Opinion
8434
02-19-2019
In re DAWN H.F., Petitioner–Appellant, v. MARCO J., Respondent–Respondent.
Richard L. Herzfeld, P.C., New York (Richard L. Herzfeld of counsel), for appellant. Janet Neustaetter, The Children's Law Center, Brooklyn (Chai Park of counsel), for respondent.
Richard L. Herzfeld, P.C., New York (Richard L. Herzfeld of counsel), for appellant.
Janet Neustaetter, The Children's Law Center, Brooklyn (Chai Park of counsel), for respondent.
Richter, J.P., Manzanet–Daniels, Kapnick, Gesmer, Oing, JJ.
Order, Family Court, Bronx County (Jennifer S. Burtt, Referee), entered on or about August 9, 2017, which, inter alia, awarded joint legal custody of the subject child, with final authority to the father on major medical, dental, and therapeutic decisions, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The joint custody arrangement crafted by the court was in the child's best interests and has a sound and substantial basis in the record ( Anonymous v. Anonymous , 107 A.D.3d 531, 532, 970 N.Y.S.2d 507 [1st Dept. 2013] ). We decline to disturb the court's division of final authority for certain categories of major decisions, as the record establishes that each parent had successfully exercised good judgment in making major decisions related to their assigned categories ( Nimkoff v. Nimkoff , 74 A.D.3d 408, 408, 902 N.Y.S.2d 65 [1st Dept. 2010] ). Moreover, the division of final authority in major decisions would maintain the respective roles of each parent in the child's life ( id. ).
The determination of the mother's request for new counsel is not before this Court as the mother has not filed a notice of appeal from a decision on such motion and any decision would not be encompassed by the notice of appeal from the final custody determination.
We have considered the mother's remaining arguments and find them unavailing.