The Mineola Family Court — formally the Nassau County Family Court — handles custody, child support, visitation, paternity, orders of protection, adoption, guardianship, foster care, juvenile delinquency, and child abuse and neglect cases for Nassau County.1New York Courts. Nassau County Family Court As of June 2025, the courthouse sits at 101 County Seat Drive, Mineola, NY 11501, inside the new Family and Matrimonial Court Complex.2New York State Unified Court System. 10th Judicial District – Nassau One thing it does not do: grant divorces. The general phone number is 516-493-3900.
What the Court Handles
Under the New York Constitution, Family Court has exclusive original jurisdiction over custody and visitation disputes, child support, paternity, abuse and neglect proceedings, juvenile delinquency, termination of parental rights, family offense petitions, and proceedings to determine whether a minor needs court supervision.3New York State Senate. New York Family Court Act 115 – Jurisdiction of Family Court Adoption and guardianship petitions are also filed here.
In custody matters, the judge weighs factors like each household’s stability, each parent’s involvement, and the child’s own preferences when old enough to express them. In paternity cases, the court issues an Order of Filiation, which legally establishes someone as the father and triggers support obligations.4FindLaw. New York Family Court Act FCT 542 – Order of Filiation The guiding standard across almost every decision is the best interests of the child.
Why You Can’t Get a Divorce Here
Family Court cannot grant a divorce, divide marital property, or award spousal maintenance tied to a divorce. Only the New York Supreme Court can do that.5New York Courts. Divorce Frequently Asked Questions Family Court can still handle custody and support that arise outside of a divorce, or that the Supreme Court refers down to it.6Justia. New York Constitution Article VI Section 13 – Family Court Organization and Jurisdiction So if you and the other parent were never married, Mineola Family Court is the right place to resolve custody and support. If you’re divorcing, those issues start in Supreme Court.
Filing a Petition
Every petition opens with basic identifying information: full legal names, current addresses, and dates of birth for you, the other party, and any children. The court uses this information to confirm jurisdiction over everyone named, so accuracy matters.
What you need to bring depends on the type of case:
- Child support filings: at least two years of tax returns and your four most recent pay stubs, so the magistrate can calculate income under the state formula.
- Custody petitions: the children’s birth certificates and any prior court orders governing custody.
- Modification requests: the original order you want changed, plus documentation of what has changed since.
- Orders of protection: a detailed written description of the incidents that make you fear for your safety, including dates and locations.
Official petition forms are available at the Clerk’s Office in the courthouse or through the New York State Unified Court System website. Fill out every field, including the specific relief you’re asking the judge to grant. A clear, factual statement carries more weight than a vague or emotional one. Most forms must be signed in front of a notary public or court clerk who can administer an oath. Submit the completed petition to the Clerk’s Office at 101 County Seat Drive. The clerk assigns a docket number you’ll use on every future filing.
Serving the Other Party
Once the petition is filed, you’re responsible for making sure the other party receives a copy along with a summons that lists the court date. New York requires that someone else handle the delivery. The server must be at least 18 and cannot be a party to the case.7New York Courts. How Legal Papers Are Delivered (Service) A friend, a relative, or a professional process server can do it. Professional servers typically charge between $45 and $100.
After delivery, the server completes a notarized affidavit of service, which you then file with the court. If the other party is actively avoiding service, the court can authorize alternatives like posting or publication, but you’ll need to show you tried standard delivery first.
What Happens at Your First Appearance
Check in with the court officer assigned to your courtroom. Your case will be called by docket number or by the parties’ names. Not every matter goes before a judge: Support Magistrates preside over financial matters like child support, while judges handle custody, visitation, and orders of protection.8FindLaw. New York Family Court Act FCT 439 – Support Magistrates
At the initial appearance, the court can issue temporary orders for custody, support, or protection that stay in effect until the case is fully resolved. If issues are contested, the judge or magistrate sets a schedule for exchanging evidence and future hearings. Simple cases wrap up in a few appearances. A contested custody fight can stretch for months.
Don’t miss your date. A petitioner who doesn’t show up risks dismissal. A respondent who fails to appear risks a default judgment, meaning the judge can grant everything the petitioner asked for without hearing the other side.
Virtual Appearances
Nassau County Family Court offers virtual appearances for proceedings designated as electronic. Your summons or notice will say whether yours is in-person or electronic. Virtual hearings run on Microsoft Teams. Log in or dial the provided number 15 minutes before your scheduled time; you’ll wait in a virtual lobby until your case is called.9New York Courts. Nassau Family Court Virtual Appearance Information If the court doesn’t already have your contact information, submit the Electronic Appearance Contact Information form by mail to 101 County Seat Drive, Mineola, NY 11501, or by email to nasfamily@nycourts.gov before your court date.
Visiting the Courthouse
The courthouse is at 101 County Seat Drive, Mineola, NY 11501, a new location as of June 2025.1New York Courts. Nassau County Family Court If your paperwork or saved directions point you to 1200 Old Country Road in Westbury, ignore it. That building has permanently closed.2New York State Unified Court System. 10th Judicial District – Nassau The Mineola LIRR station is nearby and several bus routes serve the area. Public parking is available but fills quickly on busy mornings, so arrive early.
Everyone entering the building passes through security with metal detectors and bag scanners. Leave sharp objects, cameras, and anything that could look like a weapon at home or in your car. Build in 15 to 20 extra minutes to clear the checkpoint.
Interpreters and Disability Accommodations
If you don’t speak English fluently, the court provides interpreters at no cost for all participants, including parties and witnesses.10New York Courts. Language Access and Court Interpreters Sign language interpreters are available for deaf and hard-of-hearing participants. Contact the court before your date so one can be scheduled.
Getting a Lawyer You Can’t Afford
If you can’t afford a private attorney, you may be entitled to one at no cost in certain Family Court matters. Assigned counsel is available in custody and visitation cases, child protective proceedings, termination of parental rights, paternity, family offense cases, and contempt proceedings for violating a prior order. Eligibility is income-based, measured against federal poverty guidelines. At your first appearance, tell the judge you need a lawyer and cannot afford one. The judge will ask about your finances and either assign counsel on the spot or direct you to complete a financial affidavit.
Children in custody, abuse, neglect, and other proceedings get their own lawyer too. The court appoints an Attorney for the Child, sometimes still called a law guardian, to represent the minor as a legal advocate and communicate the child’s wishes to the judge. New York treats this appointment as a due-process requirement, not an optional courtesy.11New York State Senate. New York Family Court Act 241 – Findings and Purpose The court pays for this attorney at no cost to the family.
How Child Support Is Calculated
New York uses a formula under the Child Support Standards Act. The court adds both parents’ incomes together and applies a percentage based on the number of children:
- One child: 17% of combined parental income
- Two children: 25%
- Three children: 29%
- Four children: 31%
- Five or more children: at least 35%
These percentages apply automatically to combined parental income up to $193,000.12New York State Office of Child Support Services. Child Support Standards Chart Above that cap, the judge can apply the same percentages or set a different amount based on each parent’s resources, the child’s health needs, and educational expenses.13FindLaw. New York Family Court Act FCT 413 – Parents Duty to Support Child The noncustodial parent’s share is then calculated proportionally based on their share of the combined income. People often misread the formula as 17% of one parent’s paycheck. It works from the combined total first.
Orders of Protection
Anyone with a family-type relationship to the person they fear can file a family offense petition seeking an order of protection. The court can require the respondent to stay away from your home, school, or workplace, stop all contact and harassment, and surrender firearms. A standard order lasts up to two years. If the judge finds aggravating circumstances on the record, or if the behavior violates an existing protective order, the court can extend it to five years.14New York State Senate. New York Family Court Act FCT 842 – Order of Protection
An order issued in New York is enforceable in every other state. Federal law requires courts and police nationwide to honor it as if their own state had issued it, and you do not need to register the order in the other state for it to be valid.15Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 2265 – Full Faith and Credit Given to Protection Orders
Who Can See Your Case File
Family Court records are not open to the general public. Under FCA Section 166, these records are shielded from indiscriminate public inspection.16New York Courts. Confidential Records A neighbor, employer, or stranger generally cannot walk in and read your file. Access is limited to the parties, their attorneys, and certain authorized agencies. The protection matters most in abuse, neglect, and juvenile delinquency cases, where exposure could harm a child.
Appealing a Decision
If you believe the judge made a legal error, you can appeal to the Appellate Division. The window is short: you must file and serve a notice of appeal within 30 days after being served with the order, 30 days from receiving the order in court, or 35 days from the date the clerk mails it to you, whichever comes first.17New York State Senate. New York Civil Practice Law and Rules 5513 – Time to Take Appeal, Cross-Appeal or Move for Permission to Appeal Miss that window and you lose the right to appeal.
An appeal is not a second trial. You cannot introduce new evidence or call new witnesses. The appellate court reviews only whether the trial judge applied the law correctly, made adequate factual findings on the record, and followed proper procedures. If you’re thinking about an appeal, talk to a lawyer right after the order is issued. Thirty days passes quickly.