Heilman v. Heilman

2012 Ohio 5133
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedNovember 5, 2012
Docket6-12-08
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 2012 Ohio 5133 (Heilman v. Heilman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Heilman v. Heilman, 2012 Ohio 5133 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).

Opinion

[Cite as Heilman v. Heilman, 2012-Ohio-5133.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT HARDIN COUNTY

DUSTIN HEILMAN,

PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT, CASE NO. 6-12-08

v.

NICOLE HEILMAN, OPINION

DEFENDANT-APPELLEE.

Appeal from Hardin County Common Pleas Court Domestic Relations Division Trial Court No. 2010 3118 DRA

Judgment Affirmed

Date of Decision: November 5, 2012

APPEARANCES:

Scott N. Barrett for Appellant

Nicole Heilman, Appellee Case No. 6-12-08

PRESTON, J.

{¶1} Plaintiff-appellant, Dustin Heilman, appeals the Hardin County Court

of Common Pleas’ final judgment entry of divorce designating his ex-wife,

defendant-appellee, Nicole Heilman, custody of their minor child and declining to

adopt his proposed shared parenting plan. We affirm.

{¶2} Dustin and Nicole were married on September 3, 2004. (Doc. No. 1).

One child, P.J.L.H. (“P.J.”), was born in 2007 as issue of the marriage. (Id.).

{¶3} On October 6, 2010, Dustin filed a divorce complaint alleging gross

neglect of duty, extreme cruelty, and adultery. (Id.). Dustin also filed a motion

for paternity testing. (Doc. No. 8).

{¶4} On November 4, 2010, Nicole filed an answer denying the substantive

allegations of the complaint and counterclaiming for divorce. (Doc. No. 13).

{¶5} On December 1, 2010, the paternity test was submitted to the trial

court indicating that Dustin was P.J.’s biological father. (Doc. No. 22).

{¶6} On January 4, 2011, Dustin filed a motion for shared parenting plan.

(Doc. No. 27).

{¶7} On January 27, 2011, the magistrate appointed Attorney Linda S.

Hinton as P.J.’s guardian ad litem (“GAL”) upon agreement of the parties. (Doc.

No. 31).

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{¶8} On May 24, 2011, Dustin filed a motion for mediation, which the

magistrate subsequently granted. (Doc. Nos. 35, 37).

{¶9} On October 6, 2011, Dustin filed an amended shared parenting plan.

(Doc. No. 45). On October 24, 2011, the matter proceeded to a final hearing.

(Doc. No. 44). On November 3, 2011, Dustin and Nicole filed a separation

agreement, leaving only the issue of child custody unresolved. (Doc. No. 49);

(Joint Ex. I); (Oct. 24, 2011 Tr. at 1-2).

{¶10} On December 5, 2011, the magistrate issued a decision awarding

residential custody of P.J. to Nicole and denying Dustin’s motion for shared

parenting. (Doc. No. 50). The magistrate concluded that shared parenting would

not be in P.J.’s best interest since the parties could not cooperate or communicate

with one another, Dustin initially destabilized the family relationship, and Nicole

has been P.J.’s primary caregiver. (Id.).

{¶11} On January 19, 2012, after a transcript of the final divorce hearing

was filed, Dustin filed objections to the magistrate’s decision. (Doc. No. 54). On

March 9, 2012, the trial court overruled Dustin’s objections. (Doc. No. 58). On

April 5, 2012, the trial court issued the final judgment entry of divorce. (Doc. No.

59).

{¶12} On May 2, 2012, Dustin filed a notice of appeal. (Doc. No. 61).

Dustin now appeals, raising three assignments of error for our review. For clarity

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of analysis, we elect to address Dustin’s first and second assignments of error

together.

Assignment of Error No. I

The trial court committed an error of law and abused its discretion in failing to grant Dustin Heilman’s request for shared parenting.

Assignment of Error No. II

The trial court abused its discretion in failing to allow Dustin Heilman an opportunity to provide amendments to his shared parenting plan to satisfy the court’s concern or requirements for an appropriate shared parenting plan.

{¶13} In his first assignment of error, Dustin argues that the trial court

abused its discretion by failing to grant his request for shared parenting. In his

second assignment of error, Dustin argues the trial court erred by refusing him the

opportunity to submit amendments to his proposed shared parenting plan that

would satisfy the court’s concerns.

{¶14} A trial court has broad discretion in determining whether to order

shared parenting. Huelskamp v. Hueslkamp, 185 Ohio App.3d 611, 2009-Ohio-

6864, ¶ 48 (3d Dist.), citing Lopez v. Coleson, 3d Dist. No. 12-05-24, 2006-Ohio-

5389, ¶ 6; R.C. 3109.04(D)(1)(b). Consequently, a reviewing court will presume

that the trial court’s decision regarding child custody is correct and will not

reverse absent an abuse of discretion. Id., citing Bechtol v. Bechtol, 49 Ohio St.3d

21, 23 (1990). An abuse of discretion is more than an error of judgment; rather, it

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implies that the trial court’s decision was unreasonable, arbitrary, or capricious.

Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219 (1983).

{¶15} R.C. 3109.04(D) governs the adoption of shared parenting plans and

provides, in relevant part:

(1)(a)(iii) * * * if only one parent makes a request in the parent’s

pleadings or files a motion and also files a plan, the court in the best

interest of the children may order the other parent to file a plan for

shared parenting in accordance with division (G) of this section. The

court shall review each plan filed to determine if any plan is in the

best interest of the children. If the court determines that one of the

filed plans is in the best interest of the children, the court may

approve the plan. If the court determines that no filed plan is in the

best interest of the children, the court may order each parent to

submit appropriate changes to the parent’s plan or both of the filed

plans to meet the court’s objections or may select one filed plan and

order each parent to submit appropriate changes to the selected plan

to meet the court’s objections. * * *

(b) The approval of a plan under division (D)(1)(a)(ii) or (iii) of this

section is discretionary with the court. The court shall not approve

more than one plan under either division and shall not approve a

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plan under either division unless it determines that the plan is in the

best interest of the children. If the court, under either division, does

not determine that any filed plan or any filed plan with submitted

changes is in the best interest of the children, the court shall not

approve any plan.

(c) Whenever possible, the court shall require that a shared parenting

plan approved under division (D)(1)(a)(i), (ii), or (iii) of this section

ensure the opportunity for both parents to have frequent and

continuing contact with the child, unless frequent and continuing

contact with any parent would not be in the best interest of the child.

***

(F)(1) In determining the best interest of a child pursuant to this

section * * * the court shall consider all relevant factors, including,

but not limited to:

(a) The wishes of the child’s parents regarding the child’s care; * *

*

(c) The child’s interaction and interrelationship with the child’s

parents, siblings, and any other person who may significantly affect

the child’s best interest;

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(d) The child’s adjustment to the child’s home, school, and

community;

(e) The mental and physical health of all persons involved in the

situation; * * *

(h) * * * whether either parent or any member of the household of

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