Opinion
March 8, 1999
Appeal from the Family Court, Rockland County (Warren, J.).
Ordered that the orders are affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
Upon our review of the record, we find no reason to disturb the Family Court's award of sole custody of the child to the mother (see, Eschbach Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d 167; Friederwitzer v. Friederwitzer, 55 N.Y.2d 89). The evidence established that the mother, who has been the child's primary caretaker throughout his life, is better able to provide for his financial and intellectual needs. Moreover, the court-appointed psychiatrist, after performing an evaluation on the parties and finding that the father was not in touch with reality and needed psychiatric help, concluded that the mother was the more appropriate custodial parent.
The father's remaining contentions are without merit.
Bracken, J. P., Santucci, Goldstein and McGinity, JJ., concur.