Ulster County, New York Genealogy Records

Listed record inventories

Selected holdings and indexes for Ulster County, checked against the repository descriptions linked below. Date spans may contain gaps; an index is not a complete set of original records.

See the repository's descriptions and search options

Repository access note: Selected sources are linked on individual entries. NYSL newspaper dates summarize service-copy microfilm holdings, not a continuous run or the newspaper’s entire publication life; follow the link for exact issues and gaps. Court surveys describe county holdings and may require advance arrangements. Historical NYG&B microfilm listings refer to a collection transferred to NYPL; confirm current availability there. These sources do not promise online images or complete county coverage. Ulster County Archives provides searchable indexes; check names against originals and try spelling variants. Arrange an archives visit before traveling. Copy and research charges may apply. The marriage index exposes limited details; request certificates from the issuing local clerk. Deeds and court files are accessed through the County Clerk, wills through Surrogate's Court, and tax rolls through Finance. Their date coverage is not established here. The catalog gives c. 1800–1992 for the naturalization index, while the FAQ lists holdings from 1830–1992; ask staff about early entries. Birth/death return coverage is uneven, not continuous registration.

Sources: the catalogs and repository descriptions linked on the entries above. Selected inventories do not establish complete coverage of every record type or online access to original documents. Read the repository access note for source dates and limitations.

Where to find the records

• Ulster County official website

  Hours, addresses and phone numbers for the county clerk, the surrogate's court and the town or city clerk, and any online record search the county offers.

• The county clerk

  Deeds and other land records, naturalizations and court records.

• The surrogate's court

  Wills, estates and guardianships.

• The town or city clerk

  Births, marriages and deaths registered locally (New York City has its own vital records).

• The New York State Archives

  In Albany: state records, including the state censuses, and the statewide indexes to births, marriages and deaths outside New York City.

• New York State Archivesfree

  The state archives in Albany: state censuses, court and military records, and genealogical guides.

• FamilySearch Catalogfree

  Search by place for "New York, Ulster" to find filmed and digitized records, many viewable free online with a FamilySearch account.

Offices change their hours and access rules; call before you visit.

Boundaries and parent counties

Formed from: Land not yet in any county

Later formed partly from Ulster County: Delaware County, Greene County, Sullivan County

Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1683, search the parent county. The Atlas of Historical County Boundaries shows each boundary change.