Opinion ID: 900500
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Separating Siblings

Text: [¶ 32.] Siblings should not be separated absent compelling circumstances. Mayer v. Mayer, 397 N.W.2d 638, 642 (S.D. 1986) (citation omitted). This is no less significant when children are half-siblings. Id. at 644 (citation omitted). Justice requires that society exercise its moral duty to insure that children in a family enjoy the right to remain together, to share each other's lives, and to grow up together, until such time as necessity and the welfare of the children, itself, requires their separation. Id. Keith and Allison are only three years apart. A court ought to be especially concerned about keeping together siblings who are at or near the same age. Of course, maintaining children in the same household should never override the controlling question of their best interests. Crouse v. Crouse, 1996 SD 95, ¶ 21, 552 N.W.2d 413, 419. By all accounts, Keith had a close relationship with his sister. In its oral decision given at the end of the custody hearing, the trial court remarked that their relationship had been a substantial consideration in the past, as the court had previously strove to keep them together. The court stated the present changed circumstances justified overriding that consideration. Yet the court made no fact findings on what compelling circumstances existed to justify separating Keith and Allison. It simply entered a conclusion of law holding that compelling circumstances made it in Keith's best interests to live with his father.