IN RE: COURTNEY FOWLER (2024)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.

Memorandum: In this proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 6, respondent father appeals from an order that, inter alia, awarded petitioner mother sole custody of the parties’ two children and suspended the father's visitation with the children.

The presumption that visitation with a noncustodial parent is in the best interests of a child, even when the parent seeking visitation is incarcerated, may be rebutted “through demonstration by a preponderance of the evidence” (Matter of Granger v Misercola, 21 NY3d 86, 92 [2013] [emphasis omitted]; see Matter of Grayson v Lopez, 178 AD3d 1427, 1428 [4th Dept 2019]). “[T]he propriety of visitation is generally left to the sound discretion of Family Court[,] whose findings are accorded deference by this Court and will remain undisturbed unless lacking a sound basis in the record” (Matter of Mountzouros v Mountzouros, 191 AD3d 1388, 1389 [4th Dept 2021], lv denied 37 NY3d 902 [2021]).

We reject the father's contention that Family Court's determination, that suspension of the father's visitation with the subject children while he is incarcerated was in the children's best interests, lacks a sound and substantial basis in the record.

A parent's failure to exercise visitation for a prolonged period of time is a relevant factor when determining whether visitation is warranted (see Matter of Brown v Terwilliger, 108 AD3d 1047, 1048 [4th Dept 2013], lv denied 22 NY3d 858 [2013]) and here the record establishes that the father made no meaningful effort to nurture a relationship with the children: he failed to exercise visitation, when he was allowed to do so, and did not take the opportunity to write letters or cards to the children during these proceedings. The court also properly took into consideration that the father was convicted of, inter alia, criminal contempt in the first degree (Penal Law § 215.51) for violating an order of protection issued in favor of the mother and the children, further demonstrating “no remorse or understanding that his actions were harmful to the children” (Grayson, 178 AD3d at 1428).

We conclude that there is no basis to disturb the court's determination suspending the father's visitation with the children.

Entered: March 15, 2024

Ann Dillon Flynn

Clerk of the Court