Case Name: Richard L. Bellinger, Respondent, v. Dara L. Bellinger, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1985-03-01
Citations: 109 A.D.2d 1104
Docket Number: 
Parties: Richard L. Bellinger, Respondent, v Dara L. Bellinger, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 109
Pages: 1104–1104

Head Matter:
Richard L. Bellinger, Respondent, v Dara L. Bellinger, Appellant.

Opinion:
— Order unanimously modified, on the law, by deleting the provision granting temporary custody to petitioner and, as modified, affirmed, with costs. Memorandum: Family Court, based solely upon the oral arguments of counsel, improperly modified a judgment of divorce by temporarily changing custody of the infant child from the mother to the father. A court should not determine the custody of children on the basis of recriminating and controverted allegations, but only after an evidentiary hearing (see, Obey v Degling, 37 NY2d 768; Bowman v Bowman, 19 AD2d 857). (Appeal from order of Erie County Family Court, Mazur, J. — modify custody.) Present — Dillon, P. J., Doerr, Denman, Boomer and O'Donnell, JJ.