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+1 646-241-8602
Manhattan, New York City, Westchester, Long Island and beyond
+1 646-241-8602
Not sure which court handles your case? As a knowledgeable Family Court Jurisdiction Lawyer in Westchester, Collins Law Group, PLLC gets you in the right court, fast.
Tell us what you are facing. Aoife Collins reviews every inquiry personally.
Filing in the wrong court can cost you months and money. You deserve a lawyer who knows exactly where your case belongs and gets it started the right way.
Collins Law Group, PLLC is a New York family law firm serving clients across Westchester County, from White Plains and Yonkers to New Rochelle, Scarsdale, and Rye. The firm is led by founder and principal attorney Aoife Collins, who brings 20 years of experience and more than 1,000 family law matters resolved.
Jurisdiction is the rulebook for where and how a case is heard. It decides which court has power over your matter, which state controls a custody fight, and whether a New York judge can rule on an out-of-state spouse. As your Family Court Jurisdiction Lawyer in Westchester, Aoife sorts these questions early, so your case starts on solid ground and stays there.
Her background helps here. A former corporate attorney with a Federal Clerkship, Aoife handles complex, cross-state, and international matters that trip up many lawyers. She knows the rules that move a case between Family Court and Supreme Court, and the laws that decide which state hears a custody or support case.
Jurisdiction problems come in many forms. As a full-service Family Court Jurisdiction Lawyer in Westchester, Collins Law Group handles every question about which court can hear your case and where to file.
Knowing which court fits your matter, so you file in the right place.
Choosing the correct county and courthouse for your case.
Deciding which state has power over a custody case.
Moving a case or contesting a court's power to hear it.
Handling family issues in Supreme Court as part of a divorce.
Setting and enforcing support when parents live in different states.
Handling family issues in Supreme Court as part of a divorce.
Managing Hague matters and cases that reach beyond the United States.
The right lawyer saves you from costly missteps. Choosing a Family Court Jurisdiction Lawyer in Westchester who understands complex court rules keeps your case on track from day one. Collins Law Group pairs two decades of experience, including cross-state and international work, with personal, one-on-one attention, so your case is filed right and stays in steady, skilled hands.
Seasoned judgment on where and how a case belongs.
Real experience with UCCJEA, UIFSA, and Hague matters.
Your case is never passed off. You get the same trusted attorney throughout.
Start with clear answers and a right-court plan, at no cost.
A clear process prevents costly errors. Your Family Court Jurisdiction Lawyer in Westchester follows four simple steps, so your case begins in the right court and moves forward with confidence.
We learn your facts and where everyone lives.
We pinpoint the right court, county, and state for your case.
We file in the correct court or challenge a wrong one.
We move your custody, support, or divorce matter toward a result.
Clear answers help you act with confidence. Below, a Family Court Jurisdiction Lawyer in Westchester answers the questions clients ask most about which court hears their case and where to file in New York.
No. Only the Supreme Court can grant a divorce in New York. Family Court cannot end a marriage. If you want a divorce, your case goes to the Supreme Court, which can also rule on custody, support, and property as part of that case.
Family Court hears custody and visitation, child support, spousal support (when not part of a divorce), paternity, family offense (domestic violence) petitions, guardianship, adoption, and child protection matters. It offers a faster, lower-cost path for families who are not seeking a divorce.
Most Westchester family cases are filed in Westchester Family Court in White Plains. Custody cases are usually filed where the child lives, and support or family offense cases where a party lives. A lawyer confirms the correct county and court for you.
Usually the child’s “home state” under a law called the UCCJEA. That is the state where the child lived with a parent for at least six months in a row before the case began. New York courts follow this rule to avoid conflicting custody orders across states.
Yes. Cases can be transferred, and the Supreme Court can take over family issues once a divorce is filed. A court’s power can also be challenged if a case was filed in the wrong place. A lawyer files the right motion to move or keep your case.
Yes. Collins Law Group offers a free, confidential consultation for all family law and jurisdiction questions. Call (646) 241-8602 or request one online. Attorney Aoife Collins reviews your facts, finds the right court, and explains your options with no obligation.
Take the first step today. Call (646) 241-8602 or request your free, confidential consultation, and let Collins Law Group, PLLC start your case the right way.