Opinion ID: 6496572
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Best Interests – Evidentiary Basis

Text: [¶21] Mother next argues the court erred because it had no evidentiary basis to determine what visitation schedule was in the children’s best interest. She asserts that, when it became apparent that Father disagreed with her proposed default order, the court should have set the matter for an evidentiary trial. We conclude the court erred in ruling on visitation without any evidentiary basis to determine the children’s best interest. [¶22] In Noonan, we explained that “[a]n entry of default prevents the defaulted party from appearing and presenting evidence; it does not relieve the non-defaulting party of its obligation to produce an evidentiary basis for the desired relief, nor does it relieve the district court of its obligation to base its findings of fact upon such evidence.” Noonan v. Noonan, 2005 WY 145, ¶ 7, 122 P.3d 964, 966 (Wyo. 2005) (citing Spitzer v. Spitzer, 777 P.2d 587, 592–93 (Wyo. 1989)). The district court in Noonan entered a default divorce decree awarding joint legal and split physical custody of the children, establishing a detailed visitation schedule, and ordering Husband to pay child support. Id. ¶ 1, 122 P.3d at 964. But it held no hearing and had no evidentiary basis to enter such decree. Id. Mother moved to set aside the default divorce decree, but the court denied her motion. Id. ¶¶ 1, 4, 122 P.3d at 964, 965. We reversed, concluding in relevant part that W.R.C.P. 55 (the rule
(1) Trials by the Court or Advisory Jury. Upon the trial of questions of fact by the court, or with an advisory jury, it shall not be necessary for the court to state its findings, except generally for the plaintiff or defendant. Findings of fact and conclusions of law are unnecessary on decisions of motions under Rule 12 or 56 or any other motion except as provided in Rule 52(c). (A) Requests for Written Findings. If one of the parties requests it before the introduction of any evidence, with the view of excepting to the decision of the court upon the questions of law involved in the trial, the court shall state in writing its special findings of fact separately from its conclusions of law[.] 5 on entry of default and default judgment) required the court “to base its findings of fact regarding property distribution, child custody, visitation, and support on some evidence in the record.” Id. ¶¶ 7, 12, 122 P.3d at 965, 967. [¶23] The same principles apply to these default proceedings to establish child custody, visitation, and support. Consequently, entry of default prevented Father (the defaulted party) from appearing and presenting evidence. See id. ¶ 7, 122 P.3d at 966. It did not relieve Mother (the non-defaulting party) of her obligation to produce an evidentiary basis for the relief she requested. See id. Nor did it relieve the district court of its obligation to base its findings of fact on such evidence. See id. [¶24] Though the court purported to have based its visitation decision on the best interest of the children, it had before it only the parties’ assertions. It heard no evidence before entering its default order. It therefore had no evidentiary basis to determine whether it was in the children’s best interest for Father to have a slow, graduated 15-month visitation schedule, as Mother requested, or a much quicker transition to standard visitation as Father requested and the court ordered. Similarly, the court had no evidentiary basis to determine whether it was in the children’s best interest for Father to have visitation every other weekend during summer break, as Mother requested, or for most of the summer, as ordered. [¶25] We therefore conclude the court abused its discretion in ordering visitation and remand for evidentiary proceedings to determine what visitation schedule is in the children’s best interest.