How do i find my docket number for child support

Family Court Overview | NYCOURTS.GOV

Help Center | Child Protective / Permanency Planning Office | Courtroom Activity Office (Hearings & Orders) | Docket Number System

Overview

The Family Court of the State of New York was established to take action in the lives of children, parents and spouses. The court has a wide range of powers to fit the particular needs of the people who come before it.

The Family Court Act gives the Family Court power to hear certain types of cases. As each case is filed in the court, it is assigned its own identifying number, called a docket number. The docket number begins with a letter which tells the type of case filed. For example, a paternity case is given a docket number beginning with the letter "P".

In New York City, each of the five boroughs has its own Family Court. Generally, a case may be filed without fee in the county where one of the parties lives.

Most Family Court hearings (trials) are heard by judges. Support magistrates hear support and paternity cases. There are no juries in Family Court: the judge or support magistrate conducts a hearing and decides the case.

The Family Court is generally open to the public, in addition to those persons who are directly involved with a particular case. However, the judge or support magistrate presiding over each case has the authority to exclude the public from the courtroom depending upon the nature of the case or the privacy interests of the parties.

Persons who have been scheduled to appear in court are expected to arrive at the courthouse on time. If a party (a person who has a direct involvement with a case) is not present when the case is called into the courtroom, the judge or support magistrate may proceed and decide the case in that person's absence, or may dismiss it. Parties should understand that although they arrive early, they may be required to spend a lengthy period of time at the courthouse.

Each Family Court building has a child waiting area, where children may wait while a case is being heard in court. Indeed, in the Family courthouses in Bronx, Kings, New York and Queens counties, there are supervised Children's Centers which provide free drop in child care for parents who must use the court.

After a case has been completed and a final decision has been made, each party has the right to appeal the judge's decision, asking a higher court to review the evidence and any testimony presented at the Family Court hearing. (Decisions made by support magistrates are appealed first by filing an objection to the decision; a Family Court judge reviews the support magistrates' decision and order.) An appeal may result in a decision being affirmed (left as it is), or modified (changed somewhat), or reversed (changed entirely).

The court records of Family Court proceedings are not open to public inspection. However, the court may permit access to records where appropriate. Persons directly involved with a case who wish to obtain a copy of a court order may request a copy at the Record Room of the courthouse where the case was heard; proof of the person's identity is required.

Each Family Court in New York City is open all day from Monday through Friday, except on holidays. At lunchtime, the parts (hearing rooms) within each courthouse close for a lunch recess, but certain areas of each building remain open to the public. Specific information on hours may be obtained by calling the courthouse.

Additionally, each Family Court in New York City is comprised of three operational divisions, which are responsible for managing day to day operations. These divisions provide specific services to our court users as described below.

Help Center

The goal of the Help Center is to make it easier for the public to use the Family Court. Help Center staff provide legal information and other assistance--- but not legal advice --- to court users who do not have lawyers.

Help Center staff assist with the filing of certain types of petitions in NYC Family Court. These Family Court petitions include:

• Family Offense (Order of Protection)
• Visitation and Custody of Children
• Guardianship
• Child or Spousal Support
• Paternity
• Interstate Support (UIFSA)

The Help Center can also provide information on other court services, such as the Custody/Visitation Mediation Program and the Children's Center as well as other resources.

Child Protective/ Permanency Planning Office

The Permanency Planning office was created to manage and monitor the filing of Child Protective cases filed in the New York City Family Courts. Permanency Planning offices also monitor the Juvenile Delinquency and Persons In Need of Supervision cases filed in N.Y.C. Family Courts.

Additional functions include:

• Child Protective Proceedings
• Guide for parents for a child in foster care
• Foster Care Placement
• Family Treatment Court
• Termination of parental rights
• Adoptions
• Juvenile Delinquency/Designated felonies
• Persons In Need of Supervision

Hearings& Orders

The Courtroom Activity office manages the staffing needs of our trial court parts. It also monitors the scheduling of our courtroom's trial calendars and the completion of court orders.

Additional functions include:

• Court Reporter/Transcription Services
• Interpreting Services
• Appeals
• Subpoenaed records

Docket Number System

The NYC Family Court docket number system begins with a letter which tells the type of case filed:

• A: Adoption
• B: Permanent termination of parental rights
• D: Juvenile delinquency
• E: Designated Felony
• F: Child or spousal support
• G: Guardianship
• K: Foster Care Review
• L: Voluntary Foster Care Approval
• M: Marriage Application>
• NN and NA: Neglect / Abuse
• O: Family offense (order of protection)
• P: Paternity
• S: PINS (Person in Need of Supervision)
• U: Interstate support
• V: Visitation and custody of children

How to search court dockets

eAccess

The Details of How to search court dockets

What you need for How to search court dockets

You can access public electronic Trial Court case docket information in person or online. You can access electronic case information for SJC and Appeals Court cases here. 

• To find judicial calendars, see view court calendars
• To get a copy of your divorce record, please see Get a copy of your divorce record
• To find old court records, please see Accessing Court Archives. 

If you want to access information in person, you'll need a public terminal computer, which you can find at any Massachusetts courthouse or County Registry of Deeds sites. 

If you want to access information at home, you'll need a supported browser:

• Microsoft Edge
• Firefox
• Chrome

How to view How to search court dockets

State Courthouses

Trial Court case information is available at designated public access computers located in District, Boston Municipal, Probate and Family, Superior, Housing, and Land Courts and County Registry of Deeds sites.

The public access PCs run the eAccess application and allow searches by name, case type, and case number.  The search results display case information, including party, event, docket, and disposition details.  However, you can't view case documents. Actual case documents are available for public inspection in the Clerk, Register, and Recorder's Offices.
 

Internet

Certain Trial Court case information is also available to the public online at www.masscourts.org. You don't need a log in. To access this information:

1. Go to www.masscourts.org and click the button that says "Click here to search public records." You'll then select the court department and court division you're searching in. The court location will automatically fill for you. 
2. After you complete these fields, search tabs for name, case type, case number, and ticket/citation # will appear. You can choose which way you'd like to search for your case. Most criminal cases can only be searched by docket number. If you're searching by docket number, make sure you enter the number exactly how it appears. Please note that the ticket/citation # tab can only be used for Boston Municipal Court and District Court cases. For instructions on how to use each search tab, see Instructions for Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access.
3. Once you hit search, you will see a list of cases. Use the navigation bar at the bottom of the page to navigate through pages of results. Click the column headers to sort the search results. Each retrieved record represents a party in a case, therefore case numbers may appear multiple times in the search results. Please note that the system displays a maximum of 100 records for each search, so you'll need to narrow your search criteria if you can’t see all of the records in the selected range.
4. To see more information about a case, click the desired case's hyperlink. You'll see public information about the case, including party, event, docket, and disposition details. However, you can't view case documents. Actual case documents are available for public inspection from the information counters of the courthouses. If you'd like to print a case, click the print icon in the upper-right corner.
5. If you'd like to find other cases, use the menu items at the top of the page. Choose:
   1. Results to return to the list of retrieved cases
   2. Search to change search criteria, choose a different search method, or to search for cases in a different court
   3. Home to return to the welcome page once you're finished searching

More info for How to search court dockets

Please email [email protected] with any questions. 

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How to find out child support debt by last name - check child support debt online

There are several ways to see the amount of child support debt. To do this, you can contact the MFC or come to an appointment with a bailiff. In addition, you can find out the debt by last name via the Internet. To do this, you need to use the main website of the FSSP, the State Services portal or the State Payment service.

State payment

State payment online service offers the easiest and fastest way to find out the amount of alimony debt from yourself or another individual. The service does not require registration. To start checking:

1. Go to the State Payments website;
2. Enter the last name, first name and patronymic of the debtor, his date of birth and region of residence. Click "Check";

3. Next, enter the code from the picture and wait for the verification results.

The service will check the FSSP database and provide information about the amount owed by a particular person.

With the help of "Gosoplata" you can not only find out, but also immediately pay the debt using any bank card.

The service has the following benefits:

• Instant payment of legal, tax and other debts;
• Simple and intuitive interface;
• Convenient mobile application;
• Payment information is automatically transferred to databases;
• All transmitted data is securely encrypted;
• Payment receipt is sent to the payer's e-mail immediately after the payment is made.

FSSP website

To find out the debt for alimony through the official website of the FSSP, you need:

1. Go to the site at the link: fssp.gov.ru;
2. In the site menu, select the "Service" section, the "Database of Enforcement Proceedings" category;

3. Next, you need to fill in all the fields marked with an asterisk (*):
   1. Territorial bodies;
   2. Last name, first name;
4. Click the "Find" button to start checking. Next, the system will ask you to enter the code from the picture to confirm that the request is made by a person and not a robot.

If several debtors have the same first and last name, you need to enter the middle name and date of birth for a more accurate search.

As a result of the search, you will see a table where all the necessary information will be presented:

• amount of debt and enforcement fee;
• production number;
• court order number;
• territorial subdivision of the FSSP;
• surname and phone numbers of the bailiff.

On the main website of the bailiff service, you can not only find out the debt for alimony, but also pay it. If necessary, you can pay the debt online through the State Services portal or generate a receipt and pay it through any bank.

Public services

To find out the amount of alimony arrears through the Gosuslug portal, you must first register.

Attention! The search for accruals is carried out according to the data from your personal account.

To see if you have a legal debt, log into your personal account and follow these steps:

1. Select the "Services" section, then the "Authorities" subsection and the "FSSP of Russia" category;

2. Next, open the "Territorial authorities" tab and select the name of the desired department from the list;

3. Select the electronic service “Providing information…”;

4. Next, select the service "Law Debt";

5. Click "Get Service";

You can pay your debt in several ways:

• With any bank card;
• Through Google Pay or Samsung Pay;
• Using an electronic wallet WebMoney, Qiwi, Yandex.Money;
• From a mobile phone account.

You can also generate a receipt and pay it at the bank or at the post office.

How quickly will an entry in the FSSP database be deleted?

If you have fully or partially paid the child support debt, the entry in the Database will be deleted or changed no earlier than 3-7 working days from the date of payment. This is due to the fact that first the funds go to the account of the bailiff unit, and then to the account of the claimant. It takes at least 3 days to process and transfer funds. If the workload is high, it can take up to 7 days to delete or change an entry.

If you have any additional questions, you can personally contact the territorial division of the FSSP. You can make an appointment for a personal appointment through the official website of the bailiff service - fssp.gov.ru.

Kontselidze Ednary Emzarievich Legal Expert

- The Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus

Issues related to the recovery of alimony are of great public interest and are always in the area of ​​close attention of the judiciary. Conflict situations related to non-fulfillment of maintenance obligations are resolved in court. Consideration by the court of disputes on the recovery of alimony guarantees their quick and correct resolution, ensuring the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of children. The relevance of the topic raised is also due to the rather high number of disputes related to the recovery of alimony considered by the courts.

June 12 this year The program “Actual Microphone” of the First National Channel of the Belarusian Radio was devoted to this topic with the participation of Vera Borisovna Krugova, Judge of the Judicial Collegium for Civil Cases of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus .

The program aroused great interest among the listeners, and we additionally publish an interview of the judge on such a socially important topic.

In the photo: Judge of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus Vera Borisovna Krugova

- Vera Borisovna, tell us what is the procedure established by law when applying to the court for the recovery of alimony, can a citizen independently draw up an application without seeking legal advice?

- Alimony for minor children can be collected in order order and order action proceedings . Recovery of alimony in the order of writ proceedings is carried out without holding a court session and calling the parties. By order, alimony can be recovered if this is not related to the establishment of paternity (maternity) or the need to involve third parties to participate in the case. In this case, the judge issues a ruling on a court order, which is also an executive document.

The statement of claim for the recovery of alimony is submitted in writing with a copy of the application to be sent to the defendant and must comply with the requirements of Art. Art. 109, 243 Code of Civil Procedure.

By the way, on the information stands of the courts and on our Internet portal there are samples of the most frequently filed statements of claim, including those on the recovery of alimony for a child in the order of action proceedings and on the recovery of alimony in the order of writ proceedings.

- Do I need to pay a state fee when applying to the court with an application for the recovery of alimony?

- No, you don't. In accordance with the requirements of the Tax Code, plaintiffs, applicants are exempted from paying the state fee when applying to the court with statements of claim and applications for initiating writ proceedings for the recovery of alimony. In this case, the obligation to pay the subsequent state duty rests with the defendant.

- As you know, one of the results of the judicial and legal reform was the creation of a unified system of bodies for the enforcement of court decisions and other executive documents. Where should I go to claim child support? Where does the competence of the court end and the bailiffs begin?

- Proceedings on the recovery of alimony ends with the issuance of a court decision (decision on the recovery of alimony, ruling on a court order on the recovery of alimony).

In cases of writ proceedings on the recovery of alimony, if the debtor does not object to the court within the prescribed period, the judge issues to the exactor a ruling on the court order indicating the date of its entry into force for presenting it for execution. Business of action proceedings at the request of the recoverer, on the basis of a court decision on the recovery of alimony, a writ of execution is issued.

At the stage of issuing a court order to the recoverer, the competence of the court ends, and after presenting it for execution to the enforcement authorities, the competence of bailiffs begins.

- What if, in the opinion of the alimony collector, the bailiff is inactive or does not take all measures to collect alimony from the debtor?

- I believe that before appealing against the inaction of a bailiff, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the materials of the enforcement proceedings. It is likely that the bailiff is doing everything possible for this. But if the materials of the enforcement proceedings confirm the inaction of the bailiff, then the alimony collector has the right to appeal against the inaction of the bailiff in the manner prescribed by law. As for the procedure for appealing against the inaction of a bailiff directly to the court, it is regulated by Article 360-3 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

- Can the parties voluntarily settle this issue without going to court, in addition to the court order for the recovery of alimony?

- Of course, it is possible. Alimony may be paid on a voluntary basis by a person obliged to pay alimony, or by deduction from wages at the place of work or at the place of receipt of a pension, allowance, stipend, or other payments. An employer paying wages, an organization that pays pensions, allowances, scholarships and makes other payments, are obliged, on the basis of a written application of the person paying alimony , to monthly withhold from his salary, pension, allowance, scholarship and other payments amounts of money of established amounts, taking into account the restrictions provided for by the legislative acts of the Republic of Belarus, and pay (transfer to an account, transfer according to mail at the expense of the person paying the alimony) no later than three days from the date of payment of wages, pensions, allowances, stipends and other payments to the person specified in the application.

- What if the child support payer changes jobs?

- When a citizen, from whom alimony is withheld upon application, moves to another job or, for example, changes his place of residence, alimony is withheld on the basis of a newly submitted application. At the same time, alimony cannot be withheld on the basis of an application, if the total amount to be recovered on the basis of an application and executive documents exceeds 50 percent of the earnings and (or) other income due to the debtor, from which alimony is withheld, and also, if the debtor is recovered by a court order alimony for children from another mother, with the exception of the case of payment of alimony for minor children.

So, if alimony is paid for minor children, then on the basis of an application, alimony may be withheld and if the total amount of deductions on the basis of such an application and executive documents exceeds 50 percent of the earnings and (or) other income of the person obliged to pay alimony, but not more than 70 percent. That is, if the employee pays child support for minor children, which must be indicated in the application, the amount of alimony withheld can be more than 50 percent of earnings, but not more than 70 percent.

At the same time, it should be noted that for able-bodied parents, the minimum amount of alimony per month should be at least 50 percent for one child, 75 percent for two children, 100 percent for three or more children of the subsistence minimum budget on average for per capita.

- Vera Borisovna, please explain how long it takes for alimony to be collected and is it possible to collect alimony for the past time? At the same time, alimony may also be collected for the past , but not more than for the previous three years, if the court establishes that before applying to the court, measures were taken to obtain funds for maintenance, but due to the evasion of the person obliged pay alimony, from their payment, alimony was not received.