Binghamton, New York Public Records

County Court handles felony cases, while Supreme Court has jurisdiction over civil cases exceeding $25,000, divorce and matrimonial matters, and appeals from lower courts. The Broome County Family Court, also at 65 Hawley Street (phone: 607-778-2110), handles child custody, support, adoption, juvenile delinquency, and family offense proceedings. The Broome County Surrogate's Court at the same address (phone: 607-778-2111) handles probate, estate administration, and guardianship matters. New York State offers online access to some court records through the eCourts system at iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/ecourtsMain, where users can search civil Supreme Court cases by index number, party name, or attorney. Criminal case information is more restricted due to privacy laws. Certified copies of court documents can be obtained from the County Clerk's Office at 60 Hawley Street (phone: 607-778-2255) with fees of $6 for the first page and $1 for each additional page for certified documents, plus a $5 certification fee. Uncertified copies are typically $0.25 per page.

Residents can search property records online through the Broome County Real Property Tax Service public access portal at ascender.gobroomecounty.com/search/CommonSearch.aspx?mode=realprop, which allows searches by owner name, address, street name, or parcel ID number. The database provides current assessed values, property characteristics, tax exemptions, sales history, and school district assignments. The Broome County Clerk's Office, located at 60 Hawley Street, Binghamton, NY 13901 (phone: 607-778-2255, website: www.gobroomecounty.com/clerk), serves as the official recorder of deeds and maintains the county's land records including property deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, assignments, satisfactions, and other instruments affecting real property. The Clerk's office has indexed land records dating back to the early 1800s. Online document searches are available through the Broome County Clerk's Land Records Search system, though viewing and printing complete recorded documents typically requires a subscription service or in-person visit. Recording fees are set by New York State law and include $125 for deeds and mortgages for the first page and $5 for each additional page. Broome County also offers a GIS mapping system at gis.gobroomecounty.com providing interactive parcel maps, aerial imagery, zoning information, and flood zones searchable by address or parcel number.

UHS Hospitals (United Health Services), headquartered in Binghamton, operates UHS Wilson Medical Center and UHS Binghamton General Hospital, employing over 5,000 people and serving as the region's primary healthcare provider. Lourdes Hospital, part of Ascension, is another major medical employer. BAE Systems operates a significant defense electronics facility in nearby Endicott (formerly IBM's birthplace), employing hundreds in advanced manufacturing. Raymond Corporation, a leading materials handling equipment manufacturer, maintains operations in the area. State government is also a major employer, including SUNY Broome Community College and various state agency offices. The technology sector has grown through initiatives like the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator, attracting startups and leveraging university research. The median household income in Binghamton is approximately $37,000, below the state average, reflecting the city's college-town demographics and post-industrial transition. Recent economic development includes downtown revitalization efforts with the $60 million Greater Binghamton Health Center, expansion of the Binghamton University Health Sciences campus downtown, and ongoing mixed-use development projects. The city benefits from relatively low cost of living and housing costs compared to other New York metros. Agriculture remains important in surrounding Broome County, and Binghamton serves as the commercial and governmental hub for the Southern Tier region.

The Binghamton Police Department, headquartered at 38 Hawley Street, Binghamton, NY 13901 (phone: 607-772-7080, website: www.binghamton-ny.gov/police), serves the city's residents and maintains records of incidents, arrests, and police reports within city limits. Citizens can request copies of police reports in person at the Records Division or by submitting a written FOIL request. The department provides access to accident reports, incident reports, and arrest records subject to New York's Freedom of Information Law and Criminal Procedure Law provisions. The Broome County Sheriff's Office, located at 155 Lt. Van Winkle Drive, Binghamton, NY 13905 (phone: 607-778-1911, website: www.gobroomecounty.com/sheriff), serves unincorporated areas of Broome County and provides countywide law enforcement support including civil process, court security, and operation of the Broome County Correctional Facility. Arrest and jail booking information can be searched through the Broome County Sheriff's inmate roster at www.gobroomecounty.com/sheriff/inmate-search, which displays current inmates' names, booking dates, charges, bail amounts, and booking photographs. The roster is updated regularly and provides information on individuals held at the Broome County Jail at 155 Lt. Van Winkle Drive. To request law enforcement records in Binghamton or Broome County, residents must submit requests under New York's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), Public Officers Law §84-90, which requires agencies to respond within five business days acknowledging the request and within twenty business days providing the records or explaining any denial. Certain records may be exempt under Criminal Procedure Law §160.50 (sealed records) or if they would interfere with ongoing investigations.

Online ordering is available through VitalChek at www.vitalchek.com with additional service fees. Only individuals named on the certificate, parents, legal representatives, or those with court orders can obtain copies under New York Public Health Law §4174. Death certificates are also issued by the state for $30 per certified copy with the same eligibility restrictions. For deaths within the past two years, the funeral director typically files the certificate. Marriage licenses for Binghamton residents are issued by the Broome County Clerk's Office, 60 Hawley Street, Binghamton, NY 13901 (phone: 607-778-2255). The marriage license fee is $40 and requires both parties to appear in person with valid photo ID and proof of age (birth certificate or passport). There is a 24-hour waiting period after issuance before the ceremony can occur, and the license is valid for 60 days. Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $10. The County Clerk maintains marriage records dating back to the 1800s. Divorce records are maintained as court records through the Broome County Supreme Court at 65 Hawley Street, with certified copies available through the County Clerk's Office for $6 for the first page plus $1 for additional pages and a $5 certification fee. New York does not release divorce records to the general public—only parties to the divorce or their legal representatives can obtain copies.

Fictitious business name (DBA - "Doing Business As") filings in New York are handled through the Broome County Clerk's Office at 60 Hawley Street (phone: 607-778-2255), where businesses operating under a name other than the owner's legal name must file a Business Certificate. The filing fee is $25 for sole proprietorships and general partnerships, and certificates must be filed within 30 days of commencing business. The County Clerk maintains searchable records of current business certificates. For corporations, LLCs, and limited partnerships, registration is handled by the New York Department of State, Division of Corporations, One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12231. The state's business entity database is searchable online at www.dos.ny.gov/corps/bus_entity_search.html, providing information on entity status, formation date, jurisdiction, registered agent, DOS process address, and filing history. New York also requires certain businesses to publish formation notices in newspapers. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements and lien searches are filed with and searchable through the New York Department of State UCC Division at www.dos.ny.gov/corps/ucc.html, with fees of $10 per debtor name searched. Business property owners can look up commercial property assessments through the Broome County Real Property Tax Services online database at ascender.gobroomecounty.com, searching by business address or parcel number to view assessed values, property class codes, and tax information.

Binghamton voters are served by the Broome County Board of Elections, located at 60 Hawley Street (County Office Building, 4th Floor), Binghamton, NY 13901 (phone: 607-778-2172, website: www.gobroomecounty.com/boe). The office handles all aspects of voter registration, election administration, absentee ballots, and campaign finance filings for the county. New York residents can register to vote online at www.ny.gov/services/register-vote or DMV.ny.gov/more-info/electronic-voter-registration-application, by mail using a paper form, or in person at the Board of Elections or DMV offices. The registration deadline is 25 days before any election. New York requires voters to provide their New York driver license or non-driver ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. The City of Binghamton holds municipal elections for Mayor and City Council positions. The Mayor serves a four-year term, and the next mayoral election is scheduled for November 2025. The Binghamton Common Council consists of seven members elected from districts, also serving four-year staggered terms with elections in odd-numbered years (2025, 2027, etc.). Information about local candidates, ballot measures, and city election results is available through both the Board of Elections and the City Clerk's office at City Hall. Binghamton residents can find their assigned polling place by using the New York State Board of Elections polling place locator at voterlookup.elections.ny.gov or by contacting the Broome County Board of Elections directly. In the November 2024 presidential election, Broome County recorded approximately 85,000 total votes cast with roughly 63% turnout of registered voters, with results available by election district through the Board of Elections. On November 3, 2026, Binghamton and Broome County voters will decide several significant races: Governor of New York (Kathy Hochul's term expires in 2026), all New York State Assembly seats (150th Assembly District covers Binghamton), New York State Senate (District 52 includes Binghamton), and various Broome County offices including County Executive, County Legislature seats, County Clerk, and potentially County Court judges. No U.S. Senate seat from New York is up in 2026 (Schumer's term expires in 2028, Gillibrand's in 2024). New York's election records are extensively public: the state maintains a voter registration list available for purchase for political purposes under Election Law §5-210, campaign finance disclosure reports are searchable online through the New York State Board of Elections at publicreporting.elections.ny.gov, candidate petitions and committee filings are public records, and detailed precinct-level election results are published after each election. To obtain an absentee ballot in New York, voters must submit an application to the Broome County Board of Elections—applications are available online at www.elections.ny.gov, by calling 607-778-2172, or in person. New York allows absentee voting for specific reasons including absence from county on Election Day, temporary or permanent illness or disability, duties related to primary care of individuals who are ill or disabled, incarceration for non-felony offenses, or risk of contracting or spreading communicable disease. Applications must be received by the Board of Elections no later than the day before the election (for in-person delivery) or postmarked no later than seven days before the election (if by mail). Early voting is available in New York at designated locations during the nine-day period before Election Day, with sites posted at www.gobroomecounty.com/boe.