51 Misc. 2d 595 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1966
Petitioner Minicozzi is the respondent in a paternity proceeding now pending in the Family Court, Suffolk County. He makes two applications here, to gain access to certain sealed records of the Surrogate’s Court and of the Department of Public Welfare. Paternity has been denied and it is Minicozzi’s belief that these records may contain information vital to his actual defense of the Family Court proceeding. We can discuss both applications in this single memorandum.
Hillman, the petitioner in Family Court, terminated a proceeding in Surrogate’s Court concerning an adoption of her child before it was concluded. That took place after she had instituted a prior paternity proceeding, since dismissed, but then commenced anew. As to the welfare records, Minicozzi alleges that Hillman received public assistance from a time some two days prior to the child’s birth over two years ago and continuing to date.
All of the adoption papers are sealed and, of course, inaccessible, unless access and inspection be granted on good cause shown (Domestic Relations Law, §§ 114, 115). Welfare records are confidential, to be disclosed only as set forth in the statute (Social Welfare Law, § 136).
The two motions are denied.