Summary
In Matter of Mitchell v Mitchell (67 A.D.2d 924), the Appellate Division reversed a Family Court custody determination which it found to be less than full and thorough since neither of the parties was given sufficient time to prepare their cases adequately, and present them effectively.
Summary of this case from Leslie L.F. v. Constance FOpinion
February 5, 1979
In a proceeding pursuant to article 4 of the Family Court Act, the petitioner wife appeals (by permission) from an order of the Family Court, Queens County, dated December 12, 1978, which, inter alia, awarded "temporary" custody of the child of the marriage to the respondent. Order reversed, with costs, and proceeding remanded to the Family Court for a hearing to determine custody, visitation rights, and support. The parties came before the Family Court having reached a tentative agreement on all matters concerning the breakup of their marriage except the details of visitation. Their child, then three years of age, had been in her mother's physical custody since the breakup four months earlier. The court raised the issue of custody, sua sponte, and ordered the return of the child to her father, who was to have custody from Monday through Friday. The petitioner was to have custody on weekends. The question of whether a parent has time to take care of a child is an important one when custody is in issue (cf. Bullotta v. Bullotta, 43 A.D.2d 847). There is nothing in the record to indicate that the petitioner cannot properly care for her child because of her employment. Moreover, serious questions were raised concerning the respondent's fitness and those questions were not adequately answered in the course of the brief hearing that resulted in this order. Any change in custody, however brief the period, is disruptive (cf. Matter of Nehra v. Uhlar, 43 N.Y.2d 242, 249). The order under review would give the respondent physical custody of the child for five days a week and leave final determination of custody until some unspecified time in the future. Such changes in custody should be avoided unless they are necessary (see Dintruff v. McGreevy, 34 N.Y.2d 887). A change in custody should, at the very least, follow a full hearing in which all relevant aspects of the matter are considered and weighed by the court. (Obey v. Degling, 37 N.Y.2d 768.) The hearing in the instant case was inadequate. The custody issue was raised by the court, sua sponte, at the hearing and the parties, each of whom was represented by counsel, were not afforded an adequate opportunity to prepare their cases or to present such evidence as was available. No investigation was undertaken by the probation department and there was no independent evidence indicating the fitness of the respondent to have custody. The matter must therefore be remanded to Family Court for a hearing and determination on the issues of custody, visitation and support. Mollen, P.J., Hopkins, Rabin and Martuscello, JJ., concur.