We’re excited to share that Barrows Levy PLLC was recently featured on PIX11 in its Innovators Journey series, discussing an important appellate decision involving child custody and relocation in New York. While media features are never the goal in and of themselves, we are honored that this decision, and the work behind it, received broader attention because of what it means for families navigating highly contested custody matters.
The feature centers on a June 18, 2025, ruling from the New York Appellate Division, Second Department, which reversed a lower court order that denied a parent’s application to modify custody and relocate without first holding an evidentiary hearing. In doing so, the appellate court made clear that when material facts are in dispute, especially in cases affecting children, those issues cannot simply be brushed aside or decided on paper alone. A full hearing matters because it allows the court to properly evaluate what is actually in a child’s best interests.
Importantly, the Appellate Division also directed that an attorney for the children be appointed on remittal. This portion of the ruling reinforces a long-standing but sometimes overlooked principle in family law: children in complex custody disputes deserve independent representation. Their interests should be meaningfully considered, not assumed, and not filtered solely through the positions of the adults involved.
Barrows Levy PLLC represented the appellant and argued that the lower court’s denial effectively stripped the moving party of due process, preventing a meaningful assessment of the children’s best interests. The Appellate Division agreed and sent the matter back to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with those safeguards. While the case itself will continue, the appellate ruling provides important guidance for future custody and relocation disputes across New York.
We are grateful for the recognition and proud to contribute to decisions that reinforce fairness, thorough process, and careful consideration in family law matters.
