Case Name: In the Matter of the Adoption of Makia R.J. and Another, Infants. Erie County Department of Social Services, Respondent; Michael A.J., Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2015-05-08
Citations: 128 A.D.3d 1540
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of the Adoption of Makia R.J. and Another, Infants. Erie County Department of Social Services, Respondent; Michael A.J., Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 128
Pages: 1540–1541

Head Matter:
In the Matter of the Adoption of Makia R.J. and Another, Infants. Erie County Department of Social Services, Respondent; Michael A.J., Appellant.
[8 NYS3d 842]

Opinion:
Appeal from an order of the Family Court, Erie County (Lisa Bloch Rodwin, J.), entered November 12, 2013. The order determined that respondent is not a father whose consent to the adoption of the subject children was required.
It is hereby ordered that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.
Memorandum: Respondent, the biological father of the subject children, contends that Family Court erred in determining, following an evidentiary hearing, that he is not a father whose consent to the adoption of the subject children was required pursuant to Domestic Relations Law § 111. We reject that contention. Section 111 (1) (d) provides that a child born out of wedlock may be adopted without the consent of the child's biological father unless the father shows that he "maintained substantial and continuous or repeated contact with the child as manifested by: (i) the payment by the father toward the support of the child . . . , and either (ii) the father's visiting the child at least monthly when physically and financially able to do so . . . , or (iii) the father's regular communication with the child or with the person or agency having the care or custody of the child, when physically and financially unable to visit the child or prevented from doing so" (emphasis added). Here, it is undisputed that respondent paid only $99.99 in child support since July 2003, and nothing between 2006-2012, notwithstanding a prior order directing him to pay at least $25.00 per month. Thus, regardless of whether respondent visited the child monthly or regularly communicated with the child, the court properly determined that he was a mere notice father whose consent was not required for the adoption of the subject children (see Matter of Jules S. [Julio S.], 96 AD3d 448, 449 [2012], lv denied 19 NY3d 814 [2012]; see generally Social Services Law § 384-c).
In any event, giving great deference to the court's credibility determinations, as we must (see Matter of Kennedie M. [Douglas M.], 89 AD3d 1544, 1544-1545 [2011], lv denied 18 NY3d 808 [2012]; see also Matter of Angelina K. [Eliza W.—Michael K.], 105 AD3d 1310, 1312 [2013], lv denied 21 NY3d 860 [2013]), we conclude that the court's further determination that respondent failed to visit or communicate with the child regularly is supported by the requisite clear and convincing evidence (see Matter of Kevina G. [Kevin C.], 124 AD3d 889, 890 [2015]; Matter of Zachary N. [Paul N.— Hope N.], 77 AD3d 1116, 1117 [2010]). Present — Smith, J.P., Carni, Lindley, Valentino and Whalen, JJ.