The opinion
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department
902
CAF 12-01216
PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., CARNI, SCONIERS, AND VALENTINO, JJ.
IN THE MATTER OF CHRISTY M. BROWN,
PETITIONER-RESPONDENT,
V MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
RAYMOND WOLFGRAM, RESPONDENT-APPELLANT.
SHIRLEY A. GORMAN, BROCKPORT, FOR RESPONDENT-APPELLANT.
PIRRELLO, MISSAL, PERSONTE & FEDER, ROCHESTER (MICHAEL J. PERSONTE OF
COUNSEL), FOR PETITIONER-RESPONDENT.
WENDY S. SISSON, ATTORNEY FOR THE CHILDREN, GENESEO.
Appeal from an order of the Family Court, Ontario County (William
F. Kocher, J.), entered May 17, 2012 in a proceeding pursuant to
Family Court Act article 6. The order, among other things, awarded
petitioner sole custody of the parties’ three children.
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is
unanimously affirmed without costs.
Memorandum: In this proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act
article 6, respondent father appeals from an order that, inter alia,
awarded petitioner mother sole custody of the parties’ three children.
The father contends that Family Court erred in awarding sole custody
to the mother while giving him only alternate weekend visitation. We
reject that contention, and conclude that the award of sole custody to
the mother has a sound and substantial basis in the record (see Matter
of McLeod v McLeod, 59 AD3d 1011, 1011). The father’s contention that
the Attorney for the Children failed to advocate for the childrens’
position regarding custody and visitation and thus failed to provide
them with effective representation is not preserved for our review
(see Matter of Alyshia M.R., 53 AD3d 1060, 1061, lv denied 11 NY3d
707) and, in any event, is without merit (see generally Matter of
Venus v Brennan, 103 AD3d 1115, 1116-1117). Contrary to the father’s
further contention, the court did not abuse its discretion in allowing
testimony at the hearing concerning events that predated the prior
custody order. It is well settled that, in determining the best
interests of the children, the court is vested with broad discretion
with respect to the scope of proof to be adduced (see Matter of Stukes
v Ryan, 289 AD2d 623, 624). Finally, also contrary to the father’s
contention, the delay between the conclusion of the hearing and the
issuance of the court’s decision, by itself, does not require reversal
-2- 902
CAF 12-01216
(see Matter of Brady v Brady, 216 AD2d 660, 661; Matter of Hartman v
Hartman, 214 AD2d 780, 782).
Entered: September 27, 2013 Frances E. Cafarell
Clerk of the Court