§ 113 Establishment of court

Every county in New York has a family court. This isn't a separate or optional system. It's a required part of the state's overall court system.

Because family court exists in every county, people can bring family-related legal matters close to where they live. This includes things like child custody, child support, divorce-related family issues, and cases involving abuse or neglect. Each county's family court follows the same set of state laws, so the process works the same way no matter where you live in New York.