Family court hearings are open to the public in general; however, judges can close cases for privacy purposes (though this does not occur often).
Keep letters short and child-focused. Start your letter by providing your name, address and phone number before addressing it to an honorable judge and ending with a brief statement about who knows whom and their assessment of character.
Courts are open to the public
The Family Court is a specialized court that handles family law cases. This includes visitation, custody, paternity and support issues as well as domestic violence, juvenile delinquency foster care placement kinship legal guardianship adoptions cases as well as abuse/neglect cases as well as PINS (person in need of supervision) cases.
Family courts hold hearings in private, with only those involved present. Judges and magistrates who specialize in family issues are trained to make proceedings less adversarial.
Most cases are heard in Family Court; however, certain matters are heard in Supreme Court. When appearing before Family Court, it is essential to arrive early at the courthouse as courtrooms tend to get busy quickly. Click here for a list of court locations in Long Island and New York City.
Courts are closed to the public
The Family Court handles legal issues that affect families, such as divorce and child custody disputes. Unlike criminal and most civil courts, Family Court cases focus on resolving parties’ concerns and interests rather than on assigning blame. Furthermore, Child Support matters and Paternity disputes can also be heard here as well as Restraining orders related to Domestic Violence issues as well as cases involving juvenile delinquency as well as persons in need of supervision or placement (PINS).
Mr. Darren Shapiro recommends his clients arrive early at court, as calendars can become packed quickly and the wait to be called can take time. Furthermore, he reminds his clients they can always file an appeal against any decisions made by court attorneys, referees, or judges through formal processes.
People involved in certain proceedings, including custody battles or orders of protection hearings, can access free legal advice from the courts. Each proceeding assigned a docket number beginning with a letter will identify what type of claim was brought forth to court.
Courts are open for business
The Family Court addresses matters related to domestic violence, child custody and visitation rights disputes, support obligations and related issues. It differs from other courts by not placing emphasis on determining fault; rather it strives to uphold and respect people involved in complex legal proceedings.
New York boasts its own Family Court in each county, and these courts are open from Monday to Friday (excluding national holidays) except lunchtime when certain parts close briefly for brief breaks; hearing rooms being among these areas.
Persons needing to appear before family court must arrive on the specified date and time at their local courthouse, failing which their case could be dismissed. For those without legal representation, the Help Center in court provides basic assistance that does not constitute legal advice.
Courts are open for hearings
The Family Court of New York is an area of court system which handles cases concerning children and families, such as custody, visitation rights and parenting agreements. They also handle child protection proceedings such as domestic violence claims and those needing supervision (PINS). They can create protective orders to safeguard individuals.
Court hearings are usually open to the public, though in certain instances a judge or support magistrate may exclude them due to sensitive information. Interpreters for different languages will generally be available.
Court is typically open nights, weekends, and holidays for any non-PFA filings that must be filed directly at court. Experienced attorney Darren Shapiro can assist individuals from Long Island and New York City present their cases effectively in Family Court in order to increase chances of a positive result.
