Court Opinion

ID: 9716255
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 06:32:38.300159+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:43.140359
License: Public Domain

DeBRULER, Justice,
dissenting.
When a "joint legal custody" is constructed, the parties "share authority and responsibility" for major decisions, and there need not be "an equal division of physical custody." I.C. 31-1-11.5-21(f). When a court leaves a true joint legal custody construct in place while modifying only the "division" of physical custody, such court regards the ability of those left in joint legal custody to "share authority and responsibility" as having remained suitably operative and intact. Where the joint legal custody construct remains viable, no special concern for the welfare of the subject child arises which would warrant application of the strict "change of custody" standard. Between persons in "joint legal custody" who remain ready, willing and able to render major decisions, *100it should be sufficient for the evidence to rationally support the conclusion that a new proposed "division" will better serve the interests of the subject child than the existing one.