NY Forms: GF-17, GF-40, GF-41
The GF family is simpler when you treat it like a map: start, change, or enforce. Pick the station that matches your job, open the leaf page, then confirm county-specific filing channels. Borrowing motion language from other states is an easy way to grab the wrong packet.
If you are still choosing among modification, parenting time, support, or enforcement lanes, start with the New York hub procedure overviews first; this page is the checklist and official-links index.
GF-17
Petition for custody/visitation
Starting a case or needing the court to establish custody/visitation orders.
MCC guidanceGF-40
Petition to modify custody/visitation
Order exists; facts moved; you need new language, not louder texting.
MCC guidanceGF-41
Petition to enforce custody/visitation
Order is specific; other parent will not follow it; proof is line-and-date.
MCC guidance| Wrong lane | Right lane |
|---|---|
| Order lines are clear; Tuesdays keep vanishing | GF-41-shaped documentation; GF-40 only if you truly need new language |
| No order yet; you need first custody/visitation terms | GF-17; resist sneaking modify arguments into a start petition |
Official form sources
GF family FAQs
Can I file GF-40 because I am angry about GF-41 results?
Anger is not a form selector. Modification needs changed-circumstance facts; enforcement needs order language plus compliance proof. Mixed stories make clerks bounce the packet mentally before they bounce it physically.
Does Family Court care about my screenshots?
Sometimes, but only when dated and tied to a row in a timeline. A folder of tone is not a substitute for missed exchanges with timestamps.
Where do county rules enter?
At filing: fees, copies, e-filing portals, and local part practices. State forms get you close; county practice gets you accepted.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-03
MyCustodyCoach is not a law firm. Court rules, fees, and form versions change by county; confirm what applies to your case with official court resources or counsel you hire.