Opinion
2017–03589 Docket No. V–8220–12
05-30-2018
In the Matter of Ellen A. YOUNG, respondent, v. Bryce J. YOUNG, appellant.
Bryce J. Young, Edgewater, New Jersey, appellant pro se. Stephen P. Gold, White Plains, NY, attorney for the child.
Bryce J. Young, Edgewater, New Jersey, appellant pro se.
Stephen P. Gold, White Plains, NY, attorney for the child.
REINALDO E. RIVERA, J.P., MARK C. DILLON, VALERIE BRATHWAITE NELSON, LINDA CHRISTOPHER, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER In a proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 6, the father appeals from a money judgment of the Family Court, Westchester County (Mary Ann Scattaretico–Naber, J.), dated January 8, 2018. The money judgment, upon an order of the same court dated March 2, 2017, made after a hearing, directing the father to pay half of the total amount of counsel fees awarded to the attorney for the child, is in favor of the attorney for the child and against the father in the total sum of $10,556.88.
ORDERED that on the Court's own motion, the notice of appeal from the order is deemed to be a premature notice of appeal from the money judgment (see CPLR 5520[c] ); and it is further,
ORDERED that the money judgment is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
The father in this custody proceeding argues that the Family Court erred in directing him to pay half of the total amount of counsel fees awarded to the attorney for the child.
Courts are authorized to direct that " ‘a parent who has sufficient financial means to do so pay some or all of the [attorney for the child's] fees' " ( Pascazi v. Pascazi, 65 A.D.3d 1202, 1203, 885 N.Y.S.2d 735, quoting Matter of Plovnick v. Klinger, 10 A.D.3d 84, 89, 781 N.Y.S.2d 360 ; see 22 NYCRR 36.4 ; Judiciary Law § 35[3] ; Rupp–Elmasri v. Elmasri, 8 A.D.3d 464, 778 N.Y.S.2d 289 ; Jain v. Garg, 303 A.D.2d 985, 986, 755 N.Y.S.2d 921 ; Pascarelli v. Pascarelli, 283 A.D.2d 472, 724 N.Y.S.2d 636 ). Further, the mere fact that the attorney for the child adopted positions that were not favorable to the father does not demonstrate that the attorney for the child was biased against the father (see Matter of Luizzi v. Collins, 60 A.D.3d 1062, 1063, 877 N.Y.S.2d 346 ). In custody proceedings, the role of the attorney for the child is to "zealously advocate the child's position," not the positions of the parents ( 22 NYCRR 7.2 [d] ). Under the circumstances of this case, we agree with the Family Court's determination to direct the father to pay half of the total amount of counsel fees awarded to the attorney for the child (see Pascazi v. Pascazi, 65 A.D.3d at 1203, 885 N.Y.S.2d 735 ; Pedreira v. Pedreira, 34 A.D.3d 225, 822 N.Y.S.2d 707 ; Matter of Plovnick v. Klinger, 10 A.D.3d at 91, 781 N.Y.S.2d 360 ).
RIVERA, J.P., DILLON, BRATHWAITE NELSON and CHRISTOPHER, JJ., concur.