Family Court – FAQs

Unlike most proceedings in the New York Supreme Court (which handles divorce actions), Family Court proceedings are not presumptively open to the public. Under New York law:

• The general public does not have the right to attend most Family Court hearings.
• The court may limit attendance to parties, counsel, witnesses, and individuals with a direct interest in the case.
• Judges have discretion to exclude individuals when necessary to protect privacy or the best interests of a child.

In most cases, Family Court files are confidential. That means:

• Court pleadings are not available for public inspection.
• Members of the public cannot search Family Court case files the way they might search civil Supreme Court filings.
• Online docket access is limited.

Access is typically restricted to:

• The parties
• Attorneys of record
• Law Guardians / Attorneys for the Child
• Court personnel
• Authorized agencies (e.g., child protective services)

Media access is limited. A judge may allow a reporter to attend a proceeding, but only if:

• The court determines that attendance will not harm the child’s welfare;
• The proceeding does not involve sensitive abuse or neglect allegations; and
• The court finds no statutory prohibition applies.

In many cases, records are already confidential by statute. However, additional sealing may be requested in limited circumstances, particularly where:

• There are safety concerns,
• Sensitive mental health information is involved,
• Or there is a risk of reputational harm to a child.

For more information, please see our blog post titled Are Family Court Records Public in New York State?

Out-of-state family court orders are not meaningless once you cross state lines. Whether you are dealing with a divorce judgment, custody arrangement, support obligation, or order of protection, New York courts have clear mechanisms to recognize and enforce those orders. However, the rules governing how and where enforcement or modification occurs can be complex.

For more information, please see our blog post titled Are Out-of-State Orders Enforceable in New York State?