Primero debe presentar una petición (pe-TI-shun). A petition is when you ask the judge to make a decision about something. The person who starts a case is called the peticionario. La persona del otro lado se llama demandado. El peticionario y el demandado se denominan fiestas.
Cómo iniciar un caso en el tribunal de familia del condado de Albany
¿Cómo inicio un caso en el Tribunal de Familia?
¿Qué casos se conocen en el Tribunal de Familia?
Family Court is a court of limited jurisdiction. This means that only certain types of cases can be brought. Family Court cannot grant divorces or divide up property. The types of cases that can be brought in Family Court are:
• Abuse or Neglect of Children
• Adoption
• Child Support
• Custody
• Guardianship/Standby Guardianship
• Juvenile Delinquency
• Order of Protection or OP
• Paternity – Order of Filiation
• PINS (Persons In Need of Supervision)
• Spousal Support
• Visitation
• Voluntary Placement of Child into Foster Care
¿Cuándo debo acudir al tribunal?
You should arrive about an hour before your case is scheduled to be heard by the judge.
¿Dónde está ubicado el tribunal?
Albany County Family Court is located at:
30 Clinton Avenue
Albany, New York 12207
You can contact the court by calling (518) 285-8600, by faxing (518) 238-4344, or by emailing albanyfamilycourt@nycourts.gov.
¿Adónde voy cuando llego a la corte?
To bring a case regarding any of the topics covered by Family Court, go to the Family Court Clerk’s office to get started.
You can also find court forms on the court’s website at www.nycourts.gov. Click on “Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Forms” and choose the web-based program that best fits your needs (for example support modification). The program can help you to fill out the court papers ahead of time. Then, when the forms are completed, you can print out and take or mail the original papers to the court.
¿Qué pasa después?
1. The clerk will give you a form to fill out and return. Traiga un bolígrafo para poder completar el formulario. You must fill out the forms.
2. The clerk at the window of Family Court will let you know what will happen next. You may have to wait a while for the court staff to write up the court papers.
3.Please note that the clerk must let you file your case. Only a judge can make a decision about whether or not the court has jurisdicción (joo r-is-DIK-shuhn) over your case. Jurisdiction means having the power to make a decision in a case.
Cuando regrese a la corte, ¿adónde debo ir?
Ve a la parte. The part is the courtroom. Every judge has a part. The part number may be on the papers you received on the day you started the case.
Verá a un funcionario judicial cerca de la parte de su juez. A veces el oficial está dentro de la unidad. No entre en el lugar; espere a que salga el oficial. A veces, el oficial sale y les dice a todos los que están en la sala de espera que "se registren para la parte [#]". Si esto sucede y aún no se ha registrado, debe hacer fila. Cuando llegue al frente de la fila, dígale al oficial que está allí y que está listo. Se llama registrándose. If the officer does not call out, you can go up to the officer. Stay in the waiting room until your case is called. If you do not know where to go, ask a court officer.
¿Puedo traer un abogado?
Yes. If you do not have money for a lawyer, you may be able to get the court to appoint one for you at no cost to you. Usually the court will not appoint a lawyer when you go to court for child support or if the case involves only visitation. If you ask the court to appoint you a lawyer for a different kind of case, you must fill out a financial affidavit and you must provide copies of recent paystubs and tax returns. The judge will look at these to see if you qualify to have a lawyer appointed to represent you.
Cuando regrese a la corte, ¿qué debo llevar?
Bring a copy of your petition and, if applicable, the notarized Affidavit of Service. Also, bring any other documents that may be important to your case, such as birth certificates, old court orders, photographs, police reports, receipts, bank statements, and school records.
Try not to bring your children to court. The courthouse has a Children’s Center, but you can only leave your child there while you are in the courtroom. If possible, leave your children at home with a babysitter or relative.
¿Qué pasa si no puedo asistir a mi cita en la corte?
You should send a letter that explains why you cannot attend BEFORE the scheduled court date. Mail the letter to the court clerk at 30 Clinton Avenue, Albany, New York, 12207 or email the letter to albanyfamilycourt@nycourts.gov. You must provide a telephone number where you can be reached. You will be notified of the court’s decision. Do not assume that your request will be granted – it is your responsibility to appear in court if the case is not rescheduled.
If the court date is within 24 hours, you may call the clerk’s office, who will take your information to be relayed to the judge. Then you will be transfered to the check-in officer to note your request.
Si no se presenta a su cita en la corte y el tribunal no sabe por qué, el juez puede emitir una orden de todos modos. Si usted es la persona que presentó la petición, el juez puede cerrar el caso.
¿Qué sucede cuando llaman a mi caso?
When your case is called, you will go before the judge. Be prepared to explain your case simply and clearly. To help remember what you want to say, write it down before you go to court. Speak only about the topic being discussed. Judges want you to get right to the point. When you talk, the judge may break in to ask a question or make a comment. The judge will ask if you and the other party can agree or resolve the case. If not, the judge will schedule a trial.
At trial, the more evidencia you have to support your statements, the better. Evidence is the information presented to prove a case. If you have witnesses (people who can support what you are saying), bring them. They may be able to testify (speak) at the trial.
Do not be surprised if the judge does not make a decision right away. Most family court cases take many months to finish, and there may be several court appearances before the judge schedules a trial.
¿Qué sucede cuando el caso está completo?
El juez podrá dictar una orden. Una orden es una decisión tomada por el tribunal. Debe hacer copias del pedido y guardarlas en un lugar seguro. Si le emiten una orden de protección, es posible que desee conservarla consigo en todo momento.
¿Qué pasa si no sigo una orden judicial?
You must obey court orders. Before you leave court, make sure you understand exactly what is expected of you so you can cumplir con el pedido. Cumplir significa hacer lo que dice la orden. Puedes ser retenido en desacato al tribunal – and even arrested – for violando (VY-o-lay-ting) a judge’s order. Violate means not following the rules. Contempt of court means to not do what a court order says you must do.
¿Cuánto dura el pedido?
si es un Orden final, it stays in effect until a new case is brought to court that changes the order or a specific date or an event occurs that ends it. If it is a orden temporal, es válido hasta cierto momento, generalmente hasta la próxima fecha en la corte.
¿Qué pasa si no estoy de acuerdo con la decisión del juez?
Si no está de acuerdo con la decisión del juez, puede apelar. Una apelación es cuando pides que haya un tribunal superior. revisar (look at) your case. For more information on appealing a court decision, go to the office of the clerk at Family Court.
Este documento no debe reemplazar una consulta con un abogado. Family Legal Care alienta a todas las personas involucradas con los sistemas de tribunales penales y de familia a consultar con un abogado.