IN RE: KARMA–MARIE W. (Anonymous). (2025)

DECISION & ORDER

In a proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 6, the petitioner appeals from an order of the Family Court, Kings County (Sharon N. Clarke, J.), dated March 28, 2024.  The order, sua sponte, dismissed the petition for guardianship of the subject child with prejudice.

ORDERED that the order is reversed, on the law, without costs or disbursements, the petition for guardianship of the subject child is reinstated, and the matter is remitted to the Family Court, Kings County, for a hearing and a determination of the petition thereafter.

On September 1, 2023, the petitioner filed a petition pursuant to Family Court Act article 6 to be appointed the guardian of the subject child.  The petitioner is not related to the child.  In an order dated March 28, 2024, the Family Court, without a hearing, sua sponte, determined that the petitioner lacked standing to bring the petition and dismissed the petition with prejudice.  The petitioner appeals.

The Family Court should not have dismissed the petition on the ground that the petitioner was not a relative of the child (see Matter of Dalida P., 204 A.D.2d 645, 645, 612 N.Y.S.2d 223).  Although the petitioner is not biologically related to the child, SCPA 1703, which is applicable to this proceeding (see Family Ct Act § 661), provides that a petition for the appointment of a guardian may be brought by “any person” (SCPA 1703;  see Matter of Dalida P., 204 A.D.2d at 645, 612 N.Y.S.2d 223).  Nor was there any basis in the record to dismiss the petition with prejudice (see Matter of Linares–Mendez v. Cazanga–Payes, 183 A.D.3d 738, 739, 121 N.Y.S.3d 659).

Accordingly, since the Family Court dismissed the petition for guardianship of the child with prejudice without conducting a hearing or considering the child's best interests, the matter must be remitted to the Family Court, Kings County, for a hearing and determination of the petition thereafter (see Matter of Francisca M.V.R. v. Jose G.H.G., 154 A.D.3d 856, 857, 62 N.Y.S.3d 169;  Matter of Jorge A.V.G. [Marta G.], 119 A.D.3d 566, 567, 987 N.Y.S.2d 909).

DUFFY, J.P., WOOTEN, LANDICINO and MCCORMACK, JJ., concur.