IN RE: KIMBERLY J. (2024)

Order, Family Court, Bronx County (Jennifer S. Burtt, Ref.), entered on or about September 5, 2023, which, inter alia, after a fact-finding hearing, awarded sole legal and physical custody of the subject child to petitioner mother with a parenting access schedule to respondent father, unanimously modified, on the law, to the extent of remanding the matter to Family Court to conduct further proceedings consistent herewith, and otherwise affirmed, without costs.

We find no basis on which to disturb the determination that awarding sole custody to the mother was in the child's best interests.  The court had the benefit of a full evidentiary hearing at which it had the opportunity to hear the testimony of both parents and to assess their demeanor and credibility (see Eschbach v. Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d 167, 172, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260 [1982];  see Matter of Carmen G. v. Rogelio D., 100 A.D.3d 568, 955 N.Y.S.2d 14 [1st Dept. 2012]).  The court concluded that the mother, who had been the child's primary caretaker since birth, had stable income and housing and was better suited to meet the child's educational and medical needs (see Matter of Alfredo J.T. v. Jodi D., 120 A.D.3d 1138, 1139, 992 N.Y.S.2d 431 [1st Dept. 2014]).  Further, the court properly considered the history of domestic violence between the parties (see Matter of Stacey–Ann H.J. v Ian J., 190 A.D.3d 456, 456, 139 N.Y.S.3d 63 [1st Dept. 2021]).  Despite the parents' contentious relationship, the mother had been flexible and open to facilitating contact between the father and the child and indicated a willingness to promote their relationship (see Matter of Nadine T. v. Lastenia T., 161 A.D.3d 491, 492–493, 77 N.Y.S.3d 27 [1st Dept. 2018]).

We further find that the visitation schedule, which consisted of overnight visits on alternate weekends, was a provident exercise of discretion and the father was provided meaningful contact with the child (see Matter of Flor Maria R.S. v. Luis D.R., 219 A.D.3d 1261, 1261–1262, 197 N.Y.S.3d 19 [1st Dept. 2023]).  However, we agree with the father that Family Court should have set forth a more precise parental access schedule for the child's birthday, school holidays, and vacation time, including the trips to Maryland (see Matter of Margaret R.K. v. Kenneth K., 136 A.D.3d 530, 531, 24 N.Y.S.3d 650 [1st Dept. 2016]).  Given the history of the parties' relationship and inability to cooperate in reaching an agreement with respect to the child, the court erred by leaving decisions regarding custody on the child's birthday, school holidays, and vacation time to the discretion of the mother.  Accordingly, we remand the matter to Family Court for a new determination setting forth a more detailed and comprehensive schedule.