Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
IN RE: Robert B. TURNURE, respondent, v. Debbie D. TURNURE, appellant. (Proceeding No. 1).
IN RE: Debbie Deluca-Turnure, appellant, v. Robert Turnure, respondent. (Proceeding No. 2).
In related custody proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 6, the mother appeals, as limited by her brief, from so much of an order of the Family Court, Westchester County (Edlitz, J.), dated February 14, 2005, as, after a hearing, granted the father's petition for custody of the subject children in Proceeding No. 1 and dismissed her petition in Proceeding No. 2.
ORDERED that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements.
In adjudicating custody and visitation rights, the most important factor to be considered is the best interests of the children in view of all the circumstances (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, 95-96, 447 N.Y.S.2d 893, 432 N.E.2d 765; Matter of Magwood v. Martinez, 35 A.D.3d 743, 827 N.Y.S.2d 243). “Since the hearing court's custody determination is largely dependent upon an assessment of the credibility of the witnesses and upon the character, temperament, and sincerity of the parents, its determination should not be disturbed unless it lacks a sound and substantial basis in the record” (Matter of Magwood v. Martinez, supra; see Matter of Louise E.S. v. W. Stephen S., 64 N.Y.2d 946, 488 N.Y.S.2d 637, 477 N.E.2d 1091).
On this record, we discern no basis to disturb the Family Court's determination. The Family Court's custody award was made after a full hearing, was supported by the recommendations of the forensic evaluator, and took into account the position of the Law Guardian (see Matter of Berrouet v. Greaves, 35 A.D.3d 460, 825 N.Y.S.2d 719; Matter of Picot v. Barrett, 8 A.D.3d 288, 289, 777 N.Y.S.2d 698).
Thank you for your feedback!
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Decided: February 20, 2007
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, New York.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)