Matter of Chieco v Finn

Matter of Chieco v Finn 2009 NY Slip Op 09022 [68 AD3d 762] December 1, 2009 Appellate Division, Second Department Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. As corrected through Wednesday, February 10, 2010

In the Matter of Tasha Chieco, Respondent,
v
Dennis Finn, Appellant.

—[*1] Arza Feldman, Uniondale, N.Y. (Steven A. Feldman of counsel), for appellant.

Michael H. Ahearn, Southampton, N.Y., for respondent.

Robert C. Mitchell, Central Islip, N.Y. (Diane B. Groom of counsel), attorney for the child.

In a child custody proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 6, the father appeals, as limited by his brief, from so much of an order of the Family Court, Suffolk County (Luft, J.), dated August 25, 2008, as, after a hearing, granted the mother's petition to modify a prior order of the same court dated June 15, 2007, entered upon the parties' consent, inter alia, awarding him sole custody of the parties' child, so as to award residential custody of the child to her.

Ordered that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements.

In determining whether to modify a custody arrangement to which the parties voluntarily agreed, the principal issue before the court is whether a change in circumstances warrants a modification in the best interests of the child (see Matter of Awan v Awan, 63 AD3d 733, 734 [2009]; Matter of Lopez v Infante, 55 AD3d 837, 838 [2008]; Matter of Penn v Penn, 41 AD3d 724, 724-725 [2007]). Since custody determinations depend to a great extent upon an assessment of the character and credibility of the parties and witnesses, deference is accorded to the Family Court's findings, and such findings will not be disturbed unless they lack a sound and substantial basis in the record (see Matter of Perez v Martinez, 52 AD3d 518, 519 [2008]; Matter of Langlaise v Sookhan, 48 AD3d 685 [2008]; Matter of Tavarez v Musse, 31 AD3d 458 [2006]).

Here, the Family Court properly considered numerous factors in making its custody determination. The Family Court's determination that there was a change of circumstances and that the best interests of the subject child would be served by awarding residential custody to the mother is supported by a sound and substantial basis in the record and should not be disturbed (see Eschbach v Eschbach, 56 NY2d 167, 174 [1982]; Matter of Oates v Wilson, 46 AD3d 904, 905 [2007]). Covello, J.P., Santucci, Chambers and Lott, JJ., concur.