New York City Family Court Records
New York City family court records are held at five separate courthouses, one in each borough. If you need to find a case, get a copy of an order, or check on a filing, you start at the Family Court in the county where the case was heard. The city runs the largest family court system in the state, and each location has its own clerk, judges, and help center. You can search for case info through the WebFamily portal or visit the courthouse in person. Records are not open to the general public under Family Court Act Section 166, but parties to a case can get copies of orders and filings at the record room with valid photo ID.
New York City Overview
Bronx County Family Court Records
The Bronx County Family Court is at 900 Sheridan Avenue, Bronx, NY 10451. It sits on the corner of 161st Street, right near Yankee Stadium. You can reach the court at 718-618-2098. The Supervising Judge is Hon. Alison M. Hamanjian, and the Clerk of Court is Danielle Vialet. Doors open at 8:00 a.m. and the court runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. Petition filing starts at 8:00 a.m. each day.
The Help Center at the Bronx Family Court provides free assistance to people who do not have a lawyer. Call 718-618-2150 for help with forms, court procedures, and general questions about your case. The Child Support Service Center can be reached at 718-618-2155 for questions about child support. The Child Protective and Permanency Planning Office handles abuse and neglect matters at 718-618-2130.
Take the B, D, or 4 train to 161st Street-Yankee Stadium. The #1, 2, 6, or 32 buses also stop close by. If you drive, take the Major Deegan Expressway to Exit 5 at East 161st Street. Metered parking and lots are in the area. The Sheridan Avenue entrance is ADA accessible.
The NYC Family Court system has a Children's Center on the first floor where kids can stay while parents attend court. Spanish and Albanian interpreters are on site. Other languages, including sign language, are available with advance notice.
You can view the Bronx County Family Court overview page for more about how the court is set up and what services it offers to families in the Bronx.
The NYC Family Court overview page shows how each borough court operates and what to expect when you visit.
This page outlines the structure of each Family Court in New York City and the types of cases they handle, from custody to support to child protective proceedings.
Kings County Family Court Records
The Kings County Family Court in Brooklyn is at 330 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Call 347-401-9610 for the main line. The Supervising Judge is Hon. Gilbert Taylor, and the Clerk of Court is Ryan Darshan. Court hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with doors opening at 8:30 a.m. Everyone must pass through a magnetometer when they enter.
Brooklyn's Help Center is at 347-401-9790. Staff there can help with filing, forms, and basic court questions. The Child Protective and Permanency Planning Office is at 347-401-9820. The Courtroom Activity Office for hearing schedules is at 347-401-9690.
Getting to the Brooklyn Family Court is easy by subway. Take the R or M to Lawrence Street, the G to Hoyt-Schermerhorn, the A, F, or C to Jay Street, or the 2, 3, 4, or 5 to Borough Hall. Parking in downtown Brooklyn is limited, so public transit is the best option. The Children's Center on the first floor is open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Spanish, Russian, and French-Creole interpreters are on site.
Note: The Family Court cannot grant a divorce. Only the Supreme Court handles divorce cases in New York.
New York County Family Court Records
Manhattan's Family Court is at 60 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10013. It is in lower Manhattan between Franklin and Leonard Streets. Call 646-386-5223 for the main number. The Supervising Judge is Hon. Alicea Elloras-Ally. The Clerk of Court is Juan Paez. Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with doors at 8:30 a.m.
The Help Center at 646-386-5340 assists people who are filing on their own. The Courtroom Activity Office at 646-386-5200 handles hearing schedules and court orders. The Child Protective office is at 646-386-5250. You can also email the court at manhattanfamilycourt@nycourts.gov for general questions.
Under Family Court Act Section 166, family court records in New York are not open to the general public. The court has discretion to allow access in certain cases. Parties to a case, their attorneys, and authorized agencies can review records under 22 NYCRR 205.5 without a court order. Anyone else must apply to the court and explain why they need access.
Section 166 gives the Family Court the power to decide who can see case records. This applies to all five boroughs.
Take the #4 or 5 train to Brooklyn Bridge, the C, N, R, or 6 to Canal Street, or the 1 to Franklin Street. Parking is very limited in lower Manhattan. The building is accessible from the Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Williamsburg Bridges. The Children's Center is in Room 1C.
Queens County Family Court Records
The Queens Family Court is at 151-20 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11432. It sits across from Rufus King Park. The main line is 718-298-0197. The Supervising Judge is Hon. Gigi N. Parris, and the Clerk of Court is Keisha Kearse.
The Help Center at 718-298-0295 offers free 30-minute consultations with volunteer attorneys. No appointment is needed. They also help with do-it-yourself petition filing and can provide copies of petitions and orders. The Child Protective office is at 718-298-0132.
Parking near the Queens Family Court includes metered street spots, though they fill up fast. There is a Municipal Parking Facility on the corner of Archer Avenue and 150th Street. The Children's Center is in Room 180, open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Spanish and Chinese interpreters (Mandarin, Cantonese, and Shanghainese) are on site. Other languages can be arranged for future court dates.
Richmond County Family Court Records
The Richmond County Family Court on Staten Island is at 100 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301. The court is part of the 13th Judicial District. It handles the full range of family court matters for all Staten Island residents, including child custody, child support, paternity, adoption, guardianship, juvenile delinquency, PINS, abuse and neglect, and family offense petitions.
Divorce is not within Family Court jurisdiction. Staten Island residents who need a divorce must file at the Richmond County Supreme Court at 18 Richmond Terrace. The Family Court keeps the same hours as the other four NYC locations: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
You can get to the court via the Staten Island Ferry and local bus routes. The Richmond County Family Court page has more details on the court's services and procedures.
Family Court Records and E-Filing
NYSCEF e-filing is now available in all five NYC boroughs for certain family court case types. You can file documents for custody, visitation, guardianship, paternity, and support cases through the system. It is free to use and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The NYSCEF e-filing rules explain how to file, serve documents, and check your case docket online.
For existing support cases, you can file certain documents through EDDS. For new petitions in custody, visitation, guardianship, support, paternity, or parentage cases, use NYSCEF or file in paper or by mail. The system sends automatic notifications when documents are filed or served. There is no fee for using NYSCEF itself, though regular filing fees still apply and can be paid by credit or bank card online.
The NYSCEF portal lets parties file and track family court documents without going to the courthouse.
If you need a transcript of a hearing, you must be a party to the case or an attorney of record. Bring photo ID. For electronically recorded proceedings, contact a transcription service for rates and turnaround times. Request forms can be sent by email or mail to the Family Court in the borough where your case was heard.
Family Court Records Privacy in New York City
Any person involved in a New York City Family Court case can ask to keep their address confidential. This means your address will not appear on court papers sent to the other party. You need to get an Address Confidentiality Order or join the NYS Address Confidentiality Program. Tell the Family Court clerk that you want to keep your address private, and they will give you an Address Confidentiality Affidavit to fill out and sign.
Under 22 NYCRR Section 205.5, records disclosed to authorized parties may not be shared further except as needed for the pending case. When an address is ordered confidential under Family Court Act Section 154-b(2), it must be removed from any records given out. The New York State Address Confidentiality Program is free and open to victims of domestic violence who have moved or plan to move for safety.
The rules in 22 NYCRR 205.5 spell out exactly who can view family court records and under what conditions.
Note: Court personnel at all five NYC Family Courts provide procedural information only and cannot give legal advice.
Legal Help for Family Court in New York City
Each borough's Family Court has a Help Center that offers free help with forms and procedures. These centers do not provide legal advice, but they can point you in the right direction. If you need a lawyer and can't afford one, several legal aid groups serve New York City families in court.
The Family Court Act Section 216-a establishes that each county must have a clerk of court who keeps records, applies the court seal, and handles administrative duties. These clerks can help you get copies of orders and other filings from your case. They also provide official forms to anyone who asks.
Families in New York City have access to several resources:
- Borough Help Centers for forms, filing guidance, and referrals
- WebFamily online portal for case info and court dates
- NYSCEF e-filing for certain case types
- Children's Centers in each courthouse for supervised child care
- Interpreter services in multiple languages at every location
Section 216-a outlines the duties of each county's family court clerk, including record keeping and form distribution.
New York City County Family Court Records
New York City spans five counties, each with its own Family Court. All five handle the same types of cases: custody, support, paternity, adoption, guardianship, abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency, PINS, and family offenses. Your case is filed in the county where you live or where the events happened.
Nearby qualifying cities with family court pages include Yonkers, Hempstead, and North Hempstead.