When Can a Non-Parent Get Custody in New York? Extraordinary Circumstances, Explained with Real-Life Scenarios
Note: This article is general information, not legal advice. Every custody/visitation case turns on its facts. If you need advice about your situation, talk to a lawyer.
The situation people don’t plan for: you’re raising a child who isn’t legally yoursThis is one of...
Relocation in New York Before Tropea: The Old ‘Exceptional Circumstances’ Test (Weiss & Daghir) and the Lessons Parents Still Need
Note: This article is general information, not legal advice. Every custody/visitation case turns on its facts. If you need advice about your situation, talk to a lawyer.
The move-away case starts as a life decision—and becomes a legal problem overnightRelocation cases rarely begin with...
Grandparent Visitation in New York After Troxel: When Courts Let Grandparents In—and When They Don’t
Note: This article is general information, not legal advice. Every custody/visitation case turns on its facts. If you need advice about your situation, talk to a lawyer.
A familiar story: “We used to see our grandchild every weekend—until we didn’t.”If you’re reading this, there’s...
CPS Emergency Removal in New York: What Nicholson v. Scoppetta Means When Domestic Violence Is in the Home
Note: This article is general information, not legal advice. Every custody/visitation case turns on its facts. If you need advice about your situation, talk to a lawyer.
The nightmare scenario: you call 911 for help—and then ACS shows upA lot of parents first learn...
New York Relocation Is Really a Visitation Case: Tropea and the Real-World Move
If you are thinking about moving (or trying to stop a move), this is the case that quietly controls the conversation in New York.
Quick takeaways
Tropea rejected rigid relocation rules. New York courts generally avoid automatic presumptions and instead...How New York Decides Custody: The ‘Best Interests’ Engine in Finlay and Eschbach
Not just for lawyers: how judges actually think about custody when both parents love the child.
Quick takeaways
New York's custody standard is 'best interests,' but judges translate that into stability, caregiving history, and a workable co-parenting structure.When the State Steps In: Due Process in Child Welfare Cases (Santosky and Lassiter)
A real-world guide for New York families facing ACS involvement (with Supreme Court guardrails).
Quick takeaways (read this first)
A child welfare case is not just a custody dispute between adults. It is the government stepping into a family.Who Counts as a Parent? What Stanley and Lehr Teach About Custody and Visitation
A practical guide for people who love a child, but are being told they are 'not the parent.'
Quick takeaways (for real life)
Custody and visitation are hard enough. They are harder when the other side says you do not...Best Interests Has Limits: Troxel, Bennett, and Palmore (NY Custody and Visitation)
A real-world custody and visitation guide for New York parents (and the people who love their kids).
Quick takeaways (plain English)
Courts talk about the child's best interests, but it is not a blank check to override a fit parent's...Article 78 for ACS Appeals in New York City
Disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal advice. Deadlines and procedures depend on the specific notice you received.
If ACS has accused you of abuse or neglect, or you received a Notice of Indication that can affect employment, licensing, or your family court case, start with our ACS...