N.Y. Surrogate's Court Procedure Act § 1703: Petition for appointment; by whom made A petition for the appointment of a guardian of the person or property, or both, of an infant may ...

§ 1703. Petition for appointment; by whom made

A petition for the appointment of a guardian of the person or

property, or both, of an infant may be made by any person on behalf of

the infant or if the infant be over the age of fourteen years, it may be

made by the infant. A petition for appointment as a guardian of the

property of an infant may also be made by the public administrator of

the county in which the infant resides where no one else is available to

serve as guardian. The court may grant such a petition of the public

administrator upon its certification that all other efforts to appoint a

guardian have been exhausted. A petition for appointment as a permanent

guardian of an infant or child may be brought by any person on behalf of

the infant or child.