Opinion ID: 2543011
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Did the magistrate err by changing the visitation to every third weekend?

Text: After determining that Christopher could delegate his visitation rights to the Webbs and that to do so would be in the children's best interest, the magistrate determined that the visitation schedule should be modified during the period when the grandparents would be exercising visitation. The magistrate felt that a schedule of visitation every third weekend, rather than every other weekend would accomplish the goal of keeping the memory of Christopher alive in the minds of his two young daughters. Christopher contends that his modification was error. It is well established that custody may be modified only upon a showing of substantial and material changes in the circumstances. See, e.g., Tomlinson v. Tomlinson, 93 Idaho 42, 47, 454 P.2d 756, 761 (1969). In determining whether to modify custody, the best interest of the children is of paramount importance. Hoskinson v. Hoskinson, 139 Idaho 448, 455, 80 P.3d 1049, 1056 (2003). The legislature has made it clear that courts must consider all relevant factors when examining the best interests of the children, I.C. § 32-717(1), but when an active member of the Idaho National Guard is called to duty, such military service cannot be considered a substantial or material and permanent change in circumstance used to reduce the custody or visitation privileges, I.C. § 32-717(6). Since the Webbs were exercising Christopher's visitation rights by delegation, a change to the schedule based only upon Christopher's absence while deployed was error under I.C. § 32-717(6). Therefore, we reverse the portion of the magistrate's decision modifying the visitation schedule during the period when the Webbs exercise by delegation Christopher's visitation rights. However, because Christopher has returned to Idaho, we need not remand to the magistrate court for the entry of an order in accordance with this decision.