Doty v. Doty

Petitioner and respondent were married in 1981 in Virginia. The only child of the marriage, Jamie E. Doty, was born March 3, 1982 in New Hampshire. After living in Maine for approximately two years, the family moved to New York in June 1985. Marital discord developed and, in November 1985, when it appeared respondent was about to leave the State with the child, petitioner obtained a temporary order of custody.

A full hearing on the issue of child custody was held before Family Court in March 1986. After hearing the conflicting testimony of the parties and the witnesses which were called, the…