U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Northern District of New York

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of New York encompasses 32 counties across the state. Unlike districts with a single filing hub, the Northern District maintains three staffed chambers and clerk’s filing offices in Albany, Syracuse, and Utica. Additional hearing locations are maintained in Binghamton, Plattsburgh, and Watertown.

The Clerk’s headquarters is located in the Albany office, overseen by the Clerk of Court, Cynthia A. Platt.

By Alexander Hernandez, J.D., Professor, and Author of Consumer Bankruptcy Law (Routledge).

General Court Contact & Locations

The Clerk’s Office is your primary resource for case administration and filing. As a reminder, court staff is strictly prohibited from providing legal advice.

Office Role	Contact Information
Albany Clerk’s Office (Main)	(518) 257-1661
Syracuse Clerk’s Office	(315) 295-1600
Utica Clerk’s Office	(315) 793-8101
CM/ECF Help Desk	1-833-771-4945
McVCIS (Voice Case Info)	1-866-222-8029
Public Office Hours	Mon – Fri, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

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Primary Court Locations & Filing Offices

Cases are generally assigned to the office serving the county where the debtor resides.

• Albany (Headquarters): James T. Foley U.S. Courthouse, 445 Broadway, Suite 330, Albany, NY 12207.
• Syracuse: James M. Hanley U.S. Courthouse & Federal Building, 100 South Clinton Street, Syracuse, NY 13261.
• Utica: Alexander Pirnie U.S. Courthouse & Federal Building, 10 Broad Street, Utica, NY 13501.

Bankruptcy Judges For the Northern District of New York

The Northern District of New York currently features three active judges.

Judge	Chambers Location
Hon. Wendy A. Kinsella, Chief Judge	Syracuse
Hon. Robert E. Littlefield, Jr.	Albany
Hon. Patrick G. Radel	Utica

Divisions and Counties

The 32 counties of the Northern District are divided among the three primary filing offices. While hearings may occasionally be scheduled at satellite locations (Binghamton, Plattsburgh, Watertown), your initial filing is governed by your county of residence.

Albany Division

County	County	County	County
Albany	Clinton	Columbia	Essex
Franklin	Fulton	Greene	Hamilton
Montgomery	Otsego	Rensselaer	Saratoga
Schenectady	Schoharie	Ulster	Warren
Washington

Syracuse Division

County	County	County	County
Cayuga	Cortland	Jefferson	Onondaga
Oswego	St. Lawrence	Tompkins	Watertown

Utica Division

County	County	County	County
Broome	Chenango	Delaware	Herkimer
Lewis	Madison	Oneida	Tioga

Professor’s Important Note

As a final reminder, local rules and procedures can vary significantly between districts, even within the same state. The Northern District of New York has specific Local Rules and General Orders that govern everything from loss mitigation to electronic filing. Always confirm your specific requirements on the official NYNB website for the most current and accurate information.

If you are looking for other districts of New York, you can find that information via this link.

Educational Resources

• For Institutions: Colleges and universities can purchase or request examination copies of my textbook directly from Routledge Publishing.
• For Students & Practitioners: Single print and digital copies are available via Amazon Books.
• Video Lectures: Stream comprehensive legal breakdowns and video explanations on the Prof. Hernandez YouTube Channel.

Bankruptcy Court & Consumer Resources

Explore a deep dive for consumer guides and court directories to navigate your legal options:

• A step-by-step master guide on Filing for Bankruptcy and Navigating the Petition.
• Access full directories for the Federal Bankruptcy Court System and Trustee Contact Information.
• Protect your assets by reviewing your specific State Bankruptcy Exemptions or compare them against the Federal Bankruptcy Exemptions.
• Prepare for your court date with the updated brief on the 341 Meeting of Creditors Rules and Procedures.

Please note that the information on this site does not constitute legal advice and should be considered for informational purposes only.