Kyra's Law (A.6194-C) Reaches Hochul's Desk: NY Custody Reform Explained

New York's Legislature delivered Kyra's Law (A.6194-C) to Governor Hochul on June 15, 2026, a bill that forces courts to hold a threshold safety hearing on domestic violence and child abuse allegations before issuing any custody or visitation order. Named for 2-year-old Kyra Franchetti, killed by her father during a court-ordered unsupervised visit in 2016, the reform awaits the Governor's signature and would take effect roughly 270 days later, around early 2027.

Why this matters legally

Kyra's Law rewrites the sequence of a New York custody case by requiring a safety-focused evidentiary hearing before a court issues any custody or visitation order. Under current practice, judges weigh abuse allegations as one factor among many under the N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 240 best-interests standard, and temporary access is frequently granted before those allegations are fully examined. The bill flips that order.

The legislation, A.6194-C, was reported by Spectrum News and CBS New York on June 15, 2026, after passing both legislative chambers. It requires courts to prioritize child safety as the paramount consideration and to make specific findings on the record before allowing unsupervised contact where credible abuse or domestic violence allegations exist. It also directs training for judges and forensic evaluators on the dynamics of family violence and coercive control.

This is a structural change, not a rhetorical one. New York courts already recite that safety governs, but Kyra's Law converts that principle into a procedural gate: no unsupervised access order until the safety hearing concludes. That distinction determines what happens in the first hearing of a contested case, which is often where the most consequential temporary orders are entered.

How New York law handles this

New York custody determinations currently run through N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 240 and the Family Court Act, both of which apply the best-interests-of-the-child standard. Domestic violence is already an enumerated factor courts must consider under existing law, but it competes with factors like each parent's stability, the child's relationship with each parent, and the willingness to foster the other parent's relationship. Kyra's Law elevates documented safety risk above those competing considerations at the threshold stage.

Existing New York law also addresses supervised visitation and orders of protection under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 240 and Article 8 of the Family Court Act, but those remedies typically require a parent to affirmatively request them and to carry the evidentiary burden. Kyra's Law shifts the court's default posture: where allegations meet a credibility threshold, the burden effectively moves toward demonstrating that unsupervised contact is safe before it is granted.

The bill intersects with several concepts New York parents encounter in these cases. Readers navigating a contested matter should understand how child custody is decided, how a custody evaluation informs the court, and how a detailed parenting plan structures ongoing access. Kyra's Law does not eliminate any of these tools; it front-loads the safety analysis that precedes them.

One practical effect concerns timing. New York custody litigation can move quickly on temporary orders, and a mandatory hearing adds a procedural step. Courts will need to schedule and complete the safety hearing, which may lengthen the front end of a case while reducing the risk of a premature unsupervised-access order. For parents modeling access schedules, our parenting time calculator for New York can help visualize arrangements once a safety determination is made.

Practical takeaways

1. Document safety concerns thoroughly and early. If abuse or domestic violence allegations exist, preserve police reports, medical records, protective orders, texts, and witness contacts. Under a Kyra's Law framework, the threshold safety hearing turns on credible, specific evidence — not general assertions.

2. Understand the timing shift. If Hochul signs before year-end 2026, the law takes effect roughly 270 days later, around early 2027. Cases filed after the effective date will include the mandatory safety hearing; cases pending before it will proceed under current § 240 practice unless the final bill provides otherwise.

3. Request supervised visitation or protective relief in writing. Even under existing N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 240, you must affirmatively raise safety issues. Do not assume a court will order supervision on its own.

4. Prepare for a heightened evidentiary standard on both sides. A parent accused of abuse should also gather documentation, because the safety hearing is adversarial and factual. Unsubstantiated allegations can affect credibility findings.

5. Get jurisdiction-specific guidance. Custody procedure varies by county and courtroom. A personalized divorce roadmap can help you map next steps, and if your matter involves contested custody or safety issues, consider consulting a New York attorney to find a divorce attorney familiar with local Family Court practice.

If you are facing a custody dispute in New York where safety is a concern, the change Kyra's Law represents underscores why early, well-documented preparation matters. Whether the bill is signed this year or not, the underlying standard — that a child's safety comes first — already governs New York courts, and building a clear factual record is the most reliable way to protect your child's interests.

This article discusses recent news and provides general legal commentary. It does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique. Consult a qualified family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.