Opinion ID: 1937419
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Grandparents' Partial Custody

Text: Finally, the grandparents argue that the trial court erred in denying their request for separate daytime partial custody under Section 13 of the Act, 23 P.S. § 1013. I disagree. Section 13 provides: § 1013. When parents' marriage is dissolved In all proceedings for dissolution, subsequent to the commencement of the proceeding and continuing thereafter, the court may, upon the request of the parent or grandparent of a party, grant reasonable visitation rights to the unmarried child, after dissolution of marriage, if it finds that visitation rights would be in the best interest of the child and would not interfere with the parent-child relationship. The court shall consider the amount of personal contact between the parents or grandparents of the party and the child prior to the application. The paternal grandparents in this case requested separate partial custody from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on one weekday every other week so that they would have time of their own with Anthony and could enable Anthony to see their friends and relatives who were unavailable on weekends. The uncontradicted testimony reveals that the grandparents regularly spend meaningful periods of time with their grandson during the father's partial custody period and that they have a strong, loving relationship with him. The mother has no objection to this arrangement but would not want the child's schedule further disrupted by separate grandparent visitation during the week. The trial court denied the grandparents' request because under the existing arrangement the grandparents enjoyed sufficient periods of contact to maintain their relationship with the child. The court determined that the best interests of the child would be served by retaining the status quo. Accordingly, the court ordered that on alternating weeks the father's weekday evening be spent with the grandparents. I conclude that the trial court did not err. It is clear from the record that the child and his grandparents are able to maintain a thriving relationship under the existing partial custody schedule. It is in the best interests of the child to continue that arrangement. Accordingly, I would affirm the trial court's order of October 4, 1983.