Opinion
2014-07-2
In the Matter of JORGE A.V.G. (Anonymous). Marta G. (Anonymous), appellant.
Theo Liebmann, Hempstead, N.Y., for appellant. Janis M. Noto, Bay Shore, N.Y., attorney for the child.
Theo Liebmann, Hempstead, N.Y., for appellant. Janis M. Noto, Bay Shore, N.Y., attorney for the child.
In a guardianship proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 6, the petitioner Marta G. appeals from an order of the Family Court, Nassau County (Stack, J.H.O.), dated October 25, 2013, which, without a hearing, dismissed the petition.
ORDERED that the order is reversed, on the law, without costs or disbursements, the guardianship petition is reinstated, and the matter is remitted to the Family Court, Nassau County, for a hearing and determination of the petition thereafter.
The Family Court erred in dismissing the petition in which the subject child's great-aunt and his mother requested an order appointing them as coguardians of the mother's natural child. Contrary to the Family Court's finding, a parent may be appointed the guardian of his or her own child ( seeSCPA 1703; Matter of Marisol N.H., 115 A.D.3d 185, 979 N.Y.S.2d 643;Matter of Maria G.G.U. v. Pedro H.P., 114 A.D.3d 691, 979 N.Y.S.2d 843;Matter of Maura A.R.-R. [Santos F.R.-Fidel R.], 114 A.D.3d 687, 979 N.Y.S.2d 701;Matter of Maria E.S.G. v. Jose C.G.L., 114 A.D.3d 677, 979 N.Y.S.2d 841). Furthermore, the Family Court failed to conduct a hearing to determine whether appointing coguardians for the subject child was in his best interests, which is the paramount consideration ( see Matter of Marisol N.H., 115 A.D.3d 185, 979 N.Y.S.2d 643;Matter of Maria G.G.U. v. Pedro H.P., 114 A.D.3d 691, 979 N.Y.S.2d 843;Matter of Maria E.S.G. v. Jose C.G.L., 114 A.D.3d 677, 979 N.Y.S.2d 841;Matter of Ashley W. [Verdele F.], 85 A.D.3d 807, 809, 925 N.Y.S.2d 551;Matter of Alamgir A., 81 A.D.3d 937, 917 N.Y.S.2d 309).
Since the Family Court dismissed the subject petition without conducting a hearing to consider the best interests of the child, we remit the matter to the Family Court, Nassau County, for a hearing and determination of the guardianship petition thereafter ( see Matter of Maria G.G.U. v. Pedro H.P., 114 A.D.3d 691, 979 N.Y.S.2d 843;Matter of Maria E.S.G. v. Jose C.G.L., 114 A.D.3d 677, 979 N.Y.S.2d 841;Matter of Ashley W. [Verdele F.], 85 A.D.3d at 809, 925 N.Y.S.2d 551;cf. Matter of Sanchez v. Bonilla, 115 A.D.3d 868, 982 N.Y.S.2d 373). MASTRO, J.P., LEVENTHAL, LOTT and MILLER, JJ., concur.