FATHER SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AWARDED SOLE CUSTODY IN THE ABSENCE OF A HEARING.
The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined father should not have been awarded sole custody without a hearing:
The Supreme Court erred in awarding the father sole custody of the child in the absence of a hearing to determine the best interests of the child. “[A] court opting to forgo a plenary hearing must take care to clearly articulate which factors were—or were not—material to its determination, and the evidence supporting its decision” … . The court failed to do so here. Furthermore, the issue of custody was not discussed at the … court appearances that resulted in the issuance of the final order of custody and visitation. Under these circumstances, the mother’s motion to vacate the final order of custody and visitation … , should have been granted. Matter of Fraser v Fleary, 2017 NY Slip Op 01197, 2nd Dept 2-15-17
FAMILY LAW (FATHER SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AWARDED SOLE CUSTODY IN THE ABSENCE OF A HEARING)/CUSTODY (FAMILY LAW, FATHER SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AWARDED SOLE CUSTODY IN THE ABSENCE OF A HEARING)