Opinion ID: 1989497
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Hearing on Mother's Motion

Text: The hearing on Mother's motion took place on August 26, 2002. The Family Court judge noted that Mother was present, but Father was not. There was no inquiry by the judge concerning the reason for Father's absence. The record reflects that, once the judge ascertained that Mother desired to change the residential placement of the children and initiate a visitation schedule for Father, he said, Okay. Keep the joint custody the same, just change the placement. He then told Mother she was free to go. [4] On the same date, the Family Court issued its order, which modified the prior consent order by granting residential placement to Mother and visitation to Father. The order gave no reasons why the residential custody and visitation arrangements had been modified, and noted only that Father had failed to appear for the hearing.