N.Y. Family Court Act § 252-a: Fees

* § 252-a. Fees. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, every

county, including the city of New York, may adopt a local law

authorizing its probation department which is ordered to conduct an

investigation pursuant to section six hundred fifty-three of this act,

to be entitled to a fee of not less than fifty dollars and not more than

five hundred dollars from the parties in such proceeding for performing

such investigation. Such fee shall be based on the party's ability to

pay the fee and the schedule for payment shall be fixed by the court

issuing the order for investigation, pursuant to the guidelines issued

by the office of probation and correctional alternatives, and may in the

discretion of the court be waived when the parties lack sufficient means

to pay the fee. The court shall apportion the fee between the parties

based upon the respective financial circumstances of the parties and the

equities of the case.

(b) Fees pursuant to this section shall be paid directly to the local

probation department to be retained and utilized for local probation

services, and shall not be considered by the office of probation and

correctional alternatives when determining state aid pursuant to section

two hundred forty-six of the executive law.

* NB Expires September 1, 2027