Family Court E-Filing service expands to Schuyler, Seneca and Yates Counties

More family courts in the Finger Lakes now offer electronic filing (e-filing) for new custody/visitation, guardianship, parentage, paternity and support matters.

According to Schuyler County Attorney Steven Getman, as of Tuesday (January 21) Schuyler, Seneca and Yates counties join sixteen other counties across New York State in offering the service, known as NYS Courts Electronic Filing (“NYSCEF”).

“NYSCEF service permits the filing of legal papers by electronic means with the courts in certain case types,” Getman said. “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.”

“Expanded e-filing helps lawyers provide better service to their clients. Using technology to submit paperwork saves time, energy and taxpayer dollars,” Getman said. “This is especially helpful for rural communities, such as those in the Finger Lakes, where litigants may find travel difficult or costly and where there may not be enough lawyers,” Getman said.

New York State courts were already using e-filing statewide for many other types of cases, Getman noted. Courts having already instituted e-filing include Supreme Court, Surrogate’s Court and the New York State appellate courts. The federal courts also have their own electronic filing system, available to lawyers and the public, he said.

The court system offers training on how to use the e-filing system for people who do not have an attorney and are representing themselves, Getman said. Training also is available to attorneys and their staff members, he noted.

The New York State Bar Association studied the impact and benefits of e-filing for more than a decade with the most recent report adopted in 2023, which detailed the benefits of an expanded, statewide e-filing system.

As County Attorney, Getman is the chief legal advisor for county government and responsible for the prosecution and defense of civil actions brought by and against the county. In that role, his office represents the Department of Social Services and Probation Department in various family court prosecutions, including child abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency and child support enforcement.

For more information on New York State family court e-filing, including a complete list of counties participating, click here.