Court Opinion

ID: 9776485
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 19:37:35.537741+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:32:39.183909
License: Public Domain

Judith Rogers, Judge, concurring. I reluctantly concur with the majority opinion. The chancellor’s findings in a child custody case will not be reversed unless they are clearly against the preponderance of the evidence. Rush v. Wallace, 23 Ark. App. 61, 742 S.W.2d 952 (1988). Because our standard of review is so stringent, I cannot say that the chancellor’s findings are clearly erroneous. My concern in this case is the absence of stated findings addressing the custody of the parties’ child and the separation of the minor children. An examination of the record indicates that the paternal grandfather, Johnnie Riddle, testified that he counted the number of days his son, appellee, had custody of the two children upon the parties’ separation. He testified, “it was important to write them down even though he wasn’t seeking custody, because he was going to, and he knew that and I knew that.” This chain of events calls into question appellee’s motive and sincerity in seeking custody of these children. The evidence reveals that originally appellee sought custody of the parties’ child, Brian Riddle. Appellee then amended his counterclaim asking for custody of both Brian Riddle and Robert Ibison, appellant’s child. The appellant’s sister, Rita Tuck, testified that she admired appellant and that appellant was a good mother who took care of her children. Only on cross examination did she testify that appellee took pretty good care of the children when appellant was not around. The day care worker, Carol Allen, testified that the children were well-adjusted. She further testified that appellant brought and picked up the children most of the time. Certainly both parties had proven themselves fit and capable of taking care of the children. Absent the chancellor being able to see any interaction between the children or between the children and their parents, it is difficult to read the record and conclude that one party had demonstrated more love and devotion than the other party. This determination is made even more difficult by the fact that no expert testimony was given and no home study was conducted. One factor to be considered in the determination of the best interest of the child is the importance of keeping siblings and half siblings together. That is why we have said in past cases that when separating young children exceptional circumstances must be present. See Ketron v. Ketron, 15 Ark. App. 325, 692 S.W.2d 261 (1985). This is however only one factor in the determination, but it is and should be an important factor. When families separate, the more stability we can provide in continuity of care and the presence of familiar faces, the more important this factor becomes. I am not convinced, however, that the chancellor did not consider this factor when he found it was in the best interest to separate these children and award custody of Robert Ibison to appellant and Brian Riddle to appellee. I therefore concur with the majority opinion. My concern is that we continue to weigh the impact of separating siblings in custody cases, and that we should try to continue to keep young siblings together. We must assume the chancellor considered the splitting of the children and decided that the other factors such as appellee’s love, devotion and ability to care for the child outweighed this child’s further separation from another family member.