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A RARE SITUATION WHERE SUSPENSION OF THE NONCUSTODIAL PARENT’S CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION WAS WARRANTED (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Gesmer, over an extensive dissent, affirmed Supreme Court’s denial of mother’s motion for pendente lite child support in the amount of $25,000/month and $10,000/month travel allowance. It was determined mother deliberately and actively alienated the child from the father:

Based on clear and convincing evidence presented at the 35-day custody trial, the court determined that the mother had deliberately and actively alienated the child from the father in “one of the most clear-cut and disturbing examples of parental alienation that this court has observed through thousands of custody cases over many years.” Accordingly, the court reasonably determined that this is one of the unfortunate and rare situations where suspension of the noncustodial parent’s child support obligation was warranted. Specifically, the court decided the pendente lite motion by directing the father to pay 90% of the child’s unreimbursed medical and mental health expenses and otherwise suspended the father’s child support obligation until the child’s visitation with the father was “meaningfully resumed” or “there is otherwise good cause to resume the support” … . * * *

As the motion court found, the child’s reasonable and appropriate needs are being met … . It is undisputed that the mother and child continue to reside in a 1,500 square foot luxury apartment with views of Central Park and that the father continues to pay all of the child’s expenses for private school, extracurricular activities and tutoring, in addition to 90% of her unreimbursed medical and mental health expenses. Rosenfeld v Rosenfeld, 2026 NY Slip Op 04048, First Dept 6-25-26

 

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FATHER, PRO SE, DRAFTED HIS APPELLATE BRIEF WITH GENAI, RESULTING IN CITATIONS TO NONEXISTENT AUTHORITY; USING GENAI TO DRAFT AN APPELLATE BRIEF AND THEN FAILING TO VERIFY THE ACCURACY AND LEGITIMACY OF THE CITATIONS IS “FRIVOLOUS CONDUCT” WHICH WARRANTS A MONETARY SANCTION (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Wooten, determined father, who, pro se, drafted his appellate brief using GenAI resulting in citations to nonexistent authority, should be sanctioned for frivolous conduct and fined $250.00. The “frivolous conduct” is the failure to verify the accuracy and legitimacy of the citations:

“Pursuant to 22 NYCRR 130-1.1(a), a court may impose financial sanctions upon any party or attorney in a civil action or proceeding who engages in frivolous conduct” … . “Conduct is frivolous if: (1) it is completely without merit in law and cannot be supported by a reasonable argument for an extension, modification or reversal of existing law; (2) it is undertaken primarily to delay or prolong the resolution of the litigation, or to harass or maliciously injure another; or (3) it asserts material factual statements that are false” … .

Here, by filing an appellate brief citing to a nonexistent case as the sole support for his claim of judicial bias, the father engaged in conduct that was “completely without merit in law and cannot be supported by a reasonable argument for an extension, modification or reversal of existing law” … , and that involved the assertion of “material factual statements that are false” … . Thus, the father’s reliance on GenAI, without taking the time to verify that the limited number of cases in his appellate brief stood for the propositions cited, let alone were actually in existence, constituted frivolous conduct. Matter of Julien v Arthur, 2026 NY Slip Op 03308, Second Dept 5-27-26

Practice Point: Using GenAI to draft an appellate brief is not “frivolous conduct.” It is the failure to verify the accuracy and legitimacy of citations to nonexistent authority in the GenAI document which constitutes “frivolous conduct” for which a monetary sanction is appropriate.

 

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RESOLVING A SPLIT OF AUTHORITY, THE COURT OF APPEALS HELD THE ATTORNEY FOR THE CHILD (AFC) HAS THE AUTHORITY TO APPEAL A CUSTODY DETERMINATION (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Singas, reversing the Fourth Department and addressing a split of authority, determined the attorney for the child (AFC) has the authority to appeal a custody determination if the child is aggrieved:

The Appellate Division Departments have split over whether an AFC can appeal a custody determination on behalf of their client when neither parent-party has appealed. The Second Department has endorsed the AFC’s authority to appeal on behalf of their client, emphasizing that the Family Court Act expressly “recognizes that an [AFC] has the right to pursue an appeal on behalf of the child” because it permits the AFC to file a notice of appeal … . The First and Third Departments have adopted the Second Department’s reasoning … . The Fourth Department has taken a different approach, dismissing appeals taken solely by an AFC when neither parent-party appeals or otherwise indicates their support for the child’s appeal, reasoning that a “child in a custody matter does not have ‘full-party status’ ” and therefore cannot force their parent to ” ‘litigate a petition that [they] ha[ve] since abandoned’ … . * * *

The Family Court Act plainly authorizes an AFC to appeal on behalf of the subject child even though the child is not a full party to the custody proceedings. However, the subject child—like any appealing party—must still meet the CPLR’s aggrievement requirement and other applicable jurisdictional requirements (see CPLR 5511 [only an “aggrieved party” may appeal]; Family Ct Act § 165 [a] [Family Court proceedings follow the provisions of the CPLR unless a different procedure is set forth in the Family Court Act]). Here, the children were aggrieved as the AFC argued against modifying the original custody order designating mother as the primary custodial parent and advocated that the children wished to remain primarily with her, but Family Court modified the custody order by awarding mother and father joint custody and shared residency. Matter of Abdoch v Abdoch, 2026 NY Slip Op 03219, CtApp 5-21-26

Practice Point: The attorney for the child (AFC) can appeal a custody determination where the child is aggrieved.

 

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THE NYS OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS) DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CREATE THE “HOST FAMILY HOME” PROGRAM AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE STATUTORY FOSTER CARE PROGRAM (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Cannataro, reversing the Appellate Division, determined the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) did not have the authority to create the “Host Family Home” program as an alternative to the state’s statutory foster care regime:

The voluntary foster care statutes … mandate judicial involvement and oversight at several key junctures. At the outset, OCFS must petition Family Court to approve any placement expected to last longer than 30 days. The court may only do so after assessing that the placement was “knowingly and voluntarily” sought by the parent; that the placement would be “in the best interest of the child”; that “reasonable efforts were made . . . to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the child from [their] home;” and that OCFS complied with the other miscellaneous requirements of Social Services Law § 384-a … . If placement lasts for at least eight months, the Family Court Act requires that Family Court hold a “permanency hearing” where it assesses the child’s well-being in the foster home and determines what, if any, further action would serve the best interests of the child … . These hearings must be held every six months thereafter until termination of the placement, or until the child ages out of foster care. Both parents and children are entitled to assigned counsel during these proceedings … . * * *

The Host Family Home program … purports to relieve its participants from some of the most important protections in the foster care system. Under the program, courts need not approve placements lasting longer than 30 days, nor are they required to assess the well-being of the child if they have been left in foster care for over eight months. Because the courts are not involved, the State need not provide assigned counsel to parents or children to advocate for them during these otherwise mandatory hearings. OCFS is likewise not required to identify known friends or relatives who might care for the child, nor offer any government-paid preventive services, before allowing parents to access host family care.

The Host Family Home program’s elimination of these protections risks diverting children away from the voluntary foster care system. Matter of Lawyers for Children v New York State Off. of Children & Family Servs.. 2026 NY Slip Op 03218, CtApp 5-21-26

 

 

 

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AN IN DEPTH ANALYSIS OF THE JURISDICTIONAL PRIORITY ISSUES RAISED IN A CUSTODY MATTER REGARDING A NAVAJO CHILD, BORN TO A NAVAJO MOTHER IN NEW MEXICO, LIVING ON THE NAVAJO NATION RESERVATION IN UTAH, WITH FATHER RESIDING IN NEW YORK (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Mackey, grappled with the complex procedural and jurisdictional issues surrounding the custody of a Navajo child, born in New Mexico to a Navajo mother, living on the Navajo Nation reservation in Utah, and residing with father in New York. The issue is jurisdictional priority at the convergence of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA). The opinion is far too complex to summarize here.  Matter of Kody II. v Shaunta JJ., 2026 NY Slip Op 03044, Third Dept 5-14-26

 

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FAMILY COURT SHOULD HAVE HELD A HEARING ON WHETHER MOTHER’S ADDRESS SHOULD BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL; FAMILY COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE DELEGATED ITS AUTHORITY TO THE THERAPIST TO DETERMINE FATHER’S LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION IN THE CHILD’S THERAPY (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing (modifying) Family Court, determined the court should have held a hearing on whether mother’s address could be kept confidential; and the court should not have delegated its authority to all the therapist to decide the extent father’s participation in the child’s therapy:

Section 154-b(2)(a) of the Family Court Act authorizes the court, on its own motion or upon the motion of any party or the child’s attorney, to permit the party or the child to keep his or her address confidential from an adverse party if the court finds that disclosure of the address or other identifying information would pose an unreasonable risk to the health or safety of a party or the child. Thus, the statute requires a fact-specific determination as to the possible effects of such disclosure. Although the mother sought an address confidentiality order and Family Court acknowledged the need for a separate hearing, ultimately holding the issue in abeyance, the record is devoid of any determination as to whether disclosure of the address would pose an unreasonable risk to the child. In the absence of such a finding, the directive requiring disclosure cannot be said to reflect a proper exercise of discretion.

Family Court further erred in authorizing the father to communicate with the child’s therapist and to participate in therapy at the therapist’s discretion. This provision effectively delegates to the treating therapist the authority to determine whether, when, and under what circumstances the father may have contact with the child, which is an issue reserved to the court … . The directive also contradicts the court’s finding that contact with the father would harm the child’s mental health, and risks inhibiting the child’s openness with the child’s therapist if the child knows disclosures could be shared with or occur in the father’s presence. Thus, the order undermines the therapeutic process and risks exacerbating, rather than alleviating, the child’s emotional distress. Matter of Monet O. v Leroy L.B., 2026 NY Slip Op 02788, First Dept 5-5-26

Practice Point: Before determining whether a party’s address should be kept confidential, Family Court should hold a hearing.

Practice Point: The Family Court should not delegate its authority to determine the level of father’s participation in the child’s therapy to the therapist.

 

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ALL PARTIES AGREE THE TWO SURROGACY AGREEMENTS ARE UNENFORCEABLE; MATTER REMITTED FOR A HEARING TO DETERMINE PARENTAGE BASED ON THE INTENT OF THE PARTIES AND THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILDREN (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing (modifying) Family Court, determined that both surrogacy agreements were unenforceable and the parentage determination should not have been made without a hearing on the intent of the parties and the best interests of the children:

… [T]here is no real dispute that neither surrogacy agreement meets the material requirements of Family Court Act article 5-C. The original surrogacy agreement is unenforceable because it was not signed by Robert (see Family Ct Act § 581-403 [a] [1]; [d]; see also § 581-402 [b] [3]). The second agreement is unenforceable because it was not executed prior to “the commencement of medical procedures in furtherance of embryo transfer” (§ 581-403 [b]). Thus, the court was required to determine parentage “based on the intent of the parties, taking into account the best interests of the child[ren]” (§ 581-407).

… [A]ll three parties to the second surrogacy agreement—Mary, Robert and the Surrogate—agree that their intent was for Mary and Robert to be the children’s parents, and none of them contemplated anyone else becoming a parent. … [O]n this record the court failed to give due consideration to the best interests of the children as required by the statute (see Family Ct Act § 581-407; see also § 581-701 …). We therefore reverse the … judgment of parentage, and we remit the matter to Family Court to hold an immediate hearing at which the court, in making its parentage determination, must consider evidence of the intent of the parties, taking into account evidence pertaining to the best interests of the children. Matter of Baby A. (Mary B.L.–Robert A.L.), 2026 NY Slip Op 02759, Fourth Dept 5-1-26

Practice Point: Consult this decision for insight into how a court should handle determining parentage where the surrogacy agreements are unenforceable.

 

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UPON RESPONDENT’S FAILURE TO APPEAR, FAMILY COURT DISMISSED RESPONDENT’S COUNSEL AND HELD THE ORDER-OF-PROTECTION HEARING IN RESPONDENT’S ABSENCE; RESPONDENT WAS DENIED DUE PROCESS OF LAW; ORDER VACATED (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing Family Court, vacated the order of protection issued upon respondent’s “default” based on the denial of respondent’s due process rights:

Petitioner commenced this proceeding in November 2023 seeking an order of protection against respondent. After an initial appearance and subsequent conferences at which the parties variously appeared virtually, in person or through counsel, respondent failed to appear for the April 2024 in-person hearing. Family Court directed respondent’s counsel to leave the courtroom, at which point respondent’s counsel offered to have respondent appear virtually, asserting that respondent was in “hiding” in light of criminal charges filed against petitioner in connection with her alleged stalking of, and firing a rifle at, respondent in August 2023. The court implicitly denied respondent’s request by again directing respondent’s counsel out of the courtroom. The hearing proceeded, during which petitioner testified and was subject to cross-examination by the attorney for petitioner’s children. …

Typically, “[a] party seeking to vacate a default judgment must establish both a reasonable excuse for the default and a meritorious defense to the underlying claim” … . “No such showing is required, however, where a party’s fundamental due process rights have been denied” … . In this case, respondent’s counsel attended in person evidently ready to proceed, offered an excuse for respondent’s nonappearance and provided an alternate means to move forward in his absence … . Respondent’s counsel made no application to withdraw, and Family Court did not relieve respondent’s counsel, and thus respondent’s attorneys remained counsel of record when they were dismissed from the courtroom without explanation (see CPLR 321 [b] …). The court’s atypical conduct in that regard, coupled with the court’s choice to decline available options to proceed in respondent’s absence, deprived respondent of his opportunity to be heard (see CPLR 321 [a] …). Matter of April V. v Jonathan U., 2026 NY Slip Op 02702, Third Dept 4-30-26

Practice Point: An order issued upon a party’s default may be vacated when the party’s due process rights were violated by the judge. Here the judge ordered the party’s counsel to leave and held the hearing in the party’s absence after the counsel explained the party’s absence and offered to proceed virtually.

 

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FATHER IN THIS CHILD SUPPORT MATTER WAS ESSENTIALLY FORCED TO PROCEED PRO SE BY THE SUPPORT MAGISTRATE IN VIOLATION OF FATHER’S RIGHT TO COUNSEL (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Family Court in this child-support matter, determined father was essentially forced to proceed pro se by the support magistrate, in violation of his right to counsel:

… [T]he Support Magistrate relieved the father’s assigned counsel upon the father’s request.

At the next proceeding … , the father appeared without counsel and indicated that he had not been assigned a new attorney. The Support Magistrate advised the father that a hearing on the mother’s violation petition was scheduled for that date and asked the father if he intended to “present a defense on [his] own, . . . not participat[e], or hir[e] an attorney.” After the father gave a nonresponsive answer, the Support Magistrate stated that “the Court will proceed on the [father’s] default.” The father again protested that he did not have an attorney. The Support Magistrate then found that the father “is choosing not to participate in the proceedings.” In an order of disposition … , the Support Magistrate found that the father willfully violated the prior order of child support. * * *

… [T]he record demonstrates that the father “did not wish to proceed pro se, but was forced to do so” … . At the proceeding on August 28, 2024, the father repeatedly protested that he did not have an attorney, and the Support Magistrate did not conduct an inquiry to determine whether the father was waiving his right to counsel or address the possibility of assigning new counsel to the father … . Moreover, although the Support Magistrate had previously cautioned the father against self-representation when the father’s former assigned counsel was relieved, the Support Magistrate at no point conducted a sufficiently searching inquiry to ensure that the father was knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waiving his right to counsel … . Matter of Baldwin v Peterkin, 2026 NY Slip Op 02647, Second Dept 4-29-26

Practice Point: Before allowing a party to proceed pro se, the judge or magistrate must conduct a searching inquiry to ensure the party is aware of the dangers. It is a constitutional violation to “force” a party to proceed without an attorney.

 

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MOTHER ASKED TO REPRESENT HERSELF IN THIS CUSTODY PROCEEDING AND THEN DEFAULTED; THE ISSUE IS APPEALABLE DESPITE THE DEFAULT; THE JUDGE’S FAILURE TO CONDUCT A SEARCHING INQUIRY UPON MOTHER’S REQUEST TO REPRESENT HERSELF REQUIRED REMITTAL AND A NEW HEARING ON THE PETITION (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing Family Court and ordering a new custody hearing, determined Family Court did not conduct an adequate inquiry before accepting mother’s waiver of the right to counsel. The issue was appealable despite mother’s default:

At the mother’s initial appearance, Family Court advised the mother that she had the right to counsel, and the mother indicated that she planned to represent herself. The court scheduled a hearing on the petitions and warned the parties that, if a party failed to appear, the court would dismiss that party’s petition and proceed without the party. The mother failed to appear at the hearing, and the court noted her default and proceeded on the father’s petition. The mother now appeals from an order that, inter alia, dismissed her petition and awarded the parties joint custody of the children. * * *

 The “request by a party to waive the right to counsel and proceed pro se . . . places in issue whether the court fulfilled its obligation to ensure a valid waiver” and may be reviewed by this Court on an appeal by the subsequently defaulting pro se party … .

“[A] court’s decision to permit a party who is entitled to counsel to proceed pro se must be supported by a showing on the record of a knowing, voluntary and intelligent waiver of [the right to counsel]” … . “If a timely and unequivocal request [to proceed pro se] has been asserted, then the trial court is obligated to conduct a ‘searching inquiry’ to ensure that the [party’s] waiver is knowing, intelligent, and voluntary” … . Although “[a] ‘searching inquiry’ does not have to be made in a formulaic manner” … , “the record must demonstrate that the party was aware of the dangers and disadvantages of proceeding without counsel” … . Matter of Crespo v Wynn, 2026 NY Slip Op 02517, Fourth Dept 4-24-26

Practice Point: In a custody proceeding, before accepting a party’s request to represent herself, the court must conduct a searching inquiry to make sure the party understands the dangers and disadvantages. The issue is appealable despite a subsequent default.

 

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