IN RE: Joann S. MARKS (2005)

In a proceeding pursuant to Domestic Relations Law § 72 for grandparent visitation, the parents appeal, by permission, as limited by their brief, from so much of an order of the Family Court, Suffolk County (James, R.), dated February 22, 2005, as denied that branch of their motion which was to dismiss the paternal grandmother's petition without a hearing.

ORDERED that the order is reversed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements, and the branch of the motion which was to dismiss the paternal grandmother's petition without a hearing is granted.

 In considering whether a grandparent is entitled to visitation under Domestic Relations Law § 72 where both parents are alive, the Family Court must determine, first, whether equitable circumstances exist which provide the grandparent with standing and, if such circumstances exist, whether visitation would be in the grandchild's best interest (see Domestic Relations Law § 72;  Matter of Emanuel S. v. Joseph E., 78 N.Y.2d 178, 181, 573 N.Y.S.2d 36, 577 N.E.2d 27;  Matter of Knight v. Griffith, 13 A.D.3d 449, 787 N.Y.S.2d 53;  Matter of Horowitz v. Kelly, 300 A.D.2d 659, 751 N.Y.S.2d 785).   Under the particular circumstances of this case, a hearing was not necessary to determine whether the grandmother had the requisite standing.