New York Family Law Blog

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

Published on: November 2, 2022

Court denied a parent’s request that the AFC be removed. Proceeding Under Article 6 of the Family Court Act D.D. v. R.M., 2021 N.Y. Slip Op. 50796 (N.Y. Fam. Ct. 2021)

by Stephen Bilkis

In New York, the purpose of the Attorneys for Children Program (AFC) is to provide representation to minors in court proceedings such as proceedings related to custody and visitation. The AFC is not to show bias for or against any parent. They are to advocate for the child and make decisions based on what is in the child’s best interests. In Proceeding Under Article 6 of the Family Court Act D.D. v. R.M., the court was asked to decide if there should be a custody modification giving sole custody of the children to the father due to the mother violating the custody order. During the proceeding the mother accused the AFC of being inappropriately aligned with the father and filed a motion to have the AFC removed.

Background

The father is entitled to weekly parenting time every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:45 PM to 6:30 PM, and every other Friday to Sunday from 6AM to 6PM, and that he has not seen or Face-Timed with the Children since March 16, 2021. He alleges that although he has arrived at the mother’s home to pick up the Children for all his Court-ordered parenting time, the mother has refused to bring the Children out of the house, and she claims that the Children are afraid of the father and that they do not want to see the father.

Published on: October 31, 2022

Court denied custody modification due to lack of changed circumstances. S.J. v. K.A., 2021 N.Y. Slip Op. 50215 (N.Y. Fam. Ct. 2021)

by Stephen Bilkis

In New York, the court will not change a custody order unless there has been changed circumstances. In other words, the court does want parents to file petitions to modify custody every few months. Not only would this be a burden on the courts, ever changing custody arrangements would lead to instability in the children’s lives. Of course, if there was a finding of child abuse, the court would order a modification to the custody order. In addition, if the custodial parent intentionally makes it difficult for the noncustodial parent to take advantage of their parenting time, the court would consider a modification to the custody order.

Examples of changed circumstances include the child is over 12 years old and requests a change; one parent has abandoned or neglected the child, a parent is incarcerated, or one of the parents suffered from substance abuse.

In S.J. v. K.A, the court was asked to determine whether there were changed circumstances such that a modification of the custody order was warranted.

Published on: October 26, 2022

Court modified custody order from father having full custody to mother having full custody. S.N. v. J.A., 2021 N.Y. Slip Op. 50304 (N.Y. Fam. Ct. 2021)

by Stephen Bilkis

In New York, a child custody order can only be changed under specific conditions, including if there has been changed circumstances such that it would be in the best interests of the child that the court modify the child custody order. In this case, the Family Court was asked to consider whether a modification of the custody was appropriate given the circumstances.

Background

The mother and father were parents a child. A March 2017 order granted the father sole custody of the child. The mother now seeks a modification of the order granting her sole custody. The child was born on May 16, 2014. Following the mother’s admission that the child suffered an unexplained injury while in her care, on December 4, 2014, the Suffolk County Family Court issued an order placing the child with the sister of the purported father and permitting the mother supervised visitation. After it was determined that the purported father was not the child’s father, the child was placed with the mother’s aunt and uncle. On March 10, 2016, a final order of protection was issued against the mother on behalf of the child for two years. When paternity was established, the child’s father filed for full custody and it was granted on March 3, 2017. The mother was granted supervised visits with her mother doing the supervising.

Published on: October 24, 2022

Family Court granted petition to vacate child support arrears settlement agreement. Michelle B. v. Thomas Y., 2022 N.Y. Slip Op. 50020 (N.Y. Fam. Ct. 2022)

by Stephen Bilkis

In a case about a child support arrears settlement agreement, the Family Court was asked to determine whether a mutual mistake of fact was sufficient grounds to vacate the settlement agreement and reinstate the full amount of the arrears.

Background

The mother and father are parents of a child born in 1992. The father was ordered to pay child support through the Support Collection Unit (“SCU”). However, he quickly accumulated an arrears. As of November 13, 2019, when the parties initially appeared before a Support Magistrate, the father had outstanding arrears of $206,055.44 for the child who was then an adult.

Published on: October 19, 2022

Should an incarcerated mother who severely abused her children be permitted visitation? Y.Y.W. v. Z.G., 2022 N.Y. Slip Op. 50071 (N.Y. Fam. Ct. 2022)

by Stephen Bilkis

In Y.Y.W. v. Z.G., the mother filed a petition seeking to modify two prior final orders, which denied her custody of her two sons and also prohibited visitation. The orders gave the father full legal and physical custody of the subject children.

Background

In 2016, Hon. Ilana Gruebel found clear and convincing evidence that the mother had severely abused, abused and neglected the older son and consequently derivatively severely abused, abused and neglected the younger son, with whom she was pregnant at the time. The older son was brought to the hospital and was found to have suffered severe injuries from abuse. There were 49 bruises on his body and puncture wounds on his face. As a result of the abuse, he suffered permanent injuries including inability to breathe on his own, inability to eat on his own, complete immobility, and loss of sight.

Published on: October 17, 2022

What is the standard for changing a custody agreement? A.L. v V.T.L. 2022 NY Slip Op 22017

by Stephen Bilkis

In A.L. v V.T.L., the Family Court, Rockland County, was asked to consider the standard for changing a custody agreement that gave one parent final decision-making authority over health-related decision for the children. Here, the issue that led to the dispute was the mother’s decision to vaccinate their younger child for COVID.

Background

The parties married on January 26, 2008. The have two children together: A.T.L. born in 2008 and M.T.L. born in 2010. The parties divorced on May 28, 2015. They signed a Stipulation of Settlement on March 27, 2015 which provide that the parties were to have joint legal custody of the children and that the parties were to jointly consult and agree with each other with respect to the children’s health. It also stated that in the event the parties are unable to agree upon a decision, the mother shall have final decision making authority, subject to the father’s right to seek court intervention.

Published on: October 12, 2022

Can parental access to a child be conditioned on COVID vaccination or COVID testing?, C.B. v. D.B., 2021 NY Slip Op 21268

by Stephen Bilkis

While vaccinations have been around for decades, none have caused as much controversy as the COVID vaccine. In C.B. v. D.B., the Supreme Court, New York County, was asked to determine whether a custodial parent require the noncustodial parent to be vaccinated or show a negative test as a condition for assess to the child.

Background

The parties were married in 2015, and their child, a daughter, was born in 2018. After intense marital discord, the mother (plaintiff) commenced this action for divorce in September of 2019. The mother, describing defendant’s history of substance abuse and untreated mental health issues, as well as the significant periods where he had not seen the child at all, sought to have the father’s access subject to supervision. The court agreed.