§ 77-j. Warrant to take physical custody of child. 1. Upon the filing of a petition seeking enforcement of a child custody determination, the petitioner may file a verified application for the issuance of a warrant to take physical custody of the child if the child is at imminent risk of suffering serious physical harm or of removal from this state.

Terms Used In N.Y. Domestic Relations Law 77-J

  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Petitioner: means a person who seeks enforcement of an order for return of a child under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction or enforcement of a child custody determination. See N.Y. Domestic Relations Law 77
  • Respondent: means a person against whom a proceeding has been commenced for enforcement of an order for return of a child under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction or enforcement of a child custody determination. See N.Y. Domestic Relations Law 77
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.

2. If the court, upon the testimony of the petitioner or other witness, finds that the child is likely to suffer imminent serious physical harm or to be removed from this state, it may issue a warrant to take physical custody of the child. Except in extraordinary circumstances, the petition must be heard on the next court day after the warrant is executed. Any adjournment for extraordinary circumstances shall be for not more than three court days. The application for the warrant must include the statements required by subdivision two of section seventy-seven-g of this title.

3. A warrant to take physical custody of a child must:

(a) recite the facts upon which a conclusion of imminent serious physical harm or removal from the jurisdiction is based;

(b) direct law enforcement officers to take physical custody of the child immediately and deliver the child to the petitioner or, where necessary, to act jointly with the local child protective service to take immediate steps to protect the child; and

(c) provide for the placement of the child pending final relief.

4. The respondent must be served with the petition, warrant, and order immediately after the child is taken into physical custody.

5. A warrant to take physical custody of a child is enforceable throughout this state. If the court finds on the basis of the testimony of the petitioner or other witness that a less intrusive remedy is not effective, it may authorize law enforcement officers to enter private property in order to execute the warrant and take physical custody of the child. If required by exigent circumstances of the case and necessary to the protection of the child, the court may authorize law enforcement officers to make a forcible entry at any hour.

6. The court may impose conditions upon placement of a child to ensure the appearance of the child and the child's custodian.

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