The clerks of the other courts shall keep: 1. a “judgment-book,” in which shall be recorded all judgments entered in their offices; 2. a book, properly indexed, in which shall be entered the title of all civil judicial proceedings, with proper entries under each denoting the papers filed and the orders made and the steps taken therein, with the dates of the filing of the several papers in the proceeding; 3. a book, properly indexed, in which shall be entered the name and address of each conservator, committee or guardian who is appointed pursuant to the provisions of the mental hygiene law, the title of the proceeding, the name and address of any surety, the papers filed, and any orders made or steps taken therein; 4. a book in which shall be recorded at length each undertaking of a public officer or any officer appointed by the court, filed in their offices, except the undertakings of receivers appointed under section 5228, with a statement showing when the undertaking was filed and a notation on the margin of the record showing any disposition, or order, made of or concerning it; 5. such other books, properly indexed, as may be necessary, or convenient, to contain the docket of judgments, the entry of orders, and all other necessary matters and proceedings; and 6. such other books as the chief administrator of the courts may direct to be kept.
R 9702.Books to be kept by the clerks of other courts.
Article 97. Records of Clerks of the Courts · Last amended 1990 · Last verified July 21, 2026
In one sentenceCPLR 9702 requires clerks of courts other than the Appellate Division to keep a judgment book, an index of civil proceedings, records of court-appointed guardians and conservators, records of official undertakings, and any other books the chief administrator directs.
Full Text of CPLR 9702
Plain-English Summary
CPLR 9702 sets out the record-keeping duties of the clerks of courts other than the Appellate Division. The list is specific. Clerks must keep a judgment-book recording all judgments entered in their offices, and a properly indexed book listing the title of every civil judicial proceeding, with entries under each showing the papers filed, the orders made, the steps taken, and the dates papers were filed.
Clerks must also keep a properly indexed book recording the name and address of each conservator, committee, or guardian appointed under the Mental Hygiene Law, along with the title of the proceeding, the name and address of any surety, the papers filed, and any orders or steps taken. Separately, clerks must record at length each undertaking filed by a public officer or a court-appointed officer, with a statement of when it was filed and a marginal notation of any disposition or order concerning it; the statute carves out an exception for undertakings of receivers appointed under CPLR 5228.
Finally, the section is not an exhaustive list on its own terms. It directs clerks to keep such other properly indexed books as are necessary or convenient for dockets, orders, and other matters, and such other books as the chief administrator of the courts may direct.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a judgment-book under CPLR 9702?
It is the book in which the clerk records all judgments entered in that clerk's office.
Do clerks keep records on court-appointed guardians?
Yes. The statute requires an indexed book recording the name and address of each conservator, committee, or guardian appointed under the Mental Hygiene Law, along with the proceeding title, any surety, and the papers and orders in the case.
Are all official undertakings recorded the same way?
Most are recorded at length with the filing date and a marginal notation of any disposition, but the statute excepts undertakings of receivers appointed under CPLR 5228 from this requirement.
Can the chief administrator require additional records beyond this list?
Yes. CPLR 9702 directs clerks to keep such other books as the chief administrator of the courts may direct, in addition to the specific books the statute lists.
Does this section apply to the clerk of the Appellate Division?
No. This section covers clerks of the other courts; the Appellate Division clerk's record-keeping duties are set out separately in CPLR 9701.
Is this section about how judgments are enforced?
No. It addresses what records a clerk must keep, not the substantive procedures for entering or enforcing a judgment.
Amendment History
Add, L 1962, ch 308, § 1; amd, L 1964, ch 388, § 32; L 1977, ch 286, § 2, eff Sept 1, 1977; L 1990, ch 623, § 3, eff July 18, 1990.
Source & verification. Provision text, History, and Advisory
Committee Notes are reproduced verbatim from the Consolidated Laws of New York.
Last verified July 21, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: CPLR 9702 books kept by clerks of other courtsNew York judgment book requirementCPLR 9702 guardian conservator recordsclerk of court record keeping New York civil proceedingsCPLR 9702 undertakings public officer