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Criteria for Changing Custody Arrangement Entered Into by Agreement

In reversing Family Court’s denial of a modification of a custody arrangement, the Second Department explained the criteria for changing a custody arrangement entered into by agreement:

Where parents enter into an agreement concerning custody, that agreement will not be modified unless there is a sufficient change in circumstances since the time of when the agreement was entered into, and unless modification of the custody arrangement is in the best interests of the child…. “In order to determine whether modification of a custody arrangement is in the best interests of the child, the court must weigh several factors of varying degrees of importance, including, inter alia, (1) the original placement of the child, (2) the length of that placement, (3) the child’s desires, (4) the relative fitness of the parents, (5) the quality of the home environment, (6) the parental guidance given to the child, (7) the parent’s financial status, (8) his or her ability to provide for the child’s emotional and intellectual development, and (9) the willingness of the parent to assure meaningful contact between the child and the other parent”….  * * * Here, considering, inter alia, the acrimony between the parties, the Supreme Court’s determination to award legal custody to the father and residential custody to the mother lacked a sound and substantial basis in the record …. McAvoy v Hannigan, 2013 NY Slip Op 04785, 2nd Dept 6-26-13

 

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