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In re the Marriage of WENDY A. and PAUL D. BURGESS.
William B. Cater, Goldberg, Fisher & Quirk and Edward J. Quirk, Jr., for Appellant.
Bryan Law Corporation, Richard M. Bryan and Sondra W. Barnet as Amici Curiae on behalf of Appellant.
Donald M. Adams, Jr., Joseph I. Anderson, Allred, Maroko & Goldberg, Michael Maroko, Renee Mochkatel and Ruth E. Graf for Respondent.
Roberta M. Ikemi and Joan Zorza as Amici Curiae on behalf of Respondent.
Carol S. Bruch, Janet Bowermaster, Tanke & Willemsen and Tony J. Tanke as Amici Curiae.
We conclude that, in an initial judicial custody determination based on the "best interest" of minor children, a parent seeking to relocate does not bear [13 Cal.4th 29] a burden of establishing that the move is "necessary" as a condition of custody. Similarly, after a judicial custody order is in place, a custodial parent seeking to relocate bears no burden of establishing that it is "necessary" to do so. Instead, he or she "has the right to change the residence of the child, subject to the power of the court to restrain a removal that would prejudice the rights or welfare of the child." (Fam. Code, § 7501.) Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
Paul D. Burgess (hereafter the father) and Wendy A. Burgess (hereafter the mother) were married and had two children, Paul and Jessica. Both parents were employed by the State Department of Corrections at the state prison in Tehachapi and owned a home in a suburb. They separated in May 1992, when the children were four and three years old. The mother moved with the children to an apartment in Tehachapi; the father remained in their former home, pending sale of the property. The mother petitioned for dissolution shortly thereafter.
The mediation agreement expressly identified as "[a]t [i]ssue" the visitation schedule for the father "if the mother leaves Kern County." The parents agreed to a detailed schedule for weekly visitation by the father, as well as an alternative schedule for biweekly weekend visitation, depending on his work schedule.
At a hearing concerning custody in February 1993, the mother testified that she had accepted a job transfer to Lancaster and planned to relocate after her son's graduation from preschool in June. She explained that the move was "career advancing" and would permit greater access for the children to medical care, extracurricular activities, and private schools and day-care [13 Cal.4th 30] facilities. The travel time between Lancaster and her home in Tehachapi was approximately 40 minutes. The father testified that he would not be able to maintain his current visitation schedule if the children moved to Lancaster; he wanted to be their primary caretaker if the mother relocated. The trial court issued a ruling providing that the father and the mother would share joint legal custody, with the mother to have sole physical custody. It retained the present visitation schedule, but provided that after June 1993, "the father will have visitation with the children, assuming the wife moves to Lancaster, on alternate weekends ... with at least one three hour midweek visitation ...."
The father moved for reconsideration and for a change in custody, alleging that the mother "has constantly used my contact with the children to harass me." The mother opposed a change in custody, alleging that the father "does not utilize all of the time with our children that is available to him now."
In July 1993, the trial court denied the motion for reconsideration, ruling that the father failed to file an affidavit stating any "new or different facts." Shortly thereafter, it held a hearing on the motion for change in custody. The father presented no testimony concerning alleged harassment. He again testified that if his children relocated with the mother he would not be able to maintain his current visitation schedule; he sought a custody arrangement under which each parent would have the children for "[a]bout a month and a half." He also testified that he regularly traveled to Lancaster on alternate weekends, to shop and visit friends; he characterized the trip to Lancaster from his home as "an easy commute."
The mother testified that she had been working in Lancaster for four months and planned to move there. She identified several advantages to the children to living in Lancaster, including proximity to medical care and increased opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities. She also testified that the father objected to her move, at least in part, in order to retain control of her and the children. To her understanding, he did not want to change his work shift "because it keeps me in Tehachapi." She expressed her willingness to accommodate weekend visitation with the father as well as extended visitation in the summers.
In August 1993, the trial court issued an order on custody and visitation to the following effect. "The court finds that it is in the best interest of the minor children that the minors be permitted to move to Lancaster with the petitioner and that respondent be afforded liberal visitation. Due to the [13 Cal.4th 31] complexity of the work schedules of both of the parties, who are employed by the California Department of Corrections, the court requests that a four-way meeting be held by the parties within ten days from the date of this order to work out a mutually agreed upon visitation schedule. In the event that such a schedule cannot be worked out, then the parties are to attend mediation. [¶] The court suggests that during the summertimes and if school is on a year round basis, that respondent father be provided with 'large block of time' visitations."
The father appealed from both the order denying reconsideration and the order denying change in custody; the appeals were consolidated.
The Court of Appeal reversed. It formulated the following test for relocation cases. The trial court initially must determine whether the move "will impact significantly the existing pattern of care and adversely affect the nature and quality of the noncustodial parent's contact with the child. The burden is on the noncustodial non-moving parent to show this adverse impact." If the impact is shown, the trial court must determine whether the move is "reasonably necessary," with "the burden of showing such necessity fall[ing] on the moving parent." If it concludes that the move is "necessary"-either because not moving would impose an unreasonable hardship on custodial parent's career or other interests or because moving will result in a discernible benefit that it would be unreasonable to expect the parent to forgo-the trial court "must resolve whether the benefit to the child in going with the moving parent outweighs the loss or diminution of contact with the nonmoving parent."
On the facts before it, the Court of Appeal concluded that "no showing of necessity was made." "[T]he reality here is that in moving, [the mother] primarily gained convenience." It reversed the orders and remanded for further proceedings consistent with the opinion. We granted review. We now reverse.
This matter was in the trial court for an initial permanent custody order. Although the parties had previously stipulated to a temporary custody arrangement, there was no permanent judicial custody determination in place at the time of the hearings.
In an initial custody determination, the trial court has "the widest discretion to choose a parenting plan that is in the best interest of the child." (Fam. Code, § 3040, subd. (b).) It must look to all the circumstances bearing on the [13 Cal.4th 32] best interest of the minor child. (Burchard v. Garay (1986) 42 Cal.3d 531, 534 [229 Cal.Rptr. 800, 724 P.2d 486, 62 A.L.R.4th 237].) Family Code section 3011 lists specific factors, "among others," that the trial court must consider in determining the "best interest" of the child in a proceeding to determine custody and visitation: "(a) The health, safety, and welfare of the child. [¶] (b) Any history of abuse by one parent against the child or against the other parent.... [¶] (c) The nature and amount of contact with both parents."
In addition, in a matter involving immediate or eventual relocation by one or both parents, the trial court must take into account the presumptive right of a custodial parent to change the residence of the minor children, so long as the removal would not be prejudicial to their rights or welfare. (Fam. Code, § 7501 ["A parent entitled to custody of a child has a right to change the residence of the child, subject to the power of the court to restrain a removal that would prejudice the rights or welfare of the child."].) Accordingly, in considering all the circumstances affecting the "best interest" of minor children, it may consider any effects of such relocation on their rights or welfare.
[2a] No abuse of discretion appears. After extensive testimony from both parents, the trial court not unreasonably concluded that it was in the "best interest" of the minor children that the father and the mother retain joint legal custody and that the mother retain sole physical custody, even if she moved to Lancaster.
[2b] From the outset, the mother had expressed her intention to relocate to Lancaster. The reason for the move was employment related; the mother evinced no intention to frustrate the father's contact with the minor children. Moreover, despite the fact that the move was, as the Court of Appeal observed, primarily for the mother's "convenience," her proximity to her place of employment and to the children during the workday would clearly benefit the children as well. A reduced commute would permit increased and more leisurely daily contact between the children and their primary caretaker. It would also facilitate the children's participation, with their mother, in extracurricular activities. In the event of illness or emergency, the children could more promptly be picked up and treated, if appropriate, at their regular medical facility, which was also located in Lancaster.
Although it would be more convenient for the father to maintain a daily visitation routine with the children if they remained in Tehachapi, he would still, even under his present work schedule, be able to visit them regularly and often. The trial court's order of "liberal visitation" included overnight visits on alternative weekends and additional weekday visits each month. The father conceded that he regularly traveled to Lancaster and that he considered it an "easy commute."
The record reflects that the trial court, as required by Family Code section 3011, considered the "health, safety, and welfare" of the children as well as the "nature and amount of contact with both parents." (Fam. Code, § 3011, subds. (a) & (c).) No evidence was presented concerning the additional mandatory factor for consideration, i.e., "[a]ny history of abuse." (Id., subd. (b).) Although the father alleged that he had been "harassed," he presented no evidence to support the assertion. Similarly, although the mother testified that she believed the father wanted to "control" her, she did not allege abuse. There was also no history of abuse by either parent of the minor children; indeed, each parent conceded that the children were well treated and expressed a willingness to afford each other liberal visitation.
The Court of Appeal concluded that the trial court abused its discretion in ordering that the mother should retain physical custody, on the ground that [13 Cal.4th 34] her relocation to Lancaster was not "necessary." It therefore remanded the case and directed the trial court "to reconsider its order permitting [the mother] to move the children and refusing a transfer of custody." In effect, it concluded that because she failed to carry the burden of establishing that the relocation to Lancaster was "necessary," physical custody of the minor children may be transferred to the father. It erred thereby.
 In an initial custody determination, a parent seeking to relocate with the minor children bears no burden of establishing that the move is "necessary." The trial court must-and here did-consider, among other factors, the effects of relocation on the "best interest" of the minor children, including the health, safety, and welfare of the children and the nature and amount of contact with both parents. (Fam. Code, § 3011, subds. (a) & (c).) We discern no statutory basis, however, for imposing a specific additional burden of persuasion on either parent to justify a choice of residence as a condition of custody.
The Court of Appeal relied on Family Code section 3020: "The Legislature finds and declares that it is the public policy of this state to assure minor children frequent and continuing contact with both parents after the parents have separated or dissolved their marriage, and to encourage parents to share the rights and responsibilities of child rearing in order to effect this policy, except where the contact would not be in the best interest of the child, as provided in [Family Code] [s]ection 3011."
In substance, the Court of Appeal concluded that Family Code section 3020 establishes an implicit requirement, limiting the trial court's discretion under Family Code section 3011, that, after separation or dissolution of marriage, the trial court may not award sole physical custody of the minor children to a parent unless he or she remains in the same locality or establishes that relocation is "necessary."
We are unpersuaded. The policy of Family Code section 3020 in favor of "frequent and continuous contact" does not so constrain the trial court's broad discretion to determine, in light of all the circumstances, what custody arrangement serves the "best interest" of minor children.
[5a] Although this matter involved an initial order of custody and visitation, fn. 8 the same conclusion applies when a parent who has sole physical custody under an existing judicial custody order seeks to relocate: the custodial parent seeking to relocate, like the noncustodial parent doing the same, bears no burden of demonstrating that the move is "necessary."
For the reasons discussed, we reverse the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
Lucas, C. J., Kennard, J., George, J., Werdegar, J., and Chin, J., concurred.
Here, the relocating parent was already acting as the child's custodian under the terms of an interim agreement. Moreover, the reasons for relocation were legitimate, the distance was short and rapidly traversed, the facilities available to the child in the new location were excellent, and the other parent's visitation rights could be accommodated with relative ease. Hence, as the majority suggest, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by concluding that a formal award of custody to the relocating parent was in the child's "best interest."
I also agree with the majority that when a relocation dispute arises after an initial award of custody has been made, the usual "changed circumstances" rule should apply. A child's welfare is not served by casual changes in caregiving arrangements, and the law abhors the endless relitigation of matters already determined. Hence, the parent who seeks a change in formal custody based on "changed circumstances" (including a parental relocation) bears the burden of persuading the court that in light of the new circumstances, an alteration of the existing award is in the child's "best interest." (Burchard v. Garay (1986) 42 Cal.3d 531, 536 [229 Cal.Rptr. 800, 724 P.2d 486, 62 A.L.R.4th 237].) Thus again, a parent who wishes to relocate with the child has no special burden of proving the move is "necessary."
While I acknowledge that the "changed circumstances" rule properly places the burden of a "best interest" showing on the parent who seeks to modify an existing formal custody award, I believe the "best interest" test itself retains its usual meaning in such cases. Insofar as the majority imply that the child's "best interest" has a special, more stringent connotation in a "changed circumstances" case, I cannot subscribe to their reasoning.
If the majority are applying these authorities to suggest that an existing formal custody award cannot be modified in the child's "best interest" absent a showing of positive detriment or necessity, I cannot agree. In my view, the statute and the decision on which the majority primarily rely do not lead to that conclusion. Nor should it be endorsed as a matter of public policy.
Section 7501 has no specific reference to parental custody disputes, and it appears in a section of the code dealing with "rights" as between parents and their children. (See Fam. Code, div. 12, pt. 1, § 7500 et seq.) Insofar as this statute and its 1872 predecessor may nonetheless apply to "move-away" disputes between parents (see, e.g., In re Marriage of Ciganovich (1976) 61 Cal.App.3d 289, 293 [132 Cal.Rptr. 261], and authorities there cited), the statutory language must be read in harmony with later and more comprehensive legislative declarations about the issues pertinent here.
In sum, a change in circumstances, including a pending relocation, warrants modification of formal custody or visitation if "significant" enough to indicate that modification would be in the child's "best interest," i.e., better for the child, all things considered, than keeping the existing arrangements intact. The parent seeking modification bears the burden of persuasion on this issue, but need not go further and establish the existence of positive detriment, prejudice, or necessity which requires such a change for the child's welfare.
Depending on the particular facts, the impending relocation of either parent may well represent such a "significant" change in the child's "best interest." As our statutory law makes clear, California's public policy strongly favors the maximum contact between a minor child and both of his separated parents. (Fam. Code, § 3020.) This policy must be considered in the "best interest" balance. Doing so does not constitute an undue interference with a parent's personal rights. When one assumes parental responsibilities, his obligations include good faith efforts to foster both his own bond [13 Cal.4th 44] with the child and the relationship which exists between the child and a coparent. When a custody dispute arises, the court must weigh the child's "best interest" even where that may affect a parent's freedom, travel, lifestyle, and economic interests.
We recently concluded that when a biological parent makes diligent efforts to acknowledge and assume his parental obligations, the other parent may not frustrate his attempts to attain the legal rights of parenthood by preventing his contact with his child. (See Adoption of Kelsey S. (1992) 1 Cal.4th 816 [4 Cal.Rptr.2d 615, 823 P.2d 1216].) Similar concerns may arise when a separated parent who has legal status, and who has maintained a diligent relationship with the child, stands to lose the existing pattern of contact because a unilateral pending relocation will place the child beyond his or her reach. This potential disruption of the parent-child relationship may well mean, in the child's "best interest," that a modification of the existing rules for custody or visitation should occur.
In deciding whether a relocation warrants a modification of custody or visitation, the court is, of course, free to consider the quality of the current relationship between the child and each parent. The degree of diligence a parent has displayed in maintaining voluntary contact with his child is highly pertinent when deciding whether the relocation of either parent justifies a change in the arrangements previously ordered.
­FN 3. The background of the "legislative findings" under Family Code section 3020 offers no support for the Court of Appeal's conclusion. None of the contemporaneous materials, including the committee reports and analyses regarding Assembly Bill No. 1480-which, in 1979, added the reference to "frequent and continuing contact" to what is now Family Code section 3020-include any suggestion that it was intended to revise or supersede Family Code section 7501 or to otherwise place a burden of proof on a custodial parent that relocation is "necessary," either in an initial custody determination or a subsequent modification proceeding.
­FN 4. Family Code section 7501 applies, on its face, to cases involving removal of a child by a parent entitled to custody. Moreover, since it was enacted in 1872, it has not been repealed or substantively amended, despite the fact that it has consistently been applied by our courts in move-away cases. (See, e.g., In re Marriage of Ciganovich, supra, 61 Cal.App.3d 289; Forslund v. Forslund, supra, 225 Cal.App.2d 476; Walker v. Superior Court (1966) 246 Cal.App.2d 749, 753 [55 Cal.Rptr. 114]; Shea v. Shea (1960) 100 Cal.App.2d 60, 63 [223 P.2d 32]; Dozier v. Dozier (1959) 167 Cal.App.2d 714, 719 [334 P.2d 957]; see also Luck v. Luck (1892) 92 Cal. 653, 655 [28 P. 787] [A parent entitled to custody "has the right to name any reasonable place in which [the children] shall abide with him."].) It must, however, be harmonized with other provisions of the Family Code concerning custody; we do not suggest, of course, that a parent has the "right" under Family Code section 7501 to remove a child if such removal would derogate the child's "best interest." As discussed in the text, after a judicial custody determination, the usual "changed circumstances" test applies in removal cases.
­FN 5. In this matter, the parties continue to dispute whether the mother's change of employment was merely a "lateral" move or was "career enhancing." The point is immaterial. Once the trial court determined that the mother did not relocate in order to frustrate the father's contact with the minor children, but did so for sound "good faith" reasons, it was not required to inquire further into the wisdom of her inherently subjective decisionmaking.
­FN 7. The father argues that most custodial parents seeking to relocate are merely "bluffing"; they will not move if it will result in loss of custody. Even assuming his assumption is sound, the Family Code provides no ground for permitting the trial court to test parental attachments or to risk detriment to the "best interest" of the minor children, on that basis. Nor should either parent be confronted with Solomonic choices over custody of minor children.
­FN 8. As the dissenting opinion in the Court of Appeal correctly points out, the majority therein analyzed this matter as though it involved modification of a permanent custody order, despite the fact that it was "still at the initial custody order stage, rather than before trial court on modification of a permanent order." The parties and numerous amici curiae have briefed the case accordingly and have urged that we clarify the standard in "move-away" cases generally. Although we conclude that this case involved an initial custody determination rather than a "change of circumstances," we recognize that the considerations and interests in both types of custody matters are closely interrelated. For that reason, and to resolve a conflict in our Courts of Appeal on these matters-which one Court of Appeal decision aptly describes as a " 'tangled web of precedent' " (In re Marriage of Selzer (1994) 29 Cal.App.4th 637, 640 [34 Cal.Rptr.2d 824])-we address both situations.
­FN 9. In some cases, a custodial parent may be required to provide advance notice of a change in residence of the child: "In making an order for custody, if the court does not consider it inappropriate, the court may specify that a parent shall notify the other parent if the parent plans to change the residence of the child for more than 30 days, unless there is prior written agreement to the removal.... To the extent feasible, the notice shall be provided within a minimum of 45 days before the proposed change of residence so as to allow time for mediation of a new agreement concerning custody." (Fam. Code, § 3024.) The provision is not mandatory. We do not construe it to limit, expressly or by implication, the right of a custodial parent to relocate under Family Code section 7501. To the extent it concludes otherwise, we therefore disapprove In re Marriage of Carlson (1991) 229 Cal.App.3d 1330, 1336-1337 [280 Cal.Rptr. 840].
­FN 11. We note that amica curiae Professor Judith S. Wallerstein, who has published extensively on issues concerning children after divorce, observes that for "reasonably mature adolescents, i.e., those who are well adjusted and performing on course in their education and social relationships ... stability may not lie with either parent, but may have its source in a circle of friends or particular sports or academic activities within a school or community." She suggests that "[t]hese adolescents should be given the choice ... as to whether they wish to move with the moving parent."
­FN 12. A different analysis may be required when parents share joint physical custody of the minor children under an existing order and in fact, and one parent seeks to relocate with the minor children. In such cases, the custody order "may be modified or terminated upon the petition of one or both parents or on the court's own motion if it is shown that the best interest of the child requires modification or termination of the order." (Fam. Code, § 3087.) The trial court must determine de novo what arrangement for primary custody is in the best interest of the minor children.
­FN 1. In re Marriage of Ciganovich, supra, 61 Cal.App.3d 289, a post-Family Law Act case, cites the predecessor of section 7501 as support for the "general rule [that] a parent having child custody is entitled to change residence [over the other parent's objection] unless the move is detrimental to the child. [Citations.]" (61 Cal.App.3d at p. 293, italics added.) Insofar as this statement implies a departure from the usual "best interest" test, it is undermined by the Court of Appeal's failure to consider the intervening Family Law Act provisions discussed above. In any event, the statement is dictum, since the case turned on the corollary rule that modification of custody may be ordered when the custodial parent has moved for the purpose of frustrating contact between the child and the noncustodial parent.

References: § 7501
 § 3040
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 § 7501
 § 3011
 § 3011
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 § 7500
 § 3020
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 § 3024
 § 3087