing date, and status information.

Criminal court records on Staten Island are handled through the NYC criminal court system. Access to these records depends on the type of case and its current status. New York's criminal record sealing laws have expanded in recent years, so some older cases may no longer show up in public searches. Family court, surrogate's court, and housing court each maintain separate filing systems. For family court matters, you generally need to visit the courthouse in person, as most family court records are not available online due to privacy protections.

Staten Island has a single courthouse complex that handles most of these courts. The Supreme Court building is at 18 Richmond Terrace in St. George, close to the Staten Island Ferry terminal. If you need to file documents or pick up copies, that is where to go.

Residents Directory for State Records

Several New York State agencies maintain records that are relevant to the Richmond County residents directory. The Department of Health issues birth, death, and marriage certificates. For events that took place in New York City, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene also issues vital records. Staten Island residents can use either the state or city process depending on the situation.

The New York State voter lookup tool covers all registered voters, including those on Staten Island. You can verify registration status, check party affiliation, and confirm which election districts a person belongs to. This is a free tool that requires only a name and date of birth. It can be useful for confirming a current address or simply verifying that someone is registered in Richmond County.

The Sex Offender Registry maintained by the Division of Criminal Justice Services is another state-level resource. You can search by name, zip code, or county. Results for Staten Island will appear under Richmond County. The database is updated regularly and is free to use.

FOIL and Public Records in the Richmond Residents Directory

New York's Freedom of Information Law applies to all government agencies in Richmond County, including both city and county offices. Because Staten Island is part of New York City, many records fall under city jurisdiction rather than county jurisdiction. For NYPD records, for example, you would file a FOIL request through the NYC OpenRecords portal rather than the county clerk's office.

Staten Island is served by four NYPD precincts: the 120th, 121st, 122nd, and 123rd. Each precinct generates its own records, from incident reports to arrest records. The OpenRecords portal is the central place to request records from any city agency, including the police department. You submit your request online, track its progress, and receive documents electronically in most cases. The standard fee for copies is $0.25 per page. Response times vary depending on the complexity of the request and the volume of records involved.

For county-level records that are not available online, you can submit a FOIL request directly to the Richmond County Clerk's office. Put your request in writing and be as specific as possible about the records you need. The more detail you give, the faster the office can locate the documents.

Staten Island Communities and Districts

Staten Island does not have separate cities or towns within its borders like upstate counties do. Instead, the borough is divided into three Community Board districts. The North Shore includes neighborhoods like St. George, Stapleton, and Port Richmond. The Mid-Island district covers areas such as New Springville and Willowbrook. The South Shore runs from Great Kills down to Tottenville at the southern tip of the island.

All of Staten Island falls under the umbrella of New York City government. The borough president's office handles local advocacy and community affairs, while the city council members representing Staten Island vote on city legislation. For public records purposes, most requests go through either the Richmond County Clerk for property and court documents, or through NYC agencies for police reports, building permits, health records, and other city-managed files. The New York State Open Data portal also carries datasets that include Richmond County information, from property tax rolls to inspection reports.

The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) maintains records on individuals in state custody or under community supervision. This state-level resource covers all counties including Richmond. You can search the inmate lookup tool on the DOCCS website to find information about current inmates or parolees.

Historical Records in the Richmond Residents Directory

Richmond County has one of the longest continuous records histories of any county in New York State. Founded in 1683, the clerk's office has been recording documents for more than 340 years. Some of the earliest records date back to the colonial period when Staten Island was governed first by the Dutch and then by the English. These historical documents are part of the public record, though accessing the oldest ones may require a visit to the clerk's office or the New York State Archives.

The dual role of the Richmond County Clerk as both county clerk and city register is worth highlighting again because it affects how you search for records. In the other four boroughs, property records flow through the city's ACRIS system. On Staten Island, they go through the county clerk. This means that if you are doing a property search that spans multiple boroughs, you will need to use two different systems. ACRIS handles Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx. The Richmond County Clerk handles Staten Island. It is not hard once you know, but it trips up newcomers.

Cities and Nearby Counties

Staten Island is part of New York City. The city page in this residents directory covers all five boroughs.

The counties that border Richmond County or sit nearby include the other NYC boroughs and neighboring Long Island counties. Each has its own clerk and its own set of records.