§ 580-318 Assistance with discovery

When a family court case involves getting information or evidence, courts in different states can help each other out. If a New York court needs facts, records, or other evidence that are located outside the state, it can ask a court in that other state to help gather that information.

The same works in reverse. If a court in another state needs help getting discovery from someone who is located in New York, and that person falls under New York's court authority, the New York court can step in. If asked, it can order that person to hand over the information or answer questions as part of the other state's case.

This rule basically lets courts work together across state lines so that family court cases, like child support or custody matters, do not get stuck just because evidence or a witness is in a different state. It keeps cases moving even when people or paperwork are spread across the country.