Parents seeking child support in New York City face significantly longer court delays than those in the rest of the state, according to a report from the nonprofit Her Justice. Between 2019 and 2025, it took an average of 10.5 months to secure a support order in the five boroughs, compared to 3.5 months elsewhere in New York. The data highlights a systemic backlog that often leaves custodial parents struggling to cover basic expenses while waiting for judicial resolution.
Humu Yansané, a single mother who filed for support in Brooklyn in 2016, described the three-year process as a period of intense financial and emotional strain. During the years her case remained pending, Yansané faced an eviction notice and relied on support from her retired parents. “They just want you in, and they want you out,” Yansané said of the court experience. “There’s very little humanity in there.”
The Impact of Court Delays on Families
Child support filings represent nearly 30% of New York’s total family court volume, with approximately 130,000 petitions recorded last year. The process requires parents to submit extensive documentation, including tax returns, pay stubs, and proof of public benefits. According to Rachel Braunstein, senior director of policy at Her Justice, a lack of clarity regarding these requirements often contributes to case delays.
The financial consequences for families are immediate. When cases languish for months or years, parents may lose income due to missed work or struggle to afford childcare while waiting for court dates. Braunstein noted that the high volume of cases, coupled with lingering backlogs caused by the pandemic, has made timely resolutions increasingly difficult to achieve for families across the city.
Did You Know?
Child support cases made up nearly 30% of all filings in New York’s family court system last year, totaling approximately 130,000 individual petitions.
Recent Trends in Processing Times
Despite long-standing systemic issues, data from Her Justice indicates that wait times for support orders have begun to decrease across all five boroughs between 2022 and 2025. Brooklyn, which previously recorded the longest delays, saw a reduction in average wait times from over 18 months in 2022 to less than 4.5 months in 2025.
This improvement may be linked to a triage program implemented in Brooklyn family court designed to help families navigate the legal requirements more efficiently. While the Office of Court Administration did not provide details on the program’s operations, Her Justice has also drafted state-level legislation intended to expedite the process for parents who wish to settle cases without undergoing lengthy litigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does it take longer to get child support in New York City than in the rest of the state?
According to Her Justice, the high volume of cases in the city, combined with lingering backlogs from the pandemic, contributes to the extended wait times compared to the rest of the state.
What factors can help speed up the child support process?
Her Justice reports that a triage program in Brooklyn family court has helped families navigate the process more quickly. Additionally, pending state legislation aims to allow courts to expedite cases for parents who wish to avoid lengthy litigation.
What happens if a parent cannot afford to wait for a court order?
As seen in the case of Humu Yansané, parents may be forced to rely on public benefits, borrow money from family, or work out payment plans with landlords to avoid eviction while waiting for a final order of support.
How can court systems better balance the need for legal documentation with the urgent financial requirements of families?
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