Matter of Jaden Christopher W.-McC. (Michael L. McC.)

Matter of Matter of Jaden Christopher W.-McC. (Michael L. McC.) 2012 NY Slip Op 07609 Decided on November 13, 2012 Appellate Division, First Department Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. This opinion is uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the Official Reports.

Decided on November 13, 2012
Mazzarelli, J.P., Moskowitz, Richter, Abdus-Salaam, Feinman, JJ.
8571

[*1]In re Jaden Christopher W.-McC., A Dependent Child Under The Age of Eighteen Years, etc.,

and

Michael L. McC., etc., Respondent-Appellant, Jewish Child Care Association of New York, Petitioner-Respondent.




Geoffrey P. Berman, Larchmont, for appellant.
Law Offices of James M. Abramson, PLLC, New York (Dawn
M. Orsatti of counsel), for respondent.
Andrew J. Baer, New York, attorney for the child.

Order of disposition, Family Court, Bronx County (Gayle P. Roberts, J.), entered on or about October 13, 2011, which, to the extent appealed from as limited by the briefs, determined, after a hearing, that the consent of respondent father was not required for the adoption of the subject child, and committed custody and guardianship of the child to petitioner agency and the Commissioner of Social Services for the purpose of adoption, unanimously affirmed, without costs.

Respondent's consent to his child's adoption is not required, since he failed to pay child support (see Domestic Relations Law § 111[1][d]). He also failed to communicate with the child on a regular basis (id.; Matter of Harold Ali D.-E. [Rubin Louis E.], 94 AD3d 449, 449 [1st Dept 2012]). Respondent's incarceration did not absolve him of the obligation to provide support and maintain regular communication (id.).

A preponderance of the evidence shows that it is in the child's best interests to be freed for adoption by his foster parent, who wishes to adopt him and has provided a loving and stable home since the child's placement in April 2009 (see Matter of Star Leslie W., 63 NY2d 136, 147-148 [1984]; Matter of Chandel B., 58 AD3d 547, 548 [1st Dept 2009]). Respondent is currently incarcerated, and he is not eligible for parole until August 2027. Moreover, the evidence shows [*2]that the child barely knows his paternal grandmother, who last visited the child approximately six months before the dispositional hearing. There is no evidence that any other paternal relative contacted the agency or the child.

THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER
OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.

ENTERED: NOVEMBER 13, 2012

CLERK