Hoffmeier v. Byrnes
In the Matter of Suzalyn E. Hoffmeier v. Thomas Byrnes
Full Opinion (html_with_citations)
Memorandum: Petitioner mother commenced this proceeding seeking to modify a prior order of - custody that, inter alia, granted physical custody of the subject children to respondent father and visitation to her. The prior order was based upon a full evidentiary hearing and had been entered approximately two months prior to the filing of the instant petitions. We reject the mother’s contention that Family Court erred in concluding that she failed to establish a change in circumstances sufficient to warrant a review of the prior custody determination.
We note at the outset that, although the order on appeal does not mention “changed circumstances,” the court concluded, in the decision upon which the order is based, that the mother failed to establish a change in circumstances sufficient to warrant a review of the existing custody arrangement. It is well settled that “where an order and decision conflict, the decision controls” (Matter of Triplett v Scott, 94 AD3d 1421, 1421 [2012] [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Matter of King v King,
With respect to the merits, we note that the only parenting problems that arose in the two months between the issuance of the prior order and the filing of the mother’s instant petitions had been resolved prior to the hearing thereon. Thus, we agree with the court that the mother failed to establish a sufficient change in circumstances such that reconsideration of the existing custody arrangement was required (see Matter of Clark v Ingraham, 88 AD3d 1079, 1079-1080 [2011]). Present — Smith, J.P., Peradotto, Carni, Sconiers and Whalen, JJ.