A court docket is the dated record of papers filed, hearings held, and orders issued in a case. In Onondaga County, New York, docket entries come from the court that heard the matter and from the County Clerk who keeps Supreme and County Court files. This page shows how to search a docket, read hearing activity, request copies, and handle a missing entry. A charge is an accusation, not a conviction.
This page starts with Court Docket Search and points to the court or County Clerk that holds the file. Use the case number and court name, then confirm sealed records, copies, and fees with the clerk. A docket entry is an index, not a certified record.
Court Docket Search
Use these key points and the official source below.
- Official source: https://www.nycourts.gov/
- Court office: Onondaga Supreme & County Courts, 401 Montgomery St, Syracuse, NY 13202.
- Start with: Use the case number and the court name.
- Verify: Ask the clerk about sealed files, certified copies, and current fees.
Docket Activity & Hearing Schedules
Docket activity covers every dated event in a file: a summons filed, a motion argued, an order signed, a hearing adjourned. Read entries from the oldest to the newest to follow the case. A court calendar lists what is set for a given day, and a docket states what already happened and what comes next. The two records answer different questions, and both can change without notice.
Criminal, Civil, Family & Probate Filings
Criminal dockets begin with an accusatory instrument, such as an indictment, information, or simplified information. Civil dockets begin with a summons and complaint or a notice of motion. Family Court dockets begin with a petition for custody, support, or protection. Surrogate’s Court dockets begin with a probate or administration petition. Each court keeps its own file, and each type follows its own rules for public view.
The table below groups the main case types heard in Onondaga County and the office that holds each docket. Use it to pick the right court before you search. One dispute can produce files in two courts, and each file needs its own request.
| Case type | Court that hears it | Office that holds the docket |
|---|---|---|
| Civil | Supreme Court, County Court, city and town courts | County Clerk for Supreme and County; local clerk for local cases |
| Criminal | County Court, Supreme Court, city, town, and village courts | County Clerk for superior courts; local clerk for local charges |
| Family | Onondaga Family Court | Family Court; confidential by law |
| Probate | Onondaga Surrogate’s Court | Surrogate’s Court file |
| Traffic and small claims | City, town, and village courts | Local court clerk |
The court that heard the case holds its docket. Supreme and County Court files sit with the County Clerk, and local court files sit with the clerk of that court. Family Court files stay confidential, and Surrogate’s Court estate files can be inspected with limits. A request sent to the wrong office will not find the file. Confirm the court name on the papers first.
Filings, Motions, Orders & Judgments
A filing starts or adds to a case. A motion asks the judge for a ruling, and the other side may answer before the court decides. An order records a ruling on a motion or a step in the case. A judgment ends a civil case and states the relief. In a criminal case, the judgment states the plea or verdict and the sentence. Read the signed paper, not the summary line.
A docket entry has a short set of fields. The date and document number place the line in order, and the entry text states what happened. The filing party and the court part show who acted and where. The table below lists the fields most Onondaga County dockets show, though a local court may print a shorter form.
| Field | What it shows | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Day the entry was made or the event was held | Places the line in order |
| Document number | Number assigned to a filed paper | Helps the clerk find the filing |
| Entry text | Short description of a filing or event | States what happened |
| Filing party | Side that filed the paper | Shows who acted |
| Court part | Judge or part assigned to the case | Shows where the case sits |
| Status | Open, closed, adjourned, or disposed | Shows the current step |
A blank field can carry meaning. A new case may lack a judge or a courtroom, and a sealed matter may show only a number. Read the note beside the entry before you call, and give the clerk the exact wording. A short question about one field gets a faster answer than a broad request for the whole file.
Upcoming, Rescheduled & Completed Hearings
The docket shows a future date, a note that a hearing was adjourned, and a record of hearings already held. A rescheduled entry should carry a new date. A completed entry shows the appearance took place but rarely states the outcome. Check the court calendar for the room and time, then call the clerk before you travel. A posted date is not a promise that the case will be called.
Chronological Activity Timelines
Read a docket as a timeline. The first entry shows how the case began, later entries show each filing and appearance, and the last entry shows the current step. Note the date and document number of each line so you can find the paper. Gaps on a docket can mean a filing is not yet posted, a matter is sealed, or the court acted without a written entry.
Public Availability & Copy Requests
New York courts differ in what they post online. Supreme and County Court index data and filed papers may appear on official court systems, and local courts may post little or nothing. Family Court matters stay confidential by law. A docket can be inspected, and case information requested, at the clerk’s office during business hours. Ask the clerk what the court allows before you file a formal request with the court.
Public Search Logs & Sealed Exclusions
A public docket log usually shows the case caption, index number, filing dates, document titles, and scheduled events. It may leave out the text of papers, the names of minors, grand jury matters, the outcome of a hearing, and records sealed by law. A sealed file can still appear as a number with no detail. The clerk can confirm that a file exists without showing its contents.
Online Directory & Court Clerk Requests
Use the official court site for Onondaga Supreme and County Courts, and use the County Clerk site for index, case lookup, and copy questions. A commercial directory may copy old data and charge for it, so confirm every detail at the source. Have the case number, party names, filing year, and court ready. The clerk can read an entry and state the current charge for a copy.
Certified Copies, Fees & Timelines
A certified copy carries a court seal and a signature that shows the paper is a true copy of the file. Ask the County Clerk for certification of a Supreme or County Court paper, and ask the local court clerk for a city, town, or village case. The clerk sets the charge and states the amount before copying. Processing time varies with the age of the file and the volume of requests.
Three details make a copy request run smoothly. Name the paper you need by its date and title, give the index number, and state whether you want a plain copy or a certified one. The table below lists the steps and the office that handles each one for Onondaga County files.
| Step | Action | Office |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identify the paper by date, title, and index number | Court that heard the case |
| 2 | Confirm the file is public | Clerk of that court |
| 3 | Request a plain or certified copy | County Clerk for Supreme and County; local clerk for city, town, and village cases |
| 4 | Pay the charge set at the counter | Same office |
| 5 | Check the seal, case number, and page count | Same office |
Keep the receipt with the copy. A certified paper should show a seal, a signature, and the full text of the pages you ordered. Check the case number and the date before you leave the counter. If a page is missing, ask for a corrected copy at once. A copy request does not change the file or remove a sealed record.
Record Accuracy & Resolution
A docket is a summary kept by court staff, and it can contain a wrong date, a misspelled name, or a missing line. Clerks correct errors when a party shows the signed paper. A third-party site can lag for weeks and may blend records from different courts. Treat the court file as the source and ask the clerk to confirm any entry you plan to use.
System Delays for Recent Filings
A paper filed today may not appear in the online index for days. Criminal cases can lag as a file moves from a local court to County Court, and a new case may lack a judge or a courtroom. A filing stamp on your copy proves the date the clerk received the paper. Call the clerk when a needed entry is missing, and keep your stamped copy.
Unlisted Docket & Hearing Resolution
Check the spelling of every name and the court that heard the case. A case search at Supreme Court will not find a town court file. Confirm the index number digit by digit, then call the clerk with the date on your notice. If a hearing is missing, ask whether it was adjourned, moved to another part, or decided on the papers. Write down the name of the person who helps you.
Most missing entries fall into a few groups. The table below lists the common causes and the step that settles each one. Read the cause that matches your notice, then call the office named in the last column. One call with the index number and the notice date often ends the search.
| Problem | Common cause | Step that settles it |
|---|---|---|
| No result by name | Name spelled differently in the file | Search by index number or try another spelling |
| Wrong court | Case filed in a town or village court | Call the clerk of that court |
| Hearing absent | Adjourned or moved to another part | Ask the clerk for the current date and part |
| Entry not posted | Recent filing not yet indexed | Give the clerk the stamped filing date |
| Record sealed | Law restricts public view | Ask the clerk what can be confirmed |
| Old data online | Third-party site copied an old list | Confirm the entry with the court file |
A missing entry rarely means the case vanished. Files move between courts, and a clerk can trace a case by the index number. Ask for the current status, the next date, and the name of the court that holds the file. Keep the answer with your papers. Docket data can lag, so a call to the court remains the final check.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers below cover the questions readers ask most about Onondaga County court dockets. Each answer names the office that holds the record and the step that confirms an entry. Court staff speak for the file, and their answer controls when a website or a printed list differs. A docket entry is a record of a filing or a hearing, not proof of guilt or innocence.
How quickly do new hearing schedules post online?
Timing varies by court. A Supreme or County Court date may appear within days after the clerk enters it, and a local court may post nothing online at all. A paper notice can reach you before the website changes. Call the court clerk to confirm a date, and do not treat a missing online entry as a canceled appearance. Keep the notice with the court case number and the hearing date.
What details are included in a public docket log?
A public log usually lists the court, the case caption, the index number, the filing date, the document title, and each scheduled event. It may show the judge, the part, the courtroom, and the attorney of record. The text of a paper may require a copy request. Sealed matters, Family Court files, and grand jury records stay outside the public log. A docket summary can change after a new filing.
What is required to obtain certified docket copies?
Bring the index number, the party names, the court, and the date of the paper you need. The County Clerk handles Supreme and County Court copies, and a local court clerk handles city, town, and village files. Ask for certification and confirm the charge before the copy is made. Check that the seal and signature are present before you leave. Ask the clerk which identification the counter requires before you pay.
Who confirms missing or unlisted court docket entries?
The clerk of the court that heard the case confirms a missing entry. For Supreme and County Court matters, call the Onondaga County Clerk at (315) 435-2227. For a local case, call that court’s clerk. Give the index number, the party names, and the date on your notice. Ask whether the file is sealed, moved, or not yet posted. Keep the answer with your papers. Note the date of the call.