Woodling v. Presler

Per Curiam. November 4, 1966, defendant was granted a divorce from plaintiff on his cross-com [289] plaint and lie was awarded custody of his four-year-old daughter. November 19, 1970, plaintiff filed her petition requesting a change of custody from defendant to plaintiff. April 19, 1971, the trial court ordered the requested change of custody and defendant appeals. The statutory authority to alter the custody provision of a divorce judgment, MCLA § 552.17 (Stat Ann 1957 Rev § 25.97), is properly exercised “on good cause being shown”, Davis v. Davis (1954), 339 Mich 231. The parent seeking the alteration bears the burden of proving a change in circumstances which justifies a change of custody on the basis of the welfare and best interests of the children. Hentz v. Hentz (1963), 371 Mich 335. Codification of this requirement occurred in 1970, PA 1970, No 91, MCLA 1971 Cum Supp § 722.27(c) (Stat Ann 1971 Cum Supp § 25.312[7] [c]). In its opinion, the trial court stated, “The court believes that the best interests of the child, Heidi Presler, would be served by awarding custody of that child to her mother, Valerie Woodling, at the end of the current school year”, but it found no facts on which this belief was based. Our review of the record discloses no change in circumstances which justifies the change in custody on the basis of the welfare and best interests of the child. Plaintiff failed to meet the required burden of proof. Any benefit plaintiff might have had under the provisions of MCLA § 722.541 (Stat Ann 1957 Rev § 25.311) no longer exists. That statute was repealed by PA 1970, No 91. Reversed with costs to defendant.