Family Court revisits parental access case in Brooklyn

February 1, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

The Kings County Supreme and Family Court, located at 320 Jay St.
Photo: Rob Abruzzese/Eagle

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In a recent development in Kings County, the Family Court, under Judge Michele R. Titus, revisited a custody and parental access case involving Andriy Martynchuk and Iryna Vasylkovska. The initial order granting the mother sole legal and physical custody of the parties’ child and limited parental access to the father of four hours per week was challenged by Martynchuk.

Martynchuk, seeking to modify the prior order, claimed that there had been significant changes in circumstances since the order was issued. He argued that his relationship with the child had developed meaningfully, warranting an increase in parental access. The father’s amended petition emphasized the need to deepen his relationship with the child and alleged interference by the mother in their relationship.

However, the Family Court initially dismissed the father’s amended petition, following a hearing on whether there had been sufficient change in circumstances to modify the original custody order. This dismissal was based on the threshold issue of whether the circumstances had changed significantly enough to warrant a modification.

The legal issue centered on the best interests of the child and whether the current circumstances supported the continuation of the limited parental access arrangement. The Family Court’s decision to revisit the case acknowledges the dynamic nature of child custody and parental access matters, particularly considering the child’s growing age and evolving needs.