MOTHER’S PETITION ALLEGED FACTS SUFFICIENT TO WARRANT A MODIFICATION-OF-CUSTODY HEARING; LEGAL CRITERIA EXPLAINED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Family Court, determined mother’s petition alleged facts sufficient to warrant a hearing on whether the custody arrangement should be modified:

… [M]other’s petition contained allegations that were sufficiently specific to warrant a hearing, including the allegations that the parties’ ability to cooperate with each other with respect to the children had deteriorated and that the parties were no longer capable of communicating with each other in a civil and cooperative manner … .. Those allegations were not before the Family Court on a prior occasion, and were not merely conclusory or nonspecific allegations … . Because facts material to the best interest analysis, and the circumstances surrounding such facts, remain in dispute, a hearing is required  … . Matter of Liang v O’Brien, 2023 NY Slip Op 02789, Second Dept 5-24-23

Practice Point: Here mother’s petition alleged facts sufficient to warrant a modification-of-custody hearing. Although the facts are not described, the legal criteria are laid out in detail.