Opinion
5832, 5833.
Decided on October 25, 2011.
Order of disposition, Family Court, New York County (Rhoda Cohen, J.), entered on or about January 5, 2010, which, to the extent appealed from, upon a fact-finding that respondent father's consent was not required for the adoption of his daughter, committed the custody and guardianship of the child to petitioner Commissioner of the Administration for Children's Services for the purpose of adoption, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
Howard M. Simms, New York, for appellant.
Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York (Susan B. Eisner of counsel), for respondent.
Tamara A. Steckler, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Diane Pazar of counsel), attorney for the child.
Mazzarelli, J.P., Friedman, Catterson, Renwick, Richter, JJ.
Respondent's consent to the child's adoption was not required because respondent did not maintain "substantial and continuous or repeated contact with the child" and failed to provide support for her while she was in foster care ( see Domestic Relations Law § 111[d]; Matter of Norman Christian K., 60 AD3d 542). Respondent was neither relieved of his responsibility to support and maintain regular communication with the child by his repeated incarceration nor excused from paying financial support by the fact that the agency did not instruct him to do so ( Matter of Marc Jaleel G. [Marc E.G.] , 74 AD3d 689 ). His belated expressions of interest in visiting with the child are insufficient after many years in which he had no contact with his child.
THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.