Find Putnam County Family Court Records

Putnam County family court records are on file at the courthouse in Carmel. The Family Court at 20 County Center handles custody, support, protection orders, juvenile cases, and other family matters. Whether you are searching for an old case or need to file a new petition, the Clerk's Office can guide you through the process. Putnam County is part of the 9th Judicial District and sits in the lower Hudson Valley, serving about 97,000 residents. The court offers childcare services, ADR options, and virtual appearances for certain case types to make access easier for families across the county.

Putnam County Family Court

Putnam County Family Court is at 20 County Center, Carmel, NY 10512. The main phone is 845-208-7800, the Family Court direct line is 845-208-7805, and the fax is 845-431-1935. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The court is closed on New York State holidays.

Family Court Judges Hon. Anthony R. Mole and Hon. Joseph J. Spofford preside over all family matters. Support Magistrate Patricia Brimais-Tenemille handles support establishment, modification, and enforcement cases. Chief Clerk Debra McClay and Deputy Chief Clerk Eric Yanez manage court operations, case filing, and administrative tasks. The court follows the 9th Judicial District calendar and procedures.

The Children's Center at the courthouse provides free childcare for parents who are appearing in court. This helps remove a common barrier to attending hearings. WebFamily eCourts gives online access to case information and calendar data. The court also offers FAQs, forms, and instructions through the NYCourts CourtHelp system. ADR services are available to help resolve disputes without a trial, and free legal help with child support matters comes through court partnerships with legal services groups.

Search Putnam County Family Court Records

Visit the Clerk's Office to search for family court records. Bring a valid ID and any case information you have. Staff can look up cases by name or number. Under Family Court Act Section 166, records are not open to the general public without court approval. Parties to a case can access their own filings, orders, and hearing transcripts per 22 NYCRR Section 205.5.

NYSCEF e-filing is available for custody, visitation, guardianship, support, and paternity cases. You can file documents online at any time with no fee for using the system. For other case types, file in paper at the courthouse. Virtual court appearances are conducted using Microsoft Teams for case types where the court allows it. Call 845-208-7854 or email VirtualPutnamMultiCourt@nycourts.gov for virtual appearance information.

Since Putnam County does not have a local image in the manifest, the image below is from the state-level resource showing the New York Family Court overview.

This page explains how family courts across the state work and what types of cases they handle.

Putnam County Family Court Case Records

The court hears custody, child support, spousal support, paternity, guardianship, visitation, juvenile delinquency, child protective cases, PINS, family offense petitions, and adoption. Each case type creates its own set of records that the clerk maintains. The 9th Judicial District Administration at 914-824-5100 oversees operations across all district courts.

Under Family Court Act Section 216-a, the clerk of court keeps all records and applies the official seal. The clerk provides forms to anyone who asks and assists self-represented people with petition preparation. If you need transcripts from a hearing, you must be a party to the case and show photo identification. Transcripts are produced by independent services at their own rates.

Town Justice Courts also operate in Putnam County: Carmel (845-628-1500), Kent (845-225-1606), Patterson (845-878-1080), Phillipstown (845-265-2951), Putnam Valley (845-526-3050), and Southeast (845-279-8939). Village Justice Courts include Brewster (845-279-4020), Cold Spring (845-265-9070), and Nelsonville (845-265-2500). These handle local matters, not family court cases.

Putnam County Family Court Records Privacy

Family Court Act Section 166 controls access to these records. They are not open to the general public. The court decides case by case who can view them. If you are directly involved, you can request copies at the Clerk's Office with proof of identity. Agencies, attorneys, and certain authorized people can also access records under specific rules laid out in 22 NYCRR Section 205.5.

Anyone in Putnam County Family Court can ask for an Address Confidentiality Order to keep their address off court papers. This is critical for people dealing with safety concerns. New York State also runs a free Address Confidentiality Program for domestic violence victims. The program protects your address on court papers, government records, and driver's licenses. Talk to the Clerk's Office to learn more about these protections.

Getting to Putnam County Family Court

The courthouse is at the intersection of Routes 301 and 52 in Carmel. Parking is behind the building, with handicapped spaces available. Putnam Area Rapid Transit (PART) bus service and Metro North train service provide public transit options. The courthouse meets ADA standards, and accommodations are available on request. For emergency court closing information, call 800-268-7869 or check nycourts.gov. The ADA coordinator can be reached through the 9th Judicial District Administration at 914-824-5100.

The Supreme Court Law Library is available at 845-208-7804 if you need to look up statutes or court rules. The Commissioner of Jurors can be reached at 845-208-7895. Surrogate's Court is at 44 Gleneida Avenue, Carmel, NY 10512 (phone 845-208-7860).

Cities in Putnam County

All family court cases in Putnam County go through the courthouse in Carmel. Residents from all towns and villages file at this location.

Communities include Carmel, Brewster, Cold Spring, Putnam Valley, Kent, Patterson, and Philipstown. All family court filings are handled at the county level.

Nearby Counties

File in the county where you live. These counties are near Putnam.