Opinion
02-01-2017
In the Matter of Tatiana LEVINGART, respondent, v. Zory LEVINGART, appellant.
Anthony DeGuerre, Staten Island, NY, for appellant. Rhea G. Friedman, New York, NY, for respondent. Karen P. Simmons, Brooklyn, NY (Laura Solecki and Janet Neustaetter of counsel), attorney for the children.
Anthony DeGuerre, Staten Island, NY, for appellant.
Rhea G. Friedman, New York, NY, for respondent.
Karen P. Simmons, Brooklyn, NY (Laura Solecki and Janet Neustaetter of counsel), attorney for the children.
RUTH C. BALKIN, J.P., L. PRISCILLA HALL, HECTOR D. LaSALLE, and BETSY BARROS, JJ.
Appeal by the father from an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County (IDV Part) (Patricia E. Henry, J.), dated June 29, 2015. The order, insofar as appealed from, after a hearing, and upon a decision of that court also dated June 29, 2015, granted the mother's petitions for sole custody of the parties' children and awarded the father visitation.
ORDERED that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements.
The parties were married in 2007, and have two children together. They separated in 2011, and in 2012 the mother filed petitions for sole custody of the children. After a hearing, the Supreme Court granted the petitions and awarded sole custody of the children to the mother with visitation to the father. The father appeals.
In adjudicating custody and visitation rights, the court's paramount concern is to determine, under the totality of the circumstances, what is in the best interests of the child (see Eschbach v. Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d 167, 171, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260 ; Lieberman v. Lieberman, 142 A.D.3d 1144, 38 N.Y.S.3d 81 ; Iacono v. Iacono, 117 A.D.3d 988, 986 N.Y.S.2d 248 ; Matter of Gooler v. Gooler, 107 A.D.3d 712, 966 N.Y.S.2d 208 ). The totality of the circumstances includes, but is not limited to, " ‘(1) which alternative will best promote stability; (2) the available home environments; (3) the past performance of each parent; (4) each parent's relative fitness, including his or her ability to guide the child, provide for the child's overall well being, and foster the child's relationship with the noncustodial parent; and (5) the child's desires' " (Matter of Klein v. Theus, 143 A.D.3d 984, 985, 39 N.Y.S.3d 529, quoting Matter of Supangkat v. Torres, 101 A.D.3d 889, 890, 954 N.Y.S.2d 915 ). "Where, as here, the court has conducted a complete evidentiary hearing on the issues of custody and visitation, its findings must be accorded great weight, and its custody and visitation determination will not be disturbed unless it lacks a sound and substantial basis in the record" (Iacono v. Iacono, 117 A.D.3d at 988, 986 N.Y.S.2d 248 ; see Matter of Klein v. Theus, 143 A.D.3d 984, 39 N.Y.S.3d 529 ; Matter of Sterling v. Silva, 124 A.D.3d 669, 1 N.Y.S.3d 327 ).
The Supreme Court's determination that it was in the best interests of the children to award sole custody to the mother with visitation to the father has a sound and substantial basis in the record and, accordingly, we decline to disturb it (see Matter of Quinones v. Quinones, 139 A.D.3d 1072, 32 N.Y.S.3d 607 ; Matter of Lawlor v. Eder, 106 A.D.3d 739, 740, 966 N.Y.S.2d 92 ). Moreover, the visitation schedule ordered by the court provides the father with meaningful time with the children (see Matter of Saravia v. Godzieba, 120 A.D.3d 821, 991 N.Y.S.2d 476 ; Matter of Patrick v. Farris, 39 A.D.3d 864, 835 N.Y.S.2d 617 ).
The father's remaining contention is without merit.