Category: Child Custody

In the recent custody decision Matter of Christina E. v. Clifford F., 200 A.D.3d 1111 (3d Dept. 2021), the Appellate Division, Third Department upheld the Family Court’s order granting joint legal custody of a child, with primary physical custody to the mother, despite allegations of corporal punishment and sibling conflict in the...

In a significant appellate decision from the Second Department, Matter of Chaloeicheep v. Hanrahan, 192 A.D.3d 1014 (2d Dept. 2021), the court reversed a Brooklyn Family Court order awarding residential custody to the father, despite serious credibility issues surrounding his conduct. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of truthfulness...

In New York, custody disputes usually occur between parents—but what happens when someone who isn’t a biological or legal parent seeks custody of a child?

At Gilmer Law Firm, PLLC, located in Downtown Brooklyn, we often get calls from concerned relatives, former partners, or family friends asking:

At the Gilmer Law Firm, PLLC, many Brooklyn parents come to us with urgent questions about relocation and child custody, often asking:

“Can I stop the other parent from moving out of New York with our child?”

The answer is yes—but time is of the essence.

Many parents who walk into Brooklyn Family Court believe that joint physical custody—equal time with the child—is a default starting point in New York custody proceedings. After all, shouldn’t both loving, capable parents get equal time with their children?

Unfortunately, that assumption doesn’t align with New York law or...

At The Gilmer Law Firm, PLLC, based in Downtown Brooklyn, we represent mothers and fathers throughout New York City in child custody proceedings, including cases where parents seek or oppose joint physical custody. Whether you’re divorcing, legally separating, or modifying an existing custody order, it is crucial to understand how New York...

If you’ve been indicated for child abuse or neglect in New York and are seeking to seal your record on the State Central Register (SCR), it’s critical to understand the two-prong test used in administrative hearings. While much attention is often paid to the first prong—whether abuse or neglect occurred—many people fail...

Custody battles are always challenging, but when the other parent displays traits of narcissism or suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), the stakes—and the stress—are dramatically higher. If you’re co-parenting with someone who exhibits emotional abuse, manipulation, gaslighting, and control, it’s critical to understand how narcissistic behaviors affect custody litigation and how...

When it comes to child welfare law, few proceedings are as serious — or as life-changing — as a termination of parental rights (TPR). Once parental rights are terminated, the legal relationship between parent and child ends permanently, and the child becomes legally free for adoption.

In New York...