New York Consolidated Laws, Surrogate's Court Procedure Act - SCP § 1703. Petition for appointment;  by whom made

A petition for the appointment of a guardian of the person or property, or both, of an infant may be made by any person on behalf of the infant or if the infant be over the age of fourteen years, it may be made by the infant.  A petition for appointment as a guardian of the property of an infant may also be made by the public administrator of the county in which the infant resides where no one else is available to serve as guardian.  The court may grant such a petition of the public administrator upon its certification that all other efforts to appoint a guardian have been exhausted.  A petition for appointment as a permanent guardian of an infant or child may be brought by any person on behalf of the infant or child.