Opinion
2013-06-12
In the Matter of Timothy W. McVEY, appellant, v. Katherine I. BARNETT, respondent. (Proceeding No. 1) In the Matter of Katherine I. Barnett, respondent, v. Timothy W. McVey, appellant. (Proceeding No. 2) In the Matter of Katherine I. Barnett, respondent, v. Timothy W. McVey, appellant. (Proceeding No. 3).
Timothy W. McVey, Montgomery, N.Y., appellant pro se. Katherine I. Barnett, Wallkill, N.Y., respondent pro se.
Timothy W. McVey, Montgomery, N.Y., appellant pro se. Katherine I. Barnett, Wallkill, N.Y., respondent pro se.
Robert D. Siano, White Plains, N.Y., attorney for the child.
MARK C. DILLON, J.P., CHERYL E. CHAMBERS, LEONARD B. AUSTIN, and SYLVIA HINDS–RADIX, JJ.
In related child custody, visitation, and support proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act articles 4 and 6, the father appeals, as limited by his brief, (1) from so much of an order of the Family Court, Orange County (Currier–Woods, J.), dated October 20, 2011, as, after a hearing, granted the mother's petition to modify a prior order of custody and visitation of the same court dated October 26, 2009, so as to award her sole legal and physical custody of the subject child, and (2) from so much of an order of the same court dated April 27, 2012, as granted the mother's objection to a prior order of support of the same court (Krahulik, S.M.) entered March 1, 2012, to the extent of awarding her retroactive child support in the sum of $6,723.
ORDERED that the orders dated October 20, 2011, and April 27, 2012, are affirmed insofar as appealed from, with one bill of costs.
“In order to modify an existing custody or visitation arrangement, there must be a showing that there has been a change in circumstances such that modification is required to protect the best interests of the child” ( Matter of Francois v. Grimm, 84 A.D.3d 1082, 924 N.Y.S.2d 275 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Family Court Act § 652). “The essential consideration in any custody controversy is the best interests of the child” ( Matter of McDonough v. McDonough, 73 A.D.3d 1067, 1068, 899 N.Y.S.2d 892). “The best interests of the child are determined by a review of the totality of the circumstances” ( Matter of Garcia v. Fountain, 82 A.D.3d 979, 980, 918 N.Y.S.2d 729). “Although a child's wishes are not determinative, his or her wishes, age, and maturity should be given considerable weight” ( Matter of Luo v. Yang, 103 A.D.3d 636, 637, 959 N.Y.S.2d 255). “Since custody determinations depend in large part on the trial court's assessment of the character and credibility of the parties and witnesses, that court's findings are generally accorded deference and will not be disturbed unless they lack a sound and substantial basis in the record” ( Matter of Guzman v. Pizarro, 102 A.D.3d 964, 965, 958 N.Y.S.2d 491 [citations omitted]; see Matter of Mollet v. Mollet, 99 A.D.3d 1007, 1008, 952 N.Y.S.2d 470).
Considering the totality of the circumstances, including the wishes of the subject child, which were expressed when he was 15 years old, the Family Court's determination that there had been a sufficient change in circumstances requiring a change in custody to protect the best interests of the child has sound and substantial basis in the record and, thus, should not be disturbed ( see Matter of Guzman v. Pizarro, 102 A.D.3d at 965, 958 N.Y.S.2d 491;Matter of Mollet v. Mollet, 99 A.D.3d at 1008, 952 N.Y.S.2d 470;Matter of Francois v. Grimm, 84 A.D.3d at 1082, 924 N.Y.S.2d 275;Matter of McDonough v. McDonough, 73 A.D.3d at 1068, 899 N.Y.S.2d 892).
Contrary to the father's contention, the Support Magistrate's determination of basic child support was proper. Since the combined parental income exceeded $136,000, the court, in its discretion, could apply the applicable percentage, in this case 17% for one child, or the factors set forth in Family Court Act § 413(1)(f), or both, to the parental income in excess of $136,000 ( seeFamily Court Act §§ 413[1][b][3][i], [c][3], [g]; Matter of Cassano v. Cassano, 85 N.Y.2d 649, 652–653, 628 N.Y.S.2d 10, 651 N.E.2d 878;Finke v. Finke, 15 A.D.3d 615, 618, 790 N.Y.S.2d 224;Matter of Cody v. Evans–Cody, 291 A.D.2d 27, 29, 735 N.Y.S.2d 181). The Support Magistrate properly applied the percentage to $136,000 of the parties' combined income in determining basic child support. However, the Support Magistrate erred in deducting $3,500 from the mother's retroactive child support for the period of August 19, 2011, to February 23, 2012, and, accordingly, should have awarded the mother $6,723, rather than $3,223, in retroactive child support for that period.
The father's remaining contentions are without merit or are not properly before this Court.