Source: https://scocal.stanford.edu/opinion/re-marriage-burgess-31754
Timestamp: 2019-09-18 01:20:55
Document Index: 24556186

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 7501', '§ 3040', '§ 7501', '§ 7501', '§ 7500', '§ 3011', '§ 4600', '§ 3040', '§ 3020', '§ 3007', '§ 3003', '§ 3007', '§ 3085', '§ 3083', '§ 3040', '§ 3024', '§ 3087']

In re Marriage of Burgess - 13 Cal.4th 25 S046116 - Mon, 04/15/1996 | California Supreme Court Resources
Home > Opinions > In re Marriage of Burgess
Citation 13 Cal.4th 25
In re Marriage of Burgess (1996) 13 Cal.4th 25 , 51 Cal.Rptr.2d 444; 913 P.2d 473
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.
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 ...."
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."
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."
[1] The standard of appellate review of custody and visitation orders is the deferential abuse of discretion test. (Gudelj v. Gudelj (1953) 41 Cal.2d 202, 208 [259 P.2d 656].) The precise measure is whether the trial court could have reasonably concluded that the order in question advanced the "best interest" of the child. We are required to uphold the ruling if it is correct on any basis, regardless of whether such basis was actually invoked. (Davey v. Southern Pacific Co. (1897) 116 Cal. 325, 329 [48 P. 117].)
The trial court's order was supported by substantial evidence concerning the "best interest" of the minor children. First, and most important, although they had almost daily contact with both parents during the initial period after the separation, the minor children had been in the sole physical custody of the mother for over a year at the time the trial court issued its order concerning permanent custody. Although they saw their father regularly, their mother was, by parental stipulation and as a factual matter, their primary caretaker. [3] As we have repeatedly emphasized, the paramount need for continuity and stability in custody arrangements-and the harm that [13 Cal.4th 33] may result from disruption of established patterns of care and emotional bonds with the primary caretaker-weigh heavily in favor of maintaining ongoing custody arrangements. (In re Marriage of Carney (1979) 24 Cal.3d 725, 730 [157 Cal.Rptr. 383, 598 P.2d 36, 3 A.L.R.4th 1028]; Burchard v. Garay, supra, 42 Cal.3d at p. 541.)
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.
The Family Code specifically refrains from establishing a preference or presumption in favor of any arrangement for custody and visitation. Thus, Family Code section 3040, subdivision (b), provides: "This section establishes neither a preference nor a presumption for or against joint legal custody, joint physical custody, or sole custody, but allows the court and the family the widest discretion to choose a parenting plan that is in the best [13 Cal.4th 35] interest of the child." (Italics added.) Similarly, although Family Code section 3020 refers to "frequent and continuous contact," it does not purport to define the phrase "frequent and continuous" or to specify a preference for any particular form of "contact." Nor does it include any specific means of effecting the policy, apart from "encourag[ing] parents to share the rights and responsibilities of child rearing." (Ibid.)
Moreover, construing Family Code section 3020 by implication to impose an additional burden of proof on a parent seeking to relocate would abrogate the presumptive right of a custodial parent to change the residence of the minor child. (Fam. Code, § 7501.) fn. 3 It has long been established that, under Family Code section 7501, the "general rule [is that] a parent having child custody is entitled to change residence unless the move is detrimental to the child." (In re Marriage of Ciganovich (1976) 61 Cal.App.3d 289, 293 [132 Cal.Rptr. 261]; see also Forslund v. Forslund (1964) 225 Cal.App.2d 476, 494 [37 Cal.Rptr. 489] ["[I]n the absence of a showing that the removal of the child's place of residence is inconsistent with the child's welfare, such removal per se does not warrant a change of custody."].) fn. 4
As this case demonstrates, ours is an increasingly mobile society. Amici curiae point out that approximately one American in five changes residences each year. (See Bruch & Bowermaster, The Relocation of Children and Custodial Parents: Public Policy, Past and Present (1996) 30 Fam.L.Q. 245, 248.) Economic necessity and remarriage account for the bulk of relocations. (Id. at pp. 248-249.) Because of the ordinary needs for both parents after a marital dissolution to secure or retain employment, pursue educational or career opportunities, or reside in the same location as a new spouse or other [13 Cal.4th 36] family or friends, it is unrealistic to assume that divorced parents will permanently remain in the same location after dissolution or to exert pressure on them to do so. It would also undermine the interest in minimizing costly litigation over custody and require the trial courts to "micromanage" family decisionmaking by second-guessing reasons for everyday decisions about career and family. fn. 5
Here, the trial court adequately satisfied the policy under Family Code section 3020 in favor of "frequent and continuing contact" by ordering "liberal visitation" with the father if the mother relocated. [13 Cal.4th 37]
Similarly, the same standard of proof applies in a motion for change in custody based on the custodial parent's decision to relocate with the minor [13 Cal.4th 38] children as in any other matter involving changed circumstances: "[O]nce it has been established [under a judicial custody decision] that a particular custodial arrangement is in the best interests of the child, the court need not reexamine that question. Instead, it should preserve the established mode of custody unless some significant change in circumstances indicates that a different arrangement would be in the child's best interest." (Burchard v. Garay, supra, 42 Cal.3d at p. 535.)
This construction is consistent with the presumptive "right" of a parent entitled to custody to change the residence of his or her minor children, unless such removal would result in "prejudice" to their "rights or welfare." (Fam. Code, § 7501.) The dispositive issue is, accordingly, not whether relocating is itself "essential or expedient" either for the welfare of the custodial parent or the child, but whether a change in custody is " 'essential or expedient for the welfare of the child.' " (In re Marriage of Carney, supra, 24 Cal.3d at p. 730; see also In re Marriage of Battenburg (1994) 28 Cal.App.4th 1338, 1344 [33 Cal.Rptr.2d 871] [In case involving joint physical custody, "[i]n deciding whether it is in the child's best interest to change custody [when one custodial parent seeks to relocate with the minor children], the trial court should ask itself whether the custody change is 'expedient-essential-imperative.' " (Italics added.)].) fn. 10 [13 Cal.4th 39]
Thus, for example, in In re Marriage of Rosson, supra, 178 Cal.App.3d 1094, the Court of Appeal affirmed the decision of the trial court that the mother's decision to move from Napa to San Francisco-a two-hour commuting distance-did require a change in physical custody. Under the standard we are announcing, it could properly consider the preferences of the children, aged 10 and 13, for remaining in Napa and take into account the facts that both parents had de facto physical custody of the children and that the father had assumed substantial parenting responsibilities relating to the children's academic, athletic, social, and religious activities. Similarly, In re Marriage of Selzer, supra, 29 Cal.App.4th 637, the same Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's determination that the custodial parent's decision to move from Ukiah to Santa Rosa-a one-hour commuting distance-did not require a change in physical custody. Again, under our standard, it could reasonably consider the presumption in favor of stability and continuity in the child's primary custodial relationship-in that case with her mother-and the child's lack of preference for changing the custody arrangement. (Id. at p. 645.) It could also reasonably affirm the trial court's visitation order, [13 Cal.4th 40] which provided for increased visitation with the father and also required the mother to drive the child to Ukiah for visitation. (Id. at p. 640.) fn. 12
Even if "prejudice" is not established and a change in custody is not " 'essential or expedient for the welfare of the child' " (In re Marriage of Carney, supra, 24 Cal.3d at p. 730), however, the trial court has broad discretion to modify orders concerning contact and visitation to minimize the minor children's loss of contact and visitation with the noncustodial parent in the event of a move, e.g., by increasing the amount of visitation with the noncustodial parent during vacations from school, allocating transportation expenses to the custodial parent, or requiring the custodial parent to provide transportation of the children to the noncustodial parent's home. Indeed, such modifications of orders regarding contact and visitation may obviate the need for costly and time-consuming litigation to change custody, which may itself be detrimental to the welfare of minor children because of the uncertainty, stress, and even ill will that such litigation tends to generate. Similarly, a noncustodial parent's relocation far enough away to preclude the exercise of existing visitation rights can be ground for modifying a visitation order to allow for a different schedule for contact with the minor children, e.g., longer, but less frequent, visitation periods. (See In re Marriage of Murga (1980) 103 Cal.App.3d 498, 503 [163 Cal.Rptr. 79].)
Concurring and Dissenting.-I concur in the majority's result and in much of its reasoning. I agree that in an initial judicial custody determination-the situation presented by this case-the court simply considers all the relevant factors, including the parents' respective relationships with the child and any potential relocation of either parent, to determine what formal custody and visitation arrangements are in the "best interest of the child." As the majority hold, a parent who seeks to relocate with the child has no special burden of proving the move is "necessary" as a precondition to obtaining a formal award of custody. [13 Cal.4th 41]
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."
My concern arises because of the majority's focus on language in In re Marriage of Carney (1979) 24 Cal.3d 725 [157 Cal.Rptr. 383, 598 P.2d 36, 3 A.L.R.4th 1028] (Carney) to the effect that because the law favors custodial stability, a change in formal custody cannot be ordered absent a showing of new circumstances which " 'render it essential or expedient for the welfare of the child that there be a change.' [Citation.]" (Id. at p. 730, italics added.) Furthermore, the majority insist, when the modification dispute concerns a custodial parent's wish to relocate, the case is governed by an 1872 statute, now Family Code section 7501 (hereafter section 7501), which declares that "[a] parent entitled to the custody of a child 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." (Italics added.) According to the majority, this statute reflects "the presumptive 'right' " of a parent with formal custody to change the child's residence, regardless of the other parent's objections, unless the move would be [13 Cal.4th 42] prejudicial to the child's welfare. (Maj. opn., ante, at p. 38; see also id. at p. 29.)
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.
When it adopted the Family Law Act in 1969, the Legislature specified that custody disputes between parents must be decided exclusively on the basis of the child's "best interest." (Fam. Code, §§ 3011, 3040, subds. (a)(1), (b); see Civ. Code, former § 4600, subds. (a), (b).) This court has made clear that the statutory "best interest" test, which allows the court and family "the widest discretion to choose a parenting plan ... in the best interest of the child" (Fam. Code, § 3040, subd. (b)), "governs all custody proceedings." (Burchard v. Garay, supra, 42 Cal.3d 531, 535, citing In re B.G. (1974) 11 Cal.3d 679, 695-696 [114 Cal.Rptr. 444, 523 P.2d 244], italics added.)
Given these legislative developments, section 7501 cannot be read to mean that a relocating parent may retain custodial "rights" which no longer suit the child's "best interest" so long as the move causes the child no [13 Cal.4th 43] positive harm. If the majority are suggesting otherwise, we part company to that extent. fn. 1
Moreover, despite some expansive language in Carney, supra, 24 Cal.3d 725, and earlier cases, these decisions need not and should not be read to require showings of positive detriment or necessity in "changed circumstances" cases. The implication of these cases, which I do not dispute, is simply that the prior "best interest" finding, which led to the initial custody award, may not be relitigated on its merits, and that the stability of the existing custody arrangement has substantial weight when determining whether the child's custodial "best interest" has changed. Indeed, that is precisely what we have more recently said. In Burchard v. Garay, supra, 42 Cal.3d 531, 536, we made clear that the "changed circumstances" rule affects the "best interest" test in only two ways: it "changes the burden of persuasion [and] also limits the [cognizable] evidence ...." The net effect is simply that the court "should preserve the existing mode of custody unless some significant change in circumstances indicates that a different arrangement would be in the child's best interest." (Id. at p. 535.)
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.
Finally, though a parent who seeks to relocate need not prove the move is "necessary" in order to retain or change the award, the reasons for the change in residence have some bearing on the "best interest" analysis. Even if the relocation is not a conscious effort to frustrate parent-child contact, casual motives for moving may indicate the relocating parent's lack of commitment to the child's interest in a continuing bond with both parents. The court may and should take that into account when deciding whether a consequent change in the award is justified. [13 Cal.4th 45]
­FN 1. In referring to a "custodial" parent and "noncustodial" parent hereafter, we refer to "physical custody" of minor children. (Fam. Code, § 3007.)
­FN 2. " 'Joint legal custody' means that both parents shall share the right and the responsibility to make the decisions relating to the health, education, and welfare of a child." (Fam. Code, § 3003.) " 'Sole physical custody' means that a child shall reside with and be under the supervision of one parent, subject to the power of the court to order visitation." (Id., § 3007.) "In making an order for custody with respect to both parents, the court may grant joint legal custody without granting joint physical custody." (Id., § 3085.) "An order of joint legal custody shall not be construed to permit an action that is inconsistent with the physical custody order unless the action is expressly authorized by the court." (Id., § 3083.)
­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 6. An obvious exception is a custodial parent's decision to relocate simply to frustrate the noncustodial parent's contact with the minor children. "Conduct by a custodial parent designed to frustrate visitation and communication may be grounds for changing custody." (Burchard v. Garay, supra, 42 Cal.3d at p. 540, fn. 11; In re Marriage of Ciganovich, supra, 61 Cal.App.3d at p. 294 ["a custodial parent's attempt to frustrate the court's order has a bearing upon the fitness of that parent"].) Even if the custodial parent is otherwise "fit," such bad faith conduct may be relevant to a determination of what permanent custody arrangement is in the minor children's best interest. (In re Marriage of Ciganovich, supra, 61 Cal.App.3d at pp. 293-294; Fam. Code, § 3040, subd. (a)(1) ["In making an order granting custody to either parent, the court shall consider, among other factors, which parent is more likely to allow the child frequent and continuing contact with the noncustodial parent ...."].)
­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 10. To the extent that recent decisions by the Courts of Appeal have placed an additional burden on a custodial parent in relocation matters of proving that relocation itself is "essential and expedient" and "for an imperative reason"-or merely "necessary"-they are erroneous and hereby disapproved on this point. (See In re Marriage of McGinnis (1992) 7 Cal.App.4th 473, 479 [9 Cal.Rptr.2d 182] ["[t]he burden of proof is upon the 'move away' parent to demonstrate that the move is in the best interests of the children, i.e., that it is 'essential and expedient' and for an 'imperative reason.' "]; In re Marriage of Selzer, supra, 29 Cal.App.4th at pp. 644-645 [Rejecting " 'expedient, essential or imperative' " rule but concluding that "the moving parent does in fact bear a burden of proof ... to show that the move was not only necessary to the custodial parent but would also be in the best interests of the child."]; In re Marriage of Roe (1993) 18 Cal.App.4th 1483, 1489-1490 [23 Cal.Rptr.2d 295] [custodial parent seeking to relocate with a minor child must establish that move is "necessary" and in child's "best interest"]; In re Marriage of Rosson (1986) 178 Cal.App.3d 1094, 1102 [224 Cal.Rptr. 250] [custodial parent seeking to relocate bears "the burden of showing a change sufficient to warrant modification"].)
­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.
Petition for review after the Court of Appeal reversed an order in a marital dissolution action. This case concerns the circumstances in which a parent with physical custody of children may be allowed to move the residence of the children.
Mon, 04/15/1996 13 Cal.4th 25 S046116 Review - Civil Appeal closed; remittitur issued
1 Burgess, Wendy A. (Respondent)
Represented by Michael Maroko
2 Burgess, Paul D. (Appellant)
Represented by Edward J. Quirk
3434 Truxtun Ave, Ste 270
3 Altman, Scott (Amicus curiae)
4 Bowermaster, Janet (Amicus curiae)
Represented by Roberta M. Ikemi
4816 Algoma Ave
6 National Battered Womens Law Project (Amicus curiae)
attn: Joan Zorza
7 Nellis, Francis A. (Amicus curiae)
8 Wallerstein, Judith S. (Amicus curiae)
9 Wendy A. And Paul D. Burgess (Overview party)
Apr 15 1996 Opinion: Reversed
Respondent, Wendy Burgess ** Rec Req **
Jun 12 1995 Time Extended to grant or deny Petition for Review
To July 19, 1995
Respondent's Petition Votes: Lucas, C.J.,Mos,Bax,Geo,Wer,Ken
Respondent, Wendy A. Burgess [Order Being Prepared]
For Respondent to Serve and file the brief on the merits to and Including August 28, 1995 .
Aug 7 1995 Filed document entitled:
Substitution of Attorney for Applt, Paul Burgess, in San Francisco. (change of Firm, Only, Attorney Remains the Same)
Aug 14 1995 Application for Extension of Time filed
Request for Extension to file Resp.Opening brief Is denied , Attorney has been Notified by Phone. brief Is Due: August 28, 1995.
Respondent, Wendy A. Burgess
By Applt, Seeking to and Including 10/27 to file Applt's answer brief on the merits.
To and Including 10/6/95 To file Applt's answer brief.
From Scott Altman, Janet Bowermaster Et Al. with brief.
Sep 28 1995 Permission to file amicus curiae brief granted
By Scott Altman Et Al. Any answer Due 10-6-95.
Sep 28 1995 Amicus Curiae Brief filed by:
Scott Altman Et Al.
Sep 29 1995 Received application to file Amicus Curiae Brief
By Calif Women's Law Center, Nat'l Battered Womens Law Project Et Al in support of Resp. with Brf.
Oct 3 1995 Permission to file amicus curiae brief granted
By Cal. Women's Law Center, Nat'l Battered Women's Law Project Et Al. answer Due 10-12-95.
Oct 3 1995 Amicus Curiae Brief filed by:
California Women's Law Center Et Al.
Oct 5 1995 Answer brief on the merits filed
By Csl for Aplt.
Oct 26 1995 Reply brief filed (case fully briefed)
by respondent [40n]
Oct 27 1995 Received document entitled:
Application of Francis Nellis for permission to file A/C brief in support of Applt. and request for Leave to file said brief by December 13.
Appln of Cal Commission on the Status of Women to join in A/C Brf of Cal Women's Law Center Et Al
Errata of California Women's Law Center.
Francis A. Nellis granted Perm to file A/C brief in support of Appellant. brief Due: 12-13-95; answer Due: 1-2-96.
Nov 6 1995 Order filed:
The Claifornia Commission on The Status of Women Is granted Perm to join in The A/C brief filed by The California Women's Law Center, Et Al.
Dec 8 1995 Received application to file Amicus Curiae Brief
Dr. Judith S. Wallerstein, Ph.D., in support of Neither Party. brief Under Separate Cover.
Of Dr. Judith S. Wallerstein, Ph.D. Ans. Due w/in 20 Days
Dr. Judith S. Wallerstein, Ph.D.
Dec 13 1995 Amicus Curiae Brief filed by:
Francis A. Nellis in support of Appellant Burgess
Feb 20 1996 Received letter from:
AC Wallerstein dated 2-14-96.
Late Application from Parents's Connection to file AC brief in support of Aplt Burgess. (AC Under Separatea Coaver).
Mar 25 1996 Received document entitled:
"the Relocation of Children and Custodial Parents: public Policy, Past and Present", A Manuscript for publication in 30 Family Law Quarterly by Carol S. Bruch & Janet Bowermaster, Drawn from the A/C brief of Scott Altman, Et Al.
Apr 1 1996 Received letter from:
Michael Maroko( for Resp.) Re: New York Court of Appeals Decision
Apr 15 1996 Opinion filed: Judgment reversed
Majority Opinion by Mosk, J. -- joined by Lucas C.J., Kennard, George, Werdegar & Chin JJ. Concurring & Dissenting Opinion by Baxter, J.
Resp (Wendy ) Re: Language of opinion
May 17 1996 Remittitur Issued
Respondent, Wendy A. Burgess, Petition to recall Remittitur
Jul 17 1996 Order filed:
Motion to recall Remittitur denied
Carol S. Bruch (School Of Law)
Edward J. Quirk (3434 Truxtun Ave, Ste 270)
Michael Maroko (Allred Maroko & Goldberg)
Roberta M. Ikemi (California Women'S Law Center)
SCOCAL, In re Marriage of Burgess , 13 Cal.4th 25 available at: (https://scocal.stanford.edu/opinion/re-marriage-burgess-31754) (last visited Tuesday September 17, 2019).