Tompkins County Family Court Records

Family court records in Tompkins County are kept at the Family Court in Ithaca. The court is part of the 6th Judicial District and hears cases on custody, child support, paternity, family offenses, and child protective matters. You can search for case info online through the state system or visit the clerk's office in person. The court staff can help you find the file you need, pull copies, and explain next steps. Bring photo ID if you plan to visit. Petitions can be filed from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on weekdays, and public computers are on site for people who want to prepare their own filings.

Tompkins County Family Court

The Tompkins County Family Court is at 320 North Tioga Street, P.O. Box 70, Ithaca, NY 14851-0070. The phone number is 607-216-6640, the fax is 212-457-2951, and the email is tpkfamily@nycourts.gov. The court is open Monday through Friday, and all visitors must pass through a magnetometer at the entrance.

Three judges serve the court. The Honorable Joseph R. Cassidy has chambers at 607-216-6636, with Isaac Lindbloom as Law Clerk and Polly White as Secretary. The Honorable Maura Kennedy-Smith can be reached at 607-216-6634, with Jennifer Donlan-Fitzgibbon as Law Clerk and Stacey McNeill as Secretary. The Honorable Scott A. Miller has chambers at 607-216-6441, with Amy Tillotson as Secretary and Diane Boyajian as Law Clerk.

Daniel W. Johnson is the Support Magistrate, with Yvette Vila as Court Assistant. Lisa Brant is Chief Clerk and Meredith Pratt is Deputy Chief Clerk. Both can be reached at the main number.

Here is a look at the state-level Family Court resource page for New York.

That page has info on court structure and services for all New York Family Courts.

How to Search Family Court Records in Tompkins County

You can search for Tompkins County family court records online or in person. The WebFamily case search tool lets you look up cases by name or docket number. It shows case status, court dates, and basic details. For the full file, you need to go to the courthouse.

At the courthouse, visit the clerk's office on the first floor. Bring valid photo ID. The clerk can pull your case file and make copies for you. Under FCA Section 166, family court records are not open to the general public without court permission. Parties to the case, their lawyers, and certain agencies can get access. If you are not a party, you must file an application with the court and explain why you need the records. The judge then decides whether to grant access.

The NY CourtHelp website is a good place to start if you are not sure how the process works. It explains how to request records from any court in the state. Tompkins County also has public computers in the clerk's office for people who want to fill out DIY petitions on their own.

Under 22 NYCRR Section 205.5, parties and their attorneys can see pleadings, orders, decisions, and transcripts without needing a separate court order. Others must get permission from the judge. If a child is part of the case, the parents, the child's lawyer, and any agency with custody can also view the file.

Types of Family Court Records

The Tompkins County Family Court handles many types of cases. It does not handle divorce, separation, or annulment. Those go to the Supreme Court. The types of cases that produce family court records here include:

• Custody and visitation
• Child support and spousal support
• Paternity
• Family offenses and orders of protection
• Child protective proceedings (abuse and neglect)
• Juvenile delinquency and PINS
• Adoption and guardianship

Each case creates a file with petitions, hearing records, and final orders. The clerk keeps all of these. If you need a copy of a specific order or petition, ask the clerk to pull it for you. There may be a per-page charge for copies.

Specialty Courts in Tompkins County

Tompkins County has two specialty courts that handle certain family court records. The Family Treatment Court was started in 2001 and is presided over by Judge Joseph R. Cassidy. Mindy Thomas serves as Resource Coordinator. This court works with parents in child welfare cases where substance use is a factor. The goal is to help families achieve recovery and reunification. The program uses milestones that track progress from engagement through children returning home. Tompkins County was a National Peer Learning Court from 2018 to 2024, which means it was recognized for best practices in treatment court work.

The Integrated Domestic Violence Court is another specialty part. It started in December 2003 and uses a "one family, one judge" model. Instead of sending a family to multiple courts for criminal, family, and matrimonial issues tied to domestic violence, a single judge hears all related cases. Skylar Senn is the Resource Coordinator for the IDV Court and can be reached at 607-216-6658. To qualify, there must be a pending criminal case involving domestic violence plus a related family court or matrimonial matter. The parties must be married, formerly married, have kids in common, or be related as defined by Section 812 of the Family Court Act.

Filing and Forms

There is no fee to file a case in Tompkins County Family Court. You can get the official Family Court forms online or at the clerk's office for free. Public computers at the courthouse let you fill out DIY petitions on your own. If you need help, the court staff can point you in the right direction, but they cannot give legal advice.

For certain case types, you can e-file through NYSCEF. Custody, visitation, guardianship, paternity, and support cases can be e-filed. There is no fee to use NYSCEF, and you can file and view documents at any time of day. The Family Courts directory has contact info for all 62 county Family Courts in the state if you need to reach another county.

Transcripts of hearings can be requested too. All court proceedings are recorded. Fill out a Request for Transcript form and submit it to the court. For hearings recorded by electronic devices, you will need to contact an outside transcription service. These are independent contractors with their own rates. The court can give you a list of approved firms.

Getting Copies of Tompkins County Family Court Records

To get copies, visit the clerk's office at 320 North Tioga Street. You need photo ID. The clerk will look up your case and let you review the file. Copies can be made on the spot. FCA Section 166 controls who can see records. The statute does not make records fully confidential. It just says they are not open to "indiscriminate public inspection." The court has the power to let anyone see a record if the judge thinks it is appropriate.

If you need records from a case in another county, contact that county's Family Court directly. Each court keeps its own files. Tompkins records stay in Tompkins. The clerk's office can point you to the right place if you are not sure where your case was filed.

Note: If you have a safety concern and need your address kept off court papers, tell the clerk about the Address Confidentiality program. The court can issue an order to keep your address out of the file.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Tompkins. If you are not sure which county handles your case, check where you live.