Find Kings County Family Court Records

Kings County family court records are filed and stored at the Kings County Family Court in Brooklyn. This court is one of five borough Family Courts in New York City and serves all of Brooklyn. You can search for family court records online or visit the courthouse at 330 Jay Street. The court handles custody, support, family offenses, paternity, juvenile cases, and more. Kings County is the most populated county in New York, so the court sees a high volume of cases each year. The clerk of court keeps all records on file. If you need to look up a case or get copies, you can call the court, visit in person, or use the state's online portals.

Kings County Family Court in Brooklyn

The Kings County Family Court sits at 330 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201. It is part of the 2nd Judicial District. The phone number is (347) 401-9600. Court hours run Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This is where all family court records for Brooklyn residents are filed and kept.

Kings County family court records include case files for spousal support, custody, child support, adoption, legal separation, domestic violence, and other family law matters. The Supreme and Family Courts in Kings County both hear family law cases and keep their own records. Public access to Kings County court records is governed by the New York Freedom of Information Law and New York Consolidated Laws, Chapter 30, Article 8, Section 255-B. Under these laws, most court records can be viewed and copied by the public. But family court records have more limits.

The court provides a Children's Center on the third floor, room 300. It runs Monday through Friday from 8:45 AM to 5:00 PM. Parents can leave their kids there while they go to court. Spanish interpreters are on site, and other languages are available with advance notice. The court also works with The Center for Dispute Settlement to offer mediation for custody and visitation issues.

How to Search Kings County Family Court Records

You have several options for searching family court records in Kings County. The state runs online tools that let you look up cases from home. You can also go to the courthouse. Each method has its own pros and limits.

The New York State Unified Court System runs the WebFamily portal, which lets you search family court case records by file number, case docket number, attorney, or law firm. Only cases with future court dates show up online. For closed cases, you need to contact the Kings County Family Court clerk directly. The NYSCEF e-filing system at nycourts.gov is another option. NYSCEF is free to use and lets you file and view documents at any time. There is no charge to search the docket or print files.

In NYC Family Court, the docket number starts with a letter that tells you the case type. A is for adoption. D is for juvenile delinquency. F is for child or spousal support. G is for guardianship. NN is for neglect or abuse. O is for family offense. P is for paternity. V is for visitation and custody. If you know the docket number, searching is much faster.

For in-person access, go to 330 Jay Street during court hours. Bring a photo ID. The clerk can look up cases and make copies. Under Family Court Act Section 166, records are not open to broad public inspection. But parties to a case and their attorneys can access pleadings, orders, and hearing transcripts under 22 NYCRR Section 205.5.

Filing Family Court Cases in Kings County

You can file a case at the Kings County Family Court without a filing fee in most situations. Cases are filed in the county where one of the parties lives. If you live in Brooklyn, you file here. The Help Center at the courthouse makes it easier for people who do not have a lawyer. Staff provide legal information but not legal advice.

Help Center staff can assist with several types of petitions. These include family offense petitions for orders of protection, custody and visitation filings, guardianship petitions, child or spousal support cases, paternity petitions, and interstate support cases under UIFSA. The Permanency Planning office manages child protective cases and monitors juvenile delinquency and PINS cases in the NYC Family Courts.

NYSCEF e-filing is now available in all NYC counties for custody, visitation, guardianship, paternity, support, and parentage cases. This means you can file from home at any time. The system is free. You can also file on paper or by mail if you prefer. For existing support cases, you can submit certain documents through the Electronic Document Delivery Storage system.

Kings County Court Records Access

The Family Court Act Section 216-a establishes that each county has a clerk of court for the Family Court. The clerk keeps all court records and the court seal. In Kings County, the clerk manages a large volume of family court records given Brooklyn's size.

The clerk's duties include maintaining official records, sealing confidential documents, and helping with administrative tasks. Clerks also provide official forms to anyone who asks. By long standing practice, court clerks across New York often help people prepare petitions on their own.

Privacy of Kings County Family Court Records

Family court records in Kings County have strong privacy protections. Under Family Court Act Section 166, the records are not open to the general public without a reason. The court decides who gets access on a case by case basis. Parties to the case, their lawyers, and certain agencies can view records without asking for special permission.

Some records are fully sealed. Adoption files are confidential. Juvenile records are restricted. Medical records, financial details like Social Security numbers, and sealed case files are all off limits to the public. If you need access and you are not a party, you must apply to the court and explain your purpose. The judge will decide if your request is valid. Under 22 NYCRR Section 205.5, any records that are shared cannot be passed along to others except as needed for the court case. If someone has an address confidentiality order, their address is removed from all papers before they are shared.

Nearby Counties

Kings County borders these New York City counties. Each borough has its own Family Court.