Bill > S03718

This bill prohibits New York state courts from granting visitation or custody rights to a non-U.S. resident for a minor U.S. citizen child when the other party to the legal action is a U.S. citizen and objects to such an order. Specifically, the bill amends both the Domestic Relations Law and the Family Court Act to create new provisions that prevent courts from issuing visitation or custody orders that would allow a non-U.S. resident to have custody or visitation rights to a U.S. citizen minor if a U.S. citizen parent or guardian objects. The legislation aims to protect the interests of U.S. citizen children by ensuring that they cannot be removed from the United States or have extended visitation with a non-U.S. resident against the wishes of their U.S. citizen parent or guardian. These new restrictions will apply to both new custody/visitation determinations and the enforcement of existing orders from other states, effectively creating a legal barrier to international custody arrangements that a U.S. citizen parent opposes. The bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3718