NY A10259

Creates a streamlined "confirmatory adoption" process allowing existing legal parents to confirm their parent-child relationship through adoption, with waived filing fees and background check requirements.

Establishes "de facto parent" status, allowing individuals who exercised parental responsibility for at least one year to petition for legal parentage recognition if they meet criteria including consistent caretaking, bonded relationship, and best interest of the child.

Permits courts to adjudicate a child as having more than two legal parents if failure to recognize multiple parents would be detrimental to the child, without requiring a finding of unfitness by any parent.

Modifies custody and child support statutes to allow courts to award custody to more than two parents and establishes support obligations for all parents rather than limiting to two.

Defines "parentage" as a continuing relationship that can be shared by more than two parents, with presumptions of parentage based on marriage, birth certificate listing, or demonstrated de facto parental roles.