New York Child Custody and Parenting Time Resources: Walk In Prepared

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Custody in New York is decided in the Supreme Court. Most states split the question in two: who makes the big decisions for the child, and what the day to day schedule looks like. Both usually end up written into one order or parenting plan the judge approves.

The wording differs from state to state, so read the official New York documents below rather than assuming a term you heard elsewhere means the same thing here. Courts decide these cases on the best interests of the child, and the official forms are written to collect the facts a judge needs.

Official New York custody resources

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New York family law forms (official index) (New York judicial branch): The official statewide collection of New York family law forms. When a direct document link stops working, this index is where the current version lives. https://www.nycourts.gov/forms/familycourt

New York court self-help resources (New York courts self-help): Official self-help information for people handling their own New York family case, including instructions and plain-language guides. https://www.nycourts.gov/courthelp

New York mediation and dispute resolution (New York judicial branch): Official information on mediation and other ways to settle a New York family case without a trial. https://www.nycourts.gov/ip/adr

NYSCEF (NY State Unified Court System): NYSCEF is New York's e-filing system. If you do not have a lawyer you are never required to e-file, but you can choose to use NYSCEF for divorce cases in counties where it is offered, and Family Court e-filing is available only in some counties and case types. https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/HomePage

New York rules of procedure (New York judicial branch): The court rules that control deadlines, service, and how family cases move in New York. https://www.nycourts.gov/rules

Verified official New York custody documents

These official documents cover asking for custody, setting a schedule, and putting a parenting plan in front of the judge.

Petition for Custody / Visitation (GF-17), form GF-17 (Child Custody / Parenting), official document: https://www.nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/forms/familycourt/pdfs/GF-17.pdf

Official link data for New York was last verified June 2026. Report anything outdated through our contact page and we will re-check the official source.

Frequently asked questions

Which court hears family cases in New York?

Family cases in New York are heard in the Supreme Court. In New York, a DIVORCE is filed in the 'Supreme Court' - which is the TRIAL court, not the highest court. Both the Supreme Court and Family Court sit in each county.

Does New York favor one parent over the other?

Custody decisions are made on the best interests of the child, not on which parent asks first. Judges look at things like stability, each parent's involvement, the child's needs, and whether a parent supports the child's relationship with the other parent. Read the official New York forms and self-help material for the factors this state asks about.

Do we have to go to mediation first?

Many courts send custody disputes to mediation before a hearing, and some require it. The official New York mediation page linked above explains what this state offers and when it applies.