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By: Nicholas D. D’Angelo, Esq.

New York State Courts have given the go-ahead for family court petitions to be filed starting on May 25th, 2020. However, there is a catch; no more in-person filings (at least for now).

According to New York Courts, attorneys will be able to electronically file petitions for support, custody, family offenses and enforcement online. However, pro se litigants will not have access to the online filing feature.

Rather, pro se litigants will have to mail in their petitions to family court directly. It is unclear whether New York State Courts will extend the capability to file online for these individuals as the filing system being used is exclusively for licensed attorneys.

Family Court will slowly move to allow in-person court proceedings as New York State goes through the phases outlined by Governor Cuomo. For now, it is important for litigants to know that petitions can be filed for the matters listed above (custody, support, family offense, etc.).

Nicholas D. D’Angelo, Esq., is an attorney practicing in Niagara and Erie County with a concentration in family law, matrimonial law, criminal defense, and general civil litigation. He has continued to take on new clients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with offices in Niagara Falls and Lockport.