Opinion ID: 900500
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Primary Caretaker

Text: [¶ 28.] Who is more committed and involved in parenting the child? Saint-Pierre v. Saint-Pierre, 357 N.W.2d 250, 255 (S.D.1984). In some jurisdictions the primary caretaker parent is given preference in custody disputes either by statute or case authority. See Garska v. McCoy, 167 W.Va. 59, 278 S.E.2d 357 (W.Va.1981). Here, this factor is important not by reason of any preference it might accord, but because it is a fair indicator of which parent has been more responsible to the child in the past. See generally Voelker v. Voelker, 520 N.W.2d 903, 907 (S.D.1994) (mother, as primary caretaker, was proper custodial parent); Kost, 515 N.W.2d at 212 (custody award to father of handicapped child upheld as father was parent primarily responsible for care and mental development of child). After a custody dispute begins, some contestants try to make themselves appear as good as possible. But the trial court must consider who was more devoted to the child when there was no court to impress. The primary caretaker can be identified by determining which parent invested predominant time, care and consistency in raising the child. It is evidenced in such matters as spending time with the child, preparing meals, playing, attending to medical care, choosing clothing, involvement in school, attending the child's extracurricular activities, reading to the child, preparing birthday parties, knowing the pediatrician, consistent disciplining, arranging transportation, and providing appropriate clothing, foods, and toys. Steinberg, Parental Custody: An Overview, Trial, April (1981). Closely related to this question is the issue of which parent has more time available to spend with the child. Prentice v. Prentice, 322 N.W.2d 880, 882 (S.D.1982). [¶ 29.] Identifying the primary caretaker becomes less important as the child grows older and more independent. A maturing child will probably need more guidance and discipline than the nurturing required in younger years. A person who was the primary caretaker during the child's early youth may still be the best person to care for the older child, but this is not universally true, because different parenting skills are required. Jeff Atkinson, Criteria for Deciding Child Custody in the Trial and Appellate Courts, 18 FamLQ 1, 18 (1983). The trial court made no findings in this area, although it is obvious from the record that Jill had been Keith's primary caretaker all his life. It is also disturbing that Dr. Sivesind reported that Keith's former step-father was his primary male role model and caretaker in his life from 1987 to 1995. (emphasis added).