Opinion
7279
10-11-2018
In re DIANNA P., Petitioner–Respondent, v. DAMON B.-D., Respondent–Appellant.
Leslie S. Lowenstein, Woodmere, for appellant. Law Offices of Randall S. Carmel, Jericho (Randall S. Carmel of counsel), for respondent. Law and Mediation Office of Helene Bernstein, PLLC, Brooklyn (Helene Bernstein of counsel), attorney for the child.
Leslie S. Lowenstein, Woodmere, for appellant.
Law Offices of Randall S. Carmel, Jericho (Randall S. Carmel of counsel), for respondent.
Law and Mediation Office of Helene Bernstein, PLLC, Brooklyn (Helene Bernstein of counsel), attorney for the child.
Sweeny, J.P., Tom, Gesmer, Kern, Moulton, JJ.
Order, Family Court, New York County (Stephanie Schwartz, Referee), entered on or about August 29, 2017, which granted the petition to relocate with the parties' child to Georgia, and awarded petitioner sole legal and physical custody of the child, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The record supports the court's determination that permitting petitioner to relocate with the child to Georgia and awarding her sole legal and physical custody of him is in the child's best interests (see Matter of Tropea v. Tropea, 87 N.Y.2d 727, 739, 740–741, 642 N.Y.S.2d 575, 665 N.E.2d 145 [1996] ). Petitioner "demonstrated that the move would enhance the child's life economically, socially, and educationally" ( Matter of Aruty v. Mormando, 70 A.D.3d 683, 683, 892 N.Y.S.2d 875 [2d Dept. 2010], citing Matter of Tropea, 87 N.Y.2d at 740–741, 642 N.Y.S.2d 575, 665 N.E.2d 145 ; see also Aziz v. Aziz, 8 A.D.3d 596, 779 N.Y.S.2d 539 [2d Dept. 2004], lv dismissed 7 N.Y.3d 739, 819 N.Y.S.2d 860, 853 N.E.2d 229 [2006] ).
Petitioner is the sole source of financial support for the child, since respondent has failed to pay child support for several years. While she has been unable, despite an ongoing job search, to find full-time work in her field and has been unable to make ends meet for herself and the child, petitioner has obtained a full-time position in Georgia as a sous-chef, with an enhanced opportunity to pursue private clients (see Matter of Melissa Marie G. v. John Christopher W., 73 A.D.3d 658, 901 N.Y.S.2d 275 [1st Dept. 2010] ; see also Matter of Kevin McK. v. Elizabeth A.E., 111 A.D.3d 124, 972 N.Y.S.2d 25 [1st Dept. 2013] ).
Petitioner's testimony shows that she is better able than respondent to provide a consistent and stable home environment for the child; she has primarily cared for the child since birth and has attended to all his educational and medical needs (see Eschbach v. Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d 167, 171, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260 [1982] ; Matter of Parrish P. v. Camille G., 140 A.D.3d 586, 33 N.Y.S.3d 696 [1st Dept. 2016] ). In Atlanta, where she intends to live, she also has a support system within her extended family (see Melissa Marie G., 73 A.D.3d 658, 901 N.Y.S.2d 275 ). Moreover, the school that the child would attend offers the extra-curricular arts programs that he is interested in and a nearby after-school program.
We note that the attorney for the child has consistently supported the relocation.
Contrary to respondent's contention, the court properly considered the potential impact of the relocation on respondent's relationship with the child. While the relocation will result in the loss of respondent's weekend parenting time, the visitation schedule set by the court will allow respondent to continue to have a meaningful relationship with the child.
We have considered respondent's remaining arguments and find them unavailing.