Family courts in Schuyler, Seneca, and Yates counties have joined 16 other counties across New York State in offering electronic filing (e-filing) services for certain family court matters, County Attorney Steven Getman announced.
As of January 21, legal filings for custody and visitation, guardianship, parentage, paternity, and support cases can now be submitted electronically through the New York State Courts Electronic Filing system (NYSCEF). The service aims to modernize court processes and increase access to justice, particularly in rural communities.
“NYSCEF service permits the filing of legal papers by electronic means with the courts in certain case types,” Getman explained. “In an e-filed case, the court and all parties to the action are provided with the same documents as they would receive in a non e-filed case. The difference is that the documents are provided electronically. This avoids the costs and time associated with printing, copying and mailing documents.”
Getman emphasized the program’s importance for rural communities in the Finger Lakes, where travel can be challenging or expensive. The system also offers training for those without attorneys and resources for lawyers and their staff to ensure seamless use of the e-filing platform.
The expansion builds on New York State’s success with e-filing in Supreme Court, Surrogate’s Court, appellate courts, and federal courts. The New York State Bar Association, which has studied e-filing for over a decade, reported in 2023 on the system’s cost and efficiency benefits.
As Schuyler County Attorney, Getman oversees civil legal actions for county government, including family court matters such as child support enforcement and child abuse cases.
For a full list of counties offering family court e-filing, visit the New York State Unified Court System’s website.
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