Custody

Published on: October 10, 2012

Court Rules on Child Neglect Case

by Stephen Bilkis

This is an application for guardianship of a child pursuant to the provisions that are set up under the Social Services Law. The petitioner and appellant of the case is Graham Windham. The respondent of the case is Deborah K. This case is being heard in the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department.

Case Background

A New York Family Lawyer said the child in this case is Shantal who was born on the 26th of November, 1970. In December of 1970 Shantal was placed with the Agency voluntarily as the mother had no home for the child to live in. Shantal was placed with a foster family until April of 1971. Shantal was returned to her mother at this time.

Published on: October 9, 2012

Court Reviews Joint Custody Agreement

by Stephen Bilkis

This is a case being heard in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York. The petitioner and appellant of this case is Leroy D. West Sr. The respondent in this case is Racquel Vanderhorst. A New York Family Lawyer the petitioner and appellant in this case Leroy D. West Sr. is appealing an order that was made by the Referee Elizabeth Barnett in the Family Court of Bronx County. The order awarded the respondent mother, Racquel Vanderhorst with sole legal and physical custody of the parties’ child. The petitioner father was given visitation rights in the order.

Case Discussion

When reviewing the facts of the case, the determination that was made by the Referee to modify the joint custody agreement of the couple was made on a substantial basis. The record shows that after the judgment for divorce was granted to the couple there was a complete breakdown of communication between the couple. A New York Custody Lawyer said there was an instance of domestic violence that occurred in the presence of the child. This made the possibility of joint custody as was agreed to in the divorce agreement, impossible.

Published on: October 4, 2012

Courts Decide Paternity Case

by Stephen Bilkis

This matter deals with a paternity proceeding. The petitioner of the case is Felix O. The respondents in the case are Janette M. and Herbert M. The case is being heard in the Family Court of the State of New York in Kings County.

This is a petition made by Felix O. for an order to declare him to be the father of Precious Jewel M. and for an order to set his child support obligation. Respondents Janette M., the mother and Herbert M, the husband both oppose the petition. The respondents were married at the time of Precious Jewel’s birth and are still married now.

Felix filed the paternity petition on the 7th of January, 2004 when Precious Jewel was four and a half years old. For a number of reasons the case took a long time to conclude. None of the reasons were the fault of Felix. A New York Family Lawyer said the respondents, Janette and Herbert successfully evaded service for over a year and a half. Finally, a warrant was issued when Janette failed to appear the second time she was served. She was brought into court on the warrant on the fifth of August, 2004 and ordered to appear in court on the 29th of November, 2004. Herbert was issued a summons to appear as well. The date was then moved to the 15th of February, 2005.

Published on: October 1, 2012

Petitioner Seeks Modification of Child Support

by Stephen Bilkis

This proceeding involves the petitioner and respondent Daniel R. III and the respondent and appellant Liza R, otherwise known as Liza U. The law guardian of the child is Howard M. Simms and is involved in this matter as well. This case is being heard in the First Department, Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.

Case Discussion and Decision

A New York Family Lawyer said the parties in this case were divorced in a judgment issued by a court in the Dominican Republic. An order of visitation was entered in the Family Court of Bronx County around the 20th of April, 1993. The petitioner was awarded visitation rights.

Published on: September 30, 2012

Custody Case Remanded for Dispositional Hearing

by Stephen Bilkis

This case involves the petitioner and appellant, St. Christopher – Ottillie and the respondent Lillian T. The matter deals with the dependent children including Michael Anthony Vincent J, et al. The case is being heard in the First Department, Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.

A New York Family Lawyer said the order that is being appealed was made by Judge Richard Ross in the Family Court of Bronx County. The order was issued on the 8th of February, 1996 and dismissed separate petitions that sought the termination of the respondent’s parental rights with infants Michael Anthony Vincent J. and Rose Antoinette J.

Case Background

Published on: September 28, 2012

Court Decides Visitation Rights Issue

by Stephen Bilkis

This matter deals with Rosita Ram – Parker as the petitioner and Piliganor Parker as the respondent. A New York Family Lawyer said the case is being heard in the Family Court of Bronx County. The respondent has motioned to have an order to vacate a four year final order of protection vacated. This order was issued upon default in the Family Court of Queens County. The protection order requires that the respondent stay away from the petitioner Rosita Ram – Parker and their three children.

Case Procedure History

The petitioner, Rosita Ram – Parker filed an instant family offense petition in the Family Court of Queens County on the first of August, 2006. The petition alleged that the respondent Piliganor Parker had physically assaulted her on a number of occasions and had threatened to shoot her.

Published on: September 27, 2012

Court Affirms Previous Custody Arrangement

by Stephen Bilkis

This is a case being heard in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York. A New York Family Lawyer said the case involves the petitioner and appellant Angel M. and the respondent Nereida M. The order that is being appealed was made in the Supreme Court of Bronx County by Judge Diane Kiesel. The order granted a final order of custody to the respondent mother with visitation rights given to the petitioner father.

Case Discussion and Decision

When reviewing the records of the case the court finds that it was in the child’s best interest to award custody to the mother. A New York Custody Lawyer said the records show that the father tried to thwart any relationship the mother had with the child. The mother was willing to ensure that the father was given adequate time with the child.

Published on: September 16, 2012

Custody Awarded to Grandmother

by Stephen Bilkis

This case deals with Jessica W, Sandra A.H., et al as the petitioner and respondent. The respondent and appellant in the case is Josefina M. The appellant, Josefina M. is appealing an order that was made in the Family Court of Bronx County by Referee Peter Kuper. A New York Family Lawyer said the order granted the petition for custody of the subject child to the paternal grandmother and allowed visitation rights to the respondent mother.

Case Discussion and Decision

There were extraordinary circumstances that existed in this case and it is found that the Family Court of Bronx County properly determined that it was in the best interest of the child to grant custody to the petitioner, the paternal grandmother of the child.

Published on: September 15, 2012

Father Loses Parental Rights

by Stephen Bilkis

This case deals a dependent child under the age of eighteen years old. The respondent and appellant in the case is Frank G. The petitioner and respondent in the matter are the Catholic Guardian Society and Home Bureau.

A New York Family Lawyer said that Frank G. is appealing an order that was made in the Bronx County Family Court by Judge Carol Ann Stokinger. The order was entered around the 22nd of June, 2009 and determined that the respondent father had permanently neglected the child. The father’s parental rights were terminated by the order and custody of and guardianship of the child was given jointly to the New York City Commissioner of Social Services and the petitioner agency.

Case Discussion and Decision

Published on: September 13, 2012

Court Decides Visitation Rights Issue

by Stephen Bilkis

The matter before the court deals with support for a child under the Family Court Act, article 4. The respondent and appellant in the case is Dolores Schaefer Bolatin. The appellant and respondent in the matter is George Bolatin. The case is being heard in the court of appeals in New York.

Case Background

A New York Family Lawyer said the divorced wife, Dolores Schaefer Bolatin made an application in the Family Court of Bronx County to modify a judgment that was made in the Supreme Court of Nassau County. The judgment made in the Supreme Court of Nassau County granted the divorce and directed the ex-husband to pay the divorced wife $75 a week in support plus $17.50 each week for each of their two children. The order awarded custody of the children to the wife and the divorced husband received visitation rights.