22 NYCRR 623.6

(a) The compensation for mental health professionals appointed pursuant to Judiciary Law, section 35 or County Law, section 722-c shall be set in accordance with guidelines promulgated by the Chief Administrator of the Courts. Applications for payment for services rendered pursuant to those sections shall be submitted for approval to the court that appointed the panel member on forms authorized by the Chief Administrator of the Courts or by the appropriate local fiscal authority.

(b) The compensation of mental health professionals appointed in cases in which their fees shall be borne in whole or in part by the parties shall be at rates fixed by the court in accordance with the charge for such services prevailing in the community and the financial circumstances of the parties. Such compensation shall not exceed a sum certain to be set forth in the order of appointment, which sum shall be based on the selected rate and the estimated number of hours required to perform the necessary services, except that if, in the judgment of the mental health professional, the number of hours required to perform the necessary services is likely to exceed the number set forth in the order of appointment, he or she may make application to the court to amend that order by increasing the number of hours accordingly. The application shall be made by letter, a copy of which shall be forwarded to the party or parties responsible for the payment of the fee.