How Does The New York Family Courts Work?

New York family courts are trial courts charged with handling domestic-related disputes arising between persons connected by blood, marriage, or adoption. These specialized courts are located in each county in New York, including the five boroughs of New York City. The state’s Family Court Act empowers family courts with exclusive jurisdiction over actions and proceedings concerning:

• Adoption
• Paternity
• Child custody
• Visitation rights
• Child or spousal support as well as Interstate child support (back support)
• Termination of parental rights
• Child abuse and neglect
• Persons in need of supervision (PIN) cases
• Guardianship
• Juvenile delinquency

The family court also handles designated felonies referred to it by the supreme court and also issues protection orders to victims of domestic abuse and stalking. Typically, the Family Courts in New York City Boroughs exercise overlapping jurisdiction with the criminal courts over family-related violence. It is important to note that Family Courts do not have jurisdiction over divorce cases. Such dissolution cases are filed in Supreme Courts of the county where either party resides. Most appeals of family court judgments are handled by the Appellate Divisions of the County Supreme Courts. The Bronx and Manhattan Family Courts constitute the only exceptions as their appeals are directed to and reviewed by a court known as the First Department.

Generally speaking, New York family court trials are heard by judges. However, specialized Support Magistrates handle child support and paternity cases while Court Attorney Referees listen to and issue orders in custody, visitation rights, and foster-care matters.

While New York Family Court Judges serve 10-year terms, their method of judicial selection varies by location. The New York City Mayor appoints Family Court Judges from a list of candidates suggested by the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Judicial Matters. Elsewhere, they are nominated by local parties and elected by eligible voters in the counties in which they intend to serve. Appointment renewals and re-elections are common, provided the judges are below the mandatory retirement age of 70 (N. Y. Const. art. 6, § 25(b)).. There are 188 Family Court Judges in New York, 47 in New York City, and 141 in other counties in the state. To be eligible to serve as a family court judge in New York, prospective candidates must be:

• A state and county resident
• At least 18 years old
• Admitted to practice law in the state for 10 years before judicial interest/nomination

Additionally, mid-term vacancies created when judges resign, pass away, or are impeached by state officials and/or state judges are filled just as they would be at the end of a judge’s term.

The length of time a family court case will take from filing to resolution depends on the case type, and the method by which the case was resolved—by unanimous agreement or trial. Records of family court cases are kept in the Records Room of the courts where the case was filed. While records of family court proceedings are excluded from public access, the courts may allow public access where possible.

Note that family court records are not electronically available because of their sensitive nature. As such, those interested in obtaining these records may do so in person or by mail. Querying parties are recommended to contact the court beforehand to determine eligibility, request methods, and copy fees. The physical, mailing, and contact addresses of all family courts in the State of New York are outlined below:

Albany County

Albany County Family Court

30 Clinton Avenue

Albany, NY 12207

Phone: (518) 285–8600

Fax: (518) 238–4344

Allegany County

Allegany County Family Court

Allegany County Courthouse

7 Court Street

Belmont, NY 14813

Phone: (585) 449–3424

Fax: (585) 449–3470

Bronx County

Bronx County Family Court

900 Sheridan Avenue

Bronx, NY 10451

Phone: (718) 618–2098

Fax: (718) 618–7875

Broome County

Broome County Family Court

65 Hawley Street

PO Box 1766

Binghamton, NY 13902

Phone: (607) 240–5799

Fax: (607) 240–5904

Cattaraugus County

Cattaraugus County Family Court

1 Leo Moss Drive

Olean, NY 14760

Phone: (716) 379–6616

Fax: (716) 373–0449

Cayuga County

Cayuga County Family Court

157 Genesee Street

Auburn, NY 13021

Phone: (315) 237–6400

Fax: (315) 237–6401

Chautauqua County

Chautauqua County Family Court

2 Academy Street, Suite 5

Mayville, NY 14757

Phone: (716) 753–4351

Fax: (716) 753–4350

Chemung County

Chemung County Family Court

203–209 William Street

PO Box 588

Elmira, NY 14902

Phone: (607) 873–9500

Fax: (212) 884–8950

Chenango County

Chenango County Family Court

13 Eaton Avenue

Norwich, NY 13815

Phone: (607) 337–1824

Fax: (607) 240–5848

Clinton County

Clinton County Family Court

137 Margaret St

Plattsburgh, NY 12901

Phone: (518) 536–3820

Columbia County

Columbia Family Court

401 Union Street, Hudson, NY 12534

Phone: (518) 267–3150

Fax: (518) 267–3126

Cortland County

Cortland County Family Court

46 Greenbush Street, Suite 301

Cortland, NY 13045

Phone: (607) 218–3325

Fax: (646) 963–6452

Delaware County

Delaware County Family Court

3 Court Street

Delhi, NY 13753

Phone: (607) 376–5410

Fax: (646) 963–6400

Dutchess County

Dutchess County Family Court

50 Market Street

Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

Phone: (845) 431–1850

Fax: (845) 486–2510

Erie County

Erie County Family Court

1 Niagara Plaza

Buffalo, NY 14202

Phone: (716) (845) 7400

Fax: (716) (845) 7546

Essex County

Essex County Family Court

7559 Court Street

PO Box 217

Elizabethtown, NY 12932

Phone: (518) 873–3320

Fax: (518) 873–3626

Franklin County

Franklin County Family Court

355 West Main Street

Malone, NY 12953

Phone: (518) 353–7360

Fulton County

Fulton County Family Court

223 West Main Street

Johnstown, NY 12095

Phone: (518) 762–3840

Fax: (518) 451–8745

Genesee County

Genesee County Family Court

1 West Main Street

Batavia, NY 14020

Phone: (585) 815–7814

Fax: (585) 344–8520

Greene County

Greene County Family Court

320 Main Street

Catskill, NY 12414

Phone: (518) 625–3180

Fax: (518) 453–6992

Hamilton County

Hamilton County Family Court - Court Office

139 White Birch Lane

PO Box 780

Indian Lake, NY 12842

Phone: (518) 648–5411

Fax: (518) 453–8687

Hamilton County Family Court - Courthouse

102 County View Drive

Lake Pleasant, NY 12108

Phone: (518) 548–3211

Fax: (518) 453–8687

Herkimer County

Herkimer County Family Court

301 North Washington Street, Suite 2501

Herkimer, NY 13350

Phone: (315) 619–3400

Fax: (315) 266–4534

Jefferson County

Jefferson County Family Court

163 Arsenal Street

Watertown, NY 13601

Phone: (315) 785–3001

Fax: (315) 266–4776

Kings County

Kings County Family Court

330 Jay Street

Brooklyn, NY 11201

Phone: (347) 401–9610

Fax: (347) 401–9609

Kings County

Kings County Family Court

330 Jay Street

Brooklyn, NY 11201

Phone: (347) 401–9610

Fax: (347) 401–9609

Lewis County

Lewis County Family Court

7660 North State Street

Lowville, NY 13367

Phone: (315) 376–5345

Fax: (315) 376–5189

Livingston County

Livingston County Family Court

2 Court Street

Geneseo, NY 14454

Phone: (585) 371–3919

Fax: (585) 371–3933

Madison County

Madison County Family Court

138 North Court Street

PO Box 607

Wampsville, NY 13163

Phone: (315) 231–5310

Fax: (646) 963–6589

Monroe County

Monroe County Family Court

Hall of Justice

99 Exchange Blvd, Room 360

Rochester, NY 14614

Phone: (585) 371–3544

Fax: (585) 371–3585

Montgomery County

Montgomery County Family Court

58 Broadway

PO Box 1500

Fonda, NY 12068

Phone: (518) 853–8133

Fax: (518) 238–4370

Nassau County

Nassau County Family Court

1200 Old Country Road

Westbury, NY 11590

Phone: (516) 493–4000

Fax: (516) 571–9335

New York County

New York County Family Court

60 Lafayette Street

New York, NY 10013

Phone: (646) 386–5200

Fax: (212) 748–5272

Niagara County

Niagara County Family Court - Lockport

Niagara County Courthouse

175 Hawley Street, Lockport, NY 14094

Phone: (716) 280–6500

Fax: (716) 439–7170

Niagara County Family Court - Niagara Falls

Angelo A. DelSignore Civic Building

775 3rd Street

Niagara Falls, NY 14301

Phone: (716) 371–4050

Fax: (716) 278–1877

Oneida County

Oneida County Family Court - Rome

Oneida County Courthouse

301 West Dominick Street

Rome, NY 13440

Phone: (315) 266–4500

Fax: (315) 336–3828

Oneida County Family Court - Utica

Oneida County Courthouse

200 Elizabeth Street

Utica, NY 13501

Phone: (315) 266–4444

Fax: (315) 266–4421

Onondaga County

Onondaga County Family Court

Onondaga County Courthouse

401 Montgomery Street

Syracuse, NY 13202

Phone: (315) 671–2000

Fax: (315) 671–1163

Ontario County

Ontario County Family Court

27 North Main Street

Canandaigua, NY 14424

Phone: (585) 412–5299

Fax: (585) 412–5327

Orange County

Orange County Family Court

285 Main Street

Goshen, NY 10924

Phone: (845) 476–3520

Fax: (845) 291–3054

Orleans County

Orleans County Family Court

1 South Main Street, Suite 3

Albion, NY 14411

Phone: (585) 283–6656

Fax: (585) 589–0632

Oswego County

Oswego County Family Court

Public Safety Center

39 Churchill Road

Oswego, NY 13126

Phone: (315) 207–7533

Fax: (315) 266–4770

Otsego County

Otsego County Family Court

County Annex Building

32 Chestnut Street

Cooperstown, NY 13326

Phone: (607) 547–4264

Fax: (212) 457–2956

Putnam County

Putnam County Family Court

20 County Center

Carmel, NY 10512

Phone: (845) 208–7805

Fax: (845) 228–9614

Queens County

Queens County Family Court

151–20 Jamaica Avenue

Jamaica, NY 11432

Phone: (718) 298–0197

Fax: (718) 297–2826

Rensselaer County

Rensselaer County Family Court

1504 Fifth Avenue

Troy, NY 12180

Phone: (518) 453–5515

Fax: (518) 285–8504

Richmond County

Richmond County Family Court

100 Richmond Terrace

Staten Island, NY 10301

Phone: (718) 675–8800

Fax: (718) 390–5247

Rockland County

Rockland County Family Court

1 South Main Street

Suite 300

New City, NY 10956

Phone: (845) 483–8210

Fax: (845) 638–5319

Saratoga County

Saratoga County Family Court

35 West High Street

Ballston Spa, NY 12020

Phone: (518) 451–8888

Fax: (518) 453–5942

Schenectady County

Schenectady County Family Court

620 State Street

Schenectady, NY 12305

Phone: (518) 285–8435

Fax: (518) 393–1565

Schoharie County

Schoharie County Family Court

Schoharie County Courthouse

290 Main Street

PO Box 669

Schoharie, NY 12157

Phone: (518) 295–8383

Fax: (518) 295–8451

Schuyler County

Schuyler County Family Court

Schuyler County Courthouse

105 9th Street, Unit 35

Watkins Glen, NY 14891

Phone: (607) 228–3352

Fax: (646) 963–6590

Seneca County

Seneca County Family Court

48 West Williams Street

Waterloo, NY 13165

Phone: (315) 835–6231

Fax: (315) 835–6234

St. Lawrence County

St. Lawrence County Family Court

St. Lawrence County Courthouse

48 Court Street

Canton, NY 13617

Phone: (315) 379–2410

Fax: (315) 386–3197

Steuben County

Steuben County Family Court

3 East Pulteney Square

Bath, NY 14810

Phone: (607) 622–8218

Fax: (607) 622–8239

Suffolk County

Suffolk County Family Court 1

Arthur M. Cromarty Court Complex

210 Center Drive

Riverhead, NY 11901

Phone: (631) 852–3905

Fax: (631) 852–2710

Suffolk County Family Court 2

Cohalan Court Complex

400 Carleton Avenue

Central Islip, NY 11722

Phone: (631) 853–4289

Fax: (631) 853–4283

Sullivan County

Sullivan County Family Court

Sullivan County Government Center

100 North Street

Monticello, NY 12701

Phone: (845) 791–3505

Fax: (845) 476–3620

Tioga County

Tioga County Family Court

20 Court Street

PO Box 10

Owego, NY 13827

Phone: (607) 689–6077

Fax: (646) 963–6399

Tompkins County

Tompkins County Family Court

320 North Tioga Street

PO Box 70

Ithaca, NY 14851

Phone: (607) 216–6640

Fax: (607) 457–2951

Ulster County

Ulster County Family Court

16 Lucas Avenue, Kingston, NY 12401

Phone: (845) 481–9430

Fax: (845) 483–8114

Warren County

Warren County Family Court

1340 State Route 9, Lake George, NY 12845

Phone: (518) 761–6500

Fax: (518) 761–6230

Washington County

Washington County Family Court

383 Broadway, Fort Edward, NY 12828

Phone: (518) 746–2501

Fax: (518) 746–2503

Wayne County

Wayne County Family Court

54 Broad Street

Lyons, NY 14489

Phone: (315) 665–8115

Fax: (315) 665–8106

Westchester County

Westchester County Family Court - New Rochelle

420 North Avenue

New Rochelle, NY 10801

Phone: (914) 831–6590

Fax: (914) 831–6588

Westchester County Family Court - White Plains

111 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd

White Plains, NY 10601

Phone: (914) 824–5500

Fax: (914) 824–5860

Westchester County Family Court - Yonkers

131 Warburton Avenue

Yonkers, NY 10701

Phone: (914) 831–6555

Fax: (914) 831–6409

Wyoming County

Wyoming County Family Court

147 North Main Street, Warsaw, NY 14569

Phone: (585) 228–3200

Fax: (585) 228–3230

Yates County

Yates County Family Court

415 Liberty Street, Penn Yan, NY 14527

Phone: (315) 835–6314

Fax: (315) 835–6320