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

Heading: Modification of Partial Custody

Text: The initial issue in this case is whether a parent seeking modification of partial custody must make a threshold showing of changed circumstances before the trial court may hear the petition on its merits. The appellant argues that he need not, and I agree. It is clear that the petitioner who seeks modification of a child custody order must preliminarily show a change of circumstances. English v. English, 322 Pa.Super. 234, 469 A.2d 270 (1983); Daniel K.D. v. Jan M.H., 301 Pa.Super. 36, 446 A.2d 1323 (1982). Whether a showing of changed circumstances is required as a predicate to modify partial custody is not entirely clear from case law. See Commonwealth ex rel. Hickey v. Hickey, 216 Pa.Super. 332, 264 A.2d 420 (1970), allocatur denied (changed circumstances required for petition to modify partial custody order). But see Bury v. Bury, 312 Pa.Super. 393, 458 A.2d 1017 (1983) (best interests of child standard applied to petition for expanded partial custody, no mention of changed circumstances); In re Stuck, 291 Pa.Super. 61, 435 A.2d 219 (1981) (best interests of child standard applied to petition to modify partial custody order, no mention of changed circumstances). Seeking guidance, I examine how other jurisdictions have resolved this issue. Some states require a petitioner to show significant, or at least, some change in circumstances before a petition for modification of partial custody will be considered on its merits. These states include Indiana, State ex rel. Jemiolo v. LaPorte Circuit Court, Ind., 442 N.E.2d 1060 (1982); Maryland, Kemp v. Kemp, 287 Md. 165, 411 A.2d 1028 (1980) (dicta), and New Jersey, Hoy v. Willis, 165 N.J.Super. 265, 398 A.2d 109 (1978) (dicta). [1] Other states allow modification of partial custody orders under standards more flexible than those for modifying custody orders. See, e.g., In re Stevens, 86 Mich.App. 258, 273 N.W.2d 490 (1979); Mich.Comp.Laws § 722.27(b); Tex.Fam. Code Ann. § 14.08 (Vernon). Several states have adopted the flexible standard of Section 407 of the Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act (1973) [UMDA] [2] and hold that a court may entertain a petition to modify partial custody whenever modification would serve the best interests of the child. [3] The petitioner is not required to show change of circumstance as a predicate to a hearing on the merits. I would adopt the standard of Section 407(b) of the UMDA and hold that a court may modify an existing partial custody order whenever modification would serve the best interests of the child. The petitioner need not show changed circumstances. I would adopt this flexible standard because I believe that amendments in partial custody do not affect the child's basic stability in the same way that changes in custody do. Unlike a change in custody, a modification of partial custody does not remove the child from the sure and strong home base with the custodial parent. Shifts in partial custody may be necessary to accommodate a growing child's changing schedule of activities or desire to spend more or less time with the non-custodial parent. Or these shifts may be indicated because the non-custodial parent's life has stabilized and he or she may be in a position to assume a more significant parental role. The growth of a child is not static, but dynamic. As the child grows and matures, changes in partial custody may be indicated, and it is desirable that the party petitioning for such change be heard in court. The majority inappropriately equates partial custody with custody and argues that the same principles apply to both. I disagree. To the extent that the law can provide flexibility in parent-child relationships, it should. All families, whether intact or divided (by divorce) are dynamic entities, changing as individual members of the family mature. For the law to make rigid rules relating to family relationships under the banner of maintaining stability will not achieve a beneficial result for the family. The status quo will be preserved at the risk of disregarding or thwarting the development of family members and familial interrelationships. The majority injects needless rigidity because it fears spurious petitions based on temporary and vacillating circumstances and is concerned that change without careful discretion turns the courts into instruments of destruction. Slip op. at 433. I do not share the majority's fear. I do not believe that the flexibility I advocate would send parents rushing to the courthouse to resolve questions of partial custody. For the most part, parents recognize that such actions are disruptive to children, as well as to themselves, and the cost of pursuing court action imposes economic burdens on each parent. Parents' reluctance to use the courts to adjudicate custody matters has been reflected in recent years in a marked decline in custody and partial custody litigation. The vast majority of custody and partial custody arrangements evolve in the lawyers' offices, not in the courthouse. The law established by the appellate courts sets guidelines for such non-judicial negotiations. Parents who know that their partial custody agreements will not be inflexibly interpreted by the courts are more likely to negotiate sensible partial custody schedules between themselves because they know the schedules can, without a showing of changed circumstances, be revised to accommodate developments in their lives. Flexibility is certainly to the parents' advantage, but more importantly, it serves the children's best interests by permitting them to adjust more readily the time spent with each parent. The majority does not recognize the vast difference between custody and partial custody. The former represents core stability for the child while the latter does not have as pervasive an impact on the child's life. Therefore, this court should not obdurately advocate the same rules for both under the guise of achieving uniformity in the law. Although in the case before us the trial court articulated that it was not empowered to hear a modification absent changed circumstances, it nevertheless heard the matter on the merits, developed a comprehensive record, [4] and wrote a thorough and well considered opinion supporting its decision to expand the father's partial custody. See In re Custody of Hernandez; 263 Pa.Super. 312, 397 A.2d 1225 (1979); Daniel K.D. Based upon the extensive record and the trial court's thorough opinion, I conclude that the trial court's order expanding the father's partial custody was grounded on competent evidence of record and made in the best interests of the child. That is, I find that the trial court properly modified its 1981 partial custody order. Prior to the hearing, the parties had informally modified the original 1981 court order so that the father enjoyed expanded partial custody. On alternate weekends, the child spent time with the father from Friday at 5:30 PM to Sunday at 8:30 PM. For six weekends during the summer of 1982, the child was with him from Thursday at 5:30 PM to Monday at 8:30 PM. In his 1983 modification petition the father requested that the child be with him overnight during his weekday partial custody, that he be granted partial custody for a total of six weeks during the summer, and that major holidays be divided on an alternating basis. The record indicates that the father has been able to maintain a close and meaningful relationship with his son. The mother recognizes the importance of this relationship. This schedule has proved workable, has not placed an unfair burden on either party and has been beneficial to the child. That the father desires additional partial custody is understandable. I however, find that the trial judge carefully considered the matter and sensibly accommodated the needs of the parents in light of the best interests of the child. All parties agree that the child is a healthy young boy who is thriving. The trial court's decision not to expand weekday contact to include overnight periods serves the best interests of the child. The child is about to enter school and the court found the overnight stay during the week night to be disruptive. In actuality, the father's request would afford little additional waking time between father and son. Similarly, I conclude that the two week vacation period which the trial judge awarded serves the child's best interests. I note that the 1983 order gives the father vacation time which he did not have under the original 1981 partial custody and thereby affords the father and son more uninterrupted contact. During the rest of the summer, of course, the father will continue to have weekday and weekend contact as allowed by the regular partial custody schedule. The trial court's order also provides a detailed, even-handed holiday schedule which is designed to resolve the parties' dispute regarding these periods. I would, therefore, affirm the schedule which the trial court established in its order.