AUNT DID NOT HAVE STANDING TO SEEK VISITATION, AWARDING ADDITIONAL VISITATION TO GRANDPARENTS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE RECORD.
The Third Department, reversing Family Court, determined: (1) the aunt did not have standing to seek visitation because there was a loving and responsible relationship between mother and child; and (2) awarding additional visitation to the grandparents was not supported by the record (no testimony taken from the grandparents):
Turning first to the merits of the aunt’s petition seeking visitation … , we find that Family Court erred in awarding visitation to the aunt inasmuch as the aunt does not have standing to seek such relief … . While the aunt and the attorney for the child contend that extraordinary circumstances exists to confer standing upon the aunt, such rule does not apply to this case … , especially where Family Court found that the mother was a “loving and responsible parent.” We further note that although the mother originally consented to the aunt having minimal visitation with the child, she later changed her position and orally moved to dismiss the aunt’s petition for visitation immediately prior to the commencement of trial … . Accordingly, Family Court erred in granting the aunt visitation with the child over the mother’s objections and the aunt’s petition should have been dismissed … . * * *
… [W]e conclude that Family Court’s determination to award the grandparents increased visitation lacks a sound and substantial basis in the record. The increased visitation did not stem from the consideration of any documentary evidence or testimony but, instead, from Family Court’s own familiarity with the parties based upon prior petitions. Such information, however, is not part of the record … . Matter of Romasz v Coombs, 2017 NY Slip Op 04001, 3rd Dept 5-18-17
FAMILY LAW (AUNT DID NOT HAVE STANDING TO SEEK VISITATION, AWARDING ADDITIONAL VISITATION TO GRANDPARENTS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE RECORD)/VISITATION (FAMILY LAW, AUNT DID NOT HAVE STANDING TO SEEK VISITATION, AWARDING ADDITIONAL VISITATION TO GRANDPARENTS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE RECORD)