FOR PUBLICATION

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE:

JEFFREY A. FLORES R. PATRICK MAGRATH

Flores Law Office Alcorn Goering & Sage, LLP

Madison, Indiana Madison, Indiana

IN THE

COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

CHARLES KIETZMAN, )

)

Appellant, )

)

vs. ) No. 39A01-1301-DR-14

)

AMANDA S. KIETZMAN, )

)

Appellee. )

APPEAL FROM THE JEFFERSON CIRCUIT COURT

The Honorable Ted R. Todd, Judge

Cause No. 39C01-0911-DR-705

August 15, 2013

OPINION - FOR PUBLICATION

BAILEY, Judge
2

Case Summary

C.K. (“Father”) appeals the dissolution court’s order, which granted A.L.’s 

(“Mother”) motion to relocate with their child, K.K., to China for three years and modified 

custody to make Mother sole custodian of K.K.

We affirm.

Issues

Father raises two issues for our review, which we consolidate and restate as whether 

the dissolution court abused its discretion when it granted Mother’s petition to relocate to 

China with K.K. and denied Father’s motion to modify custody.

Facts and Procedural History

Father and Mother were married; the union resulted in the birth of one child, K.K. 

Father and Mother were divorced in 2010. Mother had a child, B.L., and later married B.L.’s 

father (“Stepfather”). Before and after the dissolution of the marriage to Mother, Father was 

employed and earned between $50,000 and $65,000 per year, and provided insurance and 

other benefits for K.K. After the dissolution of the marriage, Mother and Father shared 

physical and legal custody of K.K.

Stepfather is an engineer employed by a large chemical manufacturer. In October 

2012, Stepfather’s employer offered him a position in a factory in China, where he would 

work for three years to train local personnel. The family would live in a special compound 

populated by employees of large international businesses with operations in China. If she 

moved to China with Mother, Stepfather, and B.L., K.K., who was nine years old during 
3

October 2013, would attend a special international school in China. The family would be 

able to return to the United States twice per year for three or four weeks at a time.

At around this time, K.K.’s grades in school began to suffer, and on December 27, 

2012, she was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, inattentive subtype (“ADD”). 

Mother and Father, who shared custody, did not agree on whether K.K. should be placed on 

medication for her ADD diagnosis.

On October 23, 2012, Mother filed her motion seeking the dissolution court’s 

permission to relocate to China with K.K. Shortly afterward, Father left his employment 

after selling some farmland; Father planned to live off the proceeds of the sale for several 

years while he worked part time and studied to become an Emergency Medical Technician 

(“EMT”), and did not seek to reduce or otherwise modify his child support obligations for 

K.K.

A Guardian Ad Litem, Pamela Moon (“Moon”), was appointed to represent K.K.’s 

interests during the proceedings. Moon interviewed K.K. at both Mother’s and Father’s 

residences, and interviewed Mother, Father, and Stepfather. Moon ultimately concluded that 

it was in K.K.’s best interests to go to China with Mother and Stepfather, with ample 

parenting time afforded to Father.

On January 3, 2013, a hearing was conducted, during which Mother, Father, 

Stepfather, Moon, and Father’s sister testified concerning Mother’s planned relocation. Dr. 

Holly Robinson (“Dr. Robinson”), K.K.’s pediatrician, also testified, and portions of K.K.’s 

medical and school records were also entered into evidence. On January 7, 2013, the 
4

dissolution court entered its order and found that it was in K.K.’s best interests to relocate to 

China with Mother. The court ordered that Father have three periods of parenting time with 

K.K. per year; two of these would fall when K.K. was back in the United States with the rest 

of the family, and one would permit Father to visit K.K. in China. The court further ordered 

that both parents be afforded liberal access to K.K. via telephone, Skype, and other forms of 

communication. Finally, the trial court ordered that sole custody of K.K. would rest with 

Mother so that medical and other decisions could be made quickly while K.K. was in China.

On January 10, 2013, Father filed his notice of appeal. On January 17, 2013, Father 

filed a motion to stay the dissolution court’s order due to Mother and Stepfather learning of a 

cultural adaptation “quarantine” period imposed by Stepfather’s employer. The quarantine 

period was expected to affect Father’s planned summer parenting time under the order. The 

dissolution court conducted a hearing on Father’s motion on January 23, 2013, and denied the

motion the same day.

On February 8, 2013, Father filed a motion to stay with this Court, seeking an 

emergency stay of the dissolution court’s order pending appeal. On February 22, 2013, this 

Court denied Father’s emergency stay. This appeal ensued.

Discussion and Decision

Father appeals the dissolution court’s order granting Mother’s request to relocate with 

K.K., granting Mother sole custody of K.K., and denying his own request for modification of 

custody of K.K. The dissolution court entered findings and conclusions in reaching its 

decision. Our review of findings and conclusions in such cases is well settled:
5

Pursuant to Indiana Trial Rule 52(A), we do not “set aside the findings or 

judgment unless clearly erroneous, and due regard shall be given to the 

opportunity of the trial court to judge the credibility of witnesses.” Where, as 

here, the findings and conclusions are entered sua sponte, “the specific 

findings control only as to the issues they cover, while a general judgment 

standard applies to any issue upon which the trial court has not found, and we 

may affirm a general judgment on any theory supported by the evidence 

adduced at trial.” Sexton v. Sedlak, 946 N.E.2d 1177, 1183 (Ind. Ct. App. 

2011), trans. denied.

Miller v. Carpenter, 965 N.E.2d 104, 108-09 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012).

Moreover, we review custody modifications for an abuse of discretion. In re Paternity 

of J.J., 911 N.E.2d 725, 728 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009), trans. denied. The Indiana Supreme Court 

“has expressed a preference for granting latitude and deference to our trial judges in family 

law matters ... because of trial judges’ unique, direct interactions with the parties face-toface.” T.L. v. J.L., 950 N.E.2d 779, 784 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011) (citations and quotations 

omitted). Therefore, we do not substitute our judgment for that of the trial court if evidence 

and legitimate inferences therefrom support the trial court’s judgment; this serves the 

interests of finality in custody matters. Baxendale v. Raich, 878 N.E.2d 1252, 1257-58 (Ind. 

2008).

A parent who wishes to relocate with a child who is the subject of an existing custody 

order must file a motion with the court that issued the order for custody or parenting time. 

Ind. Code § 31-17-2.2-1(a)(1). Upon motion, the court must set the matter for a hearing to 

review and, as appropriate, modify parenting time, custody, or other orders. I.C. § 31-17-2.2-

1(b). A parent who wishes to oppose the relocation must file a motion seeking to prevent the 

relocation of the child within sixty days after receiving notice of the planned relocation. I.C. 
6

§ 31-17-2.2-5(a). A parent who plans to relocate with the child must bear the burden of

proof to show “that the proposed relocation is made in good faith and for a legitimate 

reason.” I.C. § 31-17-2.2-5(c). If the relocating party meets its burden, the burden of proof 

shifts to the nonrelocating parent to show that the relocation is not in the best interests of the 

child. I.C. § 31-17-2.2-5(d).

When reaching a decision on a proposed relocation, the trial court must take into 

account the following factors:

(1) The distance involved in the proposed change of residence.

(2) The hardship and expense involved for the nonrelocating individual to 

exercise parenting time or grandparent visitation.

(3) The feasibility of preserving the relationship between the nonrelocating 

individual and the child through suitable parenting time and grandparent 

visitation arrangements, including consideration of the financial circumstances 

of the parties.

(4) Whether there is an established pattern of conduct by the relocating 

individual, including actions by the relocating individual to either promote or 

thwart a nonrelocating individual’s contact with the child.

(5) The reasons provided by the:

(A) relocating individual for seeking relocation; and

(B) nonrelocating parent for opposing the relocation of the child.

(6) Other factors affecting the best interest of the child.

I.C. § 31-17-2.2-1(b).

“Other factors affecting the best interest of the child,” id., are the factors provided by 

our legislature in the Indiana Code, and include:

(1) The age and sex of the child.
7

(2) The wishes of the child’s parent or parents.

(3) The wishes of the child, with more consideration given to the child’s 

wishes if the child is at least fourteen (14) years of age.

(4) The interaction and interrelationship of the child with:

(A) the child’s parent or parents;

(B) the child’s sibling; and

(C) any other person who may significantly affect the child’s best 

interests.

(5) The child’s adjustment to the child’s:

(A) home;

(B) school; and

(C) community.

(6) The mental and physical health of all individuals involved.

(7) Evidence of a pattern of domestic or family violence by either parent.

(8) Evidence that the child has been cared for by a de facto custodian, and if 

the evidence is sufficient, the court shall consider the factors described in 

section 8.5(b) of this chapter.

I.C. § 31-17-2-8.

Our supreme court has held that, even where there has not been a substantial change in 

one or more of the statutory factors affecting the best interests of the child set forth in Section 

31-17-2-8, a change in custody may be ordered due to relocation of a parent. In re Paternity 

of J.J., 911 N.E.2d at 729 (citing Baxendale, 878 N.E.2d at 1256-57). A trial court must, 

however, consider all of the statutory factors enumerated in the relocation statute codified at 

Subsection 31-17-2.2-1(b). Id. at 731. Moreover, “[o]n appeal it is not enough that the 
8

evidence might support some other conclusion, but it must positively require the conclusion 

contended for by appellant before there is a basis for reversal.” Kirk v. Kirk, 770 N.E.2d 

304, 307 (Ind. 2002) (citations and quotation marks omitted).

Here, the dissolution court found that Mother’s relocation was in good faith and for 

legitimate reasons, and that relocation of K.K. with Mother, Stepfather, and B.L. to China for 

three years was in K.K.’s best interests. Father argues that this decision amounted to an 

abuse of discretion.

We do not agree. Our review of the dissolution court’s order reveals that the court 

considered the statutory factors and recognized the distance involved in a move to China, the 

duration of time K.K. would be gone, the need to preserve K.K.’s relationship with Father, 

the reasons for the move, and the good faith of both parents in their parenting and desires for 

K.K. The court recognized that Father’s opposition to the relocation was “understandabl[e],” 

(App’x at 10) but found that the parental relationship between K.K. and Father could be 

preserved through the use of telecommunications and Father’s exclusive parenting time 

during return visits to the United States. The court further found that the relocation Mother 

proposed would be in K.K.’s best interests as an educational and cultural experience for her, 

and that despite K.K.’s recent diagnosis of ADD, the evidence presented to the court 

indicated that K.K. could readily adjust to the changes associated with a move to China and 

would likely thrive there. These findings have support in the record, including testimony 

from Dr. Robinson and Moon. Moreover, Mother was expected to be readily able to provide 
9

support to aid K.K.’s transition to China because Mother planned to become an at-home 

parent for much of the duration of the stay in China. 

Much of Father’s argument urges us to reweigh evidence or otherwise second-guess 

the dissolution court’s weighing of the statutory factors; we cannot do so. Kirk, 770 N.E.2d 

at 307. Indeed, parts of Father’s argument would apply equally well to Mother if the 

dissolution court had denied Mother’s motion to relocate with K.K.: K.K. would be 

separated from one set of family members instead of another, Mother would miss parenting 

time, and Mother and K.K. would be the same distance and number of hours apart. Thus, we 

find no error in the court’s consideration of the matter and in reaching a clearly difficult 

decision. We therefore affirm the decision of the dissolution court granting Mother’s motion 

to relocate with K.K. to China, subject to the provisions for parenting time set forth in the 

order.1

Similarly, we disagree with Father’s contention that the dissolution court failed to take 

into account the statutory factors associated with a custody modification under Indiana law. 

First, to the extent the statutory factors for modification of custody that form the best interest 

of the child test are incorporated into the requirements for considering a parent’s petition to 

relocate with a child, we have already determined that the dissolution court addressed these 

matters. Second, to the extent Father asks that we consider Father’s questions concerning 

Moon’s opinion, the general uncertainty of the future, the presence of family ties in Indiana, 

 

1

Father’s motions for an emergency stay sought to prevent K.K.’s relocation as a result of a six-month 

“quarantine” period that would affect K.K.’s ability to travel to the United States during Father’s scheduled 

parenting time in the summer of 2013. Father does not now argue that either the dissolution court or this Court 

erred in denying his motions. Thus we do not address any issues concerning the quarantine’s interference in 

his parenting time, and leave resolution of such disputes to the sound discretion of the dissolution court.
10

and Father’s suggestion that the ADD diagnosis is in fact merely anxiety about moving to 

China, these amount again to a request that we reweigh evidence.

We cannot do so, and we accordingly affirm the dissolution court’s order denying 

Father’s motion to modify custody.

Conclusion

We find no abuse of discretion in the dissolution court’s decision to grant Mother’s 

request to relocate with K.K. Nor do we find any abuse of discretion in the dissolution 

court’s decision to deny Father’s request to modify custody. We accordingly affirm the 

decision of the dissolution court.

Affirmed.

MAY, J., and BRADFORD, J., concur.