New York's Legislature passed Kyra's Law (A.6194-C) on June 5, 2026, and delivered it to Governor Kathy Hochul on June 15, 2026, requiring family and supreme courts to treat credible domestic violence and child abuse allegations as a threshold safety question—evaluated before other best-interest factors. If signed, the law takes effect 270 days later, fundamentally reshaping how New York judges weigh custody disputes involving alleged abuse.
Key Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| What happened | NY Legislature passed Kyra's Law (A.6194-C), delivered to Gov. Hochul |
| When | Passed both chambers June 5, 2026; delivered to Hochul June 15, 2026 |
| Where | New York State (family and supreme courts) |
| Who's affected | Parents in custody disputes involving abuse allegations; family court judges |
| Key statute affected | Amends N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 240 (custody best-interest standard) |
| Impact | Mandatory safety assessment, judicial training, statewide supervised-visitation program; effective 270 days after signing |
Why this matters legally
Kyra's Law restructures the order of analysis New York courts use in contested custody cases. Under current practice, judges weigh roughly a dozen best-interest factors together, with domestic violence treated as one factor among many under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 240. Kyra's Law elevates credible abuse allegations to a threshold safety question that courts must evaluate first—before reaching other considerations like financial stability, school continuity, or parental cooperation.
This sequencing change carries real legal weight. By requiring a dedicated safety determination at the outset, the bill reduces the risk that a documented pattern of abuse gets diluted by a parent's otherwise favorable circumstances. The legislation, according to Spectrum News reporting, also mandates specialized judicial training on domestic violence and coercive control and establishes a statewide supervised-visitation program—addressing the documented gap that left families without safe visitation options in 2016.
The law is named for 2-year-old Kyra Franchetti, killed by her father during a court-ordered unsupervised visit in 2016. Her mother, Long Island advocate Jacqueline Franchetti, campaigned for the reform for roughly a decade. The bill cleared both chambers nearly unanimously, reflecting broad bipartisan recognition that custody procedures needed reform.
How New York law handles this
New York's custody framework currently rests on the best-interest-of-the-child standard codified in N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 240, which directs courts to consider domestic violence as one factor when it is proven by a preponderance of the evidence. The leading precedent, Eschbach v. Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d 167 (1982), established that no single factor is determinative and that courts must weigh the totality of circumstances.
Kyra's Law works within this structure rather than replacing it. It amends the analysis so that when a parent raises a credible domestic violence or child abuse allegation, the court must first conduct a safety assessment under the threshold standard before applying the broader best-interest balancing test. Existing protective tools remain available: orders of protection under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 240 and Family Court Act Article 8, and the court's authority to order supervised or therapeutic visitation.
New York's 62 counties operate family courts that handle the majority of custody disputes, while supreme courts address custody within divorce actions under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 236. Kyra's Law applies to both court systems, ensuring consistent safety screening regardless of where a custody question is litigated. The mandatory judicial training provision aims to standardize how judges across all 62 counties recognize coercive control and evaluate abuse claims—reducing the geographic variation that currently exists in how seriously such allegations are weighed.
Practical takeaways
-
Wait for the Governor's signature before relying on the new standard. Hochul received the bill on June 15, 2026, and has 30 days to sign or veto under the New York Constitution. The law only takes effect 270 days after signing—likely in early-to-mid 2027 if signed promptly.
-
Document abuse allegations contemporaneously. Because Kyra's Law makes credible allegations a threshold question, contemporaneous records—police reports, medical records, dated photographs, text messages, and witness statements—will carry heightened importance in establishing credibility.
-
Understand the difference between a threshold question and a verdict. A threshold safety assessment does not automatically determine final custody. Courts will still evaluate evidence and may order supervised visitation, evaluations, or further proceedings rather than terminating contact outright.
-
Track whether your county has supervised-visitation capacity. The statewide program is a core feature of the bill, but implementation will roll out over the 270-day period. Parents seeking supervised visitation should ask their attorney about currently available local resources.
-
Consult a New York family law attorney about pending cases. If you have a custody matter already in progress, an attorney can advise whether to seek a continuance, supplement the record, or preserve safety arguments in anticipation of the new standard taking effect.
If you are navigating a New York custody dispute involving safety concerns, the procedural changes ahead make experienced local counsel more valuable than ever. A family law attorney licensed in New York can help you preserve evidence, frame safety arguments, and understand how Kyra's Law may apply once it takes effect. Divorce.law connects you with attorneys who handle custody matters in your county.
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.