Ontario County Family Court Records Search

Ontario County family court records are housed at the courthouse in Canandaigua. The Family Court at 27 North Main Street handles custody, support, protection orders, juvenile cases, and other family matters for all county residents. You can visit the Clerk's Office in Room 130 on the first floor to search for existing records or file new petitions. The court is part of the 7th Judicial District and works closely with mediation services and community organizations. If you need to look up a family court case in Ontario County, you can call the office or stop by during business hours.

Ontario County Family Court

Ontario County Family Court sits at 27 North Main Street, Room 130, Canandaigua, NY 14424. Call 585-412-5299 or fax 585-412-5327 to reach the Clerk's Office. The court is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can also email them at ontariofamilycourt@nycourts.gov.

Family Court Judges Hon. Stefanie L. Barnes and Hon. Margaret Reston (Acting) preside over the full range of family matters here. Chief Clerk Linda M. DiStefano and Deputy Chief Clerk Nicholas Grecco run the court's daily operations. They manage case filing, scheduling, and records. The Support Magistrate position is currently vacant, and appointed judicial officers cover those duties for now.

First Appearance Calendars are held on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Emergency applications can be heard any day. This setup ensures that urgent matters get dealt with fast while routine cases keep moving through the system. The courthouse is ADA accessible and has parking in nearby municipal lots.

How to Search Ontario County Family Court Records

To look up family court records in Ontario County, you can visit the Clerk's Office in person at Room 130. Bring a photo ID and any case information you have. Staff can search by party name or case number. Under Family Court Act Section 166, records are not open to the general public without the court's approval. If you are a party to the case, you have the right to access filed papers, orders, and hearing transcripts per 22 NYCRR Section 205.5.

The NYS Navigator resource directory confirms the court's location and provides contact details. The image below shows resources available for Ontario County Family Court.

This directory page helps residents find the court and learn about the services it offers.

The NYSCEF e-filing system covers certain case types like custody, visitation, guardianship, support, and paternity. You can file documents online at any hour with no fee for using the system. For other case types, you need to file in paper at the courthouse. The Ontario County Support Collection Unit is reachable at ontarioscu@nycourts.gov for child support questions. DIY forms are free on the NYCourts website.

Ontario County Family Court Case Records

Ontario County Family Court handles custody disputes, child support, spousal support, paternity, guardianship, visitation, juvenile delinquency, child protective cases, family offense petitions, PINS, and adoption. Each of these case types produces records that the Clerk's Office maintains. The court is part of the 7th Judicial District along with Cayuga, Livingston, Monroe, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, and Yates Counties.

Parties who want to file for temporary orders of protection can get help from Family Counseling Service of the Finger Lakes at 1-800-695-0390, Safe Harbors at 1-800-247-7273, or the Ontario County Probation Department at 585-396-4222. These groups assist with preparing the family offense petition. The court also partners with The Center for Dispute Settlement to offer mediation for custody and visitation issues. Mediation can save time and money compared to a contested trial.

All adjournment requests must be in writing with the consent of every party. If a case is already past Standards and Goals, the assigned judge must also approve. Cases stay on the calendar until the Clerk's Office receives confirmation of a new agreed-upon date. This rule keeps cases from dragging on longer than necessary.

Family Court Records Access Rules

Under Family Court Act Section 216-a, every county has a clerk of court who keeps all records and applies the official seal. In Ontario County, the Clerk's Office in Room 130 is your point of contact for any records request. The clerk provides forms to anyone who asks and helps self-represented litigants fill out petitions.

If you need transcripts from a hearing, you must be a party or an attorney of record. You need photo identification. Transcripts from electronically recorded proceedings are produced by independent transcription services at their own rates. Contact the court to learn how to order them. The court can also issue an Address Confidentiality Order if you need your address kept off court papers for safety reasons.

Legal Resources in Ontario County

The 7th Judicial District Office is at 99 Exchange Blvd., Hall of Justice, Rochester, NY 14614, and can be reached at 585-371-3266. This office oversees all trial courts in the district. For free self-help resources, visit nycourts.gov/courthelp. The Family Legal Care Helpline at 212-343-1122 provides free legal information about New York family law matters.

The Ontario County Courthouse at 27 North Main Street also houses Supreme Court, County Court, and Surrogate's Court. Geneva City Court at 255 Exchange Street, Geneva, NY 14456 (phone 315-237-6575) serves residents in the northern part of the county. Canandaigua City Court is at 2 North Main Street (phone 585-412-5170). E-filing is available for certain case types through the statewide NYSCEF system.

Cities in Ontario County

All family court cases in Ontario County are filed at the courthouse in Canandaigua. Residents of all towns and villages in the county use this court.

Major communities include Canandaigua, Geneva, Victor, Farmington, and surrounding areas. None of these currently have their own dedicated city page, but all family court matters are handled at the county level.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Ontario County. File your case in the county where you live.