Opinion
2018–12933 Docket No. V–5367–17
06-03-2020
In the Matter of Stephen C. MAHONEY, Respondent, v. Sibia B. RAMOS–ORTIZ, Appellant.
Salihah R. Denman, Harrison, NY, for appellant. Christopher E. Gurda, Middletown, NY, for respondent. Theoni Stamos–Salotto, Hopewell Junction, NY, attorney for the child.
Salihah R. Denman, Harrison, NY, for appellant.
Christopher E. Gurda, Middletown, NY, for respondent.
Theoni Stamos–Salotto, Hopewell Junction, NY, attorney for the child.
ALAN D. SCHEINKMAN, P.J., WILLIAM F. MASTRO, RUTH C. BALKIN, SYLVIA O. HINDS–RADIX, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER In a proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 6, the mother appeals from an order of the Family Court, Orange County (Lori Currier Woods, J.), dated October 18, 2018. The order, insofar as appealed from, after a hearing, awarded the father physical custody of the parties' child.
ORDERED that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements.
The parties are the parents of one child, who was born in 2011. In 2017, the father commenced this proceeding seeking custody of the child. After a hearing that included the testimony of both parents and an in camera interview with the child, the Family Court awarded the mother and the father joint legal custody of the child, with physical custody to the father. The mother appeals from so much of the order as awarded the father physical custody of the child.
" ‘The court's paramount concern in any custody dispute is to determine, under the totality of the circumstances, what is in the best interests of the child’ " ( Matter of Gooler v. Gooler, 107 A.D.3d 712, 712, 966 N.Y.S.2d 208, quoting Matter of Julie v. Wills, 73 A.D.3d 777, 777, 899 N.Y.S.2d 669 ; see Eschbach v. Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d 167, 171, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260 ). In determining an initial petition for child custody, 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 ). Custody determinations depend to a great extent upon an assessment of the character and credibility of the parties and witnesses, and therefore, deference is accorded to the trial court's findings in this regard (see Matter of Gooler v. Gooler, 107 A.D.3d at 712, 966 N.Y.S.2d 208 ). Such findings will not be disturbed unless they lack a sound and substantial basis in the record (see id. ; see also Matter of Frankiv v. Kalitka, 105 A.D.3d 1045, 963 N.Y.S.2d 393 ).
Here, the Family Court's determination that the child's best interest would be served by awarding physical custody to the father has a sound and substantial basis in the record and will not be disturbed (see Matter of Gooler v. Gooler, 107 A.D.3d 712, 966 N.Y.S.2d 208 ; Matter of Gasby v. Chung, 88 A.D.3d 709, 930 N.Y.S.2d 471 ; Matter of Quinones v. Gonzalez, 79 A.D.3d 893, 912 N.Y.S.2d 432 ).
SCHEINKMAN, P.J., MASTRO, BALKIN and HINDS–RADIX, JJ., concur.