
Can a Non-Parent Get Custody of a Child in New York?
In New York, custody disputes usually occur between parents—but what happens when someone who isn’t a biological or legal parent seeks custody of a child?
At Gilmer Law Firm, PLLC, located in Downtown Brooklyn, we often get calls from concerned relatives, former partners, or family friends asking:

Can a Parent Prevent the Other Parent from Moving Out of State With the Children?
At the Gilmer Law Firm, PLLC, many Brooklyn parents come to us with urgent questions about relocation and child custody, often asking:
“Can I stop the other parent from moving out of New York with our child?”
The answer is yes—but time is of the essence.

Vacating a Default Order in Brooklyn Family Court: Protecting Your Custody, Visitation, and Support Rights
At the Gilmer Law Firm, PLLC, based in Brooklyn, New York, we often represent parents who have missed Family Court hearings and are shocked to learn that they’ve lost custody, visitation, or even had child support orders entered against them by default. Fortunately, under the law, there are ways to vacate default...

Joint Physical Custody Is Not Guaranteed in New York Family Court
Many parents who walk into Brooklyn Family Court believe that joint physical custody—equal time with the child—is a default starting point in New York custody proceedings. After all, shouldn’t both loving, capable parents get equal time with their children?

Understanding Joint Physical Custody in New York Family Court
At The Gilmer Law Firm, PLLC, based in Downtown Brooklyn, we represent mothers and fathers throughout New York City in child custody proceedings, including cases where parents seek or oppose joint physical custody. Whether you’re divorcing,...

Winning the Second Prong: How to Prove the Incident Is No Longer Relevant and Reasonably Related to Your Ability to Care for Children in SCR Hearings in New York
If you’ve been indicated for child abuse or neglect in New York and are seeking to seal your record on the State Central Register (SCR), it’s critical to understand the two-prong test used in administrative hearings. While much attention is often paid to the first prong—whether abuse or neglect occurred—many people fail...

Winning a Custody Battle Against a Narcissist in Court in New York
Custody battles are always challenging, but when the other parent displays traits of narcissism or suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), the stakes—and the stress—are dramatically higher. If you’re co-parenting with someone who exhibits emotional abuse, manipulation, gaslighting, and control, it’s critical to understand how narcissistic behaviors affect custody litigation and how...

The Grounds to Terminate Parental Rights (TPR) in New York Family Court: What Parents Need to Know
When it comes to child welfare law, few proceedings are as serious — or as life-changing — as a termination of parental rights (TPR). Once parental rights are terminated, the legal relationship between parent and child ends permanently, and the child becomes legally free for adoption.
In New York...

How to Find an Affordable Child Custody & Visitation Lawyer in Brooklyn
Child custody and visitation cases are deeply personal. When your time with your child is on the line, you need a lawyer who understands what’s at stake — and who won’t make the process more stressful with legal fees you can’t afford.
At The Gilmer Law Firm, PLLC,...

Stages of CPS Investigative Process in New York
For New York parents, few things can be as stressful as finding out that Child Protective Services (CPS) is investigating you for a possible case of child abuse or neglect. This is because a CPS investigation can be invasive of your family’s privacy, and can lead to your child being removed from...