Opinion
2022–00102 Docket No. V–29816–18
02-22-2023
In the Matter of Giancarlos HERNANDEZ, appellant, v. Olga VIANA, respondent.
Denise S. Siler, Brooklyn, NY, for appellant. Miechia L. Gulley, Brooklyn, NY, for respondent. Diana Kelly, Jamaica, NY, attorney for the child.
Denise S. Siler, Brooklyn, NY, for appellant.
Miechia L. Gulley, Brooklyn, NY, for respondent.
Diana Kelly, Jamaica, NY, attorney for the child.
MARK C. DILLON, J.P., LINDA CHRISTOPHER, JOSEPH A. ZAYAS, BARRY E. WARHIT, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER In related proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 6, the father appeals from an order of the Family Court, Kings County (Nisha Menon, Ct. Atty. Ref.), dated January 3, 2022. The order, insofar as appealed from, after a hearing, granted that branch of the mother's cross-petition which was for permission to relocate with the parties’ child to Virginia.
ORDERED that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements.
The parties, who were never married, have one child together, born in 2014. In 2018, the father filed a petition for joint legal and physical custody of the child, and, in 2019, the mother filed a cross-petition for sole legal and physical custody of the child and for permission to relocate with the child to Virginia. Following a hearing, the Family Court, inter alia, awarded the mother sole legal and physical custody of the child and granted the mother permission to relocate with the child to Virginia. The father appeals.
"In any child custody dispute, the court's paramount concern is to determine, under the totality of the circumstances, what is in the best interests of the child" ( Matter of Olea v. Diaz, 194 A.D.3d 721, 722, 143 N.Y.S.3d 583 ; see Eschbach v. Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d 167, 171, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260 ; Lavery v. O'Sullivan, 205 A.D.3d 1013, 1014, 169 N.Y.S.3d 632 ; Matter of Eckstein v. Young, 176 A.D.3d 813, 815, 112 N.Y.S.3d 227 ). "Where, as here, a party seeks permission to relocate in the context of a petition seeking an initial custody determination, the strict application of the factors relevant to a relocation petition is not required" ( Matter of Lawrence v. Mattry, 179 A.D.3d 687, 687–688, 113 N.Y.S.3d 600 ; see Matter of Eckstein v. Young, 176 A.D.3d at 815, 112 N.Y.S.3d 227 ). "Rather, the relocation is but one factor among many for the Family Court to consider in determining what is in the best interests of the child" ( Matter of Lawrence v. Mattry, 179 A.D.3d at 688, 113 N.Y.S.3d 600 ; see Matter of Eckstein v. Young, 176 A.D.3d at 815, 112 N.Y.S.3d 227 ). "Other relevant factors include which alternative will best promote stability, the effect of domestic violence on the child's best interests, ... the relative fitness of the parents, the quality of the home environment, the parents’ financial status, the parental guidance given to the child, the ability of each parent to provide for the child's emotional and intellectual development, and the effect an award of custody to one parent might have on the child's relationship with the other parent" ( Matter of Eckstein v. Young, 176 A.D.3d at 815, 112 N.Y.S.3d 227 [citations and internal quotation marks omitted]; see Eschbach v. Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d at 171–172, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260 ; Matter of Olea v. Diaz, 194 A.D.3d at 722, 143 N.Y.S.3d 583 ). Since custody determinations depend to a great extent upon an assessment of the credibility of the witnesses and the character, temperament, and sincerity of the parties, "[t]he credibility findings of the Family Court will be accorded great weight and its determinations regarding custody and [parental access] will not be disturbed unless they lack a sound and substantial basis in the record" ( Matter of Eckstein v. Young, 176 A.D.3d at 815, 112 N.Y.S.3d 227 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Lavery v. O'Sullivan, 205 A.D.3d at 1014, 169 N.Y.S.3d 632 ).
Here, contrary to the father's contention, the Family Court's determination to permit the mother to relocate with the child to Virginia has a sound and substantial basis in the record, based upon the totality of the circumstances (see Eschbach v. Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d at 174, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260 ; Lavery v. O'Sullivan, 205 A.D.3d at 1014, 169 N.Y.S.3d 632 ; Matter of Eckstein v. Young, 176 A.D.3d at 815, 112 N.Y.S.3d 227 ). Among other things, the evidence established that the mother was the child's primary caretaker and was responsible for the child's medical and educational needs (see Matter of Eckstein v. Young, 176 A.D.3d at 815, 112 N.Y.S.3d 227 ). Moreover, the mother established that the child's emotional and economic circumstances, as well as her educational opportunities, would be enhanced by the mother's proposed relocation (see Matter of Yu Chao Tan v. Hong Shan Kuang, 136 A.D.3d 933, 935, 25 N.Y.S.3d 339 ; Matter of Caruso v. Cruz, 114 A.D.3d 769, 772, 980 N.Y.S.2d 137 ; Matter of Clarke v. Boertlein, 82 A.D.3d 976, 977–978, 919 N.Y.S.2d 51 ; cf. Matter of Barker v. Rohack, 173 A.D.3d 1173, 1175, 105 N.Y.S.3d 478 ). Further, in making its determination, the court properly considered the effects of domestic violence upon the child (see Levitin v. Levitin, 167 A.D.3d 589, 590, 89 N.Y.S.3d 256 ). Although relocation will have an inevitable impact on the father's parenting time, the court directed a liberal parental access schedule that included alternating weekends, extended summer visits, and visits during school vacations, which will allow for the continuation of a meaningful relationship between the father and the child (see Matter of Banks v. DeLeon, 174 A.D.3d 598, 600, 101 N.Y.S.3d 885 ; Matter of Dockery v. Reid–O'Garro, 161 A.D.3d 1147, 1148–1149, 77 N.Y.S.3d 480 ).
The father's remaining contentions are without merit.
Accordingly, the Family Court properly granted that branch fo the mother's petition which was for permission to relocate with the child to Virginia.
DILLON, J.P., CHRISTOPHER, ZAYAS and WARHIT, JJ., concur.