St. Lawrence County Family Court Records

St. Lawrence County family court records are kept at the courthouse in Canton, a small county seat in New York's North Country near the Canadian border. You can search for custody cases, child support files, and family offense petitions through the court clerk or the statewide electronic system. St. Lawrence County is part of the 4th Judicial District and has two Family Court judges who handle all case types. The court clerk can pull records going back many years, and the County Clerk also keeps some related files. If you need copies or want to look up a case, there are a few ways to get what you need.

St. Lawrence County Family Court

The Family Court sits at 48 Court Street in Canton. Chief Clerk Sarah LaShomb and Deputy Chief Clerk Bridget Webber run the day-to-day work of the court. They take filings, pull case files, and help with records requests. The office is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. You can call at 315-379-2410 or email StLawrenceFamily@nycourts.gov to ask about a case.

Two judges hear family court cases here. Hon. Andrew S. Moses and Hon. Efstathia G. Kyriakopoulos both sit on the bench. They handle custody and visitation disputes, child support petitions, family offenses, paternity matters, and child protective cases. Under Section 812 of the Family Court Act, the court has broad power to issue orders of protection and decide custody when family violence is at play. St. Lawrence County also runs an Integrated Domestic Violence Part, which lets one judge see both the criminal and family sides of a domestic violence case at the same time.

The IDV Part is run by Hon. Derek Champagne, with Resource Coordinator Abby Prashaw at 315-379-2383. This court handles cases where criminal charges and family court petitions overlap in domestic violence situations. It is a problem-solving court that tries to keep one judge in charge of all related matters for a single family.

How to Search St. Lawrence Family Court Records

You can look up family court records in St. Lawrence County in person at the courthouse or by using the state's online tools. The New York State eCourts system lets you search for case information by name or case number. Not all family court records show up online because many are sealed or restricted under the Family Court Act. But basic case status and scheduling info is often there.

For more detailed records, go to the courthouse at 48 Court Street in Canton. Bring your ID and the name or case number you want to look up. The clerk can search for you and provide copies. Under Family Court Act Section 166, most family court records are not open to the general public. Only parties to the case, their lawyers, and certain agencies have full access. Some documents may need a court order before the clerk can release them.

The St. Lawrence County Clerk's Office at the same address also keeps some court-related files. They handle Supreme Court records, which can include matrimonial cases with family court crossover. Online records from the County Clerk are available at searchiqs.com/NYSTL, or you can call the IQS help line at 1-800-320-2617 for help with that system.

The County Clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, usually from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Their phone number is 315-379-2237. They can help you find records that involve both Supreme Court and Family Court filings, which sometimes happens in custody or support cases connected to a divorce.

St. Lawrence County Court Records Resources

The St. Lawrence County Clerk maintains an online portal for public records searches. You can visit their website to learn about available records and services.

The Clerk also runs a Fraud Alert service that sends email notices when documents are recorded under your name. This can protect against fraudulent filings in court or land records.

St. Lawrence County has DMV offices in Canton, Massena, Ogdensburg, and Gouverneur. While these do not handle family court records directly, the County Clerk oversees both court filing and DMV operations, so the same office can point you in the right direction for any county record you need.

Family Court Records in St. Lawrence County

Family court records in St. Lawrence County cover many types of cases. The court hears custody and visitation petitions, child support matters, paternity cases, family offense proceedings, and child abuse and neglect cases. Each type creates its own set of records that the clerk stores and manages.

Custody records include the petition, any temporary orders, and the final order or judgment. Under Domestic Relations Law Section 240, the court must decide custody based on the best interests of the child. Support records show the amount ordered, the income of both parents, and any modifications over time. The Support Magistrate handles many of these cases in St. Lawrence County. Paternity records can be sealed under certain conditions, and family offense records often have limits on public access.

Child protective cases filed by the Department of Social Services are largely confidential. Under Family Court Act Section 1046, records involving abuse or neglect have tight restrictions on who can see them. Even the parties sometimes have to get a court order to see certain sealed documents.

Note: The court cannot give legal advice about your case. Staff can only help with filing and records requests.

Specialty Courts and Resources

St. Lawrence County runs several specialty courts. The County Court Felony Drug Treatment Part, led by Hon. Marcia LeMay, helps people with substance use issues who are in the criminal justice system. Resource Coordinator Deborah Miller at 315-379-2247 handles referrals and case management. There is also a satellite treatment court in Ogdensburg at 330 Ford Street, run by Chief Clerk Natalie Spilman at 315-393-5408.

These courts matter for family court cases because substance abuse often comes up in custody and child protective proceedings. A parent who is in drug court may have their progress reported to the family court judge as part of a neglect or custody case. The treatment court model in St. Lawrence County focuses on recovery and reducing repeat contact with the justice system.

For those who need help with a family court case, the court provides access to DIY forms on the NYCourts CourtHelp website. Self-represented parties can fill out petitions and other papers using these forms. The 4th Judicial District also maintains standard forms that work across all counties in the district, including Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren, and Washington.

Legal aid may be available for people with low income. The Assigned Counsel Program in the 3rd and 4th Districts can connect you with a lawyer if you qualify. The court can also appoint an attorney for children in custody and abuse cases, as required by law.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near St. Lawrence County. If you are not sure which county handles your case, check your home address. You file in the county where you or the child lives.