IN RE: Jennifer Fisher BOWE (2005)

In a child custody proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 6, the father appeals (1), as limited by his brief, from so much of an order of the Family Court, Queens County (Clark, J.), dated July 15, 2004, as, in effect, upon confirming a referee's report (Seiden, H.E.), dated May 20, 2003, made after a hearing, denied his cross petition to modify a prior order of the same court entered September 30, 1998, awarding sole custody of the parties' child to the mother, and granted the mother's petition for permission to relocate with the child to the State of Pennsylvania, and (2) a decision of the same court dated July 15, 2004.

ORDERED that the appeal from the decision is dismissed, as no appeal lies from a decision (see Schicchi v. Green Constr. Corp., 100 A.D.2d 509, 472 N.Y.S.2d 718);  and it is further,

ORDERED that the order dated July 15, 2004, is modified, on the facts, by deleting the provision thereof granting the mother's petition for permission to relocate with the child to the State of Pennsylvania and substituting therefor a provision dismissing the petition as academic;  as so modified, the order dated July 15, 2004, is affirmed insofar as appealed from;  and it is further,

ORDERED that the mother is awarded one bill of costs.

 Where, as here, a court has conducted a complete evidentiary hearing, its finding must be accorded great weight on appeal, and its award of custody should be allowed to stand unless it lacks a sound and substantial basis in the record (see Matter of Lynch v. Acey, 281 A.D.2d 483, 721 N.Y.S.2d 786;  Matter of Coakley v. Goins, 240 A.D.2d 573, 659 N.Y.S.2d 75;  Conti v. Conti, 149 A.D.2d 395, 539 N.Y.S.2d 500).   The essential consideration in making an award of custody is the best interests of the child (see Eschbach v. Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d 167, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260;  Friederwitzer v. Friederwitzer, 55 N.Y.2d 89, 447 N.Y.S.2d 893, 432 N.E.2d 765).   The court may require a change of custody if the totality of the circumstances warrants a modification and such a change is in the best interests of the child (see Eschbach v. Eschbach, supra;  Matter of Schimler v. Schimler, 203 A.D.2d 580, 611 N.Y.S.2d 559).   Factors to be considered in determining the child's best interests include “the quality of the home environment and the parental guidance the custodial parent provides for the child ․ the ability of each parent to provide for the child's emotional and intellectual development ․ the financial status and ability of each parent to provide for the child ․ the relative fitness of the respective parents, and the length of time the present custody arrangement has been in effect” (Matter of Lobo v. Muttee, 196 A.D.2d 585, 587, 601 N.Y.S.2d 322;  see Matter of Krebsbach v. Gallagher, 181 A.D.2d 363, 364-365, 587 N.Y.S.2d 346;  see also Eschbach v. Eschbach, supra ).   The stability and companionship to be gained from keeping children together is also an important factor for a court to consider (see Eschbach v. Eschbach, supra at 173, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260).   Moreover, a court should be mindful that “the existence or absence of any one factor cannot be determinative on appellate review since the court is to consider the totality of the circumstances” (Eschbach v. Eschbach, supra at 174, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260).   While the express wishes of children are not controlling, they are entitled to great weight, particularly where their age and maturity would make their input particularly meaningful (see Matter of O'Connor v. Dyer, 18 A.D.3d 757, 795 N.Y.S.2d 686).

 The father failed to establish a change in circumstances warranting a change in custody, or that the mother was less fit than he as a parent (see Gonzalez v. Gonzalez, 17 A.D.3d 635, 794 N.Y.S.2d 103).   Accordingly, the Family Court properly continued custody of the parties' 13-year-old child with the mother, which was the child's preference, and which was in accord with the recommendations of the court-appointed forensic evaluator and the Law Guardian.   In light of the mother's representation in her brief that she has abandoned her plan to relocate to the State of Pennsylvania and is rescinding her request for permission to relocate, we dismiss her relocation petition as academic.

The father's remaining contentions are without merit.