New York City's court system divides work in a way that confuses almost everyone at first. The Criminal Court of the City of New York, at 100 Centre Street in Manhattan, handles misdemeanors and lesser offenses — crimes punishable by up to a year — and it is where almost every case begins with arraignment. Felonies move up to the Supreme Court, Criminal Term, in the same Centre Street complex. Confusingly for newcomers, the Supreme Court is not the state's highest court: it is the trial court, and its civil side sits at 60 Centre Street on Foley Square, handling higher-value civil claims, divorce, separation and annulment. Each borough runs its own criminal court, so the paper you were given decides which building you attend.
Criminal Law in New York
Almost every New York criminal case begins with an arraignment within a day or so of arrest, where the charge is read, counsel is appointed if you cannot afford one, and release conditions are set. That right to an appointed lawyer is constitutional and it is exercised by asking — say so at the first appearance and complete the financial affidavit. Before then, the rules that protect you are simple and easily lost: say clearly that you are invoking your right to remain silent and want an attorney, then stop talking, including on jail phones, which are recorded and routinely used in evidence.
New York law governs the offense and the sentence, and the overwhelming majority of cases end in a negotiated plea rather than a trial — which means the evidence should be reviewed before any offer is accepted, and the consequences beyond the sentence understood first, including immigration status, employment and firearms rights. Free legal information any hour on 1-844-690-0555, and a $195 one-hour consultation with a licensed US attorney bookable on the call. Speak to a lawyer about a criminal law matter → Family Law in New York
Family matters in New York are decided under New York law, and the standard for children is their best interests rather than fairness between the parents. Custody splits into legal custody — who decides about school, medicine and religion — and physical custody, meaning where the child actually lives, and the two are often divided differently. Child support runs on a state guideline formula, and support and visitation are legally separate: neither can be withheld to force the other.
Most courts push hard toward agreement, and many require mediation before a contested hearing. The parent who arrives with a specific written parenting plan — school year, holidays, exchanges, decision-making — is consistently more persuasive than the one who arrives with a grievance. Where there is domestic violence, protective orders can be obtained urgently, often the same day, and court advocates frequently help with the paperwork free of charge. Speak to a lawyer about a family law matter → Employment Law in New York
New York, like almost every state, is an at-will employment jurisdiction: you can be fired for a good reason, a bad reason or no reason at all — just not an illegal one. The exceptions that matter are discrimination, retaliation for complaining or reporting, breach of a written contract, and public policy violations such as being fired for jury service or refusing to break the law.
The deadlines are the trap. A discrimination charge must generally reach the EEOC within 180 calendar days, extended to 300 where a state or local agency enforces a parallel law — and that clock does not pause while you pursue an internal grievance, a union grievance, arbitration or mediation. Unpaid wages and overtime run on a separate two-year federal limit, three if the violation was willful. If you have been fired or shorted, diarise the deadline before anything else. Speak to a lawyer about a employment law matter → Civil Disputes in New York
Money disputes in New York start in the New York courts, and the first question is which one: small claims for lower-value matters, with a dollar ceiling set by New York and procedure designed for people without lawyers, or the general civil courts above that. Send a written demand letter first — it settles a real share of disputes and reads as reasonableness later — and check the statute of limitations before you file, because it varies by state and by claim type.
Name the defendant precisely: a business's registered legal name and agent for service, not the name over the door, because a judgment against an entity that does not legally exist is worth nothing. And be honest with yourself about collection before you spend anything — winning produces a judgment, not money, and enforcement is a separate exercise. Free legal information any hour on 1-844-690-0555. Speak to a lawyer about a civil disputes matter → New York Courts
Where your matter is heard depends on the offence and its seriousness. The courts that serve New York are:
New York City Criminal Court (100 Centre Street)
100 Centre Street, lower Manhattan, near Worth Street. Misdemeanors and lesser offenses, and the arraignment court where the overwhelming majority of New York criminal cases start. Each borough has its own criminal court — check your paperwork.
Supreme Court, New York County — Civil Term (60 Centre Street)
60 Centre Street, on Foley Square. The trial court for higher-value civil claims and for divorce, separation and annulment. Despite the name, it is not the state's highest court.
Supreme Court, Criminal Term (100 Centre Street)
Felony prosecutions in Manhattan, in the Centre Street complex, once a case moves up from the Criminal Court.
What to Do Right Now
1
Read the citation, bond paperwork, summons or notice for the building and the date — New York splits its courts by function, and arriving at the wrong one costs you the day.
2
Write down what happened while it is fresh — dates, times, what was said, who was there — and keep every document in one place.
3
Do not guess a plea, contact the other party, or discuss the matter on social media. The decisions made in the first days are the hardest to undo.
4
Call 1-844-690-0555 free, any hour, for plain-English legal information about your situation — and if you want a lawyer, book a $195 one-hour consultation with a licensed US attorney right on the call.
New York Legal Questions
Which court will my New York matter be in?
Your citation, summons, bond paperwork or notice names the building. New York's courts are split by seriousness and by borough, and the two buildings that matter most sit a block apart on Centre Street. Read the document rather than assuming — the buildings serve different functions and are not always close together.
Can I get free legal help in New York?
Yes, several kinds. Legal Hotline's information line is free, 24/7, on 1-844-690-0555. If you are charged with a crime and cannot afford a lawyer, the court appoints one — ask at your first appearance. For civil problems, legal aid organizations funded by the Legal Services Corporation help people who meet income requirements, and many courts run self-help centers. Your state and local bar association operates a lawyer referral service for a first consultation.
Do you have lawyers in New York?
Legal Hotline is not a law firm. The free line gives legal information about your situation any hour, and if you want advice from an attorney, a $195 one-hour consultation with a licensed US attorney can be booked right on the call. Are you a New York law firm? Attorneys can register through our For Lawyers page.