IN RE: DUTCHESS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (2025)

DECISION & ORDER

In a proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 4, the father appeals from an order of the Family Court, Dutchess County (Tracy C. MacKenzie, J.), dated February 28, 2024.  The order denied the father's objections to an order of the same court (Jeanne M. Patsalos, S.M.) dated December 19, 2023, which denied the father's motion to vacate an order of support of the same court (Steven R. Kaufman, S.M.) dated April 5, 2013.

ORDERED that the order dated February 28, 2024, is affirmed, with costs.

The mother and the father were married on October 18, 2007, and have two children.  In August 2012, the petitioner, Dutchess County Department of Social Services, on behalf of the mother, commenced this proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 4 for child support, alleging that the father failed to provide fair and reasonable child support since November 2010.  Following an oral stipulation made on the record by the mother and the father, the Family Court issued an order of support dated April 5, 2013, upon the consent of the mother and the father, directing the father to pay the sum of $400 per month for child support based on the needs of the children, since the father's income was unknown (hereinafter the 2013 support order).  In 2023, the petitioner, on behalf of the mother, filed a petition alleging that the father violated the 2013 support order.  The father thereafter moved to vacate the 2013 support order.  In an order dated December 19, 2023, the Support Magistrate denied the motion.  The father filed objections to the Support Magistrate's order, and in an order dated February 28, 2024, the court denied the father's objections.  The father appeals.

“ ‘When a party has defaulted and/or the court is otherwise presented with insufficient evidence to determine gross income, the court shall order child support based upon the needs or standard of living of the child, whichever is greater’ ” (Rosenbaum v. Festinger, 213 A.D.3d 788, 789, 183 N.Y.S.3d 152, quoting Domestic Relations Law former § 240[1–b][k]).  Here, given the father's repeated failure to provide required financial disclosures, the Family Court was authorized to determine child support based upon the children's needs (see id.;  Matter of McGoldrick v. Gebaide, 188 A.D.3d 885, 886, 135 N.Y.S.3d 676).  Accordingly, the court properly denied the father's objections to the Support Magistrate's order (see Family Ct Act former § 413[1][k];  Domestic Relations Law former § 240[1–b][k];  Matter of Bayon v. Caston, 155 A.D.3d 946, 947, 63 N.Y.S.3d 889).

The parties’ remaining contentions are without merit.

LASALLE, P.J., DILLON, CHRISTOPHER and LANDICINO, JJ., concur.