O.J.G. v. G.W.G.

770 S.W.2d 372, 1989 Mo. App. LEXIS 464
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 4, 1989
DocketNos. 54090, 54689
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 770 S.W.2d 372 (O.J.G. v. G.W.G.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
O.J.G. v. G.W.G., 770 S.W.2d 372, 1989 Mo. App. LEXIS 464 (Mo. Ct. App. 1989).

Opinion

PUDLOWSKI, Chief Judge.

Appellant appeals from a joint custody award pursuant to the original decree of dissolution and from a subsequent modification of the original decree. These two appeals were consolidated for purposes of this opinion. Appellant and respondent were married in 1973. They resided in St. Charles County until their marriage was dissolved in 1987. The parties had a good marriage until their daughter, C.P.G., was bom in 1984. After the birth of C.P.G. the marriage began to deteriorate. Appellant began to exclude respondent from the raising of their child and the parties began to argue more. Allegations were also made that respondent had sexually abused C.P.G. and that respondent had physically abused appellant. Appellant subsequently moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas, with C.P.G. and remained there until the time of the dissolution proceedings.

As part of the dissolution decree the trial court awarded joint legal custody to both parents and ordered C.P.G. to be returned to Missouri. On appeal appellant contends that the trial court erred in granting joint custody and ordering C.P.G. to be returned to Missouri.

Appellant’s first point on appeal is that the trial court erred in awarding joint legal custody of the parties minor child, C.P.G., because such custody is not in C.P.G.’s best interest. Appellant contends that the trial court should have awarded primary custody of C.P.G. to appellant and restricted visitation by respondent. Section 452.375 RSMo (1986) provides that the trial court should determine custody ac[375]*375cording to the best interest of the child. Section 452.375 also defines joint legal custody as “parents sharpng] the decision-making rights, responsibilities, and authority relating to the health, education and welfare of the child, and, unless allocated, apportioned, or decreed, the parents shall confer with one another in the exercise of decision-making rights, responsibilities, and authority,” and further defines joint physical custody as an award to “each of the parents significant periods of time during which a child resides with or is under the care and supervision of each of the parents. Joint physical custody shall be shared by the parents in such a way as to assure the child of frequent and continuing contact with both parents.” Whether to award joint custody in a particular case is in the discretion of the trial court. Joint custody is one of many solutions available to the trial court when trying to resolve a custody problem. Kline v. Kline, 686 S.W.2d 13 (Mo.App.1984). Moreover, deference is given to the trial court’s findings on custody matters unless the appellate court is convinced the best interest of the child requires other action. Id.

Appellant argues that because the parties did not agree to joint custody it was not proper for the trial court to make such an award. Section 452.375 provides that the court may award joint legal custody but does not require that there be an agreement between the parties. Just because there is no agreement on joint custody, the court is not without authority to award it. Goldberg v. Goldberg, 691 S.W.2d 312 (Mo.App.1985). The desire of the parents is only one of several factors to be weighed by the trial court in its sound discretion. Section 452.375(1).

Appellant contends that the award of joint custody was not proper in this case because the parties were not equipped to deal with each other as equal partners in C.P.G.’s care. The record indicates that respondent was more than willing to do what is necessary for the best interest of his daughter and in the process making the joint custody plan a workable arrangement. The Missouri courts have held that one of the parents should not be able to veto a joint custody award by failing to agree or failing to cooperate with the joint custody determination. Kline v. Kline, 686 S.W.2d 13 (Mo.App.1983).

Appellant further contends that the joint custody award is not proper because respondent physically attacked appellant and possibly sexually abused C.P.G. The trial court determined after a review of the entire record that those claims did not have merit. There is substantial evidence in the record to support this conclusion on the part of the trial court.

Concerning the physical attack, appellant and respondent both testified at trial and testified differently as to the events that occurred. Concerning the possible sexual abuse of C.P.G., the report of the attending physician at Cardinal Glennon Hospital indicated that the child had temporary swelling of the vaginal orifice. However, testimony was offered that such swelling usually occurs for three to seven days and that respondent had not seen his daughter for nineteen days prior to the examination. The only other evidence presented at trial concerning any sexual abuse were statements by the child. The record indicates that the child was prompted by appellant to make the statements. Due regard is given to the trial court’s ability to judge the credibility of the witnesses, accepting or rejecting all, part or none of the testimony. In court tried cases the judgment is presumed to be correct. Kornberg v. Kornberg, 688 S.W.2d 377 (Mo.App.1985). The appellate court is entitled to presume that the court studied the evidence thoroughly and ordered what was in the best interest of the child based on the superior opportunity of the trial court to determine the credibility, sincerity, and character of the witnesses, as well as other intangibles not revealed by the record. M.D.R. v. P.K.E., 716 S.W.2d 866 (Mo.App.1986).

There is nothing in the record to indicate that the trial court abused its discretion in awarding joint legal custody in this case. Moreover, this finding is supported by substantial evidence in the record.

[376]*376Appellant’s second point on appeal is that the trial court erred in failing to grant appellant’s request for a home study and to set forth a specific plan containing the terms of the joint custody arrangement. In regard to the home study, § 452.390 provides that “[t]he court may order an investigation.” Moreover, this court has previously held that this section is not mandatory, but is most salutary. V.M. v. L.M., 526 S.W.2d 947 (Mo.App.1975). Nothing in the record indicates the trial court abused its discretion in not awarding a home study.

Concerning the sufficiency of the joint custody plan, Section 452.375.4 provides that a joint custody decree “shall include a specific plan setting forth the terms of such custody.” There are, however, no specific guidelines setting forth what must be included in the plan. Appellant cites a number of articles which set forth model joint custody plans the court should use. We agree that these plans are helpful but that the court should use a case by case approach to determine the best interest of the child and to tailor the plan to meet that interest. We can find nothing in the plan to indicate that the court abused its discretion in the plan it adopted. The plan appears to be designed to be flexible to gradually wean C.P.G. from her dependence on her mother.

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Bluebook (online)
770 S.W.2d 372, 1989 Mo. App. LEXIS 464, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ojg-v-gwg-moctapp-1989.