You are here: / / FAMILY COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE DISMISSED FATHER’S MODIFICATION OF CUSTODY...
, ,

FAMILY COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE DISMISSED FATHER’S MODIFICATION OF CUSTODY PETITION WITHOUT HOLDING A BEST INTERESTS HEARING, SHOULD HAVE ACCEPTED THE FACTS ALLEGED IN THE PETITION AS TRUE, AND SHOULD NOT HAVE RELIED ON UNSWORN INFORMATION FROM THE ATTORNEYS (THIRD DEPT). ​

The Third Department, reversing Family Court, determined father’s petition for a modification of custody should not have been dismissed without holding a best interests hearing. The Third Department noted that Family Court should have accepted the facts alleged in the petition as true and should not have relied on unsworn information provided by the attorneys:

… [F]ather’s petition sufficiently alleged … changed circumstances that, if established at a hearing, would entitle him to a best interests review, including that the mother had thwarted the electronic communication to which he was entitled … , failed to keep him informed of certain health information pertaining to the child and, upon information and belief, was found to have neglected the child … . Even if such circumstances do not ultimately result in an award of joint legal custody as sought by the father, his petition also sought increased visitation and unsupervised parenting time. These changed circumstances, if established, would support a best interests review to determine whether such relief is warranted based upon the totality of the evidence. Matter of Ryan Z. v Adrianne AA., 2023 NY Slip Op 01032, Third Dept 2-23-23

Practice Point: In determining whether a best interests hearing is required when a petition for modification of custody is filed, the facts alleged must be accepted as true. The judge here should not have relied on unsworn information from the attorneys.

 

You might also like
In a Class Action Suit, Class-Representatives’ Failure to Keep In Touch With Their Lawyer Justified Their Withdrawal as Class Representatives
UNDER THE FACTS, THE ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING CONVICTION MERGED WITH THE SEXUAL ABUSE AND ASSAULT CONVICTIONS.
CRISIS COUNSELOR WAS AN EMPLOYEE.
PRISON’S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS DIRECTIVE RE OPENING INMATES’ MAIL REQUIRED ANNULMENT OF THE MISBEHAVIOR DETERMINATION (THIRD DEPT).
TERMINATION OF MOTHER’S SUPERVISED VISITATION IS A “DRASTIC REMEDY” WHICH MUST BE SUPPORTED BY “SUBSTANTIAL PROOF” CONTINUED VISITATION “WOULD BE HARMFUL TO THE CHILD;” THE PROOF HERE DID NOT MEET THOSE CRITERIA (THIRD DEPT). ​
CLAIMANT, A SUBWAY CLEANER, WAS ASSAULTED AFTER GETTING OFF THE SUBWAY ON HIS WAY HOME, CLAIMANT’S INJURIES WERE NOT COMPENSABLE (THIRD DEPT).
PETITIONER, A NOT-FOR-PROFIT LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, WAS PROPERLY FOUND TO BE SO CLOSELY AFFILIATED WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS TO MEET THE DEFINITION OF A “LOCAL AUTHORITY” SUBJECT TO THE REPORTING AND OVERSIGHT REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AUTHORITIES BUDGET OFFICE (THIRD DEPT).
MOTION TO COMPEL COMPLIANCE WITH NON-JUDICIAL SUBPOENAS PROPERLY GRANTED, ANY OBJECTIONS WOULD HAVE TO AWAIT THE ACTUAL QUESTIONING AT THE HEARING.

Categories

Sign Up for the Mailing List to Be Notified When the Site Is Updated.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright © 2026 New York Appellate Digest, Inc.
Site by CurlyHost | Privacy Policy

IN THIS OIL SPILL CLEAN UP SUIT AGAINST THE PROPERTY OWNER BROUGHT UNDER THE... PLAINTIFF-STUDENT’S CHEMICAL BURNS WERE CAUSED BY THE INTENTIONALLY WRONGFUL,...