RATTLER v. RATTLER (1999)

In an action for a divorce and ancillary relief, the defendant husband appeals, as limited by his brief, from stated portions of (1) a judgment of the Supreme Court, Suffolk County (McNulty, J.), entered May 18, 1998, which, inter alia, awarded the plaintiff wife custody of the parties' two infant children, maintenance, and child support, and (2) an order of the same court, dated October 22, 1998, which, inter alia, awarded the plaintiff arrears in maintenance and child support in the sum of $6,072 pursuant to the judgment.

ORDERED that the judgment and order are affirmed insofar as appealed from, with one bill of costs.

 The court's determination that it was in the best interests of the children to award custody to the plaintiff has a sound and substantial basis in the record (see, Eschbach v. Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d 167, 171, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260;  Friederwitzer v. Friederwitzer, 55 N.Y.2d 89, 95, 447 N.Y.S.2d 893, 432 N.E.2d 765;  Young v. Young, 212 A.D.2d 114, 117, 628 N.Y.S.2d 957).

 In addition, the court's determination to award the plaintiff child support and maintenance arrears commencing from the date that she first demanded the relief in her original complaint was proper (see, Reutenauer v. Reutenauer, 229 A.D.2d 776, 645 N.Y.S.2d 583;  see also, King v. King, 230 A.D.2d 775, 646 N.Y.S.2d 377;  Forbush v. Forbush, 115 A.D.2d 335, 496 N.Y.S.2d 311;  Domestic Relations Law § 236[B][6][a] ).

The defendant's remaining contentions are without merit.

MEMORANDUM BY THE COURT.