Section | Description |
---|---|
151 | Judges as magistrates. |
152 | Power to administer oaths. |
153 | Subpoena, warrant and other process to compel attendance. |
153-A | Warrant of arrest; when and how executed. |
153-B | Service of process request for order of protection. |
153-C | Temporary order of protection. |
154 | Subpoena, warrant and other process to compel attendance. |
154-A | Warrant of arrest; when and how executed. |
154-B | Service of process request for order of protection. |
154-C | Temporary order of protection. |
154-D | Subpoena, warrant and other process to compel attendance. |
154-E | Warrant of arrest; when and how executed. |
155 | Service of process request for order of protection. |
155-A | Temporary order of protection. |
156 | Subpoena, warrant and other process to compel attendance. |
157 | Warrant of arrest; when and how executed. |
158 | Service of process request for order of protection. |
S 151. Judges as magistrates. Judges of the family court are magistrates. S 152. Power to administer oaths. (a) Each family court judge may administer oaths and take acknowledgments, and may designate an official of his court so to do. (b) In conducting a hearing under this act, a judge may dispense with the formality of placing a minor under oath before taking his testimony. S 153. Subpoena, warrant and other process to compel attendance. The family court may issue a subpoena or in a proper case a warrant or other process to secure or compel the attendance of an adult respondent or child or any other person whose testimony or presence at a hearing or proceeding is deemed by the court to be necessary, and to admit to, fix or accept bail, or parole him pending the completion of the hearing or proceeding. The court is also authorized to issue a subpoena duces tecum in accordance with the applicable provisions of the civil practice act and, upon its effective date, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the CPLR. A judge of the family court is also authorized to hear and decide motions relating to child support subpoenas issued pursuant to section one hundred eleven-p of the social services law. S 153-a. Warrant of arrest; when and how executed. (a) A warrant of arrest may be executed on any day of the week, and at any hour of the day or night. (b) Unless encountering physical resistance, flight or other factors rendering normal procedure impractical, the arresting police officer must inform the subject named therein that a warrant for his arrest for attendance at the proceeding designated therein has been issued. Upon request of such subject, the police officer must show him the warrant if he has it in his possession. The officer need not have the warrant in his possession, and, if he has not, he must show it to the subject upon request as soon after the arrest as possible. (c) In order to effect the arrest, the police officer may use such physical force as is justifiable pursuant to section 35.30 of the penal law. (d) In order to effect the arrest, the police officer may enter any premises in which he reasonably believes the subject named therein to be present. Before such entry, he must give, or make reasonable effort to give, notice of his authority and purpose to an occupant thereof. (e) If the officer, after giving such notice, is not admitted, he may enter such premises, and by a breaking if necessary. S 153-b. Service of process request for order of protection. Whenever a petitioner requests an order of protection or temporary order of protection or files for an extension of such order or a petition or motion for modification or a violation of such an order under any article of this act: (a) the summons and the petition and, if one has been issued, the temporary order of protection, order of protection issued upon a default, or a copy or copies thereof, may be served on any day of the week, and at any hour of the day or night; (b) a peace officer, acting pursuant to his or her special duties, or a police officer shall, upon receipt, serve or provide for the service of the summons and the petition together with any associated papers and, if one has been issued, the temporary order of protection, or order of protection issued upon a default and shall not charge a fee for such service, including, but not limited to, fees as provided under section eight thousand eleven of the civil practice law and rules; (c) if a temporary order of protection has been issued, or an order of protection has been issued upon a default, unless the party requesting the order states on the record that she or he will arrange for other means for service or deliver the order to a peace or police officer directly for service, the court shall immediately deliver a copy of the temporary order of protection or order of protection together with any associated papers that may be served simultaneously including the summons and petition, to a peace officer, acting pursuant to his or her special duties and designated by the court, or to a police officer as defined in paragraph (b) or (d) of subdivision thirty-four of section 1.20 of the criminal procedure law, or to any other county or municipal officer who may be directed to effect service under section two hundred fifty-five of this act, or, in the city of New York, to a designated representative of the police department of the city of New York. Any peace or police officer or designated person receiving a temporary order of protection or an order of protection as provided in this section shall serve or provide for the service thereof together with any associated papers that may be served simultaneously, at any address designated therewith, including the summons and petition if not previously served. Service of such temporary order of protection, or order of protection, and associated papers, shall insofar as practicable, be achieved promptly. An officer or designated person obliged to perform service pursuant to this section, and his or her employer, shall not be liable for damages resulting from the failure to achieve service where, having made a reasonable effort, such officer is unable to locate and serve the temporary order of protection or order of protection at any address provided by the party requesting the order; (d) where the temporary order of protection or order of protection and papers, if any, have been served, such officer or designated person shall provide the court with an affirmation, certificate or affidavit of service when the temporary order of protection or order of protection has been served, and shall provide notification of the date and time of such service to the statewide computer registry established pursuant to section two hundred twenty-one-a of the executive law. A statement subscribed by the officer or designated person, and affirmed by him or her to be true under the penalties of perjury, stating the papers served, the date, time, address or in the event there is no address, place, and manner of service, the name and a brief physical description of the party served, shall be proof of the service of the summons, petition and temporary order of protection or order of protection; * (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all orders of protection and temporary orders of protection issued pursuant to this act along with any associated papers that may be served simultaneously may, for the purposes of section one hundred sixty-eight of this article, be transmitted by facsimile transmission or electronic means and may be transmitted by facsimile transmission or electronic means for expedited service in accordance with the provisions of this section. For purposes of this section, "facsimile transmission" and "electronic means" shall be as defined in subdivision (f) of rule twenty-one hundred three of the civil practice law and rules. * NB There are 2 sb (e)'s * (e) where an officer or designated person obliged to perform service pursuant to this section is unable to complete service of the temporary order of protection or order of protection such officer or designated person shall provide the court with proof of attempted service of the temporary order of protection or order of protection with information regarding the dates, times, locations and manner of attempted service. An affirmation, certificate or affidavit of service with a statement subscribed by the officer or designated person, and affirmed by him or her to be true under the penalties of perjury, stating the name of the party and the papers attempted to be served on said person, and for each attempted service, the date, time, address or in the event there is no address, place, and manner of attempted service, shall be proof of attempted service. * NB There are 2 sb (e)'s S 153-c. Temporary order of protection. (a) Any person appearing at family court when the court is open requesting a temporary order of protection under any article of this act shall be entitled to file a petition without delay on the same day such person first appears at the family court, and a hearing on that request shall be held on the same day or the next day that the family court is open following the filing of such petition. (b) As provided in this section, the chief administrator of the courts, with the approval of the administrative board of the courts, may promulgate rules to establish and implement a pilot program for the filing of petitions for temporary orders of protection by electronic means and for the issuance of such orders ex parte by audio-visual means in order to accommodate litigants for whom attendance at court to file for, and obtain, emergency relief would constitute an undue hardship or to accommodate litigants, for whom traveling to and appearing in the courthouse to obtain emergency relief, creates a risk of harm to such litigant. (1) Definitions. As used in this section: (i) "Electronic means" means any method of transmission of information between computers or other machines designed for the purpose of sending and receiving such transmissions, and which allows the recipient to reproduce the information transmitted in a tangible medium of expression. (ii) "Independent audio-visual system" means an electronic system for the transmission and receiving of audio and visual signals, encompassing encoded signals, frequency domain multiplexing or other suitable means to preclude the unauthorized reception and decoding of the signals by commercially available television receivers, channel converters, or other available receiving devices. (iii) "Electronic appearance" means an appearance in which one or more of the parties are not present in the court, but in which, by means of an independent audio-visual system, all of the participants are simultaneously able to see and hear reproductions of the voices and images of the judge, counsel, parties, witnesses, if any and other participants. (2) Development of a pilot program. A plan for a pilot program pursuant to this section shall be developed by the chief administrator of the courts or his or her delegate in consultation with one or more local programs providing assistance to victims of domestic violence, the office for the prevention of domestic violence, and attorneys who represent family offense petitions. The plan shall include, but is not limited to: (i) identification of one or more family justice centers or organizations or agencies or other sites outside of the local family court that are equipped with, or have access to, an independent audio-visual system and electronic means for filing documents that are compatible with the equipment in the local family court, with consideration given to the location of such site or sites and available resources; and (ii) identification of one or more licensed and certified organizations, agencies or entities with advocates for victims of domestic violence who are trained, and available to assist petitioners in preparing and filing petitions for temporary orders of protection and in their electronic appearances before the family court to obtain such orders; and (iii) identification of the existing resources available in local family courts for the implementation and oversight of the pilot program; and (iv) delineation of procedures for filing of the petitions and documents, if any, by electronic means, swearing in the petitioners and any witnesses, preparation of a verbatim transcription of testimony presented and a record of evidence adduced and prompt transmission of any orders issued to the petitioners; and (v) a timetable for implementation of the pilot program and plan for informing the public of its availability; and (vi) a description of data to be collected in order to evaluate and, if necessary, make recommendations for improvements to the pilot program. (3) Filing by electronic means. In conjunction with an electronic appearance under this section, petitioners for ex parte temporary orders of protection may, with the assistance of trained advocates, commence the proceedings by filing petitions by electronic means. (i) A petitioner who seeks a temporary order of protection ex parte by use of an electronic appearance must file a petition in advance of such appearance and may do so by electronic means. The petitioner shall set forth the circumstances in which traveling to or appearing in the courthouse would constitute an undue hardship, or create a risk of harm to the petitioner. In granting or denying the relief sought by the petitioner, the court shall state the names of all participants, and whether it is granting or denying an appearance by electronic means and the basis for such determination; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be construed to compel a party to file a petition or other document by electronic means or to testify by means of an electronic appearance. (ii) Nothing in this section shall affect or change any existing laws governing the service of process, including requirements for personal service, or the sealing and confidentiality of court records in family court proceedings, or access to court records by the parties to such proceedings. (4) (i) All electronic appearances by petitioners seeking temporary orders of protection ex parte under this section shall be strictly voluntary and the consent of such petitioners shall be given on the record at the commencement of each appearance. (ii) Appearances taken through the use of an electronic appearance under this section shall be recorded and preserved for transcription. Documentary evidence, if any, referred to by a party or witness or the court may be transmitted and submitted and introduced by electronic means. S 154. State-wide process. (a) The family court may send process or other mandates in any matter in which it has jurisdiction into any county of the state for service or execution in like manner and with the same force and effect as similar process or mandates of county courts as provided by law. (b) In a proceeding to establish paternity or to establish, modify or enforce support, the court may send process without the state in the same manner and with the same effect as process sent within the state in the exercise of personal jurisdiction over any person subject to the jurisdiction of the court under section three hundred one or three hundred two of the civil practice law and rules or under section 580-201 of article five-B of the family court act, notwithstanding that such person is not a resident or domiciliary of the state. (c) In a proceeding arising under article four, five, six, eight or ten of this act in which an order of protection is sought or in which a violation of an order of protection is alleged, the court may send process without the state in the same manner and with the same effect as process sent within the state in the exercise of personal jurisdiction over any person, subject to the jurisdiction of the court under section three hundred one or three hundred two of the civil practice law and rules, notwithstanding that such person is not a resident or domiciliary of the state, so long as: (1) the act or acts giving rise to the application for issuance or enforcement of the order of protection occurred within the state; and (2) the applicant for the order of protection resides or is domiciled in the state or has substantial contacts in the state, including but not limited to, presence on a regular basis in the state. Upon good cause shown, the court may issue a temporary order of protection in accordance with article four, five, six, eight or ten of this act. Where personal jurisdiction over a non-resident or non-domiciliary respondent would not be obtainable but for this subdivision, the papers to be served shall include a conspicuous notice that the exercise of such jurisdiction is limited to the issue of the order of protection. Where service of a petition and summons upon a non-resident or non-domiciliary respondent is required, such service shall be made at least twenty days before the return date. Where service is effected on an out-of-state respondent and the respondent defaults by failing to appear, the court may on its own motion, or upon application of any party or the attorney for the child, proceed to a hearing with respect to issuance or enforcement of the order of protection. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect or alter the exercise of personal jurisdiction with respect to issues other than the order of protection. S 154-a. Service of petition. In every proceeding in family court, a copy of the petition filed therein shall be served upon the respondent at the time of service of process or, if that is not practicable, at the first court appearance by respondent. S 154-b. Order of protection; answer and counter-claims; confidentiality of address. 1. In every proceeding under articles four, five, six and eight of this act in which an order of protection is requested, the respondent may file with the court an answer to the petition and a counter-claim. A counter-claim shall be heard in the same manner as a petition and may be heard on the return date of the petition, provided that the counter-claim is served on the petitioner no later than five days prior to the return date and said counter-claim and proof of service is filed with the court. The petitioner may file and serve a reply to the counter-claim. A denial of the allegations of the counter-claim shall be presumed if the petitioner does not file and serve a reply. 2. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in any proceeding under article four, five, five-b, six, eight or ten of this act, whether or not an order of protection or temporary order of protection is sought or has been sought in the past, the court may, upon its own motion or upon the motion of any party or the child's attorney, authorize any party or the child to keep his or her address confidential from any adverse party or the child, as appropriate, in any pleadings or other papers submitted to the court, where the court finds that disclosure of such address or other identifying information would pose an unreasonable risk to the health or safety of a party or the child. Pending such a finding, any address or other identifying information of the child or party seeking confidentiality shall be safeguarded and sealed in order to prevent its inadvertent or unauthorized use or disclosure. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a party and a child has resided or resides in a residential program for victims of domestic violence as defined in section four hundred fifty-nine-a of the social services law, the present address of such party and of the child and the address of the residential program for victims of domestic violence shall not be revealed. (c) Upon such authorization, the court shall designate the clerk of the court or such other disinterested person as it deems appropriate, with consent of such disinterested person, as the agent for service of process for the party whose address is to remain confidential and shall notify the adverse party of such designation in writing. The clerk or disinterested person designated by the court shall, when served with process on behalf of the party whose address is to remain confidential, promptly notify such party whose address is to remain confidential and forward such process to him or her. (d) In any case in which such confidentiality authorization is made, the party whose address is to remain confidential shall inform the clerk of the court or disinterested person designated by the court of any change in address for purposes of receipt of service of process or any papers. S 154-c. Orders of protection; procedural requirements. 1. Expiration dates. Any order of protection or temporary order of protection issued under articles four, five, six and eight of this act shall plainly state the date that such order expires. 2. Modifications of orders of protection. Except as provided in subdivision two of section one hundred fifty-four-d of this act, any motion to vacate or modify any order of protection or temporary order of protection issued under this act shall be on notice to the non-moving party and the child's attorney, if any. 3. Pleadings and requisite findings. No order of protection may direct any party to observe conditions of behavior unless: (i) the party requesting the order of protection has served and filed a petition or counter-claim in accordance with article four, five, six or eight of this act and, (ii) the court has made a finding on the record that such party is entitled to issuance of the order of protection which may result from a judicial finding of fact, judicial acceptance of an admission by the party against whom the order was issued or judicial finding that the party against whom the order is issued has given knowing, intelligent and voluntary consent to its issuance. Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit or restrict the authority of the court to issue a temporary order of protection on an ex parte basis. S 154-d. Emergency powers; local criminal courts. 1. Issuance of temporary orders of protection. Upon the request of the petitioner, a local criminal court may on an ex parte basis issue a temporary order of protection pending a hearing in family court, provided that a sworn affidavit, certified in accordance with subdivision one of section 100.30 of the criminal procedure law is submitted: (i) alleging that the family court is not in session; (ii) alleging that a family offense, as defined in subdivision one of section eight hundred twelve of this act or subdivision one of section 530.11 of the criminal procedure law, has been committed; (iii) alleging that a family offense petition has been filed or will be filed in family court on the next day the court is in session; and (iv) showing good cause. Upon appearance in a local criminal court, the petitioner shall be advised that he or she may continue with the proceeding either in family court or, upon the filing of a local criminal court accusatory instrument, in criminal court or both. Upon issuance of a temporary order of protection where petitioner requests that it be returnable in family court, the local criminal court shall transfer the matter forthwith to the family court and shall make the matter returnable in family court on the next day the family court is in session, or as soon thereafter as practicable, but in no event more than four calendar days after issuance of the order. The local criminal court, upon issuing a temporary order of protection returnable in family court pursuant to this subdivision shall immediately forward in a manner designed to ensure arrival before the return date set in the order, a copy of the temporary order of protection and sworn affidavit to the family court and shall provide a copy of such temporary order of protection to the petitioner; provided, however, that if the temporary order of protection and affidavit are transmitted by facsimile or other electronic means, the original order and affidavit shall be forwarded to the family court immediately thereafter. Any temporary order of protection issued pursuant to this subdivision shall be issued to the respondent and copies shall be filed as required in subdivisions six and eight of section 530.12 of the criminal procedure law for orders of protection issued pursuant to such section. Any temporary order of protection issued pursuant to this subdivision shall plainly state the date that such order expires which, in the case of an order returnable in family court, shall be not more than four calendar days after its issuance, unless sooner vacated or modified by the family court. A petitioner requesting a temporary order of protection returnable in family court pursuant to this subdivision in a case in which a family court petition has not been filed shall be informed that such temporary order of protection shall expire as provided for herein, unless the petitioner files a petition pursuant to subdivision one of section eight hundred twenty-one of this act on or before the return date in family court and the family court issues a temporary order of protection as authorized under article eight of this act. Nothing in this subdivision shall limit or restrict the petitioner's right to proceed directly and without court referral in either a criminal or family court, or both, as provided for in section one hundred fifteen of this act and section 100.07 of the criminal procedure law. 2. Modifications of orders of protection or temporary orders of protection. Upon the request of the petitioner, a local criminal court may on an ex parte basis modify a temporary order of protection or order of protection which has been issued under article four, five, six or eight of this act pending a hearing in family court, provided that a sworn affidavit, verified in accordance with subdivision one of section 100.30 of the criminal procedure law, is submitted: (i) alleging that the family court is not in session and (ii) showing good cause, including a showing that the existing order is insufficient for the purposes of protection of the petitioner, the petitioner's child or children or other members of the petitioner's family or household. The local criminal court shall make the matter regarding the modification of the order returnable in family court on the next day the family court is in session, or as soon thereafter as practicable, but in no event more than four calendar days after issuance of the modified order. The local criminal court shall immediately forward, in a manner designed to ensure arrival before the return date set in the order, a copy of the modified order if any and sworn affidavit to the family court and shall provide a copy of such modified order, if any, and affidavit to the petitioner; provided, however, that if the modified order and affidavit are transmitted to the family court by facsimile or other electronic means, the original copy of such modified order and affidavit shall be forwarded to the family court immediately thereafter. Any modified temporary order of protection or order of protection issued pursuant to this subdivision shall be issued to the respondent, and copies shall be filed as provided in subdivisions six and eight of section 530.12 of the criminal procedure law for orders of protection issued pursuant to such section. S 154-e. Orders of protection; filing and enforcement of out-of-state orders. A valid order of protection or temporary order of protection issued by a court of competent jurisdiction in another state, territorial or tribal jurisdiction shall be accorded full faith and credit and enforced under article eight of this act as if it were issued by a court within the state for as long as the order remains in effect in the issuing jurisdiction in accordance with sections two thousand two hundred sixty-five and two thousand two hundred sixty-six of title eighteen of the United States Code. 1. An order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction in another state, territorial or tribal jurisdiction shall be deemed valid if: a. the issuing court had personal jurisdiction over the parties and over the subject matter under the law of the issuing jurisdiction; b. the person against whom the order was issued had reasonable notice and an opportunity to be heard prior to issuance of the order; provided, however, that if the order was a temporary order of protection issued in the absence of such person, that notice had been given and that an opportunity to be heard had been provided within a reasonable period of time after the issuance of the order; and c. in the case of orders of protection or temporary orders of protection issued against both a petitioner and respondent, the order or portion thereof sought to be enforced was supported by: (i) a pleading requesting such order, including, but not limited to, a petition, cross-petition or counterclaim; and (ii) a judicial finding that the requesting party is entitled to the issuance of the order which may result from a judicial finding of fact, judicial acceptance of an admission by the party against whom the order was issued or judicial finding that the party against whom the order was issued had given knowing, intelligent and voluntary consent to its issuance. 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of article fifty-four of the civil practice law and rules, an order of protection or temporary order of protection issued by a court of competent jurisdiction in another state, territorial or tribal jurisdiction, accompanied by a sworn affidavit that upon information and belief such order is in effect as written and has not been vacated or modified, may be filed without fee with the clerk of the family court, who shall transmit information regarding such order to the statewide registry of orders of protection and warrants established pursuant to section two hundred twenty-one-a of the executive law; provided, however, that such filing and registry entry shall not be required for enforcement of the order. S 155. Arrested adult. 1. If an adult respondent is arrested under this act when the family court is not in session, he or she shall be taken to the most accessible magistrate and arraigned. The production of a warrant issued by the family court, a certificate of warrant, a copy or a certificate of the order of protection or temporary order of protection, an order of protection or temporary order of protection, or a record of such warrant or order from the statewide computer registry established pursuant to section two hundred twenty-one-a of the executive law shall be evidence of the filing of an information, petition or sworn affidavit, as provided in section one hundred fifty-four-d of this article. Upon consideration of the bail recommendation, if any, made by the family court and indicated on the warrant or certificate of warrant, the magistrate shall thereupon commit such respondent to the custody of the sheriff, as defined in subdivision thirty-five of section 1.20 of the criminal procedure law, admit to, fix or accept bail, or parole him or her for hearing before the family court, subject to the provisions of subdivision four of section 530.11 of the criminal procedure law concerning arrests upon a violation of an order of protection. 2. If no warrant, order of protection or temporary order of protection has been issued by the family court, whether or not an information or petition has been filed, and an act alleged to be a family offense as defined in section eight hundred twelve of this act is the basis of an arrest, the magistrate shall permit the filing of an information, accusatory instrument or sworn affidavit as provided for in section one hundred fifty-four-d of this article, verified in accordance with subdivision one of section 100.30 of the criminal procedure law, alleging facts in support of a petition pursuant to article eight of this act. The magistrate shall thereupon commit such respondent to the custody of the sheriff, as defined in subdivision thirty-five of section 1.20 of the criminal procedure law, admit to, fix or accept bail, or parole such respondent for hearing before the family court and/or appropriate criminal court. 3. The protected party in whose favor the order of protection or temporary order of protection is issued may not be held to violate an order issued in his or her favor nor may such protected party be arrested for violating such order. S 155-a. Admission to bail. A desk officer in charge at a police station, county jail or police headquarters, or any of his or her superior officers, may, in such place, take cash bail for his or her appearance before the appropriate court the next morning from any person arrested pursuant to a warrant issued by the family court; provided that such arrest occurs between eleven o'clock in the morning and eight o'clock the next morning, except that in the city of New York bail shall be taken between two o'clock in the afternoon and eight o'clock the next morning. The amount of such cash bail shall be the amount fixed in the warrant of arrest. S 156. Contempts. The provisions of the judiciary law relating to civil and criminal contempts shall apply to the family court in any proceeding in which it has jurisdiction under this act or any other law, and a violation of an order of the family court in any such proceeding which directs a party, person, association, agency, institution, partnership or corporation to do an act or refrain from doing an act shall be punishable under such provisions of the judiciary law, unless a specific punishment or other remedy for such violation is provided in this act or any other law. S 157. Interpretation of this part. If there is any conflict between the application of any provision of this part to any proceeding under this act and any provision of the article of this act governing the proceeding, the article governing the proceeding controls. S 158. Protective custody of material witness; duration. (a) The family court may place in protective custody a person under sixteen years of age who is a material witness, as provided by law. (b) No order of protective custody under paragraph (a) may extend for a period of more than fourteen days. For good cause shown, the court may renew the order for additional periods of fourteen days, but the total period of protective custody under this part may not exceed forty-two days. Top of Page
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