Etna, New York Public Records

Inspecting records is free under New York's Freedom of Information Law, and copies may not exceed 25 cents a page. NYSCEF and eCourts case lookups are free, a certified New York State vital record costs $30 per copy outside New York City, and NYC Health charges $15 per certificate plus a processing fee.

Ask the Etna police department for incident reports if the town has its own force; otherwise the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office or the New York State Police keeps reports for the area. Crash reports are ordered from the Department of Motor Vehicles with form MV-198C.

Cases from Tompkins County are heard by the State Supreme Court, County Court and local town and village courts. NYSCEF and eCourts on nycourts.gov provide free case lookups, and the county clerk keeps Supreme and County Court files.

Deeds and mortgages are recorded by the Tompkins County Clerk, with online land record search in most counties. The town or city assessor sets property values, and the town receiver of taxes or tax collector sends the bill.

The local registrar in the town or city where the birth or death happened issues certified copies, often faster than the state, and the New York State Department of Health in Albany issues them for $30. Marriage records come from the town or city clerk where the license was issued.

No. New York's Division of Criminal Justice Services does not release criminal history to the public under the Freedom of Information Law. The Office of Court Administration sells a statewide criminal history record search by name for a fee.

New York agencies must acknowledge a request within five business days under the Freedom of Information Law, Public Officers Law 89, and give an approximate date for granting or denying it. Copies may cost up to 25 cents a page.