Court Opinion

ID: 9677644
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 05:56:35.121276+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:57.367257
License: Public Domain

VANDE WALLE, Justice,
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I agree with the majority opinion except that portion which discusses Astrid’s overseas visitation with Ida. As the majority opinion recognizes, our previous decision in Bergstrom v. Bergstrom, 296 N.W.2d 490 (N.D.1980), was not concerned chiefly with overseas visitation but rather whether or not Astrid had the right to choose Ida’s place of residence without regard to Ida’s best interests. To me there is a vast difference between a permanent place of residence and a few weeks’ visitation overseas during the summer. Ida’s reluctance to leave this country for a permanent residence overseas is more significant and entitled to more consideration than her reluctance to visit overseas for a few weeks during the summer.
As the majority opinion concedes, the trial judge apparently read our previous decision in Bergstrom, supra, to prohibit any overseas travel. Because our decision was concerned with a permanent overseas residence for Ida, I do not believe the decision is applicable to the issue of overseas visitation. This appeal arose out of Astrid’s desire to take Ida to Norway to visit her grandparents. I believe Astrid should be permitted to take Ida to Norway for a few weeks’ visit during the summer under proper restrictions. I realize that once Ida and Astrid are beyond the jurisdiction of the courts of this country difficulties could arise should Astrid not voluntarily return Ida to the United States. However, there has been no indication whatsoever of Astrid’s refusal to abide by the orders of the courts of this State and other jurisdictions within this country during the long and painful saga of this family dispute. If Astrid intends to violate the orders of the courts of this country she could as well spirit Ida out of the country during the visitations already permitted between herself and Ida in this country. Absent any evidence of such an intent on the part of Astrid I believe she should be permitted to take Ida to Norway to see her grandparents for a few weeks during the summer.
I would remand to the trial court with directions that it permit Astrid to take Ida overseas for a few weeks during the summer. The trial court may place restrictions on that travel such as requiring that Ida be accompanied by an adult, including Astrid, while flying international routes, and prohibiting travel to Dubai if that part of the world appears to be unsafe for travel.