Opinion
03-20-2024
In the Matter of Michellee Janette HOLLEY, respondent, v. Abdul H. MILLS, appellant.
Lisa A. Manfro, Glen Cove, NY, for appellant. Linda C. Braunsberg, Staten Island, NY, for respondent. Liberty Aldrich, Brooklyn, NY (Eva D. Stein and Janet Neustaetter of counsel), attorney for the child.
Lisa A. Manfro, Glen Cove, NY, for appellant.
Linda C. Braunsberg, Staten Island, NY, for respondent.
Liberty Aldrich, Brooklyn, NY (Eva D. Stein and Janet Neustaetter of counsel), attorney for the child.
MARK C. DILLON, J.P., PAUL WOOTEN, BARRY E. WARHIT, LILLIAN WAN, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER
In related proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 6, the father appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County (IDV Part) (Esther M. Morgenstern, J.), dated December 5, 2022. The order, without a hearing, dismissed, for lack of jurisdiction, the father’s petition to modify an order of the same court dated May 31, 2022, so as to award him sole physical custody of the parties’ child.
ORDERED that the order dated December 5, 2022, is reversed, on the law, without costs or disbursements, the petition is reinstated, and the matter is remitted to the Supreme Court, Kings County, for further proceedings consistent herewith.
The parties are the parents of a child born in 2012, In November 2018, the Supreme Court granted the mother’s application to relocate with the child from New York to Connecticut. In an order dated May 31, 2022, the court awarded sole custody of the child to the mother and suspended the father’s parental access upon the father’s default in appearing at a scheduled court appearance. The father subsequently filed a petition to modify the order dated May 31, 2022, so as to award him sole physical custody of the child. At a court appearance on December 5, 2022, the court stated, inter alia, that the mother had "relocated to Connecticut years ago" and that "[t]he [c]ourt no longer has jurisdiction." By order dated December 5, 2022, the court, without a hearing, dismissed the father’s petition "due to lack of jurisdiction." The father appeals.
The Supreme Court should not have summarily determined, without a hearing, that it lacked jurisdiction on the ground that the child had been residing in Connecticut. The court made previous custody determinations in relation to the child in conformity with the provisions of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act and, therefore, would ordinarily retain exclusive, continuing jurisdiction pursuant to Domestic Relations Law § 76–a (see Matter of Sutton v. Rivera, 200 A.D.3d 1048, 1049–1050, 155 N.Y.S.3d 810; Matter of Ralph E.B. v. Jovonna K.F., 173 A.D.3d 854, 105 N.Y.S.3d 444). In order to determine whether it lacked exclusive, continuing Jurisdiction pursuant to Domestic Relations Law § 76–a(1)(a), the court should have afforded the parties an opportunity to present evidence as to whether the child had maintained a significant connection with New York and whether substantial evidence was available in New York concerning the child’s "care, protection, training, and personal relationships" (see Matter of Sutton v. Rivera, 200 A.D.3d at 1050, 155 N.Y.S.3d 810; Matter of Ralph E.B. v. Jovonna K.F., 173 A.D.3d at 854, 105 N.Y.S.3d 444; Pyronneau v. Pyronneau, 130 A.D.3d 707, 708, 11 N.Y.S.3d 881).
Accordingly, the matter is remitted to the Supreme Court, Kings County, for a hearing to determine whether it retains exclusive, continuing jurisdiction over the parties’ dispute (see Matter of Ralph E.B. v. Jovonna K.F., 173 A.D.3d at 855, 105 N.Y.S.3d 444; Pyronneau v. Pyronneau, 130 A.D.3d at 708, 11 N.Y.S.3d 881).
The parties’ remaining contentions either are without merit or need not be reached in light of our determination.
DILLON, J.P., WOOTEN, WARHIT and WAN, JJ., concur.