Steuben County Family Court Records Lookup

Steuben County family court records are kept at the County Office Building in Bath. The court is part of the 7th Judicial District and handles custody, support, paternity, family offenses, and child protective cases. You can search for records online using the state court system or visit the clerk's office in person. The court has specific rules about how to file petitions, request adjournments, and get help with orders of protection. Bath is the county seat, but the county also has city courts in Corning and Hornell for other matters.

Steuben County Family Court

The Steuben County Family Court is on the third floor of the County Office Building at 3 East Pulteney Square, Bath, NY 14810. The phone number is 607-622-8218. Fax is 607-622-8239. Email steubenfamilycourt@nycourts.gov for questions. Window hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Filing hours end at 4:45 p.m.

Chief Clerk April L. Din and Deputy Chief Clerk Kirsten VanAtta manage the office. Support Magistrate Vivian Clara Strache handles child support and paternity hearings. Paternity First Appearance Calendars are held on the third Thursday of each month. Two judges handle court matters: County Court Judge Chauncey Watches at 607-622-8192 and County and Family Court Judge Philip J. Roche at 607-622-8213.

If you need a Temporary Order of Protection, the court sends you to Arbor Development at 1-800-286-3407 for help writing up the Family Offense Petition. This is a required step. The court also works with The Center for Dispute Settlement (CDS) to offer mediation for custody and visitation disputes. Mediation is not right for every case, but it can help resolve issues faster than going to trial.

Searching Steuben County Family Court Records

You can search for family court records online at the New York eCourts portal. Type in a name or case number. The system shows basic case info like status, party names, and scheduled dates. Family court records are restricted under Family Court Act Section 166. Only parties, their lawyers, and authorized agencies can view the full file.

To search in person, go to the third floor of the County Office Building in Bath. Tell the clerk what you need and provide a name or case number. You will need your ID. The clerk can make copies for a fee. Certified copies cost more. All adjournment requests must be in writing with the consent of all parties. Cases set for hearing need the judge's approval before they can be moved to a new date.

The Steuben County court system page lists phone numbers for every court in the county. The Supreme and County Court is at 607-622-8219, and the Surrogate's Court is at 607-622-8221. Corning City Court at 500 Nasser Civic Center Plaza, Suite 101, phone 607-654-6033, and Hornell City Court at 82 Main Street, Suite 101, phone 607-590-3314, handle local criminal and traffic matters.

Steuben County Records and Resources

New York State provides an overview of the Family Court Act and how records are managed through the FindLaw resource on FCA Section 166.

This section of the law sets out who can access family court records and under what conditions, applying to all courts in the state including Steuben County.

Surrogate Judge Patrick F. McAllister at 607-622-8198 handles estate proceedings and guardianship matters. These can overlap with family court when a child needs a legal guardian or when an estate case involves custody of a minor. The county maintains a consolidated court complex in Bath for easy access to all court types.

Family Court Case Types in Steuben County

The Steuben County Family Court hears custody cases under Domestic Relations Law Section 240. The court decides custody based on the child's best interests. Support cases follow the Child Support Standards Act. The Support Magistrate handles most support hearings and sets payment amounts.

Family offense proceedings let someone file for an order of protection under Family Court Act Section 812. Remember that parties seeking a temporary order are first referred to Arbor Development for help with the petition. Paternity cases are heard on the third Thursday of each month during the First Appearance Calendar. Child protective cases are confidential under Family Court Act Section 1046.

The 7th Judicial District includes Cayuga, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, and Yates counties. Standard forms and procedures apply across the district, and the district office in Rochester oversees court operations.

Note: Filing hours end at 4:45 p.m. even though the window stays open until 5:00 p.m. Arrive early if you plan to file papers.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Steuben County. File your case where you or the child lives.