Chautauqua County Family Court Records

Chautauqua County family court records are housed at the Family Court in Mayville. The court is part of the 8th Judicial District and handles family law matters for all of Chautauqua County. You can search for court records by visiting the Mayville courthouse or calling the clerk's office. Two judges hear cases here, and the court processes petitions for custody, support, family offenses, and child protective matters. The clerk's staff can help you find family court records by name or case number, and copies are available during normal business hours.

Chautauqua County Family Court Office

Chautauqua County Family Court is at the Chautauqua Municipal Building, 2 Academy Street (Suite 5), Mayville, NY 14757. The main phone number is 716-753-4100. The fax is 716-753-4350. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The court is closed on state holidays.

Two judges serve the Chautauqua County Family Court. Hon. Peter Johnson and Hon. Michael Sullivan can both be reached at 716-753-4100. They hear all family law matters including custody, support, juvenile delinquency, child abuse and neglect, PINS, paternity, adoptions, termination of parental rights, and family offenses. The Chief Clerk is Ye Shen, and the Deputy Chief Clerk is Jonathan Sabella. Both are at 716-753-4100.

Under FCA Section 216-a, the clerk is responsible for all family court records. Ye Shen and the clerk staff process filings, maintain case files, and respond to record requests. If you need a copy of a court order from a Chautauqua County family case, this is where you go.

How to Search Chautauqua County Family Court Records

You can search for family court records in Chautauqua County by going to the courthouse at 2 Academy Street in Mayville. The clerk's office can look up cases by name or case number. Bring an ID. You can request plain copies or certified copies of orders and other court documents.

Online access to family court records in Chautauqua County is limited by state law. Under FCA Section 166, family court proceedings are not open to the public the way other court cases are. Child protective records are confidential. Adoption records are sealed. Custody and support case records are more accessible, but the judge can restrict who sees them. The rules under 22 NYCRR Section 205.5 control public access to family court records throughout New York.

The 8th Judicial District has a cutoff time policy for same-day hearings of petitions. Emergency custody, visitation, and family offense petitions must be filed before the cutoff to get heard that same day. Call the clerk at 716-753-4100 to find out the current cutoff time.

Chautauqua County Family Court Resources

The Chautauqua County Public Defender page details the Family Court Division of the Public Defender Office.

The Public Defender Office is at 2 Academy Street in Mayville, the same building as the Family Court. It provides representation for people who cannot afford a lawyer in child protective proceedings, termination of parental rights, and juvenile delinquency cases.

Family Court Records in Chautauqua County

Chautauqua County Family Court handles all family law matters defined by the Family Court Act. The court has jurisdiction over support, juvenile delinquency, child abuse and neglect, persons in need of supervision, foster care placements, paternity, adoptions, termination of parental rights, and family offenses. It cannot grant divorces. Divorce cases go to the Supreme Court.

Each case type creates its own set of records. A custody case file will have the petition, any responses, court orders, and the final decision. Support cases include financial disclosure forms and payment records. Family offense cases include the petition, temporary orders of protection, and any final orders. All of these documents make up the family court records stored at the courthouse in Mayville.

Raise the Age magistrates for Chautauqua County include multiple judges across the county's courts. They handle cases involving young offenders in ways that differ from traditional criminal proceedings. These cases create records in the family court system.

Other Chautauqua County Courts

The Chautauqua County Courthouse is at 3 North Erie Street, Mayville, NY 14757 (phone 716-753-4266). The Supreme Court Justice is Hon. Grace M. Hanlon (716-753-4464). The County Court Judge is Hon. David Foley (716-753-4188). The Surrogate's Court Judge is Hon. Stephen W. Cass (716-753-4337).

If you need divorce records, go to the Supreme Court, not the Family Court. The Supreme and County Court Chief Clerk is Tracie Lorenzo (716-753-4835), and the Deputy Chief Clerk is Jamie Yeskey (716-753-4074). E-filing is mandatory for select case types in Chautauqua County Supreme Court and Surrogate's Court. Use the NYSCEF system for e-filing.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Chautauqua County. File your family court case in the county where you live.