In Re Custody of James B

Michigan Court of Appeals

In Re Custody of James B

238 N.W.2d 550, 66 Mich. App. 133, 1975 Mich. App. LEXIS 901

CourtMichigan Court of Appeals

DecidedDecember 4, 1975

DocketDocket 23079

StatusPublished

Cited by18 cases

This text of 238 N.W.2d 550 (In Re Custody of James B) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

In Re Custody of James B, 238 N.W.2d 550, 66 Mich. App. 133, 1975 Mich. App. LEXIS 901 (Mich. Ct. App. 1975).

Pincite

Opinion

Per Curiam.

This appeal involves the award of custody of a four-year-old child to the defendant husband in a divorce action. Resolution of the appeal depends on the "best interests of the child” *134 as defined by MCLA 722.23; MSA 25.312(3). Subsection (i) of MCLA 722.23 provides "the reasonable preference of the child, if the court deems the child to be of sufficient age to express preference”. The trial judge declined to interview the child because he deemed the child not of sufficient age to express a preference.

This conclusionary statement by the trial judge leaves this Court with nothing to review. The question of proper custody is close, and an expression of preference by an intelligent, unbiased child might be the determining factor in deciding what the "best interests” of the child are.

The statute requires the trial judge to consider and evaluate all of the factors specified in subsections (a) through (j) hi determining "best interests”. A reviewing court needs a factual record and the findings of the trial judge based thereon as to each factor in order to intelligently perform its function. If a trial judge deems a child to be of an insufficient age to express a preference, we must have a factual record on which such a finding is based. Here we have none.

At oral argument, this Court was advised that the defendant husband had left the state with the child and that a bench warrant had been issued for him. This may be a factor that the trial judge will wish to consider on remand.

Remanded to the trial court for the purpose of an evidentiary hearing on the question of James B’s age being insufficient for him to express a preference as to his custody, and for such further action as the circumstances warrant. If further review is required, it may be had by filing the record made on remand, together with any necessary supplemental briefs and a notice of hearing. Costs to abide the final result.

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Per Curiam.

This appeal involves the award of custody of a four-year-old child to the defendant husband in a divorce action. Resolution of the appeal depends on the "best interests of the child” *134 as defined by MCLA 722.23; MSA 25.312(3). Subsection (i) of MCLA 722.23 provides "the reasonable preference of the child, if the court deems the child to be of sufficient age to express preference”. The trial judge declined to interview the child because he deemed the child not of sufficient age to express a preference.

This conclusionary statement by the trial judge leaves this Court with nothing to review. The question of proper custody is close, and an expression of preference by an intelligent, unbiased child might be the determining factor in deciding what the "best interests” of the child are.

The statute requires the trial judge to consider and evaluate all of the factors specified in subsections (a) through (j) hi determining "best interests”. A reviewing court needs a factual record and the findings of the trial judge based thereon as to each factor in order to intelligently perform its function. If a trial judge deems a child to be of an insufficient age to express a preference, we must have a factual record on which such a finding is based. Here we have none.

At oral argument, this Court was advised that the defendant husband had left the state with the child and that a bench warrant had been issued for him. This may be a factor that the trial judge will wish to consider on remand.

Remanded to the trial court for the purpose of an evidentiary hearing on the question of James B’s age being insufficient for him to express a preference as to his custody, and for such further action as the circumstances warrant. If further review is required, it may be had by filing the record made on remand, together with any necessary supplemental briefs and a notice of hearing. Costs to abide the final result.

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Bluebook (online)

238 N.W.2d 550, 66 Mich. App. 133, 1975 Mich. App. LEXIS 901, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-custody-of-james-b-michctapp-1975.

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