IN RE: TYLAEYA C. (2020)

Order, Family Court, New York County (Jessica Brenes, Referee), entered on or about December 5, 2019, which, after a hearing, granted the mother's petition seeking legal and physical custody of the parties' child, unanimously affirmed, without costs.

There is a sound and substantial basis in the record for the Family Court's determination that the child's best interests would be served by awarding sole legal and physical custody to the mother with liberal visitation rights to the father (see Elkin v. Labis, 113 A.D.3d 419, 419, 979 N.Y.S.2d 20 [1st Dept. 2014], lv dismissed 22 N.Y.3d 1193, 985 N.Y.S.2d 481, 8 N.E.3d 859 [2014]).  The evidence adduced at the hearing demonstrates that the mother was the child's primary caretaker and provided for his daily needs.  She dropped him off and picked him up from school every day, provided financial support for his extracurricular activities to the extent she could, and met with his teachers (see Matter of Jamel W. v. Stacey J., 136 A.D.3d 552, 26 N.Y.S.3d 30 [1st Dept. 2016]).  She also handled his medical appointments and knew exactly what medications he took for his asthma (see Matter of James Joseph M. v. Rosana R., 32 A.D.3d 725, 726, 821 N.Y.S.2d 168 [1st Dept. 2006], lv denied 7 N.Y.3d 717, 827 N.Y.S.2d 688, 860 N.E.2d 990 [2006]).  The mother was also able to provide greater stability, as the child had resided primarily with her through his entire life (see Jamel W., 136 A.D.3d at 553, 26 N.Y.S.3d 30).  Since the parties had an acrimonious relationship and did not communicate with each other except through third parties, joint custody was not appropriate (In re Michael B., 145 A.D.3d 425, 430, 42 N.Y.S.3d 141 [1st Dept. 2016]).

The father's argument that the court overlooked the mother's “sharp animosity” towards him and failure to include his contact information on the current school “blue card” is unavailing.  The father testified that he had communicated with the child's prior school principal and his current school basketball coach, and there was no evidence that the father ever attempted to obtain the child's school or medical records.  Moreover, when directed to do so prior to completion of the trial, the mother promptly gave the school the father's contact information.  Though the parents had a contentious relationship, there was also no evidence that the mother prevented the father from spending time with the child (see Matter of Feliccia v. Spahn, 108 A.D.3d 702, 703, 968 N.Y.S.2d 893 [2d Dept. 2013]).  To be sure, the father rarely missed his weekend visits with the child and appeared capable of providing love and support to the child, but the totality of the circumstances, including the teenage child's own wishes, support the court's decision to grant legal and physical custody to the mother while allowing the father liberal visitation rights (see Eschbach v. Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d 167, 174, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260 [1982]).