FAMILY COURT PETITION INFORMATION
You may file an action (termed a petition) at Probation Family Court Intake in order to gain entry to Family Court. Such petitions may concern Family Offense, Custody, Visitation, Paternity and various support issues. This unit also provides counseling and referral services in these areas.
When filing for Custody or Visitation, the child must currently be in Suffolk County or have been a resident of Suffolk County within the last six months in the case of out of state custody actions. (There are exceptions but only in emergency situations.)
Any petitions for support for minor children where the other party (respondent) resides out of state must be filed at the Child Support Enforcement Bureau (1-888-208-4485).
To file a viable petition you should have sufficient cause of action, specifics as to the relief you are seeking, an address for the other party and two copies of any pertinent Court Orders.
Intake services are located in two offices. For residents of Western Suffolk Probation Intake is located in the Cohalan Court Complex, 400 Carleton Avenue, Central Islip (631) 853-4246. For East End residents, Intake is located in the Riverhead County Center (631) 852-1939.
You may choose to file your own Family Court petition. To do so, go to the website listed below, choose the petition type you want to file, print the blank document, and complete it by hand. You must then file the completed document with the General Clerk of the Family Court.
http://www.courts.state.ny.us/forms/familycourt/index.shtml -->
Click below for a copy of the Family Court petition face sheet:
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