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Custody Awards and 'Zones of Decision-Making'

By Bari Brandes Corbin and Evan B. Brandes

The overriding policy that governs New York law with regard to custody determinations is that “there shall be no prima facie right to the custody of the child by either parent but the court shall determine what is for the best interests of the child.” Domestic Relations Law ' 240. New York courts traditionally awarded the “custody” or “sole custody” of a child to one parent and visitation rights to the “non-custodial parent.” Since the 1960s, New York Courts have also sometimes awarded the parents “joint custody.”

In more recent years, New York courts have divided “spheres,” or “zones of decision-making,” between the parents, in addition to determining the physical custody of the child. Courts have had little difficulty categorizing the “zones” of parental decision-making. The cases break down the areas of decisions into religion, education, choice of schools, extra-curricular activities (including after-school and recreational programs), tutoring, summer camp, health (medical, dental, therapy, counseling, psychological or psychiatric treatment, doctors and surgeons), finances, and citizenship. But what prompts the courts to make these types of custody determinations? A review of the case law reveals the many and varied considerations that have formed the basis for awarding parents “zones of decision-making.”

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