Bill > A10098

This bill grants the family court the authority to decide guardianship for minors and infants when parents face "extraordinary circumstances" that prevent reunification, such as deportation, removal, or forced departure from the United States, or other similarly severe situations beyond the child's control. The bill clarifies that the court is not required to find abuse, neglect, or abandonment to establish these extraordinary circumstances, though it can still make such findings. Additionally, the Office of Court Administration is directed to update court forms and orders to include specific options for indicating that reunification is not viable due to these extraordinary circumstances and to provide non-exhaustive examples of what constitutes such circumstances.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A10098