Opinion
2018–07245 Docket No. F–1559–07
10-09-2019
In the Matter of Ann Marie MCVEA, Respondent, v. Kevin MCVEA, Appellant.
F.J. Romano & Associates, P.C., Smithtown, N.Y. (Frank J. Romano of counsel), for appellant. Harry R. Thomasson, Wantagh, NY, for respondent.
F.J. Romano & Associates, P.C., Smithtown, N.Y. (Frank J. Romano of counsel), for appellant.
Harry R. Thomasson, Wantagh, NY, for respondent.
REINALDO E. RIVERA, J.P., LEONARD B. AUSTIN, JOHN M. LEVENTHAL, ANGELA G. IANNACCI, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER In a proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 4, the father appeals from an order of the Family Court, Nassau County (Eileen C. Daly–Sapraicone, J.), dated May 11, 2018. The order denied the father's objections to an order of the same court (Elizabeth A. Bloom, S.M.) dated February 23, 2018, which, after a hearing, granted the mother's petition for an upward modification of the father's child support obligation.
ORDERED that the order dated May 11, 2018, is affirmed, with costs.
The parties are the parents of one child. In April 2012, the Family Court directed the father to pay $155 per week for basic child support based upon the father's unemployment benefit and the imputation of additional income for support he received for household expenses from his domestic partner. In October 2016, the mother filed a petition for an upward modification of the father's child support obligation. Following a hearing, the Support Magistrate determined that there was insufficient evidence in the record to accurately determine the father's income and, in an order dated February 23, 2018, directed the father to pay child support based upon the child's needs in the amount of $1,962 per month. The father filed objections to the Support Magistrate's order and, in an order dated May 11, 2018, the court denied the objections.
"The support magistrate is not bound by a party's version of his or her finances or financial documentation" ( Matter of Barmoha v. Eisayev, 146 A.D.3d 946, 946, 45 N.Y.S.3d 566 ; see Matter of Picone v. Golio, 170 A.D.3d 859, 860, 93 N.Y.S.3d 879 ), and "[g]reat deference should be given to the credibility determination of the Support Magistrate, who is in the best position to assess the credibility of the witnesses" ( Matter of Toumazatos v. Toumazatos, 125 A.D.3d 870, 870–871, 1 N.Y.S.3d 838 ; see Matter of Feng Lucy Luo v. Yang, 89 A.D.3d 946, 947, 933 N.Y.S.2d 80 ). Here, the record supports the Support Magistrate's finding that there was no credible testimony or documentary evidence upon which to rely in order to determine the father's income or earning capacity. Therefore, we agree with the Family Court's denial of the father's objections to the Support Magistrate's determination to base his support obligations on the needs of the child (see Family Ct Act § 413[1][k] ; Matter of Bayon v. Caston, 155 A.D.3d 946, 947, 63 N.Y.S.3d 889 ; Matter of Toumazatos v. Toumazatos, 125 A.D.3d at 871 ; Matter of Weiss v. Rosenthal, 122 A.D.3d 932, 933, 998 N.Y.S.2d 391 ; Matter of Feng Lucy Luo v. Yang, 89 A.D.3d at 946–947, 933 N.Y.S.2d 80 ; Matter of Tsarova v. Tsarov, 59 A.D.3d 632, 633, 875 N.Y.S.2d 84 ).
RIVERA, J.P., AUSTIN, LEVENTHAL and IANNACCI, JJ., concur.