The County Clerk’s department directly serves the public on a very personal level. We are the local people who help you at the Motor Vehicle Department, at the passport office, and at the records room when you are researching your family’s history. We are here to serve you, the people of Dutchess County.

The County Clerk’s office oversees 5 DMV offices throughout Dutchess County as well as the department’s legal and records divisions. Among many other transactions, the legal division processes passport applications, assists in setting up new businesses, provides information on how to become a notary public and receives discharges of mortgages and filings of divorces, deeds and mortgages.

The records division has historic documents available to the public which date back to 1719. Included in these records are indictments and convictions (although sealed documents are not accessible to the public), as well as naturalization documents which can assist in genealogy research.