A FAMILY OFFENSE PROCEEDING MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COUNTY WHERE THE FAMILY MEMBER RESIDES, AS WELL AS IN THE COUNTY WHERE THE OFFENSE OCCURRED (SECOND DEPT).
The Second Department, reversing Family Court, determined the family offense proceeding should not have been dismissed based on the allegation venue was improper. A family offense proceeding may be brought based upon the residence of the family member, as well as were the offense took place:
A family offense proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 8 “may be originated in the county in which the act or acts referred to in the petition allegedly occurred or in which the family or household resides or in which any party resides” … . Here, since the mother resides in Rockland County, the mother commenced this proceeding in a proper venue. Matter of VanDunk v Bonilla, 2022 NY Slip Op 04554, Second Dept 7-13-22
Practice Point: A family offense proceeding may be brought in the county where the family member resides, as well as the county where the offense occurred.