Self-Represented Litigants
Family Court Resources and Assistance
Welcome to the Virtual Help Center
We are here to help you understand the most commonly used court forms and the filing process.
Our staff can guide you on how to fill out court forms and explain what documents are required. We can also help you understand court procedures and how to file your papers.
Please note:
- We cannot give legal advice
- We cannot tell you what to file
- We cannot tell you what to write on your forms
If you have not already done so, you may want to try our Do It Yourself (DIY) Petition Program. The DIY Petition Program is available for certain case types. It asks you a series of questions, and based on your answers, the program prepares the petition for you.
Once your petition is complete, you can:
- File it online using NYSCEF E-Filing, or
Print it, sign it, and file it in person at the courthouse
What court staff can do
- Explain court rules and procedures.
- Explain options available to litigants.
- Provide information about past rulings in a case.
- Provide cites (or copies) of statutes, court rules, and ordinances.
- Explain public court operations and roles of court personnel.
- Explain what court records are kept by the court and can be made available to the public.
- Provide public case information.
- Explain how and where to file a complaint concerning a judge, court employee, or private attorney.
- Provide general referrals to other offices or persons.
- Provide forms and instructions, and, in appropriate circumstances, enter the information provided by litigants on the form.
What court staff cannot do
- Suggest which of several available procedures a litigant should follow.
- Provide opinions as to which option to choose.
- Predict what the court will do.
- Provide an analysis or interpretation of statutes or ordinances based on the specific facts of a litigant’s case.
- Provide information derived from the decision-making process.
- Provide confidential case information.
- Provide access to court records that are sealed or made confidential by law.
- Provide opinions about the conduct of a judge, court employee, or private attorney.
- Provide referrals to other offices or persons based upon personal preferences.
- Provide or suggest the information that should be entered on the forms.