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How to Find Public Records in Schoharie County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents may access publicly available information through SchoharieRecords.org as well as through official county and state government channels. Schoharie County maintains a range of government-generated documents that may be inspected or obtained by eligible requestors, subject to applicable state law. The categories of records that may be available include:

Property deeds, mortgages, and grantor/grantee indexes
Civil and criminal court records
Naturalization and census records
Vital records (birth, death, and marriage certificates)
Tax assessment and land records
Business filings and licenses
Meeting minutes, agendas, and budget documents
Law enforcement incident reports (where permitted)
Zoning and land use records

Records may be searched through official court resources, the County Clerk's office, public access terminals located at county facilities, and online tools maintained by the county government.

Online Access:

The Schoharie County government portal provides access to a range of county documents and departmental resources. The Schoharie County Public Documents System allows members of the public to search documents filed at the town level, including records from the Town of Wright and other municipalities. Certain records, including deeds and mortgages, may be searchable through the County Clerk's online index. No registration is required to browse publicly available indexes, though some document retrieval functions may require in-person verification.

In-Person Requests:

Members of the public may visit the County Clerk's Office to inspect or request copies of records. The office is located at 284 Main Street, Schoharie, NY 12157. Standard business hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Requestors should identify the record type, approximate date range, and names of parties involved to facilitate an efficient search.

Written/Mail Requests:

Written requests may be submitted to the Schoharie County Clerk's Office at 284 Main Street, Schoharie, NY 12157. Requests should include the requestor's full name, mailing address, a description of the records sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under New York Public Officers Law § 89, agencies are required to respond to Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests within five business days of receipt, either by providing the records, denying the request in writing, or acknowledging receipt and providing a projected response date.

Phone/Email:

The County Clerk's Office may be reached by telephone at (518) 295-8316. Requestors may also consult the County Clerk FAQs page for guidance on document availability and request procedures.

What Are Public Records in Schoharie County?

Public records in Schoharie County are defined under New York Public Officers Law § 86, which broadly defines a "record" as any information kept, held, filed, produced, or reproduced by, with, or for a government agency in any physical form. The County Clerk serves as the primary custodian of many county-level records, including those described on the records management page, which notes that holdings include "civil/criminal court records, census records, naturalization records, deeds, mortgages and grantor/grantee indexes, as well as many other" document types.

The following table summarizes principal record categories and the offices that maintain them:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Deeds, mortgages, liens	County Clerk's Office
Civil and criminal court records	County Clerk / Supreme Court
Vital records (birth, death, marriage)	NYS Dept. of Health / Town Clerks
Property tax and assessment records	County Real Property Tax Office
Business licenses and permits	County Clerk / Municipal Offices
Meeting minutes and agendas	County Legislature / Clerk
Budget and financial documents	County Treasurer / Legislature
Law enforcement records	Schoharie County Sheriff's Office
Zoning and land use records	County Planning Department
Naturalization and census records	County Clerk's Office / Archives

Vital records such as birth and death certificates are primarily maintained by the New York State Department of Health, while marriage records may be obtained from the town or city clerk where the license was issued.

Is Schoharie County an Open Records County?

Schoharie County operates in full compliance with New York State's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), codified at Public Officers Law § 84–90. Under this framework, all county agencies are required to make records available for public inspection and copying unless a specific statutory exemption applies. As stated in the county's own public guidance, "ARE THE RECORDS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? Yes, with certain exceptions as provided by law." This affirmation reflects the state's foundational principle that government records belong to the public.

New York's FOIL establishes a presumption of openness: any record not specifically exempted by statute must be disclosed upon request. The New York State Office of Children and Family Services further clarifies that the Freedom of Information Law "provides the public with the right to access government records," reinforcing that this right extends across all state and county agencies. County-specific policies do not supersede state law, and any denial of access must cite a specific statutory exemption and inform the requestor of the right to appeal.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Schoharie County?

The fee structure for public records in Schoharie County is governed by New York Public Officers Law § 87(1)(b), which limits copy fees to the actual cost of reproduction. Standard fees currently applicable at the County Clerk's Office are as follows:

Service	Fee
Paper copies (letter/legal size)	$0.25 per page
Certified copies of recorded documents	$5.00 per document (plus $1.00 per page)
Deed or mortgage copies	Varies by page count
Electronic record delivery	Subject to actual cost
Record search (staff-assisted)	May apply for extensive searches

Inspection of records at a public access terminal does not carry a fee. Certification fees apply when an official seal or attestation is required. Accepted payment methods at the County Clerk's Office include cash, check, and money order made payable to the Schoharie County Clerk. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors or qualifying nonprofit organizations upon written application, consistent with state guidance.

Does Schoharie County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to any member of the public at the County Clerk's Office during regular business hours. Under New York FOIL, agencies may not charge a fee solely for inspecting records; fees apply only when copies are requested. The following resources are available at no cost:

In-person inspection at the County Clerk's Office, 284 Main Street, Schoharie, NY 12157
Online document search through the Schoharie County Public Documents System, which allows free browsing of indexed town-level documents
County government portal at schohariecounty-ny.gov, which provides free access to meeting minutes, agendas, budget documents, and departmental information

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: members of the public may view records without charge, but obtaining paper or certified copies is subject to the fee schedule described above. Certain records, such as publicly posted meeting agendas and legislative minutes, are available for download at no cost through the county's official web portal.

Who Can Request Public Records in Schoharie County?

Any person may submit a public records request in Schoharie County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. New York Public Officers Law § 84 affirms that the right to access government records belongs to "the people" broadly, and agencies may not require requestors to identify themselves or explain why they seek a particular record as a condition of access. Non-residents of New York State retain the same rights as residents under FOIL.

Requestors are not required to provide identification for standard record inspections, though identification may be required when requesting records that contain personal information about the requestor (such as sealed or restricted files). When requesting records about another individual, requestors should be aware that certain categories—such as personnel files, medical records, and juvenile records—carry additional restrictions regardless of who is asking. Persons seeking their own records held by state agencies may be required to verify their identity to prevent unauthorized disclosure.

What Records Are Confidential in Schoharie County?

Not all government records are subject to public disclosure. New York Public Officers Law § 87(2) enumerates categories of records that agencies may withhold, and county offices apply these exemptions consistently. Records that are currently exempt from disclosure include:

Sealed court records, including those sealed pursuant to court order or statute
Juvenile delinquency records, protected under New York Family Court Act provisions
Records compiled for law enforcement purposes where disclosure would interfere with an active investigation or endanger a person's safety
Personal identifying information, including Social Security numbers, financial account data, and home addresses where disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy
Medical and health records, protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records, which are sealed by statute in New York
Child welfare and protective services records, as noted by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, which requires a separate request process for records related to reports of child abuse or maltreatment
Personnel records of public employees, except where disclosure is required by law or the employee consents
Trade secrets and proprietary business information submitted to government agencies
Security plans and critical infrastructure details where disclosure could endanger public safety

As noted by the New York State Police, "court convictions are public records," but certain law enforcement records—including those pertaining to ongoing investigations or records sealed by court order—remain exempt. Agencies applying an exemption must provide a written denial specifying the statutory basis and informing the requestor of the right to appeal to the agency head.

Schoharie County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Schoharie County Clerk's Office
284 Main Street
Schoharie, NY 12157
(518) 295-8316
Schoharie County Clerk's Office

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays

The County Clerk, currently Lawrence J. Caza, serves as Clerk of the County and Supreme Court, Records Management Officer, and Local Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. The office maintains recorded land instruments, court filings, and historical records accessible through the county records management program.

Schoharie County Real Property Tax Office
284 Main Street
Schoharie, NY 12157
(518) 295-8386
Schoharie County, NY

Schoharie County Sheriff's Office
157 Depot Lane
Schoharie, NY 12157
(518) 295-2266
Schoharie County, NY

Law enforcement records maintained by the Sheriff's Office are subject to FOIL and may be requested in writing. As clarified by state guidance, "records of local or county law enforcement agencies are maintained by the respective agency," meaning requests for incident reports or arrest logs must be directed to the Sheriff's Office rather than to state-level agencies.