Staten Island Visitation Lawyer (Parenting Time Attorney) Call (347) 461-0760)
My name is Paul W. Matthews. I am an experienced Staten Island Family Law Attorney.
If you are dealing with a visitation or parenting-time dispute in Staten Island Family Court, I can help. I have over 25 years of experience representing parents in New York City Family Court, including cases involving visitation, custody, child support, Orders of Protection, and high-conflict parenting situations. I maintain offices in Staten Island and in Lower Manhattan at 90 Broad Street, and I also take cases in Manhattan and Brooklyn Family Courts.
My practice is focused entirely on Family Court cases—I do not handle criminal court matters—and I speak directly with every client who calls.
Visitation issues can have a major impact on your daily life, your rights as a parent, and your child’s emotional development. The information below will help you understand how Staten Island Family Court handles visitation cases, what “best interests of the child” actually means, and how an experienced family law attorney can help you navigate the process.
Why Visitation Matters Under New York Law
In New York, visitation (parenting time) is both a parent’s right and a child’s right.
The Family Court strongly prefers that children maintain meaningful relationships with both parents whenever possible.
The legal standard: best interests of the child
Visitation cases are typically decided using the best-interests standard, which focuses entirely on what arrangement is best for the child—not the parents.
Courts believe children benefit from two involved parents
Unless there is evidence of actual harm, judges almost always seek ways to preserve contact. Terminating all visitation is extraordinarily rare. Even in difficult cases involving conflict or past problems, courts try to craft safe, structured schedules so that children have access to both parents.
The only exception: proven harm
The court may limit or supervise visitation if unsupervised contact could endanger a child.
But total denial of visitation requires proof that contact would be harmful, which is a high standard and almost never met.
Common Staten Island Visitation Situations I Handle
I represent parents in a wide range of parenting-time matters, including:
- Disputes about weekend and weekday schedules
- Parents being denied access
- Temporary Orders of Protection affecting visitation
- Requests for supervised visitation
- Visitation modification petitions
- Relocation disputes
- High-conflict co-parenting arrangements
- Reunification efforts after long gaps in contact
- Interference or alienation claims
- Holiday and vacation schedule disagreements
My goal is to help parents protect their rights while pursuing the best possible arrangement for their children.
How Staten Island Family Court (18 Richmond Terrace) Decides Visitation
Staten Island visitation cases are heard at:
Staten Island Family Court
18 Richmond Terrace
Staten Island, NY 10301
Judges review the unique circumstances of each family, but the following factors usually guide the court:
Best-Interest Factors
- The child’s relationship with each parent
- Stability and daily routine
- Safety and emotional well-being
- School, health, and religious continuity
- Ability of each parent to foster the child’s relationship with the other parent
- History of domestic violence
- Mental and physical health of the parents
- Parenting skills and involvement
- Work schedules and transportation
- Sibling relationships
- The child’s age, maturity, and needs
No factor alone decides a case; the court can and usually does, weighs all circumstances to determine what arrangement best serves the child. However, by statute, the court is required to consider proven incidents of domestic violence.
Typical Staten Island Visitation Schedules
While every case is unique, Staten Island Family Court often orders schedules that include:
A. Standard parenting time
- Alternate weekends (often Friday–Sunday)
- One or two weeknights per week
- Alternating major holidays
- Shared school breaks
- Extended summer visitation
B. Influencing factors
- Distance between households
- Parent work hours
- School schedules
- The child’s age and extracurricular activities
C. Parental agreements are usually honored
If the parents agree on a schedule, courts will generally approve it unless it is clearly not in the child’s best interests.
When an Older Child (Usually 15+) Refuses Visitation
This is one of the most complex issues in New York visitation law, and something I see frequently in Staten Island Family Court.
1. Courts should not simply allow teenagers to “opt out” of visitation
A child’s preference is important but not controlling.
Judges understand the realities of adolescence, but many will not will not terminate visitation solely because a teenager says “I don’t want to go.” I say many, because I have also heard judges say that there is nothing they can do to force a mature teen ager to visit with a parent against his or her wishes.
AS a child gets closer and closer to the age of 18, when the court no longer has jurisdiction to make visitation orders, it becomes more and more reluctant to step in, and Ihave seen cases where the judges just repeatedly adjourn a case involving a 17 year old, untl until the child turns 18.
2. The court looks at the reasons for refusal
- Fear or discomfort
- Parental conflict
- Past incidents
- Lack of communication
- Possible alienation
- Emotional strain
- The child feeling caught in the middle
3. Courts often order services to repair the relationship
Depending on the situation, the court may order:
- Therapeutic supervised visitation
- Family therapy
- Individual therapy for the child
- Co-parenting counseling
- Parenting classes
- Supervised visitation with a therapist or social worker
- Graduated schedules that slowly increase parenting time
4. Total denial of visitation remains extremely rare
Unless the parent-child relationship is demonstrably harmful, the court will work hard to rebuild contact and create a safe, healthy structure for visitation.
This section reflects real-world Family Court practice—something only an experienced NYC family lawyer would know.
Supervised Visitation in Staten Island
Some cases require a structured and supervised environment.
This is not meant to be punitive; it is designed to provide safe, monitored contact and to eventually transition the parent back to unsupervised visitation when appropriate.
When supervision may be ordered
- Safety concerns
- Domestic violence findings
- Long gaps in contact
- Serious communication issues
- Emotional stress on the child
- Substance-use or mental-health concerns
Supervised visitation is usually temporary
The Family Court rarely uses supervision as a long-term solution unless circumstances demand it.
Supervised visitation options in Staten Island
Here are the most reliable options:
1. Comprehensive Family Services (CFS) – Staten Island Office
CFS provides:
- supervised visitation
- therapeutic visitation
- observational services
- in-home or on-site supervision
- services tailored to Family Court orders
They have a Staten Island location close to the ferry and courthouses.
Founded by Richard Spitzer, LCSW, CFS is one of the most experienced supervised visitation providers in New York City.
I met Rick back in 1998 when he was an independent socia worker who was just offering his services. He later started CFS which was originally in Manhattan only, but expanded to all the boros and beyond.
He built CFS up hiring and training certified social wokers, and offered health insurance and vacation pay.
2. Safe Horizon (Availability Changes)
Safe Horizon has historically provided supervised visitation services in NYC.
However, due to funding issues, it appears they are not consistently offering supervised visitation in Staten Island at the moment. Parents should confirm availability.
Since COVID, it has become very difficult to locate independent social workers in Staten Island who provide supervised visitation.
Some are available, but they are limited, and arrangements often require court approval.
4. Family-member supervision
In some cases, the court allows:
- grandparents
- aunts/uncles
- trusted family friends
- other approved adults
This must be agreed to or approved by the judge.
Modifying an Existing Visitation Order
You may request a modification if:
- There has been a substantial change in circumstances
- The existing schedule is no longer workable
- The child’s needs have changed
- A parent has relocated
- Safety concerns arise
- Visitation is being interfered with
- Supervision should be removed or expanded
What is and is not considered a substantial change of cirumstances, based on New York law is complex. For example, there is case law that says that tghe wishes of the child is not, standing alone, a substantial change of circumstances, but courts will sometimes try to get around this in various ways.
Once there is a finding that there has been a sufficient change of circumstances, modification cases still use the best-interests test, and judges often look for evidence of cooperation, communication, and stability.
Visitation & Orders of Protection
If there is a Family Court Order of Protection (OOP), visitation may be affected.
Types of Orders that affect visitation
- Stay-away orders
- Refrain-from orders
- Temporary Orders of Protection issued during a case
How visitation is handled with an OOP
Courts may create carve-outs allowing:
- supervised visitation
- drop-off/pick-up at police precincts or neutral locations
- communication only through third parties or apps
- staggered exchange times
Judges try to preserve parent-child contact even when parents cannot have contact with each other
However, the family court has no power to modify orders of the Criminal Court.
Grandparent and Relative Visitation
Under New York law, visitation orders may only be granted to parents (including step parents in many cases, grandparents, and siblings (Including half siblings). Grandparents can be granted visitation in ceretain situations which include the following:
- A parent has passed away
- The relationship has been unjustifiably severed
- Equitable circumstances exist
The court still applies the best-interests standard, focusing on the child’s well-being and emotional needs.
How I Help Parents With Staten Island Visitation Cases
I provide:
- Clear advice based on 25+ years in NYC Family Court
- Help filing petitions or responses
- Preparation for hearings and conferences
- Negotiation of parenting-time schedules
- Representation at trials
- Assistance finding supervised-visitation providers
- Strategies for high-conflict cases
- Help transitioning from supervised to unsupervised visitation
- Guidance on modifications and enforcement
- Strong advocacy to protect your rights and your child’s well-being
Clients appreciate that they speak directly to me—not an assistant—and that I take a hands-on, straightforward approach to every case.
Why Choose a Staten Island-Based Family Law Attorney
- Familiar with 18 Richmond Terrace and Staten Island Family Court practice
- Over 25 years representing NYC parents in custody and visitation matters
- Deep understanding of how judges handle parenting-time issues
- Local knowledge of supervised-visitation resources
- Offices in Staten Island and 90 Broad Street, Manhattan
- I also take cases in Brooklyn Family Court
- You talk directly to me—never an intake worker or junior attorney
Call for a Consultation (Phone Only)
If you need help with a visitation case in Staten Island or anywhere in New York City, call me directly.
📞 (347) 461-0760
No screening. No intake staff. No contact forms.
You speak directly with me, an experienced family law attorney who has handled thousands of Family Court cases.
Serving All Staten Island Neighborhoods
I represent parents and families across Staten Island, including Grasmere, Clifton, Stapleton, St. George, Tompkinsville, Dongan Hills, South Beach, Midland Beach, New Dorp, Oakwood, Great Kills, Eltingville, Annadale, Arden Heights, Huguenot, Prince’s Bay, and Tottenville. All Staten Island Family Court cases are heard at 18 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301.
About Paul W. Matthews, Esq.
Paul W. Matthews is an experienced Staten Island family law attorney with more than 25 years of trial experience in New York Family Courts. He has handled hundreds of cases involving child custody, visitation, paternity, child support, and Family Court orders of protection.
He represents clients throughout Staten Island from his office near Grasmere and also maintains a Manhattan office at 90 Broad Street in the Financial District for parents with matters in Manhattan or Brooklyn Family Court.
Paul personally answers his own phone and provides direct, individualized representation in every case. His practice emphasizes clear communication, practical strategy, and strong advocacy in custody, visitation, support, and parentage cases in the Staten Island Family Court at 18 Richmond Terrace.
Call Paul directly: (347) 461-0760