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
P.O. 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
P.O. 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
P.O. 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
P.O. 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
P.O. 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
P.O. 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
P.O. 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
P.O. Box 10
Owego, NY 13827
Phone: (607) 689–6077
Fax: (646) 963–6399

Tompkins County
Tompkins County Family Court
320 North Tioga Street
P.O. 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