New York Family Law Blog

Published on: December 7, 2022

Where parents disagreed on vaccination issue, the Family Court gave the mother final decision-making authority. L.N. v. V.V., 2019 N.Y. Slip Op. 52174 (N.Y. Fam. Ct. 2019)

by Stephen Bilkis

When parents are awarded joint custody and joint decision-making, it is because that is in the best interests of the child. When issuing such an order, the court has also determined that the parents get along well enough to make parenting decisions jointly, despite disagreeing on some issues. When parents don’t agree and are unable to compromise, the parents often seek a custody modification from the court.

Even in cases where parents are otherwise able to make joint decisions, the issue of vaccinations has been an area of disagreement between parents, leading to litigation. In L.N. v. V.V., the court was asked to give one parent final decision-making authority since the parties were at an impasse on the issue of vaccinations.

Background

Published on: December 5, 2022

Court awarded mother sole custody where father intentionally limited the mother’s access to the child. Matter of T.D. v E.P.B. 2022 NY Slip Op 50971(U)

by Stephen Bilkis

Courts want children to have access to both parents and want children to have the opportunity to have positive, loving relationships with both parents. As a result, unless there are convincing reasons not to, the court will order joint custody. This has been found to be in the best interests of the child. However, when parents demonstrate an unwillingness to support the child having a positive relationship with the other parent, the court will adjust custody. In the Matter of T.D. v E.P.B., the Family Court was asked to modify a custody order after the father’s repeatedly limited the mother’s access to the child and removed the child from New York.

Background

The parents have one child who was born in 2015. In 2016, Family Court ordered joint legal and physical custody of the child. However, the father dominated the relationship, making decisions without including the mother. With the help of this girlfriend, he even convinced her to sign an out-of-court agreement that purported to give him sole custody and the mother supervised visitation. In 2020, the father relocated to Florida with the child and without the consent of the mother.

Published on: November 30, 2022

Grandparents petitioned the court for sole custody and the cessation of the child’s visits with the father. Matter of Brady S v Darla B 2020 NY Slip Op 51619(U)

by Stephen Bilkis

Under some circumstances, grandparents are awarded custody. The court will award grandparents custody if it is in the best interests of the child. However, it has been well-established that having a relationship with the parents is generally preferable, and the court will seek to give parents and their children opportunities to foster positive relationships.

In Matter of Brady S v Darla B, the court was asked to decide whether it was in the best interests of the child to award sole custody to the grandparents or to the child’s father.

Background

Published on: November 28, 2022

Agencies must make reasonable efforts to reunify parents with their children. In re Jose F., 70 Misc. 3d 1211, 136 N.Y.S.3d 875 (N.Y. Cnty. Ct. 2020)

by Stephen Bilkis

When parents have intellectual or cognitive delays and mental health problems, parenting can be even more challenging than it generally is. It is not unusual for agency involvement and for the children to be removed. However, the goal is still for biological parents to have a role in the lives of their children as long as it is in the best interests of the children. Specific accommodations must be made in order to give the biological parents the opportunity to successfully parent their children. In the case of In re Jose F., the Family Court, Kings County was asked to decide on a permanency plan for two children whose parents had cognitive deficiencies.

Background

Jose, who was 6 weeks, was brought to the hospital. He was significantly underweight and malnourished. Because of the condition of the child and the parents were both mentally delayed the hospital was concerned for the well-being of the child. In fact, they were concerned that the child would die if his parents continued to care for him as they were not aware as to how to care for a child. In addition, the mother was alleged to have bipolar disorder and was not taking her medication. Jose was removed from their care. A second child was born a year later. By that time the parents had made sufficient progress that such that they were permitted to have limited unsupervised time during their agency visits with Jose. Still, a new petition for neglect was filed. Both children were remanded to ACS and both remain in foster care. A permanency hearing was scheduled pursuant to article 10-A of the Family Court Act.

Published on: November 23, 2022

Is establishing paternity in the best interests of a child who had been living with a foster family? Wilson D. v. Anne B., 2021 N.Y. Slip Op. 51144 (N.Y. Fam. Ct. 2021)

by Stephen Bilkis

The long-standing policy in New York has been that parents have the right to have a relationship with their children and that it is generally in the best interests of the child for the courts to give parents and children the opportunity to foster a positive relationship. However, there are circumstances where the court finds that it would be in the best interests of the child to not have a relationship with a parent. In Wilson D. v. Anne B., the court was asked to decide if it would be in the best interests of the child to establish paternity where a child had been living in foster care and a bond had developed between the child and the foster parents.

Background

While incarcerated, the putative father of the child filed a petition for custody. Because paternity had not been established, the court held his petition in abeyance pending the court of a paternity test. Meanwhile the child has been placed in foster care and the foster parents developed a close bond with the child.

Published on: November 21, 2022

Court was asked to intervene when the mother and grandmother limited father’s access to child. Marvin F. v. Jaran H., 73 Misc. 3d 1222, 155 N.Y.S.3d 305 (N.Y. Cnty. Ct. 2021)

by Stephen Bilkis

In this case, the court was asked to intervene when the child’s maternal grandmother appeared to influence the amount of parental access the mother gave the father.

Background

The mother and father were not married when they had a child together. The father was very involved in the child’s life during the first few months of the child’s life. He would see the child three or four times a week in the morning prior to going to work, in the evenings and on the weekends. The mother showed that she was committed to helping ensure that the father was involved and understood how to care for the child. Things changed when the mother’s mother moved in with her to help care of the child. The grandmother became the child’s paid babysitter. The father’s access to the child became increasing limited.

Published on: November 16, 2022

Grandmother seeks guardianship over her two grandsons. Matter of Chariss C. v Jose G. 2021 NY Slip Op 50757(U)

by Stephen Bilkis

Custody cases are not always between parents. A substantial number of cases heard by Family Court in New York involve other relatives, including grandparents. In the Matter of Chariss C. v Jose G., the court was asked to decide whether to grant the petitioning grandmother guardianship over her two grandchildren or grant the children’s mother sole custody and guardianship.

Background

While residing at the petitioner grandmother’s house, the mother, Respondent Courtney C. gave birth to two Children. The children were born in 2010 and 2013. The father, Respondent Jose G., was rarely involved in the lives of the children and did not support them. The grandmother and her husband primarily financially provided for the children and provided for their educational needs as well as food and housing.

Published on: November 14, 2022

Court ordered paternity test over the objections of the presumed legal father. Joseph S. v. Crystal B., 73 Misc. 3d 1201, 152 N.Y.S.3d 288 (N.Y. Cnty. Ct. 2021)

by Stephen Bilkis

In New York there is a marital presumption of paternity. This means that if a child is born to a married couple, there is a presumption that the husband is the father of the child. The husband is the legal father of the child, even if he is not the biological father of the child. The presumed father can prevent another person from establishing paternity. However, under certain circumstances the court will find that it would be in the best interests of the child for a paternity to be administered so that they will know who their biological father is. In Joseph S. v. Crystal B., the court had to decide whether to allow a paternity test over the objections of the presumed father.

Background

In January 2017, Jocelyn, born in 2007, and her seven siblings were remanded to the care and custody of the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) in a neglect and abuse proceeding. They were placed in kinship foster care due to allegations of inadequate guardianship and lack of food, clothing and shelter. Their kinship foster parents were the adult children of the respondent.

Published on: November 9, 2022

Parent who attended to the educational, medical, and emotional needs of the child awarded sole custody. Katie S. v. Christopher K., 2021 N.Y. Slip Op. 51145 (N.Y. Fam. Ct. 2021)

by Stephen Bilkis

When a New York court issues a custody order that is not deemed a temporary custody order, the order is considered final. The court wants children to have stability. The court, however, will modify a custody order if the situation warrants. For example, if a child is over 12 years old and wants to live with the other parent, that might warrant a modification. If a parent becomes abusive or develops a substance abuse issue, the court would view that as a reason to modify the custody arrangement. Another grounds for modifying custody would be one parent interfering with the other parent’s access to the child. There must be a change in circumstances such that modifying the custody order would be in the best interests of the child.

In Katie S. v. Christopher K., the New York Family Court was asked to determine whether there were changed circumstances such that a change in custody was warranted.

Background

Published on: November 7, 2022

Court determined that it was in the best interests of the children to remain in New York and not move with their father to Massachusetts. Matter of Daniel W v Lauren S 2021 NY Slip Op 51146(U)

by Stephen Bilkis

Generally, custody orders prohibit a parent from relocating with the children without the consent of the other parent, even if the parent is the custodial parent. When a parent wants to relocate with the children, the stage is often set for a custody battle. In determining this issue, as always, the court will do what is in the best interests of the child.

In Matter of Daniel W v Lauren S the court was asked to determine whether to allow the father to relocate with the children to their hometown despite opposition from the mother. As a result, each party sought sole custody of the children and primary physical residency.

Background