Schenectady County Family Court Records

Schenectady County family court records are kept at the County Office Building on State Street. The Family Court handles custody disputes, child support petitions, paternity cases, family offenses, and child protective matters for all county residents. Three Family Court judges sit on the bench, and the clerk's office manages all filings and records. You can search for case information online through the state court system or visit in person during business hours. The County Clerk on the third floor of the same building also maintains some related court records.

Schenectady County Family Court

The Family Court is at the Schenectady County Office Building, 620 State Street, Schenectady, NY 12305. The phone number is 518-285-8435. You can also email SchenectadyFamily@nycourts.gov for questions about your case. Chief Clerk Jason Sidoti and Deputy Chief Clerk Nicole Page run the office. Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Three judges handle family court cases. Hon. Kevin A. Burke can be reached at 518-285-8755. Hon. Jill S. Polk is at 518-285-4300. Hon. Mark W. Blanchfield is at 518-285-8422. They hear everything from custody and visitation to family offenses and juvenile delinquency matters. The Family Court also runs a Family Treatment Court at the same address for families dealing with substance abuse issues in child protective proceedings.

The Supreme and County Courts are next door at the Schenectady County Judicial Building, 612 State Street. Chief Clerk Jennifer Regan at 518-285-8401 handles those filings. E-filing is mandatory for select case types in the Supreme Court. The Surrogate's Court is at the same building with Chief Clerk Amy Stone at 518-285-8455. If your case touches on divorce or estate matters along with family court issues, you may need to work with more than one office.

How to Search Schenectady Family Court Records

The Schenectady County Court website offers background on the court system and how records are kept in the county.

The county court website explains the role of each court, including Family Court, and lists contact information for all judges and clerks.

You can search for family court records online using the New York State eCourts system. This free tool shows basic case data like status, hearing dates, and party names. But family court records are not fully public. Under Family Court Act Section 166, access is limited to parties, attorneys, and authorized agencies. Some records may be sealed by court order.

The NYS Navigator resource page for Schenectady Family Court lists the court address, phone, fax, and email, along with links to family resources.

This directory is useful for people trying to locate the court or find support services related to their case.

Schenectady County Clerk Court Records

County Clerk Cara M. Ackerley manages the records office at 620 State Street, 3rd Floor. The phone number is 518-388-4220. The County Clerk serves as Clerk of the Supreme Court and keeps a wide range of records: court records, deed records, divorce records, marriage and birth records, name changes, and more. If your family court case has a Supreme Court component, like a divorce with custody issues, the County Clerk may have relevant files.

You can request court records from the County Clerk by providing the full names of the parties, the case number if you know it, a date range, and the document type you need. Copies may come with a per-page fee plus a search charge. The court records page has details on how to submit your request.

Most court records are public, but some information may be redacted and some records may be sealed. You would need a court order to access sealed files.

The Appellate Division hears appeals from trial courts and reviews both civil and criminal cases. If a family court decision is appealed, the case moves to the Appellate Division, Third Department. From there, it can go to the Court of Appeals, which is the state's highest court.

Note: The County Clerk cannot give legal advice. For help understanding court records, contact a lawyer or legal aid.

Family Court Cases in Schenectady County

The Schenectady County Family Court handles several types of cases. Custody and visitation petitions are among the most common. Under Domestic Relations Law Section 240, the court decides custody based on the best interests of the child. Child support cases are also heard here, with the Support Magistrate handling many of those proceedings.

Family offenses, including violations of orders of protection, come before the Family Court as well. Paternity cases establish legal fatherhood and often go hand in hand with support petitions. Child abuse and neglect cases brought by the Department of Social Services are handled in this court, though those records have the tightest restrictions on access. Under Family Court Act Section 1046, these records are highly confidential.

Schenectady City Court handles criminal and traffic matters separately. The criminal division is at 531 Liberty Street at 518-382-5239, and the civil and traffic division is at City Hall, 105 Jay Street at 518-382-5077. If a criminal case and a family court case involve the same parties, the courts may coordinate through the Integrated Domestic Violence Part. The Surrogate's Court, led by Hon. Vincent W. Versaci at 518-285-8455, handles estate matters, wills, and guardianships, which sometimes overlap with family court when a child needs a guardian.

Cities in Schenectady County

The city of Schenectady is the county seat. All family court cases for residents throughout the county are filed at the Schenectady County Family Court.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Schenectady County. Make sure you file in the right county based on where you live.