Opinion ID: 3170373
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Overnight Visitation

Text: [¶5] Kevin contends that the court erred by “depriving” him of overnight visitation with his daughter. We review determinations of rights of contact for abuse of discretion. Sullivan v. Doe, 2014 ME 109, ¶ 19, 100 A.3d 171. Generally, a trial court is “afforded broad discretion to determine the custodial arrangements for a minor child.” Jackson v. MacLeod, 2014 ME 110, ¶ 23, 100 A.3d 484. Because Kevin did not timely move for findings on the issue of rights of contact, 5 we assume that the District Court made all the findings necessary to support its judgment on that issue, if those findings are supported by the record. See Young v. Young, 2015 ME 89, ¶ 5, 120 A.3d 106. [¶6] A court’s discretion in determining rights of contact is constrained by the principle that “except when a court determines that the best interest of a child would not be served, it is the public policy of this State to assure minor children of 5 Kevin’s Rule 52(a) motion for findings of fact was untimely as to the issue of his rights of contact with his daughter. Kevin filed the motion ten days after the divorce judgment was docketed, but M.R. Civ. P. 52(a) establishes a seven-day deadline. Kevin contends that his motion should be treated as a Rule 52(b) motion for additional findings of fact, with a fourteen-day deadline, see M.R. Civ. P. 52(b), notwithstanding the motion’s caption. However, we have established that a motion for findings of fact is governed by Rule 52(a) when the trial court “had not issued findings of fact and conclusions of law on the issues that were the subject of the motion.” Young v. Young, 2015 ME 89, ¶ 10, 120 A.3d 106 (emphasis added). Because the court did not make any findings as to parent-child contact in the judgment, Kevin’s motion was governed by Rule 52(a) as to that issue, and was therefore untimely. 5 frequent and continuing contact with both parents.” 19-A M.R.S. § 1653(1)(C) (2015). The District Court did not determine that frequent contact with Kevin would not be in his daughter’s best interest. We therefore assume that the court made the necessary findings to support its judgment that Kevin and Lisa can work together to create a schedule assuring their daughter of frequent and continuing contact with Kevin. [¶7] The record demonstrates that such cooperation is possible. Lisa testified that she would like to keep Kevin involved in their daughter’s life, and that she has the ability to co-parent and communicate with Kevin. Lisa proposed that Kevin would have the right to “visit with and be visited by” their daughter every other day when he is home in Maine, from noon until 8:00 p.m. on days when she is not in school, and from 3:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on school days. Finally, Lisa testified that it was Kevin who did not keep to the contact schedule during the pendency of the divorce by missing scheduled visits with their daughter. [¶8] Kevin’s contention that the court “deprived” him of overnight visitation is not accurate. Despite evidence in the record that Lisa will not allow Kevin to visit overnight with their daughter, the court’s judgment does not itself purport to limit overnight visitation in any way. If the parties are able, over time, to agree to expanded visits between Kevin and his daughter, the judgment will not prevent that. 6