Hoyt v. Hoyt

281 P.2d 856, 46 Wash. 2d 373, 1955 Wash. LEXIS 490

• Court: Washington Supreme Court
• Decided: March 28, 1955
• Docket: 33078
• Status: Published

Opinion

Finley, J.

In this action, the husband and the wife each asked for a divorce and for the custody of the two minor ■ children born of the marriage. After a hearing, findings of fact, conclusions of law, and a decree were entered, awarding a divorce and the custody of the minor children to the husband. This appeal followed. .

The appellant wife urges that the divorce should have been granted to her rather than to the husband. We find no merit in this contention. Smith v. Smith, 45 Wn. (2d) 672, 277 P. (2d) 339.

The appellant wife contends that the trial court erred, (a) in finding or concluding that she was unfit to have custody of the children; and furthermore, that the court erred, (b) in finding or concluding that the husband was a fit person, and (c) in awarding custody to him.

We have said in numerous cases that the trial judge, at first hand, is in a better position to pass upon the credibility of witnesses than are the members of an appellate court. Cooper v. Cooper, 39 Wn. (2d) 786, 238 P. (2d) 1204. Furthermore, just as consistently, we have said that, unless an abuse of discretion patently appears, we will not overturn conclusions reached by trial courts in child custody matters. Palmer v. Palmer, 42 Wn. (2d) 715, 258 P. (2d) 475. See, also, Chatwood v. Chatwood, 44 Wn. (2d) 233, 266 P. (2d) 782.

There is evidence in the record to support or justify the custody decision made by the trial court. For this reason, and on the authority of the cases just referred to and the cases cited therein, the trial court should be affirmed. It is so ordered.

Hamley, C. J., Schwellenbach, Donworth, and Weaver, JJ., concur.