A divorced mother must limit the number of phone calls and texts she sends to her daughter while the teen visits her father and must refrain from scheduling any activities for her daughter during that time, a state judge has ruled. Supreme Court Justice Anthony J. Falanga in Nassau County (See Profile) addressed the issues raised by “an overly involved parent who has difficulty letting her daughter spend unfettered time with her father,” in W.J.F. v. L.F., 018610-1999.
The father, W.J.F., and mother, L.F., divorced in 2005. The mother was granted sole custody of their now-14-year-old adopted daughter, C. The daughter stays with her father from Thursday after school through Saturday evening, along with designated summer vacations and alternating holidays. In the current proceeding, the father sought legal custody, claiming the mother violated the terms of the parenting schedule by arranging activities for the child during his scheduled time and encouraging C to lie about the plans. The father also claimed the mother texted their daughter between five and 10 times a day, making it difficult for him to reach his daughter because of a full mailbox.
