Golbert v. Golbert

Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Patricia E. Henry, J.), dated July 2, 2014. The judgment, insofar as appealed from, awarded sole custody of the parties’ child to the defendant, and awarded the defendant child support in the sum of $1,783 per month. Ordered that the judgment is affirmed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements. Although this Court’s authority with respect to custody determinations is as broad as that of the trial court, “[s]ince 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 trial court’s findings, and such findings will not be disturbed unless they lack a sound and substantial basis in the record” (Matter of Kreischer v Perry, 83 AD3d 841, 841 [2011]; see Eschbach v Eschbach, 56 NY2d 167, 173-174 [1982]; Matter of Bosede v Agbaje, 121 AD3d 675, 676 [2014]; Matter of Soto v Cruz, 119 AD3d 592, 593 [2014]; *668 Matter of James A.-S. v Cassandra A.-S., 107 AD3d 703, 706 [2013]). Here, the Supreme Court’s determination to award sole custody of the parties’ child to the defendant has a sound and substantial basis on the record. The plaintiff’s remaining contentions are without merit. Dillon, J.P., Dickerson, Chambers and Barros, JJ., concur.