Expanded Visitation with Father Was in Children’s Best Interests

Here, the Family Court’s determination was supported by a sound and substantial basis in the record. Based on the evidence adduced at the hearing, the court properly found that a change in circumstances in the intervening five years warranted modification of the existing visitation schedule. The Family Court properly determined that expanded visitation with the father would serve the children’s best interests. In this regard, the court correctly, inter alia, accorded great weight to the stated desires of the then-15 and 16-year-old children to spend more time with their father, particularly in light of their notable level of maturity and the legitimate reasons they articulated in support of their preference. Matter of Nicholas v Nicholas