Father’s Rights In New York Family Court

Father’s Rights In New York Family CourtIn the Family Courts of New York, Fathers have equal rights with regard to issues concerning child custody and visitation of their children. After it is established who the Father is, the child then receives rights to inherit from the Father and the child can participate in the Father’s health insurance plan.

No Preference Between Mothers And Fathers And Family Courts

In Family Court in New York, the issues concerning who receives child custody, whether it be the Father or the Mother is determined by what is in the best interest of the child. Neither the Father nor the Mother receives any type of preference with regard to issues concerning who shall receive custody.

Being Married or Not Married Doesn’t Usually Matter

Whether parents are married or not is usually not an issue in determining custody. Custody determinations in the state of New York can be made either by the Family Court or the Supreme Court. In divorce cases, which take place in the Supreme Court, a Judge can make rulings on custody. Custody cases in the Family Court can be brought by people who are married or unmarried. The Family Courts in the state of New York have simultaneous jurisdiction concerning issues of custody with the Supreme Court.

schlissel-headshotElliot S. Schlissel, Esq. is a divorce lawyer representing men and women throughout the Metropolitan New York area. He can be reached at Elliot@sdnylaw.com or 800-344-6431.

Mother Denied An Order Of Protection Against The Father

Mother Denied An Order Of Protection Against The FatherIn a case in Oneida County, New York before a Judge F. Christopher Giruzzi, a Mother sought to modify a prior order giving the minor child of the parties’ custody to the Father. She alleged there had been a change in circumstances. She claimed the Father did not permit unfettered telephone access with the child. She also claimed the Father made disparaging remarks about her while the child was present. She claimed all of the aforementioned allegations were in violation of the prior order of custody.

Allegations Of Harassment Against The Father

The Mother, in addition, sought an order of protection against the Father. She alleged he committed a family offense of harassment against her. The allegations were simply that he comes to the home for exchanges, and we are “very uncomfortable”.

The court ruled the Father will continue to be the sole residential custodial parent of the child. The judge set a specific schedule to eliminate extensive communication between the parties.

The court found the Mother, being “very uncomfortable” does not constitute a family offense which would require, or be the basis for, an order of protection against the Father.

Conclusion

The Mother in this case simply wanted to change residential custody from the Father to her. She didn’t present a reasonable argument for there to be a change in custody.

schlissel-headshotElliot S. Schlissel, Esq. is a divorce lawyer representing men and women throughout the Metropolitan New York area. He can be reached at Elliot@sdnylaw.com or 800-344-6431.

Father Granted Downward Modification Of Child Support

Father Granted Downward Modification Of Child SupportIn the case before support Magistrate Sandra Mendelson-Toscano, sitting in the Family Court of Nassau County, a father filed a downward modification of child support petition asking that his child support obligations be reduced. The parties had previously been divorced and there were two children of the marriage. Upon receiving the downward modification child support petition, the mother filed an enforcement action against the father. She alleged he failed to pay child support payments in a timely manner.

THE TRIAL AND THE COURT’S DECISION

There was a joint trial held before Support Magistrate Mendelson-Toscano. She ruled since the father’s income had decreased by more than 15% since the previous child support order had been made, he was entitled to a downward modification of his child support payments. She thereafter entered a decision modifying his support obligations retroactive to the date he brought his child support downward modification case. In addition, the support magistrate ruled the father was entitled to credit for child support payments he made and a dollar for dollar credit for room and board payments he made while his son was attending college.

However, even though the father’s child support payments were reduced and he received some credits, the Support Magistrate found he still owed child support arrears to the mother. Therefore, Support Magistrate entered a non-willful finding ordering the father to pay mother’s attorney’s fees since he had failed to comply with the condition precedent as set forth in the prior child support order.

CONCLUSION

In this case the father won on some issues but was still forced to pay the mother’s attorney’s fees.

p>schlissel-headshotElliot S. Schlissel, Esq. is a divorce lawyer representing men and women throughout the Metropolitan New York area. He can be reached at Elliot@sdnylaw.com or 800-344-6431.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving 2021

This Thanksgiving, we are immensely grateful, that with all the changes in our world, we have friends and family with whom we can gather. Let us take time this year to live in gratitude for the bounty we experience all around us.

Mother’s Relocation Denied; Fathers Granted Custody

Mother’s Relocation Denied; Fathers Granted CustodyIn this case a Mother appealed from an Order granting Father’s application to change a prior custody order. The Mother and Father has joint legal custody of the parties child. Mother was the primary residential custodial parent. Father had parenting time with the child.

Mother Seeks to Relocate

Mother brought an application to relocate with the child. She sought to move to West Virginia. She claimed her new husband lived there. Father brought a cross petition requesting he be named as the primary residential custodial parent of the parties child. The Family Court denied Mother’s relocation application. They also granted Father’s request for primary physical custody. The Family Court found the Mother gave little attention to the impact the relocation of the child would have on the child’s relationship with her Father. The court also found there was no evidence supporting her claim the relocation of the child to West Virginia was based on an improved financial circumstance that would exist in West Virginia.

The Appeals Court Decision

The Appeals Court in their decision stated the Family Court’s findings were supported by a sound and substantial basis on the record. The determination by the Family Court judge denying Mothers request to relocate with the child was affirmed. The Appellate Court found the Father could financially support himself and the child. The Court found he maintained a suitable residence to live in with the child. The Court took into consideration the Mother was financially dependant on her present husband. They also noted Mother had previously relocated. The Appeals Court held the Family Court did not make a mistake in awarding the Father primary residential custody of the parties child.

Conclusion

In this case, both the Judge in the Family Court and the Appeals Court agreed the Father was the proper parent to have primary physical custody of the parties child. This case is a good example of a Father asserting his equal rights to have custody of his child.

schlissel-headshotElliot S. Schlissel, Esq. has been helping fathers obtain custody of their children for decades.

Father Given More Time With The Children

Father Given More Time With The ChildrenIn a case before Judge Jeffrey Sunshine, who sits in Kings County New York, a father brought an application to modify a parenting time agreement. There were two teenage children of this marriage. The parties had joint custody of these children. One child was 13 years old and the other was 17 years old.

Fathers Economically Superior Situation

In this case the Father had a significantly better economic situation. The children desired to spend more time with their father than with there mother. As a result of this Judge Jeffrey Sunshine granted the father’s petition to have residential parenting time changed to two weeks in a row with him and one week with the mother.

The fathers work situation had changed and he was able to spend more time with the children. The father had also remarried. The children had developed a close relationship with his new spouse. The children also appreciated their father was able to provide them with a large home, a pool and resources which allowed them to have pleasant vacations.

The court also found the father and mother who had joint custody had no relationship whatsoever. Therefore they could not continue to have joint custody of the children.

Conclusion

This is an excellent decision with regard to the issue of fathers rights.

schlissel-headshotElliot S. Schlissel is a fathers rights lawyer who has been helping fathers obtain custody

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween

Season’s Greetings and Happy New Year

Season's Greetings and Happy New Year

Happy New Year 2020

Happy New Year 2020

To a joyful present and a well-remembered past. Best wishes for happy holidays and a magnificent new year.

No Order of Protection Against Former Boyfriend

Against Former BoyfriendMaliha A. brought a proceeding in the Family Court of Queens County before Judge John Hunt seeking an order of protection against her former boyfriend Onu M. Her petition claimed she had a bitter breakup and Onu was harassing her. Onu and Maliha had entered into new romantic relationships. Malihu had told a court attorney she was not afraid of Onu. At one point she sought to withdraw her application for an order of protection but at a later point she denied to the court that she wanted the petition withdrawn.

The Case Goes to Trial

Maliha stated she wanted to move forward with the petition and the case was eventually set down for trial. Maliha had posted a number of tweets on a twitter and even though she did not mention Onu’s name these tweets were about him. Onu had texted their agreement not to communicate with Malihu. Malihu testified that she was never threatened by Onu and she was not afraid of him, but she still wanted an order of protection because “as there is no telling what he might say or do.”

Application Dismissed

Judge Hunt dismissed Maliha’s petition. It failed to meet the statutory burden rising to a level of a family offense.

Conclusion

If an application is made to a court for an order of protection there must be a basis in law and the facts must substantiate the basis in law for a judge to grant this type of petition.

schlissel-headshotElliot S. Schlissel, Esq. is a father’s rights attorney representing fathers throughout the Metropolitan New York area. He can be reached at 800-344-6431 or e-mailed at Elliot@sdnylaw.com.