§ 2501 — Records to be kept by court; general requirements 1

§ 2501. Records to be kept by court; general requirements\n 1. The clerk of the court shall keep a record of and be responsible\nfor the proper indexing, filing or recording, as the case may be,\ncollating, arranging, restoring and preserving of all records,\ndocuments, books, maps, instruments and other matter specified in this\narticle or by other requirement of law heretofore or hereafter\ndeposited, filed or recorded, of all matters specified by this article\nor by other requirement of law.\n 2. He shall upon payment of the fees required by law exemplify or\ncertify all records and papers filed or recorded and shall search and\ncertify as to records or papers in custody of the court or that they\ncannot be found.\n 3. Records shall be kept by means of record books, cards, files or any\nother system, process, form or combination thereof, as may be prescribed\nby CPLR 9703 or directed by the court together with such appropriate\nindex or reference system, and such topic, item or other subdivision or\narrangement as deemed appropriate or convenient. When the clerk is\ndirected to keep a record book it may be kept by one or more of the\nmethods prescribed as may be currently utilized by the court for the\npurpose.\n 4. The expense of keeping the records required by law to be kept shall\nbe a charge upon the county, state or other governmental unit or agency\nproviding funds for administration of the court as may be provided by\nlaw.\n 5. When filing is required the paper filed shall be entered in the\nproper minute book, and date of filing with fee, if any, noted on the\npaper.\n 6. When recording of a paper is required an accurate copy thereof\nshall be made of the complete content of the paper by entry at length in\na record book in plain and legible handwriting or by printing or\ntypewriting or photographic or microphotographic or other process or any\ncombination thereof or by making a record in any other form or process\nwhich provides or will produce an accurate copy of the paper.\n 7. Records and papers which are sealed and withheld from public\ninspection as required by law or directed by the court shall thereafter\nbe opened only to the extent as may be authorized by the court.\n 8. All books and records other than those sealed are open to\ninspection of any person at reasonable times.\n 9. Records and papers relating to a proceeding and entered in the\nminute book shall be preserved as permanent records of the court, except\nas disposition is authorized by section 89 of the judiciary law.\n