IN RE: STEPHANIE C. (2024)

Order, Family Court, Bronx County (Rosanna Mazzotta, Ref.), entered on or about October 12, 2022, which, to the extent appealed from, after a hearing, granted petitioner mother's sole legal custody of the subject child and granted parenting access time to respondent father, unanimously modified, on the law and the facts, to remand the matter for further proceedings to establish a more specific access schedule for the father consistent with this decision, and for inclusion of a provision giving each parent phone or video contact with the child at specific times and for specific periods of time while the child is with the other parent, and otherwise affirmed, without costs.

Family Court failed to make factual findings supporting its award of sole legal custody to the mother.¹  However, since our authority is as broad as that of the trial court and the record is adequate to permit our review, we will make our own factual findings, which are set forth below.  Those findings support the court's legal conclusions, and accordingly, we affirm its award of legal custody to the mother (see e.g. Newton v. McFarlane, 174 A.D.3d 67, 80, 103 N.Y.S.3d 445 [2d Dept. 2019]).

We find, based on the mother's uncontroverted testimony, that the mother served as the child's primary caretaker since her birth, provided her with a stable and loving home, and took care of all of her needs (see Matter of Paul D. v. Margarita O., 227 A.D.3d 439, 210 N.Y.S.3d 404 [1st Dept. 2024]).  The mother also enrolled the child in school, kept in contact with her teachers, arranged and attended her medical appointments, and paid for her health insurance.  We further find, based on the testimony of both parties, that they did not communicate with each other and that their relationship was characterized by acrimony and mistrust (see Lubit v. Lubit, 65 A.D.3d 954, 955, 885 N.Y.S.2d 492 [1st Dept. 2009], lv denied 13 N.Y.3d 716, 2010 WL 118203 [2010], cert denied 560 U.S. 940, 130 S.Ct. 3362, 176 L.Ed.2d 1247 [2010]).  Thus, Family Court's order, awarding sole legal and primary physical custody to the mother with visitation and access to the child's medical and educational records to the father, has a sound and substantial basis in the record (see Matter of Frank M. v. Donna W., 44 A.D.3d 495, 495–496, 844 N.Y.S.2d 22 [1st Dept. 2007];  Matter of Gregory L.B. v. Magdelena G., 68 A.D.3d 478, 479, 888 N.Y.S.2d 885 [1st Dept. 2009]).

The court providently granted the father access with the child on alternating weekends and “shared” holidays and school vacations, as this had been the longstanding parenting time schedule and provided the child with continuity and stability (see e.g. Weisberger v. Weisberger, 154 A.D.3d 41, 54, 60 N.Y.S.3d 265 [2d Dept. 2017]).  While the father argues that he should have been granted mid-week visits, his testimony shows that his work schedule had previously interfered with his ability to visit with the child during the week (see e.g. Matter of Ian C. v. Desery C., 161 A.D.3d 621, 622, 77 N.Y.S.3d 388 [1st Dept. 2018]).

However, as the parties requested, Family Court should have set forth a more precise schedule for the father's access time on weekends, as well as on the child's birthday, holidays, and school vacation time.  In addition, the order should have directed that each parent have parental phone or video contact with the child at specific times and for specific periods of time while she is with the other parent (see Kimberly J. v. Benjamin G., 227 A.D.3d 471, 472, 211 N.Y.S.3d 314 [1st Dept. 2024];  Margaret R.-K. v. Kenneth K., 136 A.D.3d 530, 531, 24 N.Y.S.3d 650 [1st Dept. 2016]).

Accordingly, we remand for further proceedings as necessary to issue an amended custody order directing a specific parenting schedule for alternate weekends, holidays, and school breaks, including drop off and pick up locations and times, and setting parameters for telephone or video contact with the child by each parent when the child is with the other parent.

We have considered the father's remaining arguments and find them unavailing.

FOOTNOTES

1.   The court also awarded primary physical custody to the mother, but we need not address that as the father does not appeal from it.