Custody

Published on: February 13, 2014

Father Appeals Custody and Visitation Ruling

by Stephen Bilkis

A New York Family Lawyer said in a custody and visitation proceeding, the father appeals, as limited by his brief, from so much of an order of the Family Court, Kings County, as, after a hearing, granted those branches of the separate motions of the mother and the subject children which were to dismiss that branch of his petition which sought to modify an order of custody and visitation on consent of the same court, so as to award him reasonable visitation with the subject children, and dismissed that portion of the proceeding.

A New York Child Custody Lawyer said that the subject children resided in California until the mother relocated with them to New York. In 2008, the mother filed a petition for sole legal and physical custody of the children. The father, who remained in California, submitted a sworn written response, wherein he consented to the mother’s custody of the children, who reportedly have special needs, but requested visitation.

Thereafter, an order of custody and visitation on consent was thereafter issued by the Family Court, awarding custody to the mother, and liberal but unspecified visitation to the father, “as the parties arrange and agree.” Two years later, the father commenced the instant proceeding by filing a petition requesting custody of the children or, alternatively, reasonable visitation. A hearing was held and, at the close of the father’s case, the mother and the subject children moved to dismiss the petition. The Family Court granted the motions, and dismissed the proceeding in its entirety. On appeal, the father challenges the dismissal of that branch of his petition which was for an award of reasonable visitation.

Published on: February 12, 2014

Guardian Seeks to Terminate Parental Rights

by Stephen Bilkis

The law guardian, on behalf of the subject child, moves to vacate a judgment, terminating the natural mother’s parental rights. The sole basis for the law guardian’s motion is that the subject child, now fourteen years of age, does not wish to be adopted by his maternal aunt with whom he has lived since the age of seven, in light of his affection for his mother. Initially, the law guardian cited no statutory basis for her motion.

A New York Family Lawyer said that the petitioner argues further that none of the statutory bases established by CPLR 5015 applies in this case. Petitioner contends that the only conceivable statutory ground for setting aside the judgment would be the existence of newly discovered evidence, which had it been introduced at trial, would probably have produced a different result. Petitioner further contends that the child’s change of mind regarding adoption is not evidence which would probably have produced a different result had it been introduced at the dispositional hearing on the petition to terminate the mother’s parental rights. The law guardian contends that the child’s change of mind is evidence of the sort which requires a new dispositional hearing, if not a dismissal of the termination petition.

Procedurally, a New York Child Custody Lawyer said the court concludes that Petitioner’s contention that the proceeding is governed by CPLR 5015, is correct. Although the law guardian contends that this court has inherent authority, under the doctrine of parens patriae, to set aside the previous judgment in the best interest of the subject child, the court’s powers are strictly defined and delimited by statute. Nothing in the Family Court Act or the Social Services Law authorizes the court to vacate a judgment committing custody and guardianship to a petitioning agency, once the judgment is entered. Unlike article 10 of the Family Court Act, which contains specific statutory authority to set aside, modify or to vacate any order issued in the course of a proceeding under that article, no such authority is conferred by any provision of Family Court Act article 6, which governs proceedings to terminate parental rights for permanent neglect of the subject child.

Published on: February 12, 2014

Father Appeals Child Support Order for Lack of Jurisdiction

by Stephen Bilkis

A New York Family Lawyer said this is a child support proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 4 where the father appeals from the order of the Family Court of Kings County dated 7 October 2009 granting the mother’s objection to an order of the same court dated 12 December 2008 dismissing her petition for an upward modification of child support for lack of subject matter jurisdiction to the extent of vacating the order dated 12 December 2008 and remitting the matter to the Support Magistrate to issue supplemental written findings of fact and a new determination on the issue of subject matter jurisdiction; and, the mother cross-appeals from the order dated 7 October 2009 granting her objection to the order dated 12 December 2008 only to the extent of vacating that order and remitting the matter to the Support Magistrate to issue supplemental written findings of fact and a new determination on the issue of subject matter jurisdiction.

The order dated 7 October 2009 was affirmed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements; and, the order dated 7 October 2009 was reversed insofar as cross-appealed from, on the law, without costs or disbursements, the mother’s objection was granted in its entirety, the order dated 12 December 2008 was vacated, and the matter was remitted to the Family Court of Kings County for further proceedings on the merits of the mother’s petition for an upward modification of child support.

A New York Child Custody Lawyer said the specific events that took place are as follows:

Published on: February 11, 2014

Father Claims Lack of Jurisdiction in Child Support Hearing

by Stephen Bilkis

A New York Family Lawyer said in a child support proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 4, the father appeals, by permission, as limited by his brief, from so much of an order of the Family Court, Kings County, as granted the mother’s objection to an order of the same court, dismissing her petition for an upward modification of child support for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, to the extent of vacating the order, and remitting the matter to the Support Magistrate to issue supplemental written findings of fact and a new determination on the issue of subject matter jurisdiction, and the mother cross-appeals, by permission, as limited by her brief, from so much of the order, as granted her objection to the order, only to the extent of vacating that order and remitting the matter to the Support Magistrate to issue supplemental written findings of fact and a new determination on the issue of subject matter jurisdiction.

A New York Custody Lawyer said that the mother, who at the time resided in Ithaca, filed a petition in the Family Court, Tompkins County, for child support with respect to the parties’ child. At the time, the father resided out of state. Pursuant to an order, the Family Court, Tompkins County, directed the father to pay the mother certain child support. Thereafter, the mother, who stated that she was residing in Brooklyn, filed a petition in the Family Court, Kings County, for an upward modification of child support against the father, who continued to live outside of New York State.

The father argued, inter alia, that the Family Court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to modify the child support, because New York had not remained the “residence” of the mother and/or the parties’ child for purposes of Family Court Act § 580-205(a). In an order, the Support Magistrate dismissed the mother’s petition on that ground. The mother filed an objection to the Support Magistrate’s order, arguing that the record developed before the Support Magistrate established that the Family Court had subject matter jurisdiction and that her petition for an upward modification should be heard and determined on the merits.

Published on: February 11, 2014

Court Decides Custody in Light of Fathers Drug Use

by Stephen Bilkis

A New York Family Lawyer said that from 28 June 2006 to 3 July 2006, respondent father was admitted to W Hospital where he was diagnosed with psychotic disorder not otherwise specified, poly-substance dependence, substance induced psychotic disorder, borderline and anti-social personality traits. Following hospitalization, respondent father failed to take his prescribed medication (risperdal and klonopin), or obtain psychiatric treatment.

On 15 April 2007, respondent father committed acts of domestic violence against respondent mother in the presence of the child. Consequently, he was arrested and charged with assault in the third degree, attempted assault in the third degree, menacing in the third degree and harassment in the second degree. On 20 July 2007 and 4 October 2007, respondent father violated the order of protection issued by the Criminal Court in that he was observed in the presence of respondent mother. He was thereafter charged with two counts of criminal contempt in the second degree.

A New York Custody Lawyer said that the respondent father had a history of marijuana use as proven by his testing positive for that substance on 19 May 1998, 12 June 1998 and 29 May 2006.

Published on: February 10, 2014

Court Rules in Custody Battle

by Stephen Bilkis

A New York Family Lawyer related child custody and visitation proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 6, and related family offense proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 8, a Kings County Family attorney said that the father appeals, as limited by his brief, from so much of an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County, as, after a hearing, denied his petition to modify a prior custody order of the Family Court, Kings County, awarding the parties joint legal custody of their child with physical custody to the mother and liberal visitation to the father, so as to award him sole custody of the child, granted the mother’s petition to modify the prior custody order so as to award her sole custody of the child and to establish a visitation schedule for the father, and dismissed his two family offense petitions.

In adjudicating custody and visitation rights, the most important factor to be considered is the best interests of the child, which requires evaluation of the “totality of the circumstances”. Here, the attorney for the child has advised this court of significant new developments which have occurred since the issuance of the order appealed from, including the commencement of a Family Court article 10 child protective proceeding against the mother, the filing of multiple domestic incident reports by both parents, and the lodging of complaints against both parents with the New York State Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment.

A New York Custody Lawyer said that in light of these new factual circumstances, which this Court may properly consider, the record before us is no longer sufficient to determine which custodial arrangement is in the child’s best interests. Accordingly, the matter must be remitted to the Supreme Court, Kings County, to be consolidated with the related petitions pending in the Family Court, Kings County, and for a new hearing and a new custody determination thereafter by the Family Court, Kings County. The Court expressed no opinion as to the appropriate custody determination.

Published on: January 16, 2014

Court Discusses Doctrine of Comity

by Stephen Bilkis

A New York Family Lawyer said the Mother and the Respondent Father are both Egyptian nationals and were married in Egypt and have one daughter born in January, 1987. The parties were divorced on July 11, 1987, in a court of competent jurisdiction. Pursuant to the divorce decree, the Father agreed to pay pounds sterling> E. 350 monthly in addition to school, treatment and child custody expenses for the daughter. The Father paid this amount for the month of June, 1987, only. Thereafter, he fled to the United States, without giving notice to the Mother and has not paid his Egyptian child support obligation since. The Mother obtained a judgment for child support in the appropriate Egyptian Court, for a sum of pounds sterling E. 100 to be paid monthly, from November 8, 1987, to the present. Both the Mother and Father appealed this decision and the Egyptian Appellate Court sustained the initial judgment of pounds sterling E. 100 monthly for child support. The Court issued the judgment upon the Father’s salary in Egypt and stated that the amount of support could not be increased until his affluence and change in financial status was proven with American financial statements. The Mother has no way of obtaining the necessary proof in Egypt because the Father is not in Egypt and refuses to give her the appropriate documentation. The Father appealed the judgment of pounds sterling E. 100 monthly, and the court held that the amount was appropriate to the Father’s financial status in Egypt and that the father owes a non-delegable duty of child support to his daughter under Egyptian civil and religious law. The Father was held in contempt for his failure to pay child support in 1995 when he returned to Egypt. The Father would be held in contempt again, should he return to Egypt, for his willful failure to support his child. His child support obligation, based on the current value of the Egyptian pounds sterling E., equals around $29.41 monthly. Thus, his total arrears resulting from the Egyptian judgment is $13,763.88 to date.

A New York Child Custody Lawyer said the Mother entered the United States on a student visa and filed a petition for child support in Albany County Family Court. The Mother resided in Towson, Maryland, until the middle of May, 1996, when the visa expired and she returned to Egypt with her daughter. The Mother currently resides in Alexandria, Egypt. The Mother appeared in person on May 2, 1996, for a hearing in Albany County Family Court. The Father resides in Albany, New York and appeared personally at the same hearing. Thus, the Court has personal jurisdiction over both parties.

A Suffolk County Family Lawyer said the Mother filed a set of objections with service of process to the Order of the Hearing Examiner. The Mother objected to the dismissal of her complaint and stated that the failure to provide a Family Court Act (FCA) affidavit when the Hearing Examiner was on notice that the Mother had returned to Egypt was an unreasonable request and abuse of discretion. The Father filed a Rebuttal with service of process and claimed that since the Mother had re-alleged each and every objection submitted to the Court, the Mother has opened the door to rebut those objections and, therefore, the previous request deemed untimely is now resubmitted and should be deemed timely. The Father states that the dismissal of the Mother’s petition was proper and consistent with FCA. The Court will consider the Father’s argument that the court had the power and authority to construe the Mother’s petition as one for enforcement and modification. Furthermore, the Father correctly states that, with a foreign support order in hand, the Mother may come to a New York court and bring an action for enforcement or modification of the foreign support order.

Published on: January 15, 2014

Mother Challenges Custody Arrangment

by Stephen Bilkis

A New York Family Lawyer said the parties in this matter initiated a stipulation of settlement which was so ordered by the court. The stipulation provides that it will survive and shall not merge into any decision of divorce.

A New York Custody Lawyer said that also provides for joint legal custody of the parties’ children with residential/physical placement to the mother. It provides for therapeutic visitation between the father and the children with one physician as well as an extensive parenting schedule for the father. The stipulation further provides that the father will pay the child support and certain other expenses.

The father then moved for temporary sole custody of his four children and subsequently granted by the court.

Published on: January 14, 2014

Petitioner Seeks to Modify Custody based on Allegations of Neglect

by Stephen Bilkis

A New York Family Lawyer said that it is not disputed that a boy was born to a woman. Four days later, the mother and Mr. B. signed an acknowledgment of paternity regarding the boy. The mother and Mr. B. were never married. On June 12, 2008, before the child was one year old, Mr. B. filed a custody petition, alleging that he is the father of the child, that the mother is unfit, mentally unstable, on and off anti-depressants, unstable, violent, neglectful of her other child, and even practices demonic witchcraft.

On September 24, 2008, the support litigation was started when the Department of Human Services — CSEU as assignee of the mother filed a petition for child support against the boy, alleging that Mr. B. was the father of the child based on the Acknowledgment of Paternity previously signed by both the mother and Mr. B. In the support paperwork, the mother indicated there were two possible fathers. This was apparently initially overlooked.

A New York Custody Lawyer said on October 30, 2008, and with both parties represented by counsel, the parties consented to an order of joint custody, primary residence of the child with the mother and periods of visitation with Mr. B.

Published on: January 12, 2014

Mother Files Looking to Enforce and Modify Child Support Obligations

by Stephen Bilkis

A New York Family Lawyer said a couple entered into a separation agreement and it was recited. The parties were aware of the condition of the child support law and their respective rights and obligations. However, they agreed to depart from the child support guidelines, noting that the mother was capable of providing basic support without assistance from the father, and that the child would spend about thirty-five percent of her time with her father during which time he would pay all her expenses. Further, the father will pay for the child’s clothing, with the mother’s assistance in shopping, and would fund a college trust.

Initially, a New York Child Custody Lawyer said the parties followed the terms of the separation agreement. The mother retained the primary custody while the child visited her father once a week and on alternate weekends. In addition, the child spent alternate school holidays and time with the father each summer. During the visits, the father will paid all expenses.

Previously, the three would take shopping trips for clothing, at the father’s expense. The compliance of the agreement broke down when the child refused to accompany her father on a summer trip he had planned, and instead returned to her mother’s home. After that, all significant visits between the father and his daughter came to an end, as well as the father’s financial support to his daughter.