A New York appeals court sided with a domestic violence survivor and invalidated the Family Court’s practice of ordering the government supervision for parents who are embroiled in, but are not the defendants of, family court proceedings.

Finding the orders “intrusive” and outside the Family Court’s authority, Justice Lourdes Ventura of the Appellate Division, Second Department wrote that the order that subjected “Ms. W.” and her infant to surprise home inspections from child protective services was only allowed in instances where the child had just been removed from their home.

As the Family Court hadn’t removed the child from Ms. W.’s care, it could not place Ms. W. under the supervision of the Administration of Child Services based on a neglect case against the child’s father, who didn’t live with them, according to the decision.