Court Opinion

ID: 9513233
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-06 22:33:04.467366+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:05:46.984299
License: Public Domain

VANDE WALLE, Chief Justice,
dissenting.
[¶ 15] I respectfully dissent.
[¶ 16] In Hust v. Hust, 295 N.W.2d 316 (N.D.1980), we concluded that in a divorce action a trial court may award custody of a child to a person other than the parents only when exceptional circumstances exist which, in the best interests of the child, require placement with a person other than one of the parents. I agree the existence of a psychological parent is an exceptional circumstance, Simons v. Gisvold, 519 N.W.2d 585 (N.D.1994), and the trial court must determine whether or not the best interests of the child require placement with the psychological parent. Id. Although the trial court did not follow a ritualistic recitation of the standard, my reading of the findings indicate the trial court understood and applied the appropriate standard.
[¶ 17] It is apparent from reading the memorandum opinion (a trial court’s memorandum opinion may be used to clarify and provide clear understanding of the court’s findings and conclusions, Bishop Ryan High School v. Lindberg, 370 N.W.2d 726 (N.D.1985)) and the findings of fact the psychological parent and ordinary best-interests test were not the only concerns of the trial court. The findings are adequate if we understand from the findings the factual basis for the trial court’s determination. E.g., Gross v. Star-Rite Industries, Inc., 322 N.W.2d 679 (N.D.1982).
[¶ 18] The trial court obviously applied the standard to prevent serious harm or detriment to Ashley when it found the court was being asked “to grant [Monge] custody of Ashley and remove Ashley from a stable environment and place her in a home where someone resides who has been convicted of drug related activity” and “the bottom line for the Court is that it is asked to take Ashley from a stable satisfactory environment and place her into an environment that is not stable and is in a state of flux.” These quotations from the trial court’s Memorandum Opinion are reflected in Finding 22 of the Findings of Fact and quoted in the majority opinion.
[¶ 19] I believe the trial court applied the appropriate test. Under our standard of review, Rule 52(a), N.D.R.Civ.P., I would affirm the decision of the trial court.