Opinion
12-23-2016
In the Matter of Joseph L. KING, Plaintiff–Respondent, v. Tiffany A. KING, Defendant–Appellant.
Wagner & Hart, LLP, Olean (Janine Fodor of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. Gerald J. Vella, Springville, for Plaintiff–Respondent. Lyle T. Hajdu, Attorney for the Children, Lakewood.
Wagner & Hart, LLP, Olean (Janine Fodor of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant.
Gerald J. Vella, Springville, for Plaintiff–Respondent.
Lyle T. Hajdu, Attorney for the Children, Lakewood.
PRESENT: PERADOTTO, J.P., CARNI, CURRAN, TROUTMAN, AND SCUDDER, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:Defendant mother appeals from an order of Family Court that granted plaintiff father's petition seeking sole custody of the parties' two children. Because that order was incorporated but not merged in Supreme Court's subsequent judgment of divorce, we exercise our discretion to treat the appeal as having been taken from the final judgment of divorce (see Hughes v. Nussbaumer, Clarke & Velzy, 140 A.D.2d 988, 988, 529 N.Y.S.2d 658 ). Although the judgment was entered upon the mother's default and no appeal lies from a judgment entered on default, the appeal nevertheless "brings up for our review ‘matters which were the subject of contest’ before the court," i.e., the father's custody petition (Rottenberg v. Clarke, 144 A.D.3d 1627, 1627, 41 N.Y.S.3d 848, quoting James v. Powell, 19 N.Y.2d 249, 256 n. 3, 279 N.Y.S.2d 10, 225 N.E.2d 741, rearg. denied 19 N.Y.2d 862, 280 N.Y.S.2d 1025, 227 N.E.2d 408 ; see Britt v. Buffalo Mun. Hous. Auth., 109 A.D.3d 1195, 1196, 972 N.Y.S.2d 381 ).
We agree with the mother that Family Court erred in granting the father sole custody of the children in the absence of a hearing to determine the best interests of the children without "articulat[ing] which factors were-or were not-material to its determination and the evidence supporting its decision" (S.L. v. J.R., 27 N.Y.3d 558, 564, 36 N.Y.S.3d 411, 56 N.E.3d 193 ). It is axiomatic that "custody determinations should ‘[g]enerally’ be made ‘only after a full and plenary hearing and inquiry’ ... This general rule furthers the substantial interest, shared by the State, the children, and the parents, in ensuring that custody proceedings generate a just and enduring result that, above all else, serves the best interest[s] of the child[ren]" (id. at 563, 36 N.Y.S.3d 411, 56 N.E.3d 193 ). "[A] court opting to forgo a plenary hearing must take care to clearly articulate" the material factors and the supporting evidence upon which it relied (id. at 564, 36 N.Y.S.3d 411, 56 N.E.3d 193 ), and Family Court failed to do so here. We therefore dismiss the appeal except insofar as it concerns the contested custody matter, reverse the judgment insofar as appealed from, vacate the second decretal paragraph, reverse Family Court's custody order, and remit the matter to Supreme Court for further proceedings on the issue of custody. In light of our determination, we need not reach the mother's remaining contention.
It is hereby ORDERED that said appeal is unanimously dismissed except insofar as defendant challenges the custody determination, the judgment insofar as appealed from is reversed on the law without costs, the second decretal paragraph is vacated, the order entered June 3, 2015 is reversed, and the matter is remitted to Supreme Court, Cattaraugus County, for further proceedings.