When families are faced with important legal matters, they may find themselves in family court. Family court is a part of New York State’s Unified Court System, which also includes municipal court and criminal court. Family court handles a wide variety of legal matters that may regard entire families, children, and spouses. One common misconception about family court is that it handles divorce cases. However, Final Judgments of Divorce are handled in the Supreme Court of New York.
The matters that are handled in the family court of New York include the following:
- Child custody
- Child visitation
- Child support
- Spousal maintenance
- Paternity disputes
- Juvenile delinquency
- Adoption
- Foster care approval and review
- Child protective proceedings for abused or neglected children
- Persons in need of supervision (PINS)
What do I need to know about family court?
There are a few things to be aware of before heading into a family court case. First, there is no jury. A judge will be the one to decide on the matters at hand. In addition, the court records are not open to the public in an effort to protect privacy. In some cases, the court may have childcare available if a parent has to be present in court.
If you need an attorney to represent you in family court, contact our firm today.
Peter V. Mandi, Esq. is an experienced divorce and family law attorney located in Bohemia, New York. If you require strong and dedicated legal representation in Long Island, New York, contact Peter V. Mandi & Associates, Inc. today for a free consultation.
