Cayuga County

Cayuga County is located in the Finger Lakes region of Central New York, including approximately 864 square miles including significant portions of Cayuga Lake and Owasco Lake. Cayuga County seat is Auburn, a city of approximately 26,000 residents situated at 152 Genesee Street, where most county offices are located in the historic Cayuga County Office Building and the County Courthouse. As of the 2020 Census, Cayuga County had a population of approximately 76,576 residents. Cayuga County was established in 1799 and named after Cayuga County Nation, one of the original five nations of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy). Major landmarks include the Harriet Tubman Home National Historical Park in Auburn, Seward House Museum, Willard Chapel, and the scenic Finger Lakes National Forest. Cayuga County is bordered by Onondaga County to the north, Oswego and Wayne counties to the northwest, Seneca County to the west, Tompkins and Cortland counties to the south, and borders Lake Ontario's southeastern shore. Cayuga County Clerk's office, located at 160 Genesee Street, Auburn, NY 13021, maintains vital records, court documents, and business filings. Cayuga County Recorder function is handled by the County Clerk. Cayuga County Real Property Tax Services office at 160 Genesee Street manages property assessment records. What makes Cayuga County unique is its rich Underground Railroad history, its position as home to two of the Finger Lakes' major bodies of water, its agricultural heritage particularly in wine production and dairy farming, and its historical significance as the site of Auburn Prison, one of America's oldest continuously operating maximum-security prisons constructed in 1816.

The Cayuga County Court serves Cayuga County and is located at 160 Genesee Street in Auburn. The court handles civil, criminal, family, and probate cases for the area. Court records and case filings can be requested in person or through the New York online court portal.

The Cayuga County Court, located at 160 Genesee Street in Auburn, handles civil, criminal, family, and surrogate cases, providing a centralized location for legal matters.

Law Enforcement & Arrests

• Processing times for FOIL requests can range from five business days to several weeks depending on the volume and complexity of the request.

Jail & Inmate Records

• In New York, the bond or bail process involves posting a set amount determined by the court to secure a detainee's release, pending trial.

Mugshots & Booking Photos

• Cayuga County Surrogate's Court at 152 Genesee Street (phone: 315-237-6450) has exclusive jurisdiction over probate matters, estate administration, adoptions, and guardianships.
• Cayuga County Family Court at 153 Genesee Street (phone: 315-237-6460) handles family offense proceedings, child custody and support, paternity, foster care, and juvenile delinquency matters.
• Fees for certified copies are typically $6 for the first page and $1 for each additional page.

• Property assessment records and tax information are managed by Cayuga County Real Property Tax Services office at 160 Genesee Street, Auburn, NY 13021 (phone: 315-253-1211).
• Certified copies of recorded documents can be requested from the County Clerk's office for a fee of $5 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page, with additional certification fees.
• The Real Property Tax Services office can provide certified tax assessment records and property cards for similar fees.

Vital records for this county include birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates issued under state vital statistics law.

• Death certificates for deaths occurring in Cayuga County are also available from the County Clerk for $30 per certified copy, with the same processing timeframes.
• Marriage certificates for ceremonies performed in Cayuga County can be obtained from the County Clerk for $10.
• Divorce records (judgments and decrees) are maintained by the County Clerk as court records, with copies available for $6 for the first page and $1 for each additional page.

Business records, licenses, and permits for this county are processed by the County Clerk and local government offices.

• The Greater Auburn Chamber of Commerce (phone: 315-252-7291) at cayugacountychamber.com is a resource for local business information, networking, and economic data.