Opinion
Docket No. 46220.
Decided February 6, 1980.
Garlington Sluiter, for plaintiff.
Varnum, Riddering, Wierengo Christenson (by Dennis C. Kolenda and Barbara R. Etheridge), for defendant.
On April 28, 1978, plaintiff filed a divorce action against defendant in Barry County Circuit Court. On May 12, 1978, plaintiff was granted temporary custody of the parties' minor daughter, Stacy, born June 26, 1976. Following a contested trial in January 1979, the circuit judge granted custody of Stacy to her father. The judgment was entered January 2, 1979, with an automatic review of custody to take place on June 8, 1979. The trial judge requested and received two reports and recommendations from the Friend of the Court dated December 1978 and June 1979. Both recommended a grant of custody to the mother. At the June 8th hearing testimony was taken from the parties and other persons.
Testimony showed the following. Stacy was then living with her father's parents. She was cared for by her paternal grandmother and by a Mrs. Elsie. Defendant, if granted custody, intended to move out of his parents' house and establish his own home. His hours of employment were 6:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. The paternal grandmother was currently employed full-time. Defendant bowls Monday evenings. The grandmother cared for Stacy before transporting her to nursery school two days a week and to Mrs. Elsie's the other three days. Defendant picked up Stacy in the afternoon and was responsible for her after-dinner activities, including snacks, bathing and reading. A nursery school teacher reported Stacy had improved in school progress. Mrs. Elsie also testified to improvement. Stacy's mother discussed her home with two sons of a former marriage. She had a regular babysitter 20 years old, previously approved by the father. She further indicated that there was a close relationship between Stacy and her two sons. Plaintiff also reported a stabilization of her social life. Her boyfriend indicated that he was seeing her infrequently and did not stay overnight. Plaintiff attended a class one night a week, a second night was spent socially, and she had activity outside the home Saturday afternoon. Plaintiff is employed full-time earning approximately $12,500 a year and in addition she receives $40 weekly child support for the two sons of her former marriage. Plaintiff exercised visitation regularly while Stacy was in her father's custody.
The trial judge reviewed the statutory criteria mandated by MCL 722.23; MSA 25.312(3). He found the parties were equally suitable custodians with respect to their love and affection for their child, their ability to provide Stacy with food, clothing and medical care, the permanence of their respective family units, moral fitness, mental and physical health, and that either parent would strive to see Stacy's good home and school record continued.
He found Stacy of insufficient age to express a preference. Neither party requested that she be interviewed by the court. The judge also considered the child's sex and the mother-daughter relationship as well as the desirability that she be with her half brothers as allowed by MCL 722.23(j); MSA 25.312(3)(j). While commending the grandmother the trial judge expressed dissatisfaction with the father's prospective arrangements which would include transportation of Stacy at an early hour to the paternal grandparents. He ordered that custody be given to the plaintiff.
Defendant claims that the trial court findings were against the great weight of the evidence. Defendant also argues that the court ignored the mandate of MCL 722.27(c); MSA 25.312(7)(c). This section provides in relevant part:
"The court shall not modify or amend its previous judgments or orders or issue a new order so as to change the established custodial environment of a child unless there is presented clear and convincing evidence that it is in the best interest of the child."
Defendant further claims that his home is a more permanent family unit. MCL 722.28; MSA 25.312(8) provides:
"To expedite the resolution of a child custody dispute by prompt and final adjudication, all orders and judgments of the circuit court shall be affirmed on appeal unless the trial judge made findings of fact against the great weight of evidence or committed a palpable abuse of discretion or clear legal error on a major issue."
Review is de novo but special consideration is given to a trial court's findings. Eigner v Eigner, 79 Mich. App. 189; 261 N.W.2d 254 (1977). In weighing the evidence on review consideration is given to the report of the Friend of the Court. Stevens v Stevens, 86 Mich. App. 258; 273 N.W.2d 490 (1978).
Minor child Stacy had been in her mother's custody except for the five-month interval between the time of the entry of the judgment of divorce and the automatic review of that grant of custody. The trial court's provision at judgment for automatic review is significant. It indicates a cautious effort to take a long second look and review of custody in the light of the facts and circumstances then existing.
The Child Custody Act does evidence concern that a minor child not be shuffled back and forth between custodians. That is the persuasive reason for giving careful consideration to continuance of an established custodial environment in order to promote emotional stability of the child. Under the facts of this case, particularly in view of the automatic review which the trial judge provided for in the divorce judgment, it cannot be urged persuasively that in the interval a permanent custodial environment had been established. See Berman v Berman, 84 Mich. App. 740; 270 N.W.2d 680 (1978). Indeed, the trial judge noted that a grant of custody to defendant meant a change in the custodial environment since he contemplated moving out of his parents' residence and establishing his own home. Under the record made, this Court finds that the trial court did not abuse its discretion.
Affirmed.