Case Name: In the Matter of Bernardino Monteleone, Appellant, v. Helene P. Kick, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1988-07-07
Citations: 142 A.D.2d 964
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Bernardino Monteleone, Appellant, v Helene P. Kick, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 142
Pages: 964–965

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Bernardino Monteleone, Appellant, v Helene P. Kick, Respondent.

Opinion:
Order unanimously reversed on the law without costs, in accordance with the following memorandum: Petitioner appeals from an order entered in a proceeding to modify his visitation rights with his daughter which "ordered that the Family Court Processing Department is hereby directed not to accept any further petitions as to visitation or custody by this petitioner". This was improper. Fundamental rights are involved in matters of custody and visitation (see, Stanley v Illinois, 405 US 645). There is no statutory authority for the court to issue an order which denies petitioner access to Family Court. Moreover, once a petition to determine custody or visitation is filed, it must be served upon the respondent (Family Ct Act § 154-a; cf, Family Ct Act § 524, 1035 [c]). Thus, Family Court has no discretion whether to serve such a petition once filed and, accordingly, has no power to order the Probation Department not to process further petitions of this petitioner. (Appeal from order of Onondaga County Family Court, Buck, J. — visitation.)