§ 216-B Petition forms

If you go to family court in New York and need to file a petition, the court clerk has to give you the forms. You don't need a lawyer to get these forms, and the clerk can't turn you away or refuse to hand them over.

This rule makes sure that anyone who wants to start a case in family court can get the paperwork they need to do it. It keeps the process open to regular people, not just those who have attorneys. If you show up at the courthouse and ask for a petition form, the clerk's office is required to provide one to you.