Opinion
06-02-2016
In the Matter of Stacey I. COLEMAN, Respondent, v. Aubrey A. MILLINGTON, Appellant.
Tammy Arquette, Clifton Park, for appellant. Todd G. Monahan, Schenectady, for respondent. Alexandra G. Verrigni, Rexford, attorney for the child.
Tammy Arquette, Clifton Park, for appellant.
Todd G. Monahan, Schenectady, for respondent.
Alexandra G. Verrigni, Rexford, attorney for the child.
Before: McCARTHY, J.P., GARRY, EGAN JR., DEVINE and AARONS, JJ.
Opinion
AARONS, J. Appeal from an order of the Family Court of Schenectady County (Powers, J.), entered May 12, 2015, which, among other things, granted petitioner's application, in a proceeding pursuant to Family Ct. Act article 6, to modify a prior order of custody.
Petitioner (hereinafter the father) and respondent (hereinafter the mother) are the separated parents of a daughter (born in 2000). Under a 2006 custody order, the parties shared joint legal custody of the child with the mother having primary physical custody and the father having visitation with the child on weekdays after school and for the last weekend of the month. In 2013, the father commenced this modification proceeding seeking primary physical custody of the child. After fact-finding and Lincoln hearings, Family Court awarded primary physical custody of the child to the father and fashioned a visitation schedule in which the mother would have visitation every other weekend plus one weeknight in the intervening week and additional time during the summer. The mother appeals. We affirm.
A party seeking a modification of an existing custody order must first show that a change in circumstances exists, and once this threshold showing is satisfied, the party must then demonstrate that modification of the order ensures the best interests of the child (see Matter of Schlegel v. Kropf, 132 A.D.3d 1181, 1182, 18 N.Y.S.3d 480 [2015] ; Matter of Menhennett v. Bixby, 132 A.D.3d 1177, 1179, 18 N.Y.S.3d 475 [2015] ). The existing order, even though in effect for several years, is accorded less weight where, as here, it stems from the parties' consent (see Matter of Dykstra v. Bain, 127 A.D.3d 1516, 1517, 7 N.Y.S.3d 710 [2015] ; Matter of Colwell v. Parks, 44 A.D.3d 1134, 1135, 843 N.Y.S.2d 711 [2007] ). While not determinative, the preferences of an older and more mature child are relevant in determining whether a change in circumstances exists (see Matter of Casarotti v. Casarotti, 107 A.D.3d 1336, 1337, 967 N.Y.S.2d 783 [2013], lv. denied 22 N.Y.3d 852, 2013 WL 5614329 [2013] ). Family Court found that the mother allowed the house where she resided with the child to deteriorate and become uninhabitable. In this regard, there were plumbing issues that resulted in water being shut off, broken smoke detectors, clutter around the house, no electricity in parts of the house and no functioning washer (see Matter of Palmatier v. Carman, 125 A.D.3d 1139, 1139–1140, 4 N.Y.S.3d 343 [2015] ; Matter of Michael
GG. v. Melissa HH., 97 A.D.3d 993, 994, 948 N.Y.S.2d 459 [2012] ). After an investigation by Schenectady County Child Protective Services, some of these conditions were eventually rectified. Nevertheless, they existed for a significant period of time such that the mother and the child had to temporarily move in with the mother's aunt. Also, the child's hygiene noticeably worsened and her mental health declined, necessitating weekly counseling sessions. Furthermore, the mother acknowledged in her testimony that the child indicated that she wanted to live with the father. Under these circumstances, we are satisfied that the father demonstrated a sufficient change in circumstances to warrant a best interests analysis (see Matter of Bailey v. Blair, 127 A.D.3d 1274, 1275, 6 N.Y.S.3d 724 [2015] ; Matter of Spraker v. Watts, 41 A.D.3d 953, 954, 837 N.Y.S.2d 754 [2007] ).
In determining the best interests of the child, various factors are considered, including “maintaining stability for the child[ ], the respective home environments, length of the current custody arrangement, each parent's relative fitness and past parenting performance, and willingness to foster a healthy relationship with the other parent” (Matter of Chris X. v. Jeanette Y., 124 A.D.3d 1013, 1014, 1 N.Y.S.3d 534 [2015] [internal quotation marks and citation omitted]; see Matter of Hayward v. Campbell, 104 A.D.3d 1000, 1001, 961 N.Y.S.2d 346 [2013] ). Although the mother is more involved than the father with respect to the child's activities, education and medical treatment, the father is able to provide a stable home environment and meet the child's needs. Viewing the record in its entirety, including the preferences of the child, who was 14 years old at the time of the hearing, the discussed housing conditions and the very close relationship that the child has with the paternal grandmother with whom she attends church, we conclude that Family Court's determination of awarding the father primary physical custody is supported by a sound and substantial basis in the record (see Iacono v. Iacono, 117 A.D.3d 988, 989, 986 N.Y.S.2d 248 [2014] ; Matter of Davis v. Davis, 79 A.D.3d 1304, 1306–1307, 911 N.Y.S.2d 728 [2010] ; Matter of Rue v. Carpenter, 69 A.D.3d 1238, 1240, 893 N.Y.S.2d 696 [2010] ; Matter of Burch v. Willard, 57 A.D.3d 1272, 1273, 870 N.Y.S.2d 141 [2008] ). We reach a similar conclusion with respect to the visitation schedule fashioned by Family Court given its discretion in this area (see Matter of Hayward v. Thurmond, 85 A.D.3d 1260, 1262, 925 N.Y.S.2d 209 [2011] ). While the visitation schedule reduces the mother's time, she is still afforded frequent and meaningful access to the child (see Matter of Hills v. Madrid, 57 A.D.3d 1175, 1177, 869 N.Y.S.2d 657 [2008] ). Finally, we disagree with the mother's argument that she received the ineffective assistance of counsel. We reject the mother's contention that she was prejudiced by her attorney's failure to call certain witnesses to testify or to offer particular documents into evidence. Furthermore, it is speculative to conclude that such proof would have led to a more favorable result for the mother (see Matter of Hurlburt v. Behr, 70 A.D.3d 1266, 1267–1268, 897 N.Y.S.2d 271 [2010], lv. dismissed
We note that, while not determinative, Family Court's determination is consistent with the position of the attorney for the child (see Matter of
15 N.Y.3d 943, 915 N.Y.S.2d 214, 940 N.E.2d 919 [2010] ; Matter of Baker v. Baker, 283 A.D.2d 730, 731, 724 N.Y.S.2d 131 [2001], lv. denied 96 N.Y.2d 720, 733 N.Y.S.2d 372, 759 N.E.2d 371 [2001] ). Given that the mother's attorney effectively cross-examined the father, obtained successful objections and elicited testimony from the mother concerning her ability to care for the child, we find that the mother received meaningful representation (see Matter of Knight v. Knight, 92 A.D.3d 1090, 1093, 940 N.Y.S.2d 325 [2012] ; Matter of Spiewak v. Ackerman, 88 A.D.3d 1191, 1193, 932 N.Y.S.2d 207 [2011] ; Matter of Arieda v. Arieda–Walek, 74 A.D.3d 1432, 1434, 901 N.Y.S.2d 766 [2010] ).
ORDERED that the order is affirmed, without costs.
McCARTHY, J.P., GARRY, EGAN JR. and DEVINE, JJ., concur.
Schnock v. Sexton, 101 A.D.3d 1437, 1438, n., 956 N.Y.S.2d 335 [2012] ).