This information is applicable in the following New York Counties: Onondaga, Oneida, Jefferson, Herkimer, Oswego, and Lewis.
How to Start a Case in Family Court – 5th Judicial District
How do I start a Family Court case?
You must first file a petition. A petition is when you ask the judge to make a decision about something. The person who starts a case is called the petitioner. The person on the other side is called the respondent. The petitioner and the respondent are called the parties.
What cases are heard in Family Court?
- Abuse or Neglect of Children
- Adoption
- Child Support
- Custody
- Guardianship/Standby Guardianship
- Juvenile Delinquency
- Orders of Protection (Family Offense)
- Parentage and Paternity
- PINS (Persons in Need of Supervision)
- Spousal Support
- Visitation
- Voluntary Placement of a Child into Foster Care
When should I get to court?
The earlier you get to court the better because you might not have to wait as long to get everything done. Try to get there by 8:30 am. You will probably have to wait on a long line to go through a metal detector.
Where is the court located?
The addresses and phone numbers of the local Family Courts appear below. You may go to the Family Court in the county in which you reside.
Herkimer County Family Court
301 N. Washington Street
Herkimer, NY 13350
(315) 619-3400
Jefferson County Family Court
Jefferson County Court Complex
163 Arsenal Street
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3001
Lewis County Family Court
Lewis County Courthouse
7660 State Street, 1st Floor
Lowville, NY 13367
(315) 376-5345
Oneida County Family Court
301 West Dominick Street
Rome, NY 13440
(315) 266-4500
Oneida County Family Court
Oneida County Courthouse
200 Elizabeth Street, 1st Floor
Utica, NY 13501
(315) 266-4444
Onondaga County Family Court
Onondaga County Courthouse
401 Montgomery Street
Syracuse, NY 13202
(315) 671-2000
Oswego County Family Court
Public Safety Center
39 Churchill Road
Oswego, NY 13126
(315) 207-7533
Where do I go when I get to court?
To bring a case regarding any of the topics covered by Family Court, find the location of your local Family Court as set forth above, and go to the Family Court Clerk’s office to get started.
What happens next?
1.The clerk will give you a form to fill out and return. Bring a pen so that you can fill out the form. You must fill out the forms. The Family Court Clerk will let you know what will happen next. You probably will need to make copies, so bring change with you. You should bring about $5.00 in change or five one dollar bills.
2.Please note that the clerk has to let you file your case. Only a judge can make a decision about whether or not the court has jurisdiction over your case. Jurisdiction means having the power to make a decision in a case.
When I go back to court, what should I bring?
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.
Am I allowed to bring a lawyer?
Yes. If you do not have money for a lawyer, you may be able to get the court to appoint one for you for free. Usually the court will not appoint a lawyer when you go to court for a child support case.
When I go back to court, where should I go?
Go to the part. 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.
You will see a court officer near the part for your judge. Sometimes the officer is inside the part. Do not go into the part – wait for the officer to come out. Sometimes the officer will come out and tell everyone in the waiting room to “check in for part [#].” If this happens, and you have not already checked in, you should get in line. When
you get to the front of the line, tell the officer that you are there and that you are ready. This is called checking in. 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.
What if I cannot attend my court date?
You should bring a letter that explains why you cannot attend BEFORE the scheduled court date. Take the letter to the office of the clerk. You will have to check the court file or contact the court after that date to find out what happened. If you cannot bring a letter, call the court and ask how you can let the judge know that you will not be able to attend the court date.
If you do not show up for your court date, and the court does not know why, the judge can issue an order anyway. If you are the person who filed the petition, the judge may close the case.
What happens when my case is called?
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. Try not to speak for a long time. 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 more evidence 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. The judge may let them speak. Keep in mind that this is not the actual trial. If the judge does not let your witnesses speak, they may be able to testify (speak) at the trial, if there is one. Sometimes you have to go to court many times before there is a trial.
Do not be surprised if the judge does not make a decision right away. Most family court cases take many months to finish.
What happens when the case is complete?
The judge will issue an order. An order is a decision made by the court. You should make copies of the order and keep them in a safe place. If you are issued an order of protection, you may want to keep it on you at all times.
What happens if I do not follow a court order?
You must obey court orders. Before you leave court, make sure you understand exactly what is expected of you so you can comply with the order. Comply means do what the order says. You can be held in contempt of court – and even arrested – for violating a judge’s order. Violate means not follow the rules.
How long does the order last?
If it is a final order, 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 temporary order, it is good until a certain time – usually until the next court date.
What if I disagree with the judge’s decision?
If you disagree with a judge’s decision, you may appeal. An appeal is when you ask to have a higher court review (look at) your case. For more information on appealing a court decision, go to the office of the clerk at Family Court.
This document should not take the place of a consultation with a lawyer. Family Legal Care encourages all individuals involved with the Criminal and Family Court systems to consult with a lawyer.