Court Opinion

ID: 9699153
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 20:11:50.26892+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:20:47.009194
License: Public Domain

VANDE WALLE, Justice,
concurring in the result.
I concur in the result reached in the majority opinion. Because a trial court’s decision to modify child custody is subject on appeal to the “clearly erroneous” standard of Rule 52(a), N.D.R.Civ.P. [e.g., Ebertz v. Ebertz, 338 N.W.2d 651 (N.D.1983)], I do so reluctantly as is apparent from my statements in such cases as Hanson v. Hanson, 404 N.W.2d 460, 468 (N.D.1987) [Vande Walle, J., concurring and dissenting], and Paulson v. Meinke, 389 N.W.2d 798, 803 (N.D.1986) [Vande Walle, J., dissenting]. Nor do I necessarily subscribe to all the statements contained in the majority opinion concerning what is required to change custody. Our law on that subject is established: Before a modification of custody is permitted there must be a significant change in circumstances and that change in circumstances must be such that a change in custody fosters the best interests of the child. Ebertz, supra. I believe there was a twofold significant change in circumstances, i.e., Terry’s reversal of his status as an alcoholic and his remarriage and, perhaps more significant, Arlene’s remarriage, which resulted in an apparently failed effort to bring two families together. If we could speculate, I would speculate that the trial judge made the correct decision and that the latter change in circumstances, when coupled with Terry’s newfound stability, means that Dustin’s best interests would be fostered by a change in custody from Arlene to Terry. However, there is little or no evidence in the record to support that speculation, i.e., to show that Dustin was affected by his mother’s living arrangements and the stress which resulted therefrom. I therefore agree with the majority that the trial court’s finding as to Dustin’s best interests is not supported by the evidence.