A New York jurisdiction lookup comes down to three questions: which court has authority over your type of dispute, which county is the correct place to file, and whether that court can exercise power over the person or business you’re suing. Get all three right and your case moves forward. Get any of them wrong and you risk delay, a forced transfer, or dismissal.
Match Your Case to the Right Court
New York divides its courts by subject matter and by the dollar amount at stake. The most common filing mistake is landing in a court that has no authority to hear the case at all.
Supreme Court
Despite the name, Supreme Court is New York’s general trial court, not its highest appellate court. It has unlimited monetary jurisdiction and hears the widest range of civil matters: breach of contract claims over $50,000, personal injury lawsuits, divorce proceedings, and injunctions. If your dispute doesn’t clearly fit another court’s category, Supreme Court is almost always where it goes.1New York State Senate. New York Code JUD – General Jurisdiction of Supreme Court
NYC Civil Court
For civil disputes within the five boroughs where the claim is $50,000 or less (not counting interest and costs), the New York City Civil Court has jurisdiction. It handles money claims, personal property recovery, and foreclosure of personal property liens. The cap was raised from $25,000 to $50,000, so older guides listing the lower figure are out of date.2New York State Senate. New York City Civil Court Act 202 – Money Actions and Actions Involving Chattels
NYC Civil Court also runs a small claims part for individuals seeking $10,000 or less. Filing is simpler, evidence rules are relaxed, and most people appear without a lawyer.3New York Courts. Starting a Case in NYC Small Claims Court
City, District, Town, and Village Courts
Outside the five boroughs, smaller courts handle lower-value disputes. District Courts in Nassau and Suffolk counties have a constitutional cap of $15,000 for money actions.4Justia. New York Constitution Article VI Section 16 – District Courts Jurisdiction City Courts elsewhere operate under the Uniform City Court Act and generally share a similar limit. Town and Village Justice Courts, governed by the Uniform Justice Court Act, handle civil claims up to $3,000.5New York State Unified Court System. A Guide to Small Claims and Commercial Small Claims in the New York State City, Town and Village Courts
Small claims parts exist in each of these courts too. The cap is $5,000 in City Courts and $3,000 in Town and Village Courts.5New York State Unified Court System. A Guide to Small Claims and Commercial Small Claims in the New York State City, Town and Village Courts You cannot split a larger claim into smaller pieces to fit under the limit. If your damages exceed the cap, you either file in a higher court or accept the lower amount.6New York State Department of Labor. Guidance for Small Claims or Civil Court Actions
Family Court
Family Court has exclusive jurisdiction over custody, child support, visitation, paternity, adoption, family offenses, and juvenile delinquency proceedings. It cannot grant divorces. When Supreme Court handles a divorce, it can refer support and custody issues to Family Court for resolution.7Justia. New York Constitution Article VI Section 13 – Family Court Organization Jurisdiction
Surrogate’s Court and Court of Claims
Surrogate’s Court sits in every county and handles probate of wills, estate administration, guardianship of property, and disputes over the assets of someone who died without a will. If a deceased person’s estate is at the center of your matter, that is where it belongs.
The Court of Claims is the only court that can hear monetary claims against New York State itself. If a state employee injured you or the state breached a contract with you, this court has jurisdiction. You cannot sue the state in Supreme Court or in any local court for money damages.
Pick the Right County
Choosing the correct court type is only half the answer. You also need the right county. Article 5 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules governs venue for most civil cases, and the rules are more specific than people expect.
The General Rule
For most lawsuits, venue is proper in the county where one of the parties lived when the case was filed, or in the county where a substantial part of the events took place. If no party lives in New York, the plaintiff can pick any county.8Justia. New York Civil Practice Law and Rules Article 5 – Venue
Real Property
Lawsuits involving land, including foreclosures, partition actions, and boundary disputes, must be filed in the county where the property physically sits. This rule overrides the residence-based general rule.8Justia. New York Civil Practice Law and Rules Article 5 – Venue
Consumer Credit Transactions
When a lender or creditor sues a consumer, the case must be filed where the consumer lives or where the transaction took place. The rule prevents creditors from forcing consumers to defend themselves in a distant county.8Justia. New York Civil Practice Law and Rules Article 5 – Venue
Fixing a Wrong Venue
If the other side files in the wrong county, you can move to change venue under CPLR 510. A court will grant the motion when the chosen county is simply wrong under the rules, when an impartial trial isn’t possible there, or when moving the case would better serve witness convenience and the interests of justice.9New York State Senate. New York Civil Practice Law and Rules 510 – Grounds for Change of Place of Trial Motions like that add weeks and cost money, which is why getting venue right the first time matters.
Suing Someone Who Lives Out of State
Even in the right court and the right county, a case goes nowhere if New York cannot exercise power over the defendant. For non-residents, CPLR 302 sets out when a New York court can reach them: transacting business in the state, committing a harmful act inside New York, committing an act outside the state that causes injury inside it (provided the person regularly does business or derives substantial revenue here), or owning real property in New York.10New York State Senate. New York Civil Practice Law and Rules 302 – Personal Jurisdiction by Acts of Non-Domiciliaries The contact must also satisfy federal due process, meaning the defendant had enough connection to New York that being brought into court here isn’t fundamentally unfair.
The distinctions get fine. A Texas resident who bought one product online from a New York seller probably isn’t reachable in a New York court. A Texas business that regularly ships into New York, maintains an office here, or signs a contract to provide services in the state almost certainly is. If your defendant lives out of state, work through this question before you file.
When the Case Belongs in Federal Court
Not every lawsuit filed in New York stays in state court. Federal courts have their own jurisdiction, and some cases must or can go there instead.
Two situations qualify. First, if the claim arises under a federal statute, the U.S. Constitution, or a federal treaty (Title VII employment discrimination, patent disputes, federal securities claims), the federal district court has jurisdiction. Second, if all plaintiffs and all defendants are citizens of different states and more than $75,000 is at stake, the case qualifies under diversity jurisdiction.11Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1332 – Diversity of Citizenship; Amount in Controversy; Costs
Even if you file in state court, the defendant can remove the case to federal court if either test is met. The deadline is 30 days after the defendant receives the initial complaint.12Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1446 – Procedure for Removal of Civil Actions Miss that window and the case stays in state court.
Finding the Right Courthouse Online
Once you know the court type and county, the New York State Unified Court System’s Find a Court page returns the physical address, phone number, and hours of the courthouse you need. Filter by county and case type using the dropdown menus; if you’re not sure which court fits, the case type filter narrows the options based on the kind of dispute you have.13New York Courts. Find a Court The main court system homepage also links to related resources.14New York State Unified Court System. New York State Unified Court System
After you identify the courthouse, call the clerk’s office before going in person. Clerks can confirm that the specific part of the court handles your case type and flag any special filing requirements. They won’t give legal advice, but they will tell you whether you’re in the right place.
Filing Fees and E-Filing Through NYSCEF
Opening a new civil case in Supreme Court costs $210 for the index number, essentially the registration fee that starts your case.15New York Courts. New York State Filing Fees Foreclosure actions carry an additional $190 surcharge. Small claims cases in NYC cost $15 for claims up to $1,000 and $20 for claims between $1,000 and $10,000.3New York Courts. Starting a Case in NYC Small Claims Court
Most Supreme Court civil cases now require electronic filing through NYSCEF, the state’s online filing system. Mandatory e-filing operates in 61 of New York’s 62 Supreme Court civil divisions, and Family Court e-filing has been implemented in 24 counties.16New York State Unified Court System. Report of the Chief Administrative Judge – Electronic Filing in the New York State Courts NYSCEF lets you file around the clock, serve papers electronically on other parties, and view everything submitted in your case. In courts where NYSCEF is mandatory, paper filing isn’t an option unless you obtain an exemption.
What to Have in Hand Before You Start
Pull a few things together before using any court finder tool or filing papers. You need the full addresses for every party, because residence controls venue. You need the location where the key events happened, since that’s an alternative venue and can decide which local court has jurisdiction. And you need the total dollar amount of your claim, because that figure decides which level of court can hear the case at all. A $4,000 unpaid debt goes to small claims. A $40,000 car accident claim in Brooklyn goes to NYC Civil Court. A $400,000 breach of contract goes to Supreme Court.
These details usually sit in contracts, lease agreements, police reports, or medical bills. Getting the numbers wrong can land you in a court with no authority over your dispute, and a court without jurisdiction has no choice but to dismiss.