Opinion
2011-12-27
In the Matter of Gregory DEMETER, respondent, v. Gladys ALAYON, appellant.
Tennille M. Tatum–Evans, New York, N.Y., for appellant. Barton R. Resnicoff, Great Neck, N.Y., for respondent.
Tennille M. Tatum–Evans, New York, N.Y., for appellant. Barton R. Resnicoff, Great Neck, N.Y., for respondent.
Angela T. Starr, Massapequa Park, N.Y., attorney for the child.
In a custody and visitation proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 6, the mother appeals from an amended order of disposition of the Family Court, Queens County (McGrady, Ct. Atty. Ref.), dated February 8, 2010, which, after a fact-finding and dispositional hearing, inter alia, awarded the parties joint legal custody of the subject child and conditioned an award of joint residential custody on the mother's relocation to New Jersey by September 2010.
ORDERED that the amended order of disposition is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
In adjudicating custody issues, the paramount concern is the best interests of the child ( see Eschbach v. Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d 167, 171, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260; Matter of Perez v. Martinez, 52 A.D.3d 518, 519, 860 N.Y.S.2d 128; Matter of Brass v. Otero, 40 A.D.3d 752, 835 N.Y.S.2d 675). Since the Family Court's determination in a custody dispute is based upon a first-hand assessment of the parties, as well as their credibility, character, and temperament, and the Family Court's credibility determinations are to be accorded great weight on appeal, such a determination should not be disturbed unless it lacks a sound and substantial basis in the record ( see Eschbach v. Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d at 173, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260; Matter of Perez v. Martinez, 52 A.D.3d 518, 860 N.Y.S.2d 128; Matter of Brass v. Otero, 40 A.D.3d 752, 835 N.Y.S.2d 675).
Contrary to the mother's contentions, the Family Court properly considered the totality of the circumstances in determining that the best interests of the child would be served by awarding the parties joint legal and residential custody ( see Eschbach v. Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d at 174, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260; Matter of Perez v. Martinez, 52 A.D.3d at 519, 860 N.Y.S.2d 128). Although there is some antagonism between the parties, it is also apparent that they are both good and loving parents to their daughter, and that she is equally attached to both of them ( see Matter of Marriott v. Hernandez, 55 A.D.3d 613, 614, 865 N.Y.S.2d 624; Teuschler v. Teuschler, 242 A.D.2d 289, 290, 660 N.Y.S.2d 744).
The Family Court did not improvidently exercise its discretion when it conditioned joint residential custody on the mother's relocation to New Jersey, where the father resides. Since the child has begun school, the parents must live close to each other in order to equally share parenting time.