Opinion ID: 2620678
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: standard of review

Text: “The superior court has broad discretion in deciding child custody issues.”1 We will not reverse a custody decision unless the “court has abused its discretion or the 1 Iverson v. Griffith, 180 P.3d 943, 945 (Alaska 2008) (citing Jenkins v. Handel, 10 P.3d 586, 589 (Alaska 2000)). -3- 6839 controlling factual findings are clearly erroneous.”2 “The superior court abuses its discretion if it considers improper factors in determining custody, fails to consider statutorily mandated factors, or assigns disproportionate weight to some factors while ignoring others.”3 A factual finding is clearly erroneous if, after reviewing the record, we are left with the definite impression that a mistake has been made.4 We review for abuse of discretion the superior court’s determination that a particular issue was not fully and fairly litigated in a prior proceeding for purposes of the application of collateral estoppel.5 We also review for abuse of discretion the superior court’s orders on visitation.6