Opinion ID: 2653341
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Modification of Parenting Time

Text: [¶6] After an initial award of primary residential responsibility is made, awards of parenting time are governed by N.D.C.C. § 14-05-22(2). Simburger v. Simburger , 2005 ND 139, ¶ 13, 701 N.W.2d 880. Under N.D.C.C. § 14-05-22(2), the district court shall “grant such rights of parenting time as will enable the child to maintain a parent-child relationship that will be beneficial to the child, unless the court finds, after a hearing, that such rights of parenting time are likely to endanger the child’s physical or emotional health.” Modification of parenting time proceedings are governed by a standard established through case law. Dufner v. Trottier , 2010 ND 31, ¶ 13, 778 N.W.2d 586. “The moving party bears the burden of establishing that a significant change of circumstances has occurred since the prior visitation order and that it is in the best interests of the child to modify the order.” Simburger , at ¶ 13. A material change of circumstances means important new facts that were unknown at the time of a prior visitation order. Dufner , at ¶ 7. The remarriage of a parent may constitute a material change of circumstances. See Siewert v. Siewert , 2008 ND 221, ¶ 18, 758 N.W.2d 691 (holding the district court did not err in finding a significant and material change of circumstances existed to modify visitation when noncustodial parent’s new spouse caused increased conflict between the custodial and noncustodial parent and the increased conflict impacted the children). [¶7] Kyle Mackey argues the district court clearly erred in determining he had failed to establish a material change of circumstances has occurred since its prior visitation order. He asserts Lindsey Bredeson’s withholding of his visitation with O.B., her attempts to alienate O.B.’s affection for him, and the marriages of both parties is a material change of circumstances and a modification of his parenting time is in the best interest of O.B. [¶8] Kyle Mackey, Lindsey Bredeson, and Amber Mackey all submitted multiple affidavits to the district court. Kyle Mackey and Amber Mackey claimed Lindsey Bredeson frustrated Kyle Mackey’s visitation with O.B. Kyle Mackey claimed Lindsey Bredeson denied all visitation for the months of January, February, March, April, and May. He also claimed Lindsey Bredeson attempted to alienate O.B.’s affection for him by withholding his visitation with O.B. and allowing O.B. to call him by his name. Lindsey Bredeson claimed the visitation at the James River Correctional Center is not appropriate for O.B., but she would re-evaluate at a June 2013 visit based on O.B.’s response to the visit. Lindsey Bredeson claimed she sent Kyle Mackey 17 video gram messages, answered every call from Kyle Mackey, except one, and did not interfere with Kyle Mackey’s parents’ visitation with O.B. There is conflicting information offered by Kyle Mackey and Lindsey Bredeson in their affidavits regarding why O.B. was not present at the April 12, 2013, wedding of Kyle Mackey and Amber Mackey. [¶9] In regard to Kyle Mackey’s argument on frustration of visitation, the record shows that Lindsey Bredeson was exercising her discretion rather than frustrating Kyle Mackey’s visitation or attempting to alienate O.B.’s affections for him. The marriages of Kyle Mackey to Amber Mackey and Lindsey Bredeson to Kraig Gellner constituted a change of circumstances but not one that was material in regard to visitation. While the marriages of both Kyle Mackey and Lindsey Bredeson were not known at the January 23, 2013, hearing, no evidence was presented by Kyle Mackey regarding the impact of the marriages on O.B. The district court’s finding that Kyle Mackey failed to establish a material change of circumstances and denial of his motion to modify parenting time is not induced by an erroneous view of the law and is supported by the record.