Search Allegany County Family Court Records
Allegany County family court records are on file at the courthouse in Belmont, New York. The court is part of the 8th Judicial District and handles all family law matters for the county. You can search for case records by going to the courthouse on Court Street or by calling the clerk's office. Allegany County is a rural county in western New York, and most of its family court cases involve custody, support, and child protective proceedings. The clerk's office can pull records for you and make copies. If you need to find a family court case in Allegany County, the staff can help you search by name or by case number.
Allegany County Overview
Allegany County Family Court
Allegany County Family Court is at 7 Court Street, Belmont, NY 14813. The main phone number is 585-449-3416. The fax is 585-449-3470. The court is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. It is closed on all state holidays.
Two judges serve the Allegany County Family Court: Hon. Ian M. Jones and Hon. Terrence M. Parker. Judge Jones can be reached at 585-449-3432, with secretary Krenda Hale. Judge Parker is at 585-449-3437, with secretary Ronnelle Enders. Both judges also sit on the County Court and Surrogate's Court, which is common in smaller New York counties where judges wear more than one hat.
The Family Court Chief Clerk is Heather Kunz, and the Deputy Chief Clerk is Candice Hadden. Both can be reached at 585-449-3463. They manage the court's case files, process new filings, and handle requests for copies of family court records. Under FCA Section 216-a, the clerk has a duty to maintain all court records properly.
| Court | Allegany County Family Court |
|---|---|
| Address |
7 Court Street Belmont, NY 14813 |
| Phone | 585-449-3416 |
| Fax | 585-449-3470 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Chief Clerk | Heather Kunz |
Finding Family Court Records in Allegany County
To search for family court records in Allegany County, you can visit the courthouse at 7 Court Street in Belmont. The clerk's office will look up cases by name or case number. Bring a valid photo ID. You can get plain copies of most records. Certified copies are also available for an extra fee.
Online access to Allegany County family court records is limited. The NYS court system does not put most family court records online because of the privacy rules in FCA Section 166. Family court proceedings have restrictions on public access. Child protective cases are confidential. Adoption files are sealed. Custody and support cases have some public access, but the court can limit it. The rules under 22 NYCRR Section 205.5 set out who can see what in family court files.
The NYS Navigator page for Allegany County has links to court resources and contact information for the family court. This is a helpful starting point if you are not sure where to begin your search for records.
Allegany County Court Resources
The NYS Navigator resource page for Allegany County Family Court lists the court address, phone, and links to forms and services.
This resource is maintained by the NYS Navigator program and gives basic info for anyone searching for Allegany County family court records.
Allegany County Family Court Case Types
The Allegany County Family Court hears all the standard family law matters defined by the Family Court Act. It cannot grant divorces. That is the Supreme Court's job. But the Family Court handles most other cases that touch on family life.
The types of family court records you can find in Allegany County include cases for:
- Child custody and visitation
- Child support establishment and enforcement
- Family offense petitions and orders of protection
- Child abuse and neglect proceedings
- Adoption and guardianship
- Juvenile delinquency and PINS
The 8th Judicial District, which covers Allegany County, has put in place a cutoff time policy for same-day petitions. If you need an emergency order of protection or emergency custody, you must file before the cutoff time to be heard that same day. Check with the clerk at 585-449-3416 for the current cutoff.
Allegany County Family Treatment Court
Allegany County runs a Family Treatment Court program. This is for parents in child protective cases who have substance abuse issues. The Treatment Court Coordinator is Debra Stebbins, who can be reached at 585-449-3436. The IDV Resource Coordinator is Bridget Hallopeter, reachable at 585-449-3420.
The Family Treatment Court uses a team approach. The judge, treatment providers, caseworkers, and attorneys all work together to help parents get sober and reunite with their children. Treatment court cases create their own set of family court records, including progress reports and compliance orders. The Treatment Court Liaison for the 8th Judicial District is Jeff Smith. These records are part of the broader family court file but may have extra privacy protections.
Note: Raise the Age magistrates for Allegany County include Judge Parker and Judge Jones, who handle cases involving youth offenders.
Access to Allegany County Family Court Records
Getting copies of family court records in Allegany County follows state rules. Most family court files are not wide open to the public. FCA Section 166 gives the court power to control access. The judge can decide who sees the records and under what conditions. If you are a party to the case, you can get your own records. If you are a lawyer for one of the parties, you can too.
For people outside the case, access is more limited. You may need to show a good reason for wanting the records. Some records, like child abuse investigations and adoption files, are off limits to the public entirely. Support and custody records tend to be more accessible, but the court can still restrict them. The Supreme and County Chief Clerk, Jenise Cicirello (585-449-3462), handles records for those court divisions if you need something from there instead.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Allegany County. Make sure you file in the right county. Your address determines where your case goes.