Find Family Court Records in Washington County

Family court records in Washington County are kept at the courthouse in Fort Edward. The court is part of the 4th Judicial District and hears cases on custody, child support, paternity, family offenses, and child protective matters. You can search for case info online or visit the clerk's office in person to get copies. The Public Defender's Office covers family court cases for residents who qualify. Bring valid photo ID for any visit to the courthouse. Court staff can help you find the right forms and point you to the file you need.

Washington County Family Court

The Washington County Family Court is at the courthouse, 383 Broadway, Building C, Fort Edward, NY 12828. The phone number is 518-480-6950, and the email is WashingtonFamily@nycourts.gov. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Nicole Hoag is the Chief Clerk, and Connie Desourdy is the Deputy Chief Clerk. They handle all filings, record requests, and scheduling questions. Two judges serve as County, Family, and Surrogate's Court Judges: Hon. Kelly S. McKeighan at 518-480-6935 and Hon. Adam D. Michelini at 518-480-6940. These judges wear multiple hats across court types, which is common in smaller counties.

The Supreme and County Court has its own Chief Clerk, Lindsay Haverlock, with Katherine Thompson as Deputy Chief Clerk. That court can be reached at 518-480-6920 or WashingtonSupCt@nycourts.gov. E-filing is mandatory for select case types in the Supreme and County Courts. Supreme Court Justices include Hon. Robert J. Muller at 518-480-6346 and Hon. Amy N. Quinn at 518-788-9533.

The Surrogate's Court Chief Clerk is Rachel Clothier at 518-480-6970. E-filing is also mandatory for Surrogate's Court matters. The Commissioner of Jurors is Christopher Boucher at 518-480-6980. Hon. Stan L. Pritzker provides Appellate Division Third Department representation at 518-480-6915.

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

That page has details on court structure and services for Family Courts across the state.

How to Search Family Court Records

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

At the courthouse, go to the clerk's office in Building C. Bring 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 court permission. The statute says records cannot be subject to "indiscriminate public inspection." But the court can let anyone see a record if the judge finds a good reason to allow it.

Under 22 NYCRR Section 205.5, certain people can see records without needing a court order. This includes the petitioner, the respondent, and their lawyers. They can view pleadings, orders, decisions, and transcripts. If a child is part of the case, the parents, the child's attorney, and any agency with custody can also see the file. A prosecutor can access records in cases with orders of protection where a criminal case may follow.

The NY CourtHelp website explains the process for requesting records from any court in the state.

Types of Family Court Records

Washington County Family Court handles many types of cases that produce records. The court hears matters involving children and families but does not handle divorce. Divorce goes to the Supreme Court. Case types that create family court records in Washington 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. The Public Defender's Office provides legal services to people in Family Court who cannot afford a private attorney. They handle custody, visitation, neglect, and other family matters for eligible clients.

Filing and Forms for Washington County

There is no fee to file a case in Washington County Family Court. Official Family Court forms are free and available online or at the clerk's office. The 4th Judicial District uses standardized forms across Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Saratoga, Schenectady, St. Lawrence, Warren, and Washington counties.

For certain case types, e-filing through NYSCEF is available. Custody, visitation, guardianship, paternity, and support cases can be e-filed. There is no fee to use NYSCEF. You can file and view documents any time. The Family Courts directory lists 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 proceedings are recorded. Fill out a Request for Transcript form and submit it. For hearings recorded electronically, you will need an outside transcription service. The court has a list of approved firms.

Note: If you need your address kept off court papers for safety, ask the clerk about the Address Confidentiality program.

Getting Copies of Washington County Family Court Records

To get copies, visit the clerk's office at 383 Broadway, Building C, Fort Edward. Bring photo ID. The clerk will look up your case and let you review the file. Copies can be made on the spot. There may be a per-page charge. If you are not a party to the case, you will need to file an application explaining why you need the records. The judge will decide.

Records from other counties must be requested from that county's Family Court. Washington County records stay in Washington County. The clerk can point you to the right court if you are not sure where your case was filed.

Nearby Counties

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