New York White Pages
New York White Pages let you search for people across the state by name, phone number, or address. The state keeps public records through 62 county clerks, the New York State Unified Court System, and local town and city offices. You can look up phone listings, find contact details, and check voter registration status through official state portals. Whether you need to find a person in New York City, Buffalo, or a small town upstate, several free tools and government databases can help you get the information you need without leaving home.
New York White Pages Overview
Where to Find New York White Pages
New York White Pages information comes from several state and local sources. The most direct way is to use official government databases that hold phone numbers, addresses, and public contact details. The New York State Official Phone Directory lists contact info for all state agencies, including department names, titles, and phone numbers. You can reach the Department of Financial Services at 800-342-3736 or the Department of Health at 518-474-2012 through this directory. It works well for finding people who work in state government.
County clerk offices are another key source. Each of the 62 counties has a clerk who keeps land records, court filings, and other public documents. These records often show names and addresses. The NYS Unified Court System eCourts portal gives free access to civil, criminal, family, and surrogate court records from every county. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney across the whole state.
For New York City, the five boroughs have their own resources. The ACRIS property records system covers Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx with free online searching for deeds, mortgages, and property documents going back to 1966. Staten Island keeps its records separately through the Richmond County Clerk at richmondcountyclerk.com.
Note: New York White Pages records are public under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). Anyone can request records from state and local agencies, regardless of where they live.
How to Search White Pages in New York
Searching New York White Pages starts with knowing which database to use. The state runs several free online tools. The NYS Voter Lookup Portal lets registered voters check their status and find poll site details. You search by county, last name, first name, date of birth, and zip code. The system shows voter registration info, party enrollment, and district details for all 62 counties.
The NYS Board of Elections also keeps voter registration data. Under New York State Election Law 3-103(5), voter files can be requested through FOIL for elections purposes. The Records Access Officer is at 40 North Pearl Street, Suite 5, Albany, NY 12207. Copies cost $0.25 per page. Statewide files contain millions of records in ASCII format.
Court records are another strong source for finding people. WebCivil Supreme has civil case data from all 62 counties. You can search by party name or index number. WebCrims covers pending criminal cases in selected courts. WebFamily shows active Family Court cases statewide. All of these are free through the eCourts portal.
The Division of Criminal Justice Services handles criminal history records and criminal history searches through fingerprint searches. The Criminal History Record Search (CHRS) program costs $95 per search and covers all 62 counties. Results come back in 5 to 10 business days for mail requests.
New York White Pages Resources
The state has several agencies that hold public records useful for White Pages searches. Each one covers a different type of information.
The New York State Department of Health runs the vital records registry. It covers births, deaths, marriages, and divorces outside of New York City. The state has two registration areas: NYC (five counties) and the rest of the state (57 counties). NYC vital records are handled separately by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Certified copies can be ordered online, by mail, or in person. The Bureau of Vital Records processes requests and keeps the official database.
Property records are a good way to find people too. The New York State Tax Department tracks property transfers through Real Property Transfer Reports (RP-5217). Assessment rolls, tax bills, and payment history for all real property are in the system. The STAR program provides school tax relief, and information about exemptions is public. For NYC, the NYC Open Data portal gives free access to over 1,400 datasets including property data, building permits, and 311 service requests.
The New York State Archives holds more than 270 million documents from the 17th century to the present. These include military records, land grants, court records, and vital records indexes. The research room at the Cultural Education Center in Albany is open for in-person visits. Online finding aids help you locate materials before you go. The Archives also offers a Name Index database for searching historical records.
The screenshot below shows the NYS Official Phone Directory, which is one of the most direct tools for finding government contacts in New York.
This directory lists every state agency with phone numbers and contact titles for public use.
Public Records Access in New York
New York's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) gives everyone the right to access government records. It is found in Public Officers Law sections 84 through 90. You do not need to be a resident. You do not need to give a reason. Any person can submit a request in writing to the Records Access Officer at any state or local agency.
Agencies must respond within five business days. If they need more time, they must say so and give a date when the records will be ready. Denied requests can be appealed within 30 days. The Committee on Open Government, housed in the NYS Department of State, oversees FOIL compliance. They offer guidance by phone, written advisory opinions, and training for agencies and the public.
Some records have limits. Social Security numbers and home addresses of certain public employees are kept private. Medical records, law enforcement investigative files, and trade secrets are also exempt. But most government records in New York are open. Court records follow a separate rule under Judiciary Law Section 225. The Unified Court System allows inspection of most case files while removing sensitive data like Social Security numbers.
The screenshot below shows the NYS Committee on Open Government website, which helps people understand their rights under FOIL.
The Committee provides model FOIL request forms and advisory opinions to help with records access.
White Pages for Business Records in New York
Business records can help you find people connected to companies in New York. The Division of Corporations under the Department of State keeps records of all business entities formed or qualified to do business in the state. You can search by entity name, DOS ID number, or registered agent name. Records show formation documents, biennial statements, and status (active, inactive, dissolved).
Copies of filed documents cost $5 for the first two pages and $0.25 for each extra page. The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Bureau tracks secured transactions and financing statements. You can also search trademark and service mark registrations through this office. Certificate of Status documents verify that a business exists and is in good standing.
At the county level, business certificates (DBAs) are filed with the county clerk. Nassau County charges $120 for a DBA filing, for example. Each county has its own fee schedule, but the records are public and searchable. In Erie County, the clerk at 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo handles business certificates along with land records and court filings.
New York White Pages and Voter Records
Voter registration data is one of the most complete sources for New York White Pages information. The state has 62 county boards of elections, each maintaining voter rolls with names, addresses, party enrollment, and district details. The NYS Board of Elections voter registration page lets people register online if they have a NYS driver license and Social Security number. Registration must be in by 25 days before each election.
Historical voter records go back quite far. Brooklyn keeps records from 1890. Manhattan has records from 1786. Queens voter registers from 1898 to 1948 are at the NYC Municipal Archives at 31 Chambers Street, Room 103, New York, NY 10007. More recent records can be checked through the online voter lookup tool. These records may show naturalization status, birth date, height, eye color, and length of residence in older files.
The screenshot below shows the NYS Voter Lookup Portal where you can check registration status.
Enter your county, name, date of birth, and zip code to find voter registration details.
White Pages Through Court Records
Court records in New York are public and can reveal names, addresses, and other contact details. The NYS Unified Court System runs free online tools for searching cases statewide.
WebCivil Supreme covers all 62 counties and shows both active and disposed civil cases. You can search by index number, party name, attorney, or justice. The eTrack service sends email alerts when cases get updates. WebCivil Local covers city courts, district courts in Nassau and Suffolk, and NYC civil courts. Both tools are free and available 24 hours a day.
The Criminal History Record Search costs $95 per search through the Office of Court Administration at 25 Beaver Street, Room 840, New York, NY 10004. Results include charges, dispositions, sentences, and court locations from Supreme Court, County Court, and local criminal courts. Sealed records and youthful offender cases are not included. The search is authorized under New York Judiciary Law Section 255.
- WebCivil Supreme: civil cases from all 62 counties
- WebCivil Local: city and district court cases
- WebCrims: pending criminal cases with future dates
- WebFamily: active family court cases statewide
- WebSurrogate: estate and probate records
The screenshot below shows the NYS eCourts portal, which gives access to all of these search tools.
All court search tools are free to use and cover the full state.
Browse New York White Pages by County
Each of New York's 62 counties has its own clerk and court system with public records. Pick a county below to find local resources for White Pages searches in that area.
White Pages in Major New York Cities
New York's largest cities and towns have local clerk offices with public records. Pick a city to find White Pages resources in your area.