​ THE JUDGE SHOULD HAVE HELD A HEARING IN THIS PARENTAL-ACCESS PROCEEDING AND SHOULD NOT HAVE RELIED ON A REPORT BY A FORENSIC EVALUATOR WHICH WAS NOT ADMITTED IN EVIDENCE (SECOND DEPT). ​

he Second Department, reversing Family Court, determined a hearing should have been held in this parental-access proceeding:

Custody and parental access determinations should “[g]enerally be made only after a full and plenary hearing and inquiry” … . “While the general right to a hearing in [parental access] cases is not absolute, where ‘facts material to the best interest analysis, and the circumstances surrounding such facts, remain in dispute,’ a hearing is required” … .

Here, the record demonstrates disputed factual issues so as to require a hearing on the issue of the mother’s parental access … . Further, the Family Court, in making its determination without a hearing, relied upon the report of the forensic evaluator, which had not been admitted into evidence, and the evaluator’s opinions and credibility were untested by the parties … . Matter of McCabe v Truglio, 2023 NY Slip Op 01299, Second Dept 3-15-23

Practice Point: Custody and parental-access determinations generally require hearings. Family Court should not rely on reports which have not been admitted in evidence.