Location

77 W. Eagle Street
Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone: (716) 845-1816
Email address: CHC8JD@nycourts.gov

The 8th District Court Help Center
is located on the first floor of
the Erie County Law Library.

Directions

8th District Supreme Court Law Library
77 W. Eagle Street
Buffalo, NY 14202

• Route 190 North to Exit 7 - Church Street. Left on Franklin Street. Left onto W. Eagle Street.
  
• Route 190 South, Exit 8 - Niagara Street. Right on Niagara Street to
  Niagara Square. Continue around Niagara Square to third street
  (Niagara Street) - right onto Franklin Street. Left onto W. Eagle Street.
  
• NY-33 West to Goodell Street. Cross Main Street. Goodell becomes
  Edward. Continue on Edward to Delaware Avenue. Make a left on
  Delaware Avenue to Niagara Square - around the circle to fourth
  street (Niagara Street) - right onto Franklin Street. Left onto W. Eagle Street.

Metro Bus/Rail information

Hours of Operation

The Court Help Center is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday. The Center is closed on all state holidays.

What is the Court Help Center?

The Eighth Judicial District Court Help Center employs staff to provide free legal and procedural information to the public. The Court Help Center is neutral and cannot give legal advice or tell you the best way to handle your case.

Help Center Staff can provide information:

• on how to commence cases
• on how to answer cases
• on how to collect judgments
• on filling out forms
• on court procedure
• on referrals to appropriate agencies
• on public access computer use
• on how to find your destination court

Finding and using New York State’s courts raises challenges for
many. The unusual complexity of the court system’s structure,
the extraordinary number of trial and appellate courts, the scope
and detail of the law, court procedures and court forms, the
insufficient supply of lawyers, and the state’s vast size represent significant potential difficulties.

An essential obligation of any democracy is the provision of a
system of civil justice that affords access to all of its citizens irrespective of income or any other potential barriers. The Eighth
Judicial District, through Administrative Judge Honorable Paula Feroleto, is committed to fulfilling this obligation by opening the
Court Help Center, a one stop venue to enhance the public’s confidence in the legal system.

“Equal access to justice means courts that work for everyone.”

Services

Court Help Center On Site Services:

• Staff trained to help litigants navigate their way through the
courts
• Simplified sample legal forms
• Uncontested divorce packets
• Information about available legal resources
• Procedures explained
• Public access computer use
• Name changes procedure and forms
• Assist with "Do It Yourself" (DIY) forms
• Post divorce forms and processes

Brochures

Self Represented Forms

Links

http://www.nycourts.gov/courthelp/index.html
Forms and resources - this website for self-represented litigants
includes a frequently asked questions section and provides official
court forms.

http://www.eriebar.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=6
Erie County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service

http://www.nls.org/
Neighborhood Legal services

http://www.legalaidbuffalo.org/
Legal Aid Bureau

http://www.lsed.org/
Legal Services for the Elderly & Disabled

http://assigned.org/
Assigned Counsel Program/Aid to Indigent Prisoners

http://www.eriemha.org/
Mental Health Association of Erie County/Client Advocacy Service

http://www.erie.gov/health/mentalhealth/
aot_directory.asp
Directory of Legal Services Mental Hygiene

http://www.iibuff.org/
International Institute of Buffalo

http://www.erie.gov/depts/socialservices/ocse.asp
Erie County Department Social Services - Office of
Child Support Enforcement

http://www.courts.state.ny.us/8jd/NYSCLawLib/
NYSSCBuff.htm
NYS Supreme Court Library in Buffalo

www.lawhelp.org/ny
LawHelp - this web page is designed to assist low-income
New Yorkers find legal resources and contains self-help
information on a variety of topics.

http://www.health.state.ny.us/vital_records/
This website provides directions for obtaining birth certificates,
death certificates, marriage and divorce records, as well as genealogy information.

http://www.nysenate.gov/legislation-open-senate
This website contains New York State Laws and pending bills and
legislation in the Senate.

http://assembly.state.ny.us/
This website contains New York State Laws and pending bills and
legislation in the Assembly.