Opinion
526331
10-17-2019
In the Matter of JUSTIN M., Appellant, v. VALENCIA N., Respondent.
Adam W. Toraya, Albany, for appellant. Craig S. Leeds, Albany, for respondent. Sandra M. Colatosti, Albany, attorney for the child.
Adam W. Toraya, Albany, for appellant.
Craig S. Leeds, Albany, for respondent.
Sandra M. Colatosti, Albany, attorney for the child.
Before: Egan Jr., J.P., Lynch, Mulvey and Devine, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Devine, J. Petitioner (hereinafter the putative father) is currently imprisoned and purports to be the father of a child (born in 2010). The putative father commenced this proceeding seeking custody and/or parenting time with the child. He further disclosed that an order of protection had been issued in favor of respondent (hereinafter the mother). At the initial appearance on the petition, Family Court stated that the order of protection had been issued in a criminal matter and that it barred the putative father from having any direct or indirect contact with the mother. The mother then moved to dismiss the petition, arguing that the order of protection rendered the petition moot. Family Court agreed and granted the motion. The putative father appeals.
We reverse. The order of protection at issue – a copy of which is not in the record but the terms of which we take judicial notice – was issued prior to the child's birth and does not bar the putative father from having contact with the child. It is not, as a result, fatal to the putative father's petition (compare Matter of Pedro A. v. Gloria A. , 168 A.D.3d 1152, 1153, 91 N.Y.S.3d 588 [2019], with Matter of Donnie HH. v. Ashley II. , 174 A.D.3d 988, 989, 106 N.Y.S.3d 184 [2019] ). Remittal is therefore required for Family Court to consider whether an order of filiation should be issued (see Family Ct Act § 564 ) and, if so, whether contact with the putative father would be in the best interests of the child and could be accomplished without contravening the terms of the order of protection (see Matter of Pedro A. v. Gloria A. , 168 A.D.3d at 1153–1154, 91 N.Y.S.3d 588 ; Matter of Samantha WW. v. Gerald XX. , 107 A.D.3d 1313, 1316, 969 N.Y.S.2d 180 [2013] ).
Egan Jr., J.P., Lynch and Mulvey, JJ., concur.
ORDERED that the order is reversed, on the law, without costs, and matter remitted to the Family Court of Albany County for further proceedings not inconsistent with this Court's decision.