MOTHER’S PETITION FOR A MODIFICATION OF CUSTODY SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT).
The Second Department, reversing Family Court, determined mother had demonstrated a change in circumstances warranting a modification of custody:
… [T]he record reveals that, in support of her petition, the mother established more than conflict between the parties and difficulties in co-parenting. The evidence at the hearing showed that the parties’ relationship had deteriorated to the point that they do not communicate other than by text and do not engage in joint decision-making with respect to the child … . Therefore, joint legal custody is no longer feasible … .
The totality of the circumstances justifies modifying the stipulation so as to award sole legal and residential custody of the child to the mother. The mother has more involvement with the child’s needs on a day-to-day basis, and the record reflects that the mother made decisions regarding the child’s social and emotional needs … . Moreover, the Family Court failed to give sufficient weight to the strong preference of the child, who was 12 years old at the time of the hearing, to reside with the mother … .
Accordingly, the Family Court should have granted that branch of the mother’s petition which was to modify the stipulation so as to award her sole legal and residential custody of the child. Matter of Llanos v Barrezueta, 2024 NY Slip Op 05446, Second Dept 11-6-24
Practice Point: Consult this decision for some insight into the criteria for finding the relationship between mother and father had deteriorated to the point a modification of custody is warranted.