Opinion
2017–09473
06-26-2019
In the Matter of Shahzad GULZAR, Respondent-Appellant, v. Shandy GULZAR, Appellant-Respondent.
Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, New York, N.Y. (William R. Maguire, John McGoey, Sabrine Tribie, and Nathan Cole of counsel), for appellant-respondent. Daniel E. Lubetsky, Jamaica, NY, for respondent-appellant. Ivette M. Zelaya, Jamaica, NY, attorney for the child Lailah. Janet L. Brown, Jamaica, NY, attorney for the child Junaid.
Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, New York, N.Y. (William R. Maguire, John McGoey, Sabrine Tribie, and Nathan Cole of counsel), for appellant-respondent.
Daniel E. Lubetsky, Jamaica, NY, for respondent-appellant.
Ivette M. Zelaya, Jamaica, NY, attorney for the child Lailah.
Janet L. Brown, Jamaica, NY, attorney for the child Junaid.
WILLIAM F. MASTRO, J.P., RUTH C. BALKIN, BETSY BARROS, LINDA CHRISTOPHER, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER In related proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 6, the father appeals, and the mother cross-appeals, from an order of the Family Court, Queens County (Margaret M. Mulrooney, Ct. Atty. Ref.), dated August 24, 2017. The order, insofar as appealed from, after a hearing, in effect, granted the mother's petition for sole custody of the parties' daughter. The order, insofar as cross-appealed from, after the hearing, in effect, denied the mother's petition for sole custody of the parties' son and awarded the father sole custody of the parties' son.
ORDERED that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed and cross-appealed from, without costs or disbursements.
A hearing, including in camera interviews of both children, commenced on June 4, 2012, and was concluded on October 9, 2015. Both parties requested sole custody of the children. Following the submission of written summations, and after allegations, inter alia, that the mother had hit the son, the Family Court conducted a second in camera interview of the son. In an order dated August 24, 2017, the court, among other things, awarded the father sole custody of the son and awarded the mother sole custody of the daughter. The father appeals, and the mother cross-appeals.
In determining the best interest of the children, the court must consider, among other things, "(1) which alternative will best promote stability; (2) the available home environments; (3) the past performance of each parent; (4) each parent's relative fitness, including his or her ability to guide the child, provide for the child's overall well being, and foster the child's relationship with the noncustodial parent; and (5) the child's desires" ( Matter of Supangkat v. Torres , 101 A.D.3d 889, 890, 954 N.Y.S.2d 915 ; see Matter of Dante v. Dante , 170 A.D.3d 829, 830, 93 N.Y.S.3d 892 ; Matter of Lintao v. Delgado , 168 A.D.3d 739, 740, 91 N.Y.S.3d 204 ; Altieri v. Altieri , 156 A.D.3d 667, 668, 66 N.Y.S.3d 323 ). While the Appellate Division's authority in reviewing a child custody determination is as broad as that of the hearing court, the hearing court's determination should not be disturbed unless it lacks a sound and substantial basis in the record, as such determinations turn in large part on assessments of the credibility, character, temperament, and sincerity of the parties (see Levitin v. Levitin , 167 A.D.3d 589, 591, 89 N.Y.S.3d 256 ; Fenech v. Fenech , 141 A.D.3d 683, 685, 35 N.Y.S.3d 471 ; Matter of Gooler v. Gooler , 107 A.D.3d 712, 712, 966 N.Y.S.2d 208 ; Albert v. Albert , 60 A.D.3d 979, 979, 876 N.Y.S.2d 442 ).
Additionally, while courts should be reluctant to separate siblings (see Eschbach v. Eschbach , 56 N.Y.2d at 173, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260 ), there are circumstances in which "the best interests of each child lies with a different parent" ( Wurm v. Wurm , 87 A.D.2d 590, 591, 447 N.Y.S.2d 758 ; see Matter of Delafrange v. Delafrange , 24 A.D.3d 1044, 806 N.Y.S.2d 769 ; Klat v. Klat , 176 A.D.2d 922, 923–924, 575 N.Y.S.2d 536 ; Matter of Bilodeau v. Bilodeau , 161 A.D.2d 906, 907, 557 N.Y.S.2d 471 ). Here, the Family Court's determination that a split custody arrangement was in the children's best interests has a sound and substantial basis in the record and will not be disturbed (see Matter of Lightbody v. Lightbody , 42 A.D.3d 537, 538, 840 N.Y.S.2d 131 ).
Contrary to the mother's contention, the Family Court providently exercised its discretion in reopening the hearing for the limited purpose of conducting a second in camera interview of the son (see Matter of Jewelisbeth JJ. [Emmanuel KK.] , 97 A.D.3d 887, 889, 948 N.Y.S.2d 701 ; Matter of Julia BB. [Diana BB.] , 42 A.D.3d 208, 215, 837 N.Y.S.2d 398 ; see also Matter of Lopez v. Reyes , 171 A.D.3d 1179, 99 N.Y.S.3d 93 ; E.V. v. R.V. , 130 A.D.3d 920, 921, 14 N.Y.S.3d 145 ). The parties' remaining contentions are without merit or do not require reversal.
MASTRO, J.P., BALKIN, BARROS and CHRISTOPHER, JJ., concur.