Help Center
The Help Center is committed to serving the public in a professional manner and providing the highest level of quality service to fulfill the public's right to fair and efficient justice.
To provide the public with access to a judicial forum for the just and timely resolution of disputes, this office provides assistance to court users including the ability to file various court papers, petitions, and/or motions.
If you don't have a lawyer, you can come to the courthouse in person to file court papers, petitions, and motions.
Interested in filing online? Learn more about NYSCEF E-Filing!
Our court staff can:
- Give you the correct court forms
- Accept and file your completed papers
- Answer basic questions about court procedures
Our court staff cannot:
- Fill out forms for you
- Tell you what papers you should file
- Give you legal advice
If you need legal help, there are free resources available, such as the Family Court Volunteer Attorney Program (VAP) and non-profit organizations, such as Family Legal Care. They can answer your questions and give guidance about your case. However, they do not represent you in court.
Volunteer Attorney Program
The New York City Family Court Volunteer Attorney Program provides brief legal consultations to unrepresented individuals who come to Family Court on matters involving Support, Paternity, Custody, Visitation, Guardianship, and Orders of Protection.
ATTORNEYS DO NOT REPRESENT CLIENTS IN COURT
To schedule a free 45-minute consultation, please complete the Family Court Volunteer Attorney Program form or call 347-401-9460, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9:00AM - 5:00PM. If a volunteer attorney is not available to take your call, please leave a message and someone will contact you as soon as possible.
Family Legal Care
Family Legal Care is a NYC-based nonprofit that provides free legal information, support, and resources to unrepresented parents and caregivers navigating Family Court, with a focus on issues like custody, visitation, guardianship, orders of protection, parentage, and child support.
A Family Legal Care Legal Information Advisor is located on the 1st floor of our courthouse on Fridays from 9:00am - 1:00pm.
To learn more about Family Legal Care, please visit their website, or call 212-343-1122.
Court Forms
Official court forms are available:
- In person at our courthouse
- On our website
We also offer an online Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Forms Program for the following petition types:
- Custody/Visitation Enforcement Petition Program
Ask the Family Court for help if the custody or visitation order is not being followed.
- Custody/Visitation Modification Petition
If there is a "change in circumstances" and the custody or visitation order has to be changed file this petition.
- Paternity Petition
File to ask the Family Court for an order that states who the child's legal biological father is.
- Petición de Paternidad
(Paternity Petition in Spanish) Esta orden declara al padre biológico del menor.
- Support Petition
Ask the Family Court for a support order for a child under 21, a spouse, or an adult dependent who is between 21 and 25 and developmentally disabled. You can use this program if you don't already have a support order from a court.
- Support Modification and Enforcement/Violation Petition
Ask the Family Court to change an existing child or spousal support order because of a "change in circumstances." You can also use this program to ask the Court to enforce the support order if the other parent is not following it.
The DIY petition program asks you simple questions. Based on your answers, it creates a court petition for you.
DIY kiosks are available at our courthouse. Using a kiosk may save you time because you can prepare your papers without waiting in line to speak with court staff.
Common Case Types
We have helpful information on our website about the most common cases filed by people without lawyers, including:
Please visit the page for your case type to learn more.
Contact
For assistance by phone, please call 646-386-5340.