Court Opinion

ID: 4151200
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-03-08 20:07:00.272481+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:02:52.091609
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

                                 No. 16-1004
                             Filed March 8, 2017

IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF JESSE BRYAN HELGELAND
AND AMY ELIZABETH HELGELAND

Upon the Petition of
JESSE BRYAN HELGELAND,
      Petitioner-Appellant,

And Concerning
AMY ELIZABETH HELGELAND, n/k/a AMY ELIZABETH MOYER,
     Respondent-Appellee.
________________________________________________________________

      Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Cerro Gordo County, Colleen D.

Weiland, Judge.

      Jesse Helgeland appeals the district court’s modification of the decree

dissolving his marriage to Amy Moyer. AFFIRMED.

      Jesse Bryan Helgeland, Rockford, appellant pro se.

      Amy Moyer, Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, appellee pro se.

      Considered by Potterfield, P.J., and Doyle and Tabor, JJ.
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DOYLE, Judge.

       Jesse Helgeland and Amy Helgeland (now known as Moyer) divorced in

2008. Two children were born of the marriage, and the parties agreed and the

district court approved that Jesse would have physical custody of the children.

       In 2016, Amy filed a petition for modification of the decree, asserting there

had been a substantial change in circumstances warranting modification of the

children’s physical placement from Jesse to her.        Among other things, Amy

stated she no longer resided in Iowa. Amy believed physical placement in her

care was in their children’s best interests.

       Following a trial on the petition, the district court concluded Amy

established there had been a substantial change in circumstances necessitating

modification of the custodial provisions to place the children in Amy’s physical

care. The court explained:

       First, [Amy’s] move necessitates a modification of visitation terms at
       minimum. Additionally, the living conditions at Jesse’s home and
       the children’s mental and emotional well-being have deteriorated
       since the most recent custodial order. I ascribe no malice or ill-
       intent to Jesse, but I believe he is overwhelmed with handling work,
       housework, and the needs of the children and himself. In any
       event, while stability is generally in a child’s well-being, the
       circumstances here lead me to conclude that a change to Amy’s
       household will maximize these children’s best interests in the long
       run.

       Jesse appeals the court’s ruling, pro se, alleging the court’s ruling was

“outside of the rule of law and for reasons of retribution.” He contends that

because the district court ruled against him, the court’s decision was punitive in

nature. Jesse also claims the children “were flourishing in [his] care.” However,

the record Jesse provided does not support his allegations.
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      The rules of appellate procedure require that “[i]f the appellant intends to

urge on appeal that a finding or conclusion is unsupported by the evidence or is

contrary to the evidence, the appellant shall include in the record a transcript of

all evidence relevant to such finding or conclusion.” Iowa R. App. P. 6.803. “It is

the appellant’s duty to provide a record on appeal affirmatively disclosing the

alleged error relied upon,” and we will “not speculate as to what took place or

predicate error on such speculation.” In re F.W.S., 698 N.W.2d 134, 135 (Iowa

2005); see also In re Marriage of Ricklefs, 726 N.W.2d 359, 362 (Iowa 2007).

The few pages of the modification-trial transcript he provided in his appendix do

not support his claims. Because Jesse has failed to present a proper record on

appeal, we affirm the decision of the district court. See F.W.S., 698 N.W.2d at

136 (“Therefore, we must affirm the decision of the district court because F.W.S.

has failed to present a proper record on appeal.”).

      AFFIRMED.