Cattaraugus County Family Court Records
Cattaraugus County family court records are kept at two court locations in Little Valley and Olean. The county is part of the 8th Judicial District in western New York. You can search for family court records at either courthouse by visiting in person or calling the clerk. Cattaraugus County has two multi-bench judges who preside over Family Court, County Court, and Surrogate's Court cases. If you need to find a custody order, a support case, or any other family court record, the clerk staff in Cattaraugus County can help you look it up by name or case number.
Cattaraugus County Overview
Cattaraugus County Family Court Locations
Cattaraugus County Family Court has two locations. The main courthouse is at 303 Court Street, Little Valley, NY 14755, with phone 716-379-6636. The second location is at One Leo Moss Drive, Olean, NY 14760, with phone 716-379-6616. The Olean office is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and has fax 716-373-0449. Both sites close on state holidays.
Three judges hear cases across Cattaraugus County. Hon. Ronald D. Ploetz is based in Little Valley and can be reached at 716-379-6643. Hon. Moses M. Howden sits in Olean and can be reached at 716-379-6614. Hon. Terrence M. Parker also serves the county. These judges are elected to ten-year terms and hear cases in all four courts: Family, County, Supreme, and Surrogate's. That is how it works in smaller New York counties where judges must be skilled in many areas of law.
The Family Court Chief Clerk at Olean is Kyle C. O'Connor (716-379-6617). The Deputy Chief Clerk is Darlene Perkins (716-379-6620). They handle day-to-day family court records management, including filing new petitions and responding to requests for copies. Under FCA Section 216-a, the clerk is responsible for maintaining all court records.
| Court (Little Valley) | 303 Court Street, Little Valley, NY 14755 |
|---|---|
| Phone (Little Valley) | 716-379-6636 |
| Court (Olean) | One Leo Moss Drive, Olean, NY 14760 |
| Phone (Olean) | 716-379-6616 |
| Olean Fax | 716-373-0449 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Chief Clerk (Olean) | Kyle C. O'Connor |
How to Search Cattaraugus County Family Court Records
You can search for family court records in Cattaraugus County by visiting either the Little Valley or Olean courthouse. Bring your ID. The clerk can look up cases by name or case number and make copies for you. Certified copies cost more than plain ones but are needed for official purposes.
Online access to Cattaraugus County family court records is limited. The Cattaraugus County Family Court page on the county website has contact info and basic details, but does not offer online record searches. Under FCA Section 166, family court proceedings have restricted public access. Child protective and adoption records are confidential or sealed. Custody and support cases are more open, but the judge still has power to limit access under 22 NYCRR Section 205.5.
E-filing is mandatory for select case types in Cattaraugus County. If you have a case that requires e-filing, use the NYSCEF system. Check with the clerk first to see if your case type is covered.
Note: For after-hours emergencies, the Cattaraugus County Family Court has a phone line at 716-938-9111.
Cattaraugus County Court Resources
The Cattaraugus County court system page on the official county website lists all court locations and judge contact details.
This page confirms the county has two multi-bench judges who sit in all four courts. The county runs its court operations from both Little Valley and Olean to serve residents across this large rural county.
The Cattaraugus County Family Court page gives specific contact info and hours for the family court division.
This resource notes that the Family Court handles child support, custody, visitation, juvenile delinquency, PINS, child protective proceedings, family offenses, and adoption matters.
Family Court Records Case Types in Cattaraugus County
The Cattaraugus County Family Court handles the full range of family law cases. The court cannot grant a divorce. Only the Supreme Court can do that. But the Family Court takes care of almost all other matters that affect families and children in the county.
Judge Howden has issued Administrative Orders regarding virtual trials in Cattaraugus County Family Court. This means some hearings can be done by video. The records from virtual hearings are part of the regular case file, just like in-person proceedings. The 8th Judicial District also has a cutoff time for same-day petitions. If you need an emergency order, file before the cutoff to be heard that day.
Raise the Age magistrates for Cattaraugus County include Judge Ploetz and Judge Howden. They handle cases involving youthful offenders. These cases create family court records that may have extra restrictions on access because of the age of the person involved.
Legal Resources for Cattaraugus County Family Court
The 8th Judicial District covers Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming counties. Legal aid services that cover this area can help with family court cases. If you cannot afford a lawyer, ask the clerk about assigned counsel or look into legal aid programs.
Free court forms are available on the NYS Courts website. You do not need to pay for blank forms. The clerk's office at either courthouse can also provide forms in person. The Supreme Court Chief Clerk at Little Valley is Kara Brunner (716-379-6687), and the Deputy Chief Clerk is Jillian Crouse (716-379-6641), if you need records from the Supreme Court side rather than Family Court.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Cattaraugus County. Check your address to make sure you file in the right county for your family court case.