Theroux v. Doerr

M. J. Kelly, J. Plaintiff mother appeals as of right from an October, 1983, order granting the parties joint legal and physical custody of the children. The parties were married in September of 1972 and divorced in December of 1978. Two children were born of the marriage. The 1978 judgment of divorce granted plaintiff legal and physical custody of the children. Four years later, in August of 1982, plaintiff was accepted to attend a nine-month master’s degree program in judicial administration in Denver, Colorado. She filed a petition to move the children to Colorado for this nine-month period. Defendant, however, objected to her removing the children from the state. To accommodate both parties’ desires, a stipulation was entered into wherein both agreed that, during this nine-month period, physical custody would be transferred to defendant. Just prior to plaintiff’s return from Colorado defendant filed a motion for continuation of custody. The trial court ordered a full evidentiary hearing. At the conclusion of this hearing, the *149 trial court analyzed the factors set forth in the Child Custody Act, MCL 722.23; MSA 25.312(3), and made certain findings of fact relative to the custody of the children. It determined that, although both parties had established custodial homes, plaintiffs status as legal custodian placed on defendant the burden of demonstrating by clear and convincing evidence that he should be awarded custody. It found that the parties were equal in regard to most of the factors. It, however, emphasized that the family unit established with defendant and his new wife should be continued and encouraged. The trial court stated that both parties were good parents and both should use their strengths jointly to help raise the children. Then, the trial court modified the initial custody order awarding the parties joint legal and physical custody of the children. Defendant was granted physical custody of the children during the school year and plaintiff was awarded physical custody during the summer. We reverse. Where an established custodial environment is created by custody order, the trial court may modify such an order only if it is presented with "clear and convincing evidence that it is in the best interest of the child”. MCL 722.27(c); MSA 25.312(7)(c). We have de novo review of the trial court’s custody determination but are bound to affirm the trial court’s judgment in the absence of an abuse of discretion, clear error, or findings of fact which are against the great weight of the evidence. MCL 722.28; MSA 25.312(8); Baker v Baker, 411 Mich 567, 573; 309 NW2d 532 (1981). This Court has previously given effect to agreements entered into by the parents which temporarily limit the period of one parent’s custody. Miller v Miller, 23 Mich App 430; 178 NW2d 822 *150 (1970), lv den 383 Mich 799 (1970); Dowd v Dowd, 97 Mich App 276; 293 NW2d 797 (1980); Speers v Speers, 108 Mich App 543; 310 NW2d 455 (1981). 1 In doing so we have acknowledged the general policy which seeks to maintain continuity to protect the best interests of the child. Speers, supra, p 547. Nevertheless, because of our desire to encourage a mother to relinquish custody if she feels unable to provide for her charges, we have excepted from this general policy the practice whereby a parent temporarily and voluntarily relinquishes custody to protect the children’s best interests. Speers, supra, pp 547-548. We encourage such a practice by returning custody to that parent; otherwise a mother would be reluctant to relinquish custody if she knew that, once it passed to the father, it could not be regained. Miller, supra, pp 437-438; Dowd, supra, pp 279-280; Speers, supra. In reinforcing this practice, we will reverse a trial court which, because of its desire to maintain continuity, continues custody with the parent who was the beneficiary of a temporary arrangement. Cf. Speers, supra. (The trial court had attached neutral weight to each of the other factors.) In the instant case the trial court in its findings *151 of fact, perceived the issue to revolve around the factors concerning "the length of the time the child has lived at [sic] a stable, satisfactory environment and the desirability of maintaining continuity, together with the home, school and community record of the child”. The trial court also emphasized the fact that a family unit existed consisting of the father, stepmother and children. Further, the trial court indicated that the children’s preferences were not inconsistent with its determination. In essence, the trial court’s decision was based upon its desire to maintain continuity with the father’s family unit. While we acknowledge that this conforms to the general policy of protecting the best interests of the child, we hold that these facts fall within its exception. We give effect to the stipulation entered into by the parties as we desire to encourage the practice plaintiff utilized of voluntarily and temporarily relinquishing custody of her children to protect their best interests. We find that the trial court erred in modifying the initial custody order. We reverse the trial court’s decision and reinvest the mother with legal and physical custody of the children. Footnotes [1] We would like to note that recently this Court in Moser v Moser, 130 Mich App 97; 343 NW2d 246 (1983), determined that the existence of an agreement did not establish clear and convincing evidence that the custodial environment should be changed from the father to the mother. We find Moser distinguishable from the facts herein inasmuch as in Moser the custodial environment was determined to be with the father, thereby placing the burden upon the mother of demonstrating clear and convincing evidence that the custodial environment should be changed. In the case herein, however, the mother established a custodial environment and the father assumed the burden of proof. Hence, the issue herein is not whether the agreement established clear and convincing evidence that the custodial environment should be changed to the mother. Rather, the issue is whether the father established clear and convincing evidence that the custodial environment should be changed to the father. Thus, we find Moser not dispositive of the case herein.