WE WERE AGHAST WHEN WE READ THIS DECISION

In Matter of Gast v. Gast, Sondra Gast appealed a Saratoga County Family Court decision which awarded primary physical and legal custody of her children to Clifford Gast.

According to the Appellate Division, Third Department, the record showed that Sondra prevented Clifford from seeing his kids, placed her interests about those of the children's, and treated Clifford abusively.

Since custody determinations rely heavily on what is in the children's "best interests," courts will examine such factors as the children's preferences, the home environment offered, each parent's past performance, "relative fitness" and willingness to "foster a positive relationship between the children and the other parent."

After deferring to Family Court's assessment that Sondra didn't meet those standards, the AD3 affirmed.

Some consider that a Gastly outcome.