Wendy Woodhouse v. Carpenter

— Order unanimously reversed on the law without costs and petition granted. Memorandum: The trial court made no factual findings to support its conclusion that exceptional circumstances exist to deprive the natural mother of custody (see, Matter of Bennett v Jeffreys, 40 NY2d 543), and we conclude that the record fails *925to support such determination. Although petitioner was separated from her son for nearly four years, she maintained constant contact with him and exercised meaningful, though infrequent, visitations while residing in Wyoming. Upon her return to New York, she maintained regular…