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Family Court Did Not Have Sufficient Information to Terminate Father’s Visitation

In finding that Family Court did not have enough information to determine whether the termination of father’s visitation was in the child’s best interest, in part because the court did not talk to the child in camera, the Second Department wrote:

A court may modify a visitation order upon a showing of changed circumstances and that modification is in the best interests of the child…. “A noncustodial parent is entitled to meaningful visitation, and denial of that right must be based on substantial evidence that visitation would be detrimental to the welfare of the child”…. A trial court’s determination that the best interests of the child warrants termination of visitation will not be set aside unless it lacks a sound and substantial basis in the record…. “Although a child’s wishes are not determinative, his or her wishes, age, and maturity should be given considerable weight” … . “Generally, visitation should be decided after a full evidentiary hearing to determine the best interests of the children. However, a hearing is not necessary where the court possesses adequate relevant information to make an informed determination of the children’s best interests”….  Here, the Family Court did not possess adequate relevant information to determine whether the termination of the father’s visitation with the child was in the child’s best interest. For instance, although the attorney for the child indicated that the child, who was then 13 years old, did not wish to visit the father, the court failed to conduct an in camera examination of the child to ascertain the child’s views.  Matter of Zubizarreta v Hemminger, 2013 NY Slip Op 04617, 2nd Dept, 6-19-13

 

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