N.Y. Family Court Act § 625: Sequence of hearings

§ 625. Sequence of hearings. (a) Upon completion of the fact-finding

hearing, the dispositional hearing may commence immediately after the

required findings are made; provided, however, that if all parties

consent the court may, upon motion of any party or upon its own motion,

dispense with the dispositional hearing and make an order of disposition

on the basis of competent evidence admitted at the fact-finding hearing.

Where the disposition ordered is the commitment of guardianship and

custody in accordance with section six hundred thirty-four of this part,

an initial freed child permanency hearing and all subsequent permanency

hearings shall be held in accordance with article ten-A of this act.

(b) Reports prepared by the probation service or a duly authorized

agency for use by the court prior to the making of an order of

disposition shall be deemed confidential information furnished to the

court which the court in a proper case may, in its discretion, withhold

from or disclose in whole or in part to the child's attorney, counsel,

party in interest, or other appropriate person. Such reports may not be

furnished to the court prior to the completion of a fact-finding

hearing, but may be used in a dispositional hearing or in the making of

an order of disposition without a dispositional hearing pursuant to

subdivision (a) of this section.