Opinion ID: 1969271
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Award of Custody to Natural Parent.

Text: Bob challenges the court's award of sole custody of Nikki to Chris. He argues that the evidence shows it is in Nikki's best interest that custody be awarded to him. In resolving a custody dispute, the primary consideration is the best interest of the child. Iowa R.App.P. 14(f)(15). There is, however, a presumptive preference for parental custody. Reschly, 334 N.W.2d at 721. A court may only grant a nonparent custody of a child over a parent when the nonparent proves that the parent seeking custody is not suitable to have custody. Id. We have observed on more than one occasion that [c]ourts are not free to take children from parents simply by deciding another home offers more advantages. In re Burney, 259 N.W.2d 322, 324 (Iowa 1977); see also In Interest of B.G.C., 496 N.W.2d 239, 241 (Iowa 1992); DeBoer v. Schmidt, ___ U.S. ___, ___, 114 S.Ct. 1, 2, 125 L.Ed.2d 755, 757 (1993) (per Stevens, J., Circuit Justice) (Neither Iowa law, Michigan law, nor federal law authorizes unrelated persons to retain custody of a child whose natural parents have not been found to be unfit simply because they may be better able to provide for her future and her education.). Bob is not the biological father of Nikki. Therefore, he is a nonparent seeking to gain custody over a parent. To succeed he must prove that Chris is an unsuitable custodian for Nikki. The trial court found, and we agree, that Chris is a fit and proper custodian for Nikki. Bob failed to prove that Chris is unsuitable to have custody of her daughter. Therefore, the court's grant of sole custody of Nikki to Chris was appropriate.