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FAMILY COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE ORDERED A GENETIC MARKER TEST WITHOUT A HEARING AND THE CHILD DID NOT RECEIVE ADEQUATE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department determined Family Court should not have ordered a genetic marker paternity test without a hearing and the child did not receive adequate assistance of counsel:

The attorney for the child (hereinafter AFC) informed the court that, through discussions with the grandmother, the AFC learned that the child might also hold a belief that someone else is his father. The record does not give any indication that the AFC discussed with the child his belief as to who his father is. Beyond a few short and scattered statements, there was no substantive evidence or discussion of who has a parent-child relationship with the child and whether, due to equitable estoppel, a genetic marker test would not be in the child’s best interests. The court’s order is reflective of this, as it strictly relates to how the test is to be carried out and contains no case-specific discussion. Accordingly, Family Court did not possess adequate information to determine the child’s best interests and, as such, it erred in ordering genetic marker testing without first conducting a hearing … .

Additionally, we find that the child did not receive the effective assistance of counsel. The record is bereft of evidence indicating that the AFC consulted with the child, who was from 4½ to 6 years old throughout the time of this litigation … . We recognize that such consultation runs the risk of raising parentage concerns not harbored by the child; nevertheless, a patient, careful and nuanced inquiry is not only possible, but necessary … . “Counsel’s failure to consult with and advise the child to the extent of and in a manner consistent with the child’s capabilities constitutes a failure to meet [his or her] essential responsibilities as the [AFC]” … . Inasmuch as consultation with the child and subsequent communication of the child’s position to Family Court are of the utmost importance … , it is clear that the child did not receive meaningful representation … . Matter of Schenectady County Dept. of Social Servs. v Joshua BB., 2019 NY Slip Op 00335, Third Dept 1-17-19

 

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