Opinion
2013-10885, Docket Nos. V-20778-9/10, V-33123-4/10.
04-29-2015
In the Matter of Christopher McFARLANE, respondent, v. Kwana NEWTON, appellant.
Zvi Ostrin, New York, N.Y., for appellant. Golding & Associates, PLLC, New York, N.Y. (Kevin Golding and Evelyn Abiola of counsel), for respondent. Karen P. Simmons, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Laura Solecki and Janet Neustaetter of counsel), attorney for the child.
Zvi Ostrin, New York, N.Y., for appellant.
Golding & Associates, PLLC, New York, N.Y. (Kevin Golding and Evelyn Abiola of counsel), for respondent.
Karen P. Simmons, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Laura Solecki and Janet Neustaetter of counsel), attorney for the child.
Opinion Appeal from an order of the Family Court, Kings County (William Franc Perry, J.), dated November 14, 2013. The order, inter alia, after a hearing, granted the father's petition for sole legal and physical custody of the subject child.
ORDERED that the order is affirmed, with costs.
In adjudicating custody rights, the most important factor to be considered is the best interests of the child (see Eschbach v. Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d 167, 171, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260 ; Matter of McQueen v. Legette, 125 A.D.3d 863, 1 N.Y.S.3d 845 ; Matter of McKoy v. Vatter, 106 A.D.3d 1090, 965 N.Y.S.2d 200 ; Matter of Roldan v. Nieves, 76 A.D.3d 634, 905 N.Y.S.2d 772 ). “As custody determinations turn in large part on assessments of the credibility, character, temperament, and sincerity of the parties, the Family Court's determination should not be disturbed unless it lacks a sound and substantial basis in the record” (Matter of Tori v. Tori, 103 A.D.3d 654, 655, 958 N.Y.S.2d 510 ; see Eschbach v. Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d at 173, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260 ; Matter of McKoy v. Vatter, 106 A.D.3d at 1090, 965 N.Y.S.2d 200 ; Matter of Cooper v. Robertson, 97 A.D.3d 743, 744, 948 N.Y.S.2d 417 ; Matter of Clarke v. Boertlein, 82 A.D.3d 976, 977, 919 N.Y.S.2d 51 ). Here, the Family Court's determination that the child's best interests would be served by an award of custody to the father has a sound and substantial basis in the record (see Matter of McLennan v. Gordon, 122 A.D.3d 742, 743, 996 N.Y.S.2d 339 ; Nolan v. Nolan, 104 A.D.3d 1102, 1105, 962 N.Y.S.2d 453 ; Matter of Vasquez v. Ortiz, 77 A.D.3d 962, 909 N.Y.S.2d 155 ).
HALL, J.P., SGROI, MILLER and HINDS–RADIX, JJ., concur.