New York How to Commence a Special Proceeding is a legal process that is used to address issues and disputes that are outside the scope of a traditional civil litigation. This process is often used to resolve matters such as guardianship, partition of real estate, and foreclosure. Generally, there are four steps to commencing a special proceeding in New York: (1) filing a petition or complaint with the court; (2) serving the opposing party with a summons; (3) filing an affidavit of service; and (4) filing an answer to the petition or complaint. The different types of New York How to Commence a Special Proceeding include: Guardianship, Partition of Real Estate, Foreclosure, Enactment, Discovery, and Interpleader. Each of these proceedings have their own unique requirements and processes that must be followed in order to successfully complete the process.