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New York City Civil Court

Court Services

Mediation is available in some boroughs for civil cases. Mediators are neutral parties who assist litigants in fashioning their own settlements. Working with a trained and certified mediator, litigants often resolve cases without judicial assistance. In most cases those settlements are reviewed by a Judge. Mediation can be a cost-effective mechanism for some litigants to avoid the expenses of litigation.

For more information, you may send an email to MediationCivil@courts.state.ny.us. You may also read more about mediation in the publication "Dispute Resolution Through Mediation."

Interpreters

In this diverse city, where many litigants speak numerous languages other than English, it often becomes necessary to provide a neutral interpreter to interpret for one or more parties in a case. The Civil Court employs full time interpreters in Spanish, Creole, Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese, and Russian. Temporary per diem interpreters are arranged by the court for all languages other than those listed previously. The court also employs a sign language interpreter. Only official court interpreters may interpret in court proceedings. There is no charge for the use of an interpreter.

Court Reporters

Court reporters are employed by the Civil Court to record and provide transcripts of court proceedings. There is no charge for the recording of a court proceeding by a court reporter. The cost of obtaining a transcript, which is a typed document of the court proceeding, is most often paid for by the litigants. Persons eligible for poor person's relief may be able to obtain a transcript without cost. Arrangements to obtain and pay for a transcript are made directly with the reporter or reporters who recorded the proceeding. Litigants involved in a proceeding should obtain the name and telephone number of the court reporter prior to the conclusion of the matter. In the event that information is needed regarding a court reporter's name and contact information, a litigant may contact the part where the case was heard or the Judge if there is no clerk assigned to the part.

Childcare Centers

The Civil Court has childcare centers in Queens and Manhattan for use without charge by litigants who have civil cases. There is also a childcare center in the Bronx Housing Court. Litigants may leave a child or children in our childcare centers when they have a case in the courthouse:

Bronx Housing - ages 6 weeks to 7 years
New York Civil - ages 3 months to 7 years
Queens Civil - 6 weeks to 12 years

At the current time the child care centers are not available to jurors. A courtroom is not an ideal setting for a child. Parents are urged to use our childcare centers which are operated by Safe Horizons. They are brightly decorated and provide snacks and age appropriate activities for the children.

Resource Centers

There are six Resource Centers located throughout New York City. The purpose of the Resource Center is to provide a place where a person without a lawyer can go to obtain free legal and procedural information on how to proceed in Housing Court. Each Resource Center provides Housing Court Counselors - court attorneys - trained to provide legal and procedural information on Housing Court procedures, reference materials, limited internet access, informational videos, and information about community resources.

Assistance with Civil and Small Claims cases is also available on a limited basis in all Civil Courthouses except Harlem.

The Resource Centers are located in each borough and are open from Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. In addition, on Thursdays, in the Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, & Queens, the Resource Centers are open from 9:30 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. for the convenience of persons who may be unable to reach the Court during normal business hours.

Guardian Ad Litem

Under CPLR § 1202, a judge may appoint a Guardian Ad Litem to appear on behalf of an adult determined to be incompetent and incapable of adequately protecting his or her rights in a case. The Civil Court administers a program which provides a pool of lawyers and non-lawyers who are trained by the court to serve as Guardians Ad Litem. In some cases guardians are compensated for their services and in others the guardian serves on a volunteer basis.

Security

Security in the Civil Court is provided by Uniform Court Officers, who pass a civil service test and successfully complete a training program through the Court Officer Training Academy. Some court officers are trained in emergency medical procedures, such as CPR and respond to medical emergencies in the courthouse until Emergency Medical Services arrives. Court officers are assigned to courtrooms and other public areas. Any security concerns from the public should be brought to the attention of any uniformed court officer.

ADA

The Civil Court of the City of New York has representatives in each of its county divisions to assist members of the public and attorneys with any ADA issues that may arise. These concerns include, but are not limited to, access to this court's facilities, case and procedural information, assistive listening devices, etc.

If any assistance is needed you can contact these representatives at the following numbers:

New York County - Rene Rudder - (646) 386-5730
Bronx County - James Delaney - (718) 590-3603
Kings County - Audrey McGiver - (347) 404-9131
Queens County - Marvin Rose - (718) 262-7300
Richmond County - Deborah Tortorice - (718) 390-5420

All Civil Court buildings and bathrooms are wheelchair accessible.

Volunteer Lawyers Project

The Civil Court operates a Volunteer Lawyers Project designed to assist self-represented litigants - people who represent themselves in court proceedings. Volunteer lawyers work in the Court’s Resource Centers alongside experienced and knowledgeable Resource Center Court Attorneys, also known as Pro Se Attorneys.

Volunteer lawyers trained by the Project provide free legal information and advice to owners and tenants who do not have attorneys. They will review your court papers, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your individual case, help you fill out forms, and assist you in creating a plan to defend or prosecute your case. They will not represent you in court or file papers on your behalf.

Beginning in January 2008, Volunteer Lawyers will be available in New York County to assist self-represented litigants who have question about a Civil or Small Claims case.

Volunteer lawyers may not be in the Resource Centers daily. Please consult your local Resource Center to determine when you can next meet with a volunteer lawyer.

Interactive Telephone Service

Another valuable Civil Court service is the interactive telephone service, which provides legal and procedural information. It is available at (646) 386-5700 for general Civil and Small Claims matters or (646) 386-5750 for Housing matters. The service is also provided 24 hours and is available in Spanish.

[ www.NYCOURTS.gov ]