N.Y. Social Services Law § 473-C
1. A social services official may apply to the supreme court or county court for an order to gain access to a person to assess whether such person is in need of protective services for adults in accordance with the provisions of section four hundred seventy-three of this article when such official, having reasonable cause to believe that such person may be in need of protective services, is refused access by such person or another individual. A social services official who is refused access shall assess, in consultation with a person in a supervisory role, whether or not it is appropriate to apply for an order to gain access to such person. Such assessment must be made as soon as necessary under the circumstances, but no later than twenty-four hours after the investigating official is refused access. The determination of whether or not to apply for an order to gain access and the reasons therefor shall be documented in the investigation file. Such application for an order to gain access shall state, insofar as the facts can be ascertained with reasonable diligence: