Legal Question in Family Law in New York

Criteria For Custody

I am unmarried to the father of my 2 y/o son. Our

relationship is always confrontational. I want

separation + custody of my son. Wondering hat is

the most pertinent thing(s) that judges look at

(finances, etc.) AFTER best-interest-of-the-child in

making their determination on granting this to one

parent vs. the other...or does criteria vary from

judge to judge? Would he favor permanent

employment over part-time or self-employed?

Thank you.


Asked on 2/21/02, 1:41 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Daniel Clement Law Offices of Daniel Clement

Re: Criteria For Custody

There is no universal criteria. The only absolute is that it must be in the best interest of the children.

I am sorry that I can not be more precise. It is always a facts and circumstances inquiry.

Talk to an attorney about the particulars of your case.

Daniel Clement

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Answered on 2/21/02, 5:44 pm
John Hayes The Law Office of John M. Hayes

Re: Criteria For Custody

When thinking in terms of the "facts & circumstances" inquiry, it is the hard reality that folks often have Perfectly Awful Things to allege against each other & *those* claims and counter-claims become what the court has to try to sort out {bearing in mind that, sometimes, neither the claims nor counter-claims are actually 'true'}.

It is probably still "generally SO" - - all other things being more or less 'equal' - - that mothers have an 'edge', particularly w/re: children as young as 2; particularly if the parties are, essentially, sane, stable & not hurling outlandish accusations against one another.

Good luck.

Regards, etc.,

J.M. Hayes

>>--> The foregoing amounts to musings and observations based on some years familiarity with the 'day-to-day' operation of the law with regard to the issues involved In The Most General sense; my remarks should not be thought of as "legal advice and counsel" in the formal sense of that phrase, since there is, in fact, no 'attorney / client' relationship existing between us. <-<<

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Answered on 2/21/02, 7:16 pm


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