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Courts

Court Facility Building - 1 West Main Street, Batavia, New York 14020

Court forms are available on the New York State Unified Court System's web page at www.courts.state.ny.us.

The Mission of the New York State Unified Court System

The mission of the New York State Unified Court System is to promote the rule of law and to serve the public by providing just and timely resolution of all matters before the courts.

In so doing, the Judiciary provides a forum for the peaceful, fair and prompt resolution of civil claims, family disputes, criminal charges, charges of juvenile delinquency, disputes between citizens and their government, and challenges to government actions; supervises the administration of estates of decedents, considers adoption petitions and presides over matters involving the dissolution of marriages; provides legal protection for children, mentally ill persons, and others entitled by law to the special protection of the law; and regulates the admission of lawyers to the bar and their conduct.

The following goals have been established to accomplish this mission:

To treat every person with fairness and courtesy.
To administer the courts in a manner that promotes respect for the law and public confidence in the fairness and integrity of the judicial process.
To resolve cases with finality and reasonable dispatch.
To support case management in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
To promote public understanding of, and access to, the courts.

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has broad authority over all categories of cases, including civil and criminal matters. The court generally handles civil matters seeking monetary damages greater than $25,000. It also hears cases where a party seeks to enjoin or stop certain actions by another party. The Supreme Court is the only court with the authority to address matters related to the termination of a marriage, including separation, annulment and divorce. While the Supreme Court has authority to hear criminal matters involving felonies (offenses punishable by more than one year in prison), generally outside New York City these matters are heard in the County Court.

Phone: (585) 201-5728

Fax: (585) 344-8517

County Court

The County Court is located in each county outside New York City. It is authorized to handle the prosecution of all crimes committed within the county. It has exclusive authority to handle trials in felony matters and shares authority with the local city, and town and village courts to handle trials in misdemeanor cases (offenses punishable by less than one year in prison) and other minor offenses and violations. The County Court also has limited authority to hear civil cases involving monetary awards of $25,000 or less.

Phone: (585) 201-5731

Fax (585) 344-8517

City Court

The City Court exists in every city in the State and has authority to hear both criminal and civil matters. On the criminal side, the City Court is responsible for all Penal Law and City Code misdemeanors and minor offenses committed within the court's regional boundaries. It also handles arraignments and preliminary proceedings in felony matters. In addition, the City Court is responsible for Vehicle and Traffic Law misdemeanors. On the civil side, the City Court hears civil actions seeking monetary awards in amounts up to $15,000, small claims proceedings involving claims up to $3,000 and disputed parking tickets. The court also handles landlord/tenant matters.

Phone: (585) 201-5764

Fax: (585) 344-8556

Family Court

The Family Court hears and determines most legal issues involving children and families. There is a Family Court within each county of the State which is authorized to hear matters relating to: custody and visitation; monetary support for children, spouses, and ex-spouses; adoption; paternity; abuse and neglect of children; violence among family members; children accused of committing crimes; and children in need of supervision. The Family Court does not handle proceedings involving separation, annulment or divorce. These matters must be brought in the Supreme Court, which has exclusive authority over such issues.

Phone: (585) 201-5717

Fax number (585) 371-3956

Forms are available at the Unified Court System's website

Surrogate Court

The Surrogate's Court exists in every county in the State and handles all matters, relating to wills, estates and property of deceased persons. Surrogate's Court also handles guardianships of an infant, under the age of 18 or of a mentally disabled or incapacitated adult.

Phone: (585) 201-5733

Fax number: (585) 344-8517

Surrogate Court now accepts credit cards. For an application for authorization click here(PDF, 8KB)

Commissioners of Jurors

The Commissioners of Jurors' Offices are responsible for supplying the trial courts with prospective jurors and handling related functions. If you would like to volunteer for jury service, or if you wish additional information about jury service, please contact the Commissioner of Jurors office. They may be reached by telephone, on the internet, or by personally visiting the office.

Genesee County Commissioner of Jurors Phone: (585) 201-5719

For statewide jury information call: 1-800-695-8767

www.wnyjury.com OR www.nyjuror.gov

Law Libraries

The Genesee County Court Facility located at 1 West Main Street provides a public access Law Library which is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The library is staffed on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This is not a lending library and books must not be removed from the Library.

Phone: (585)344-2550 ext. 2224

Children's Center

The children's center is available to provide quality child care for litigants' children while litigants attend to court business.

Phone: (585) 344-2550 ext. 2439