GRANDFATHER DEMONSTRATED “EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES” AFFORDING HIM STANDING TO PETITION FOR CUSTODY OF THE CHILD (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Family Court, determined the maternal grandfather demonstrated extraordinary circumstances and therefore had standing to seek custody of the child. The matter was remitted for a custody award based on the best interests of the child:

“Pursuant to Domestic Relations Law § 72(2)(a), a grandparent has standing to seek custody of a child where the grandparent demonstrates the existence of extraordinary circumstances, such as ‘surrender, abandonment, persisting neglect, unfitness, and unfortunate or involuntary disruption of custody over an extended period of time,’ ‘or other like extraordinary circumstances'” … . An “extended disruption of custody” between the child and the parent “shall constitute an extraordinary circumstance” … . “The statute defines ‘extended disruption of custody’ as including, but not limited to, ‘a prolonged separation of the respondent parent and the child for at least twenty-four continuous months during which the parent voluntarily relinquished care and control of the child and the child resided in the household of the petitioner grandparent or grandparents'” … . “However, the statute does not preclude a court from finding the existence of extraordinary circumstances even if the prolonged separation lasted less than 24 months” … . “Moreover, lack of contact is not a separate element under th[e] statute, ‘[r]ather, the quality and quantity of contact between the parent and child are simply factors to be considered in the context of the totality of the circumstances when determining whether the parent voluntarily relinquished care and control of the child, and whether the child actually resided with the grandparents for the required “prolonged” period of time'” … . “‘Inasmuch as the Family Court is in the best position to evaluate the credibility, temperament, and sincerity of the parties, its determination should be set aside only if it lacks a sound and substantial basis in the record'” … .

The evidence at the hearing established that, even though the father had regular contact and parental access with the child, the maternal grandparents have taken care of the child for most of her life and provided her with stability. Additionally, the father allowed the mother and the maternal grandparents to assume control over, and responsibility for the care of, the child while the father assumed the role of a noncustodial parent, the child has developed a close relationship with her half-siblings and extended family in New York, and the child expressed a desire to continue residing with the maternal grandfather … . Matter of Clifton C. v Tory P. R., 2025 NY Slip Op 02585, Second Dept 4-30-25

Practice Point: Here the maternal grandparents had cared for the child for most of her life and father had assumed the role of a noncustodial parent. These and other factors rose to the level of “extraordinary circumstances” affording grandfather standing to petition for custody.