Bhanmattie H. v. Roxanne H.

OPINION OF THE COURT

John M. Hunt, J.

On June 5, 2016, Bhanmattie H. (hereinafter paternal grandmother) filed a petition seeking custody of her granddaughter, Sydney H., who is 14 years old. At the time, Sydney’s biological father, Victor H., Jr. (hereinafter father), was deceased and Sydney was living with her biological mother, Roxanne H. (hereinafter mother). On September 26, 2016, after a Matter of Bennett v Jeffreys (40 NY2d 543 [1976]) hearing, Referee Marilyn Moriber found that the paternal grandmother had standing to pursue custody of her granddaughter. On May 16, 2017, pursuant to the…