Search Schenectady Family Court Records

Family court records for Schenectady are filed and maintained at the Schenectady County Family Court at 620 State Street, Schenectady, NY 12305. The court is part of the 4th Judicial District and handles all family law cases for the city and county. You can call the clerk's office at 518-285-8435 or email SchenectadyFamily@nycourts.gov. Search case information through the WebFamily online portal from any computer. The court operates Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and most Family Court petitions have no filing fee.

Schenectady County Family Court Details

The Schenectady County Family Court sits in the County Office Building at 620 State Street, Schenectady, NY 12305. The phone is 518-285-8435 and the fax is 518-393-1565. The Chief Clerk is Jason Sidoti and the Deputy Chief Clerk is Nicole Page. They manage all filings, scheduling, and court operations. If you need to file a petition or get a copy of an order, the clerk's office is your starting point.

Three judges serve on the Schenectady County Family Court bench. Hon. Kevin A. Burke can be reached at 518-285-8755. Hon. Samantha H. Miller-Herrera is at 518-285-4300. Hon. Mark W. Blanchfield is at 518-285-8422. Judge Blanchfield also presides over the Integrated Domestic Violence Part, which handles cases with both criminal and family court matters tied to domestic violence. The IDV resource coordinator is Asia Hibbert, reachable at 518-285-8410.

The Schenectady County Court website has information on all courts in the county. The Schenectady County Judicial Building at 612 State Street houses the Supreme Court, County Court, and Surrogate's Court, all just steps from the Family Court. The County Court Judge is Hon. Matthew J. Sypniewski. Surrogate's Court is presided over by Hon. Vincent W. Versaci at 518-285-8455.

The Schenectady County Court page lists Family Court judges and other court offices in the county.

Family Court Cases in Schenectady

The court hears custody and visitation disputes, child support, spousal support, paternity, adoption, guardianship, juvenile delinquency, PINS, child abuse and neglect, family offenses, and termination of parental rights. The court cannot handle divorces. Those go to Schenectady County Supreme Court at the Judicial Building on 612 State Street.

County Clerk Cara M. Ackerley maintains court records, deed records, divorce records, and other legal documents at 620 State Street, 3rd Floor. The Schenectady County Clerk page has details on hours, fees, and how to request records. The clerk's office is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can reach them at 518-388-4220. The clerk serves as Clerk of the Supreme Court and can help with court record requests outside of Family Court as well.

The county clerk's office handles requests for many types of court records in Schenectady County.

Schenectady City Court handles criminal and traffic matters but does not deal with family law. The criminal division is at 531 Liberty Street (phone 518-453-6989) and the civil and traffic division is at City Hall, 105 Jay Street. City Court Judges include Hon. Mark J. Caruso, Hon. Teneka E. Frost, Hon. Carl G. Falotico, and Hon. Katherine A. McGuirl. If you end up at City Court by mistake, they can direct you to Family Court.

How to Get Schenectady Family Court Records

Family court records in Schenectady follow FCA Section 166. Records are not open to the general public without permission. If you are a party to a case, bring your photo ID to the clerk's office and ask for copies of orders or filings. Attorneys of record can also access case papers. Anyone else needs to file a motion and get the judge's approval before the court will share records.

The rules in 22 NYCRR 205.5 set out the details. Parties, their lawyers, and authorized agencies like child protective services have standing access to case documents. Law guardians and guardians ad litem can view records when a child's custody is at issue. Prosecutors can access records when a related criminal case is in progress. If the court has ordered an address to stay confidential under FCA Section 154-b(2), that info gets blacked out on any shared documents.

E-filing through NYSCEF is mandatory for some case types in Schenectady County. This lets you file papers online at no cost and view e-filed cases any time. For case types not yet on NYSCEF, you can file in hard copy at the clerk's window or through EDDS. Only one copy of a document is needed unless a judge asks for more.

The Schenectady County Family Treatment Court is at the same 620 State Street address. It helps families where substance abuse led to child welfare involvement. The resource coordinator is Aleia Goff, reachable at 518-788-9538. This court works with treatment providers and case managers to keep families on track toward recovery and reunification.

Court records generated during legal proceedings can be requested from the County Clerk at 620 State Street, 3rd Floor. Requests should include full names of parties, case number, date range, and document type. Copying and research fees may apply.

Schenectady County Family Court Records

Schenectady is the county seat of Schenectady County. The Family Court at 620 State Street serves the city and all other communities in the county. Visit the Schenectady County page for more on county-wide court services.

Nearby cities with family court pages include Albany, Colonie, and Troy.