MOTHER’S PETITION FOR CUSTODY AND PERMISSION TO RELOCATE TO TEXAS SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (THIRD DEPT).
The Third Department, reversing Family Court, determined mother’s request to relocate should have been granted:
We find that Family Court’s determination denying the mother’s relocation request and granting the parties joint legal custody is not supported by a sound and substantial basis in the record. If not permitted to relocate, the mother’s only potential resource — besides public assistance — would be the father. Given the father’s significant criminal history — which includes domestic violence against the mother — this is not a situation we can countenance. Further, there is nothing in the record to suggest that the father is willing or able to assist the mother or the child in any way. The undisputed evidence was that the father’s financial support and parenting time was limited, sporadic and offered at his whim. Indisputably, the mother has been the child’s primary caretaker, the father provided almost no financial support and his very limited relationship with the child existed only through the mother’s efforts. Moreover, given the father’s history and evidence of domestic violence, we do not believe that joint legal custody is in the child’s best interests … . We note that, although not dispositive, the trial attorney for the child did not oppose the mother’s petition or her relocation request … .
We are mindful that our holding results in the child residing a significant distance from the father. The record indicates that the mother has consistently made the effort to remain in contact with the father, to send pictures and to initiate telephone calls and visits. We discern no basis upon which to conclude that she will not continue to do so. As the child grows, such contact will become more important and have a greater impact on the father’s ability to establish and maintain a relationship with the child. Accordingly, we remit this matter to Family Court to establish an appropriate schedule for telephone calls and parenting time with the father. Matter of Fisher v Perez, 2018 NY Slip Op 07014, Third Dept 10-18-18
FAMILY LAW (MOTHER’S PETITION FOR CUSTODY AND PERMISSION TO RELOCATE TO TEXAS SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (THIRD DEPT))/CUSTODY (FAMILY LAW, MOTHER’S PETITION FOR CUSTODY AND PERMISSION TO RELOCATE TO TEXAS SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (THIRD DEPT))/RELOCATE (FAMILY LAW, MOTHER’S PETITION FOR CUSTODY AND PERMISSION TO RELOCATE TO TEXAS SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (THIRD DEPT))/EVIDENCE (FAMILY LAW, CUSTODY, RELOCATE, (MOTHER’S PETITION FOR CUSTODY AND PERMISSION TO RELOCATE TO TEXAS SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (THIRD DEPT))