New York State Supreme Court of Judicature (Geneva) Orders for Appointment of Guardian or Next Friend

This series consists of petitions to a Supreme Court justice, commissioner, or judge of a court of common pleas for appointment of a guardian for an infant-defendant, or a next friend (prochein ami) for an infant-plaintiff (a minor could not appear in court).

The petition states the age of the infant and summarizes the cause to which he or she is a party. Causes involved matters such as slander, negligence, assault, recovery or partition of lands, promissory notes, breach of promise to marry, and so on. Accompanying the petition are: the signed consents of the person designated to be the guardian or next friend; the affidavit of a court officer attesting to the signatures of the infant and guardian or next friend; and the order admitting the guardian or next friend to appear for the infant in court. Appointment of guardians or next friends was governed by legislation of 1829.

The Court of Appeals placed these records on deposit at the Historical Documents Collection, Queens College, from 1972-1982.

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