WHAT I LEARNED DURING MY PERSONAL APPEARANCE IN THE COVID-19 NASSAU COUNTY FAMILY COURT IN CONNECTION WITH A TEMPORARY ORDER OF PROTECTION PROCEEDING

Family & Divorce Lawyer Nassau County NY

H. Michael Stern, Esq., a New York matrimonial and family law attorney, and mediator
with over 34 years of experience recently made a personal appearance with a litigant seeking an Order of Protection in the Nassau County Family Court. These are my informal observations and suggestions for any party seeking an Order of Protection in Nassau Family Court during the pandemic lockdown, pending the re-opening of the Westbury, New York Courthouse

First things first, the Court is temporary situated in Mineola at 262 Old Country Road.
The entrance to the temporary Court is located on Old Country Road. I suggest that if time permits, download a copy of the Nassau Family Court case information sheet from the “Nassau County Family Court petitions and forms” web page. Fill it out beforehand to save time. When you arrive, you will encounter a Court Officer. If you inform the officer that the forms for an Order of Protection are needed, you will be provided with a blank form set. You may not be permitted inside the Courthouse while you prepare the paperwork, so bring a clipboard to write on. It makes sense to write down (or type) the details of the event or events which underlie the application for the Order of Protection and bring that document with you to Court. That document can be attached to the handwritten Petition and made a part of it. If not prepared in advance, you will have to write out the details of the event(s) within the Petition form following your arrival at the Courthouse. If you have questions concerning preparation of the Petition form, you can ask to speak to one of the Court Clerks for assistance.

Once the paperwork is completed and carefully reviewed, let the Court Officer at the
building entrance know that the forms can be filed with the Court. Then you will have to wait for your case to be called. Once your case is called, you will be brought into an empty courtroom. The Judge, Court Clerk and Court Officer will be teleconferencing the case. Basically, you and the escorting Court Officer will be the only persons present, the Court staff will be appearing remotely. It is the equivalent of a Zoom teleconference. You will be sworn in and questioned by the judge. A decision will be made then and there as to whether you qualify for an Order of Protection and the terms will be placed on the record by the Judge. Then you will be escorted out of the Courtroom and will have to wait outside the building for the written Temporary Order of Protection to be prepared. I suggest that the applicant wait for the Temporary Order of Protection in all instances. The Temporary Order of Protection will be served by an agent of the Court on the other party. I suggest that the raised seal official copy always be kept in reach of the applicant. If the police are summoned, it is important for the responding officers to have the raised seal official copy available for review, so they act accordingly.

I have been litigating Family Court cases for more than three decades. Recent results can be found within the TESTIMONIALS page on this website. Focusing on the needs of the client and the results sought have always been a hallmark of my Long Island practice over the past 34 years.

Feel free to contact me, H. Michael Stern, Esq. a Long Island divorce and family law attorney, if you are interested in discussing your matrimonial, divorce or family law matter at hmsternesq@gmail.com or by phone at 516-747-2290.

I am conducting telephone and virtual video consultations during the pandemic, by appointment. If you want to have a telephone or virtual video consultation, please call my office to arrange one. I am also available to conduct the consultation in person at my office.

My Long Island office is conveniently located adjacent to the Roosevelt Field Mall Ring Road at 666 Old Country Road, Suite 555, in Garden City, New York.

Written by, H. Michael Stern, Divorce Lawyer Nassau County NY

The above offers general information for educational purposes. It does not provide comprehensive or complete legal analysis. Any information that I provide should not be relied upon as legal advice or legal opinion on any particular facts or circumstances. Outcomes and results described do not mean or suggest that similar results or outcomes can or could be obtained in any other situation. Each legal matter should be considered to be factually unique and subject to varying results. The invitation to contact the author is not a solicitation to provide professional services, nor is it a statement of availability to perform legal services in any jurisdiction other than the State of New York. This is attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes.