New York City Family Court

Within the City of New York, Family Court consists of such number of judges as may be provided by law. The judges of the Family Court within the City of New York are residents of the city and are appointed by the Mayor of the City of New York for terms of ten years. The judges of the Family Court outside the City of New York, are chosen by the electors of the counties wherein they reside for terms of ten years.

The Family Court has jurisdiction over the following classes of actions and proceedings which shall be originated in such Family Court in the manner provided by law: (1) the protection, treatment, correction and commitment of those minors who are in need of the exercise of the authority of the court because of circumstances of neglect, delinquency or dependency, as the legislature may determine; (2) the custody of minors except for custody incidental to actions and proceedings for marital separation, divorce, annulment of marriage and dissolution of marriage; (3) the adoption of persons; (4) the support of dependents except for support incidental to actions and proceedings in this state for marital separation, divorce, annulment of marriage or dissolution of marriage; (5) the establishment of paternity; (6) proceedings for conciliation of spouses; and (7) as may be provided by law: the guardianship of the person of minors and, in conformity with the provisions of section seven of this article, crimes and offenses by or against minors or between spouses or between parent and child or between members of the same family or household.

The Family Court also has jurisdiction to determine, with the same powers possessed by the Supreme Court, the following matters when referred to the Family Court from the Supreme Court: habeas corpus proceedings for the determination of the custody of minors; and in actions and proceedings for marital separation, divorce, annulment of marriage and dissolution of marriage, applications to fix temporary or permanent support and custody, or applications to enforce judgments and orders of support and of custody, or applications to modify judgments and orders of support and of custody which may be granted only upon the showing to the Family Court that there has been a subsequent change of circumstances and that modification is required.