Opinion ID: 1982028
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: IVCounseling

Text: Rebecca argues that the trial court erred in ordering the parties to obtain counseling. She claims that this order was based upon inadequate findings of fact and that there is no factual basis in the record to support it. The purpose of findings required by Rule 52(a), N.D.R.Civ.P., is to enable the appellate court to obtain a correct understanding of the factual issues determined by the trial court as a basis for its conclusions of law and judgment. Koller v. Koller, 377 N.W.2d 130, 131 (N.D.1985). Findings that enable this court to understand the reasoning behind the court's decision are all that is necessary. Koller, supra . An oral recitation by the court from the bench complies with Rule 52(a) and is entitled to consideration on appeal. Quirk v. Swanson, 368 N.W.2d 557, 561 (N.D.1985). The trial court's written findings, as well as its comments from the bench, show that sufficient circumstances existed to warrant modification of the judgment to order the parties to obtain counseling. The court found that Rebecca and her family have interfered with Kirk's attempts at visitation. The trial court observed that Rebecca has resisted every turn in the road to develop ... some basis for [Kirk] to participate with this child as a father should. The court also found that Rebecca's efforts to maintain exclusive custody and supervision of the child had become an obsession, and that she was going to prevent [Kirk] from visiting this child no matter what was required to do so. The record reflects that Rebecca had seen a counselor in the past with regard to divorce problems and she responded affirmatively when asked if she felt that a once recommended joint counseling session would have been of help to her. Additionally, counseling for these parents was specifically found to be in the best interests of this child. Under these circumstances, we cannot say that the trial court erred in ordering the parties to obtain counseling.