Court-Based ADR Programs: New York City

Photo montage of courts from the five boroughs of New York City

 Criminal Court

The New York City Criminal Court may refer certain disputes to Community Dispute Resolution Centers for mediation services. These disputes may be between neighbors, acquaintances, family members, landlords and tenants, or consumers and merchants.
 

 Family Court

New York City Family Court offers free mediation services for parenting issues in custody and visitation cases.
 

 Civil Court

The Civil Court of the City of New York handles civil cases involving amounts up to $50,000 and other civil matters referred to it by the Supreme Court. It includes a small claims part for informal dispositions of matters not exceeding $10,000 and a housing part for landlord-tenant matters of unlimited amounts and housing code violations. NYC Civil Court has various ADR programs available:

Housing Court – Resolution Part

A Resolution Part is a courtroom where the landlord and tenant can discuss their differences before a Judge or Court Attorney to see if an agreement can be reached to settle the dispute.

Small Claims Mediation

Each borough has a Small Claims mediation program. For more information, you may reach out to the program coordinator at smclaimsmediation-nyc@nycourts.gov
 

 Supreme Court, Civil

NYC Supreme Civil consists of trial courts that see a variety of cases including commercial, matrimonial (divorce), and personal injury. Find out more about the ADR Programs in NYC Supreme courts: 

Bronx

Bronx Supreme Court, Civil
ADR Coordinator: Albert Levi, Esq. 
Email: BXSUPADR@nycourts.gov  

Bronx Supreme Court, Matrimonial
ADR Coordinator: Jessica Brenes, Esq.
Email: BXSUPADRMAT@nycourts.gov

Brooklyn

Kings County Supreme Court, Civil
ADR Coordinator: Kelechi Acholonu, Esq.
Email: ADR-2JD@nycourts.gov

Manhattan

New York County Supreme Court, Civil
ADR Coordinator: Dejana Perrone, Esq.
Email: ADR-1JD@nycourts.gov

Early Settlement Conferences
For certain trial-ready, post-Note-of-Issue civil cases, court staff meet with parties and counsel to try to help them reach a settlement.  The court staff person, who is neutral, may evaluate strengths and weaknesses of claims and offer an opinion about likely court outcomes.  The court staff person may be an experienced attorney or judge designated for this purpose.  The process often helps parties reach a settlement. Parties with questions should call 646-386-3689 or 646-386-3683.

Queens

Queens Supreme Court, Civil
ADR Coordinator: Linda Dardis, Esq.
Supreme Court, Civil Branch, Queens County
Queens County Courthouse
88-11 Sutphin Blvd., Room 511
Jamaica, NY 11435
Email: qscadr@nycourts.gov
Phone: (718) 298-1031

The Queens County Supreme Court Commercial Division ADR Program

The Queens County Matrimonial Mediation Program helps divorcing couples with cases in court come to agreements on parenting and economic matters.
 

Staten Island

Richmond County Supreme Court, Civil
ADR Coordinator: Irini N. Bekhit, Esq.
Email: ADR-13JD@nycourts.gov

 Surrogate’s Court

The Surrogate’s Courts hear cases involving the affairs of decedents, including the probate of wills and the administration of estates. Find out about the Bronx Surrogate’s ADR Program or the Queens Surrogate's Mediation Program. For Brooklyn, Manhattan, or Staten Island, please contact ADR-Surrogates-NYC@nycourts.gov