Family Court Resources.

Find trusted organizations and services for families and teens navigating New York City Family Court. Categories are organized by need — jump to the one that fits your situation.

Court Basics & Filing

New York State Unified Court System

New York City Family Court

Official overview of what NYC Family Court handles and links to case types, locations, forms, and services.

Free

Visit official page

New York State Unified Court System

Contact the NYC Family Court / Filing Options

Official addresses for all five NYC Family Courts and current options for filing petitions and evidence.

Free (filing fees vary)

Find courthouse / filing options

New York State Unified Court System

Kings County Family Court

Official Brooklyn courthouse page with address, hours, phone, accessibility information, and local services.

Free

View Brooklyn court details

New York State Unified Court System

Guardianship

Official overview of Family Court guardianship for children under 21.

Free

Read guardianship overview

Legal Information & Representation

Family Legal Care

Get Help with Family Court

Free Family Court information, guided tools, referrals, and possible consultation support for parents and caregivers.

Free

Get Family Court help

Family Legal Care

Helpline

English/Spanish Family Court helpline offering legal information, referrals, and screening for deeper case support.

Free

Call the helpline

Family Legal Care

Legal Information and Tech Hubs

In-court hubs provide Family Court information and referrals; Tech Hubs offer devices and help with virtual hearings, forms, and online court systems.

Free

View hub locations and hours

Custody, Visitation & Support

NYS Unified Court System

Custody & Visitation Orders

Plain-language official overview of custody and visitation orders in New York.

Free

Read custody and visitation overview

NYS Unified Court System

Child and/or Spousal Support

Official NYC Family Court overview of child and spousal support proceedings.

Free

Read support overview

NYS Unified Court System

Paternity

Official overview of establishing legal paternity in New York Family Court.

Free

Read information

Mediation & Parenting

New York Peace Institute

Family & Parenting Mediation

Free, confidential mediation for co-parenting, parent-teen, couples, and other family conflicts in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Free

Request mediation

NYS Unified Court System

Parent Education and Awareness Program

Court-sponsored education about how parental separation and conflict affect children and how parents can support their adjustment.

Varies by provider

Find a certified program

Safety & Domestic Violence

NYS Unified Court System

Domestic Violence (Family Offense)

Official overview of when Family Court hears family-offense petitions and what an order of protection is.

Free

Read Family Offense information

NYC Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence

NYC Family Justice Centers

Five borough Family Justice Centers provide free, confidential, walk-in and remote support for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence.

Free

Find a Family Justice Center

NYC Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence

NYC HOPE Services Directory

Searchable NYC directory of community and government services for people affected by domestic and gender-based violence.

Free directory

Search NYC HOPE

Safe Horizon

NYC HOPE Hotline and Chat

24/7 confidential hotline and online chat for people affected by domestic violence, crime, abuse, or sexual assault.

Free

Call or chat now

Safe Horizon

Criminal and Civil Justice Programs

Court-based advocacy and legal/support programs for survivors navigating Family Court, Criminal Court, police, housing, benefits, and safety needs.

Free

Explore court support

Sanctuary for Families

Get Help

Legal, shelter, counseling, and economic-empowerment support for survivors of domestic violence, trafficking, and related abuse.

Free

Get help

NYS Office of Children and Family Services / ACS

Child Abuse & Maltreatment Hotline

24/7 State Central Register hotline for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect in New York.

Free

Call the hotline

Children, Teens & Foster Care

The Legal Aid Society

Children in Family Court & Foster Care

Legal Aid represents children in NYC Family Court and supports youth in foster care through interdisciplinary teams.

No charge to child

Find the Juvenile Rights office

The Legal Aid Society

Juvenile Justice

Public-defense information and legal support pathways for NYC youth involved in juvenile delinquency or related proceedings.

Free

Get youth legal help

The Children's Law Center

Child Representation

CLC represents children in custody, visitation, domestic-violence, and child-protective proceedings.

No charge to child

Learn about child representation

Lawyers For Children

Legal and Social Work Services

Free legal and social-work services for children and young adults in foster care, youth justice, high-conflict custody, and other Family Court proceedings.

Free

Learn about services

NYC Administration for Children's Services

Family Assessment Program (FAP)

FAP helps NYC families address parent-child conflict and adolescent behavior concerns through assessment, support, and referrals.

Free

Contact FAP

NYC Department of Youth and Community Development

Runaway and Homeless Youth Drop-In Centers

Borough-based drop-in centers offer food, clothing, showers, laundry, case management, and referrals to crisis shelter and other services.

Free

Find a youth drop-in center

Housing, Benefits & Basic Needs

NYC Administration for Children's Services

Family Support Line

ACS Support Line connects families to free resources such as food, clothing, diapers, substance-use treatment, and mental-health counseling.

Free

Call the Family Support Line

NYC Administration for Children's Services

Family Enrichment Centers

Neighborhood Family Enrichment Centers offer free activities, connections, and practical supports in a voluntary, welcoming setting.

Free

Find a Family Enrichment Center

ACCESS NYC

Eligibility Screener

Anonymous ten-step screener suggests public benefit programs to consider and explains how to apply.

Free

Start the eligibility screener

NYC Department of Homeless Services / Homebase

Homebase

Homebase helps eligible NYC residents address a housing crisis before entering shelter.

Free

Find a Homebase office

Forms & Self-Help

NYS Unified Court System

Family Court Help Centers

Court Help Centers provide forms, procedural information, referrals, and location-specific services for people without lawyers.

Free

Find a Help Center

NYS Unified Court System

Family Court Forms

Official Family Court forms organized by case type, including custody/visitation, support, paternity, family offense, and PINS matters.

Free

View official forms

NYS Unified Court System

Family Court DIY Form Programs

Free guided programs ask questions and generate certain Family Court papers for printing and filing.

Free

Start a DIY form

Court Access & Accommodations

NYS Unified Court System

Language Help / Court Interpreters

New York courts provide free interpreters for court users who need language assistance.

Free

Request language help

NYS Unified Court System

Reasonable ADA Accommodations

Court users, witnesses, attorneys, jurors, and spectators may request reasonable ADA accommodations.

Free

Request accommodation

NYS Unified Court System / Safe Horizon

Children's Centers in the Courts

Children's Centers provide courthouse-based care at participating court locations; the official directory lists locations and contacts.

Free

Find a Children's Center