Search Ulster County Family Court Records

Family court records in Ulster County are on file at the Family Court in Kingston. The court is part of the 3rd Judicial District and handles custody, child support, paternity, family offenses, and child protective cases. Three judges staff the court, and you can search for case info online or visit the clerk's office in person. The County Clerk's Office is at 244 Fair Street in Kingston if you need related records from the Supreme or Surrogate's Courts. Bring photo ID for any in-person visit. The clerk's office has all the forms you need to file a petition or request copies of court records.

Ulster County Family Court

The Ulster County Family Court is at 2 Development Court, Kingston, NY 12401. The phone number is (845) 481-9430, the fax is (845) 483-8114, and the email is UlsterFamilyCourt@nycourts.gov. The court is open Monday through Friday.

Three judges serve the court. Hon. Sarah Rakov is assisted by Secretary Lara Oliveri and Principal Court Attorney Lisa Rusk. Hon. Anthony McGinty is assisted by Secretary Greta Baker and Principal Court Attorney Gilda Riccardi. Hon. Keri E. Savona is assisted by Secretary Brigitte Joyce and Principal Court Attorney Jillian Jackson. Having three judges means the court can handle a high volume of cases and still keep wait times reasonable for families.

John K. Beisel, Esq. serves as Support Magistrate. Elaine Stinemire is Chief Clerk and Linda Creen is Deputy Chief Clerk. The clerk's office handles all filings, record requests, and scheduling questions.

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

That page covers court structure and services for all Family Courts across the state.

How to Search Family Court Records in Ulster County

You can search for Ulster County family court records online through the WebFamily case search system. This tool lets you look up cases by name or docket number. It shows case status, upcoming court dates, and basic details. For the full case file, you need to visit the courthouse in Kingston.

At the courthouse, go to the clerk's office. Bring a valid photo ID. The clerk can pull your case file and make copies. Under FCA Section 166, family court records are not open to the general public without the court's permission. The statute says records are not for "indiscriminate public inspection." But the court can let anyone see a record if the judge thinks there is a good reason.

Parties to a case, their lawyers, and certain agencies can get access without a court order. This is set out in 22 NYCRR Section 205.5. Under that rule, the petitioner, the respondent, and their attorneys can see pleadings, orders, decisions, and transcripts. If a child is involved, the parents, the child's lawyer, and any agency with custody can also view the file. Everyone else must apply to the court for access.

The NY CourtHelp website explains how to request records from any court in the state. It covers what forms you need and what to expect during the process.

Types of Family Court Records in Ulster County

Ulster County Family Court produces records for many types of cases. The court has the power to hear matters that deal with children and families, but it cannot grant a divorce. Only the Supreme Court handles that. Cases that create family court records in Ulster County include custody and visitation, child support and spousal support, paternity, family offenses and orders of protection, child protective proceedings for abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency, PINS, and adoption and guardianship.

Each case creates a file with petitions, hearing records, and final orders. The clerk keeps all of these at the Kingston courthouse. If you need a copy of a specific order, ask the clerk to pull it. There may be a per-page charge for copies. Transcripts of hearings can also be requested by filling out a Request for Transcript form.

Related Courts in Ulster County

The Ulster County Supreme Court is at the Ulster County Court House, 285 Wall Street, Kingston, NY 12401. Supreme Court Judges include Hon. Kevin R. Bryant, Hon. James Gilpatrick, Hon. Julian Schreibman, and Hon. David M Gandin. If you have a divorce or matrimonial matter, that case goes to the Supreme Court, not the Family Court. The County Court is also at 285 Wall Street, with Hon. Bryan Rounds serving as County Court Judge. The main number for Supreme and County Court is 845-481-9375.

The Surrogate's Court is at 244 Fair Street, Kingston, NY 12401. Hon. Sara McGinty is the Surrogate's Court Judge. This court handles estate proceedings, guardianships, and adoptions. The Surrogate's Court has records going back to 1787, and most older files are on microfilm. The court has two microfilm machines for public use. The phone number is 845-481-9338. County Clerk Nina Postupack can be reached at 845-340-3040, and the County Clerk's Office is also at 244 Fair Street.

Filing and Forms for Ulster County Family Court

There is no fee to file a case in Ulster County Family Court. You can get official Family Court forms online or at the clerk's office for free. The 3rd Judicial District has standardized forms that apply across Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Ulster counties.

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. You can file and view documents at any time, day or night. E-filing is mandatory for select case types in the Supreme and County Courts as well.

The Family Courts directory has contact info for all 62 county Family Courts in New York. If you need to reach a court in another county, that page has phone numbers, addresses, and email contacts for each one.

Note: If you have a safety concern, ask the clerk about the Address Confidentiality program. The court can issue an order to keep your address off all court papers so the other party cannot see it.

Getting Copies of Ulster Family Court Records

To get copies, go to the clerk's office at 2 Development Court in Kingston. You need photo ID. The clerk will look up your case and let you review the file. Copies can be made right there. For hearings that were recorded, you can request a transcript. Fill out the transcript request form and submit it to the court. Hearings recorded by electronic devices require an outside transcription service. The court has a list of approved firms with their own rates.

If you need records from a case in another county, contact that county's Family Court directly. Each court keeps its own files. Ulster records stay in Ulster. The clerk can help you figure out where your case was filed if you are not sure.

Nearby Counties

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