Opinion ID: 2270933
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Modification of the Custody Agreement

Text: On February 20, 2004, Ms. Craig filed a Motion to Modify the Custody Agreement and Related Relief. In the petition, Ms. Craig alleged that (1) the Agreement fail[ed] to provide the parenting coordinator with any explicit authority to investigate problems arising between the parties and provide meaningful recommendations to the parties so they may work toward effective co-parenting, and (2) [t]he alternating weekly schedule [was] developmentally inappropriate for most children and especially these children given the [ ] intractable conflict between the parties. Ms. Craig specifically requested that the court appoint a Special Master pendente lite and hold an evidentiary hearing to help determine what residential schedule and legal custodial arrangement would best serve the children. Following an evidentiary hearing in May 2004, the trial judge found that the behavior of the three younger children indicated that they were experiencing psychological and emotional distress, which plainly was not in their best interests, and which appeared to be increasing rather than abating, and that Ms. Craig had made a credible preliminary showing of a substantial and material change in the children's circumstance[s]. The judge also concluded that a forensic evaluator should make recommendations to the court regarding the feasibility of joint custody and the role of a parenting coordinator in the case, and appointed Dr. Bruce Copeland. Dr. Copeland had repeated meetings with the parents and children, as well as numerous other witnesses in a position to observe the family relationship, and drafted a 117 page forensic report. At the hearing scheduled for him to present his report to the trial court, Dr. Copeland testified that continuing the [ ] joint custody agreement was not a workable recommendation based on the high conflict between the parents and excessive levels of discord in the case. In his report, Dr. Copeland found that the children had discernible, definable, diagnosable conditions which ... [made] it more difficult for them to cope with the added number of changes, transitions, and stresses inherent in living in two separate environments, noting that the children's teachers reported an increase in problems in school on Monday mornings, the day when two of the children transitioned from one household to another. He concluded that [f]orcing a shared arrangement under these conditions was associated with risk and poor childhood outcome, and that concerning the possible expanded role of the parenting coordinator, Mr. Wilson was the primary impediment to a parent coordinator['s ability] to force a timely dialogue and resolve disputes if needed. In her comprehensive written Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Judgment of Custody, the trial judge found Dr. Copeland's report and testimony about the increased hostility persuasive, and granted sole legal and physical custody of the three minor children to Ms. Craig, allowing Mr. Wilson visitation rights on alternating weekends. This resulted in Ms. Craig having custody of the oldest child for an additional 87 days a year (almost three months) and of the two younger children for an additional 48 days a year (about 1.5 months), with a resulting increase in expenses for the mother.