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Stevenson v. StevensonStevenson v. Stevenson

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
Dec 5, 1983
Reporters:
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In a matrimonial action, the plaintiff wife appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Orange County (Green, J.), dated October ‍​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‍22, 1982, which denied her motion, inter alia, to modify a judgment of divorce to add a provision directing the defendant husband to contribute to the support of the parties’ two minor children. Order reversed, on the law, without costs or disbursements, and ‍​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‍matter remitted to Special Term for a hearing and new determination in-accordance herewith. Finding that there was a lack of showing of unforeseen change in circumstances and concomitant showing of need, Special Term denied plaintiff’s motion to modify a divorce judgment, which ‍​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‍incorporated a stipulation of settlement, to add a provision directing defendant husband to *719make child support payments. Inasmuch as plaintiff’s request to modify the divorce judgment to direct defendant to pay child support was predicated on the children’s rights to receive adequate ‍​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‍support, it was not necessary to demonstrate an unforeseen change in circumstances to justify granting plaintiff’s motion. In this case, plaintiff must establish that a change in circumstances has occurred warranting the modification in the best interests of the children. (See Matter ‍​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‍of Brescia v Fitts, 56 NY2d 132; Matter of Michaels v Michaels, 56 NY2d 924.) Mollen, P. J., Weinstein, Brown and Boyers, JJ., concur.

Case Details

Case Name: Stevenson v. Stevenson
Court Name: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
Date Published: Dec 5, 1983
Citations: 98 A.D.2d 718; 469 N.Y.S.2d 123; 1983 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 21023
Court Abbreviation: N.Y. App. Div.
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