Opinion ID: 1815844
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: As to the matter of child custody, the governing consideration is the children's best interests. Iowa R.Civ.P. 344(f) (15); Halstead v. Halstead, 259 Iowa 526, 144 N.W.2d 861.

Text: It appears both parents are about equally capable of caring for the children. We must therefore look to other factors in determining the matter of custodial rights. In that area one element to be considered is the apparent moral environment in which the children will be raised. See Utter v. Utter, 261 Iowa 683, 687-688, 155 N.W.2d 419; Fritz v. Fritz, 260 Iowa supra at 418-421, 148 N.W.2d 392; 2 Nelson, Divorce, § 15.06 at nn. 46-50 and 52. The record reveals plaintiff father conscientiously adheres to religious teachings and would apparently rear his children in the same manner. Furthermore, no showing is made which reveals he has ever done anything which would lead this or any other court to believe the children would be raised by him in less than a moral and proper atmosphere. On the other hand defendant mother's conduct has unquestionably been less than moral. Moreover, in the course of her adulterous affair, defendant exhibited a total disregard for the children's welfare by leaving them alone at various times, and by bringing her paramour to the family home where she entertained him while the youngsters were present, presumably asleep. Although immorality would not, in itself, mean defendant is an unfit person to have custody of her children, there is little or nothing to indicate she had so mended her ways at time of trial as to have preferential custodial rights. It is thus apparent the children's best interests would not be served by placing them in defendant's custody. See Jones v. Jones, 175 N.W.2d 389, 391-392 (Iowa); Kayser v. Kayser, 164 N.W.2d 95, 103-104 (Iowa); Wendel v. Wendel, 252 Iowa 1122, 1126-1127, 109 N.W.2d 432; 2 Nelson, Divorce, § 15.06; Annot. 23 A.L.R.3d 6. Trial court held and we conclude the children are to be in plaintiff father's custody. VII. The next question to be considered is the matter of property distribution and alimony. In divorce cases this is left largely to trial court's sound discretion. The Code 1966, Section 598.14; Cole v. Cole, 259 Iowa 58, 60-61, 143 N.W.2d 350; Freel v. Freel, 253 Iowa 327, 330, 112 N. W.2d 371; see Schantz v. Schantz, 163 N. W.2d 398, 405-406 (Iowa). The parties to this action accumulated few worldly goods during existence of the marriage relationship. That which they had resulted largely from gifts by members of plaintiff's family, with comparatively few items being given them by defendant's relatives. All personalty was heavily encumbered. Trial court awarded to each party the household goods given them by their respective families, and decreed plaintiff hold defendant harmless from all debts. Further, in this regard, defendant was also awarded an automobile free from encumbrance, and $100 a month as alimony, payable for six months, which should permit her to make the transition from married life to that of a single person. In view of the fact plaintiff has custody of the children he needs the home in order to shelter and care for them. Then too plaintiff neither earns nor possesses such means as will enable him to maintain himself, the children, hire a housekeeper and at the same time pay additional or periodic alimony to defendant. The record also discloses defendant is able to work and support herself. Finding as we do there was no abuse of discretion on the part of trial court in the distribution of property, and alimony granted defendant, these awards will stand.