Court Opinion

ID: 9717260
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 07:00:57.089361+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:52.206914
License: Public Domain

HOFFMAN, Judge,
dissenting and concurring in result.
I respectfully dissent as to Issues I and III, and I concur in result as to the other portions of the majority opinion. Although the majority correctly notes that the statute governing property distributions, IND. CODE § 31-1-11.5-11, would require inclusion of all the PASCO shares in the marital pot, to remand in the present case is to elevate form over substance. The trial court included detailed findings which would allow it to exclude the additional PASCO shares under IND.CODE § 31-1-11.5 — 11(b). The trial court’s technical failure to include the shares in the marital pot, then immediately exclude them pursuant to statute should not require remand for such a finding. I would affirm the trial court’s ruling on the property settlement.
However, I do not agree that the trial court’s decision to award joint custody is supported by the record. As I have stated before, I continue to believe that the divisive nature of dissolution and custody proceedings requires the utmost caution prior to an award of joint custody. Here, one party expressly opposed joint custody which prompted a finding that difficulties with the custody decisions should be mediated. A finding that difficulties will in all likelihood arise, when coupled with the contested nature of the proceedings, portends future behavior inconsistent with joint custody.
Further, the party requesting joint custody stated that in the event, of a disagreement, he would concede to avoid a conflict. On the surface this may seem laudable; however, such a stance flies in the face of a joint custody award. Discussion relevant to shared decisions is the cornerstone of joint custody. The party requesting joint custody has negated any reason for making such an award by indicating that he would not fully participate in the decision making. An award of joint custody in the present case does not serve the interests of the children by promoting joint effort, rather the award appears to placate the parties in that neither “loses” custody.