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H.B. 251

             1     

JOINT CUSTODY AMENDMENTS

             2     
2009 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Lorie D. Fowlke

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Lyle W. Hillyard

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill requires a court to consider joint legal custody in a divorce or separation
             10      action, allows for the modification of joint custody orders, and creates specific
             11      requirements to do so.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    requires a court to consider joint legal custody in every divorce or separation action;
             15          .    requires that the person seeking joint legal custody has filed a parenting plan;
             16          .    provides that the court may award any type of custody considered to be in the best
             17      interests of the children;
             18          .    allows a parent to file a motion for termination of joint custody under specific
             19      circumstances;
             20          .    sets conditions for the court to consider in modifying a joint custody order;
             21          .    requires that parents participate in a dispute resolution proceeding; and
             22          .    requires the court to make specific findings when modifying or terminating a joint
             23      custody order.
             24      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             25          None
             26      Other Special Clauses:
             27          None


             28      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             29      AMENDS:
             30          30-3-10, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             31          30-3-10.3, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2001, Chapter 126
             32          30-3-10.4, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 142
             33     
             34      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             35          Section 1. Section 30-3-10 is amended to read:
             36           30-3-10. Custody of children in case of separation or divorce -- Custody
             37      consideration.
             38          (1) If a husband and wife having minor children are separated, or their marriage is
             39      declared void or dissolved, the court shall make an order for the future care and custody of the
             40      minor children as it considers appropriate.
             41          (a) In determining any form of custody, the court shall consider the best interests of the
             42      child and, among other factors the court finds relevant, the following:
             43          (i) the past conduct and demonstrated moral standards of each of the parties;
             44          (ii) which parent is most likely to act in the best interest of the child, including
             45      allowing the child frequent and continuing contact with the noncustodial parent;
             46          (iii) the extent of bonding between the parent and child, meaning the depth, quality,
             47      and nature of the relationship between a parent and child; and
             48          (iv) those factors outlined in Section 30-3-10.2 .
             49          (b) The court shall, in every case, consider joint custody but may award any form of
             50      custody which is determined to be in the best interest of the child.
             51          (c) The children may not be required by either party to testify unless the trier of fact
             52      determines that extenuating circumstances exist that would necessitate the testimony of the
             53      children be heard and there is no other reasonable method to present their testimony.
             54          (d) The court may inquire of the children and take into consideration the children's
             55      desires regarding future custody or parent-time schedules, but the expressed desires are not
             56      controlling and the court may determine the children's custody or parent-time otherwise. The
             57      desires of a child 16 years of age or older shall be given added weight, but is not the single
             58      controlling factor.


             59          (e) If interviews with the children are conducted by the court pursuant to Subsection
             60      (1)(d), they shall be conducted by the judge in camera. The prior consent of the parties may be
             61      obtained but is not necessary if the court finds that an interview with the children is the only
             62      method to ascertain the child's desires regarding custody.
             63          (2) In awarding custody, the court shall consider, among other factors the court finds
             64      relevant, which parent is most likely to act in the best interests of the child, including allowing
             65      the child frequent and continuing contact with the noncustodial parent as the court finds
             66      appropriate.
             67          (3) If the court finds that one parent does not desire custody of the child, or has
             68      attempted to permanently relinquish custody to a third party, it shall take that evidence into
             69      consideration in determining whether to award custody to the other parent.
             70          (4) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), a court may not discriminate against a
             71      parent due to a disability, as defined in Section 57-21-2 , in awarding custody or determining
             72      whether a substantial change has occurred for the purpose of modifying an award of custody.
             73          (b) If a court takes a parent's disability into account in awarding custody or determining
             74      whether a substantial change has occurred for the purpose of modifying an award of custody,
             75      the parent with a disability may rebut any evidence, presumption, or inference arising from the
             76      disability by showing that:
             77          (i) the disability does not significantly or substantially inhibit the parent's ability to
             78      provide for the physical and emotional needs of the child at issue; or
             79          (ii) the parent with a disability has sufficient human, monetary, or other resources
             80      available to supplement the parent's ability to provide for the physical and emotional needs of
             81      the child at issue.
             82          (c) Nothing in this section may be construed to apply to adoption proceedings under
             83      Title 78B, Chapter 6, Part 1, Utah Adoption Act.
             84          (5) This section establishes neither a preference nor a presumption for or against joint
             85      legal custody, joint physical custody[,] or sole custody, but allows the court and the family the
             86      widest discretion to choose a parenting plan that is in the best interest of the child.
             87          Section 2. Section 30-3-10.3 is amended to read:
             88           30-3-10.3. Terms of joint legal custody order.
             89          (1) Unless the court orders otherwise, before a final order of joint legal custody or joint


             90      physical custody is entered both parties shall attend the mandatory course for divorcing parents,
             91      as provided in Section 30-3-11.3 , and present a certificate of completion from the course to the
             92      court.
             93          (2) An order of joint legal or physical custody shall provide terms the court determines
             94      appropriate, which may include specifying:
             95          (a) either the county of residence of the child, until altered by further order of the court,
             96      or the custodian who has the sole legal right to determine the residence of the child;
             97          (b) that the parents shall exchange information concerning the health, education, and
             98      welfare of the child, and where possible, confer before making decisions concerning any of
             99      these areas;
             100          (c) the rights and duties of each parent regarding the child's present and future physical
             101      care, support, and education;
             102          (d) provisions to minimize disruption of the child's attendance at school and other
             103      activities, his daily routine, and his association with friends; and
             104          (e) as necessary, the remaining parental rights, privileges, duties, and powers to be
             105      exercised by the parents solely, concurrently, or jointly.
             106          (3) The court shall, where possible, include in the order the terms of the parenting plan
             107      provided in accordance with Section 30-3-10.8 .
             108          (4) Any parental rights not specifically addressed by the court order may be exercised
             109      by the parent having physical custody of the child the majority of the time.
             110          (5) [(a)] The appointment of joint legal or physical custodians does not impair or limit
             111      the authority of the court to order support of the child, including payments by one custodian to
             112      the other.
             113          [(b)] (6) An order of joint legal or physical custody, in itself, is not grounds for
             114      modifying a support order.
             115          [(c)] (7) [The agreement] An order of joint legal or physical custody shall [contain]
             116      require a parenting plan incorporating a dispute resolution procedure the parties agree to use
             117      before seeking enforcement or modification of the terms and conditions of the order of joint
             118      legal or physical custody through litigation, except in emergency situations requiring ex parte
             119      orders to protect the child.
             120          Section 3. Section 30-3-10.4 is amended to read:


             121           30-3-10.4. Modification or termination of order.
             122          (1) On the motion of one or both of the parents, or the joint legal or physical custodians
             123      if they are not the parents, the court may, after a hearing, modify or terminate an order that
             124      established joint legal or physical custody if:
             125          (a) the verified petition or accompanying affidavit initially alleges that admissible
             126      evidence will show that the circumstances of the child or one or both parents or joint legal or
             127      physical custodians have materially and substantially changed since the entry of the order to be
             128      modified; [and]
             129          (b) a modification of the terms and conditions of the order would be an improvement
             130      for and in the best interest of the child[.]; and
             131          (c) (i) both parents have complied in good faith with the dispute resolution procedure
             132      in accordance with Subsection 30-3-10.3 (7); or
             133          (ii) if no dispute resolution procedure is contained in the order that established joint
             134      legal or physical custody, the court orders the parents to participate in a dispute resolution
             135      procedure in accordance with Subsection 30-3-10.2 (5) unless the parents certify that, in good
             136      faith, they have utilized a dispute resolution procedure to resolve their dispute.
             137          (2) (a) In determining whether the best interest of a child will be served by either
             138      modifying or terminating the joint legal or physical custody order, the court shall, in addition to
             139      other factors the court considers relevant, consider the factors outlined in Section 30-3-10 and
             140      Subsection 30-3-10.2 (2).
             141          (b) The court shall make specific written findings on each of the factors relied upon
             142      stating:
             143          (i) a material and substantial change of circumstance has occurred;
             144          (ii) a modification of the terms and conditions of the order would be an improvement
             145      for and in the best interest of the child; and
             146          (iii) where each factor falls within the spectrum of relative importance and to accord
             147      each factor its appropriate weight.
             148          (c) The court shall give substantial weight to the existing joint legal or physical custody
             149      order when the child is thriving, happy, and well-adjusted.
             150          (3) The court shall, in every case regarding a motion for termination of a joint legal or
             151      physical custody order, consider reasonable alternatives to preserve the existing order in


             152      accordance with Subsection 30-3-10 (1)(b). The court may modify the terms and conditions of
             153      the existing order in accordance with Subsection 30-3-10 (5) and may order the parents to file a
             154      parenting plan in accordance with this chapter.
             155          [(2)] (4) A parent requesting a modification from sole custody to joint legal custody or
             156      joint physical custody or both, or any other type of shared parenting arrangement, shall file and
             157      serve a proposed parenting plan with the petition to modify in accordance with Section
             158      30-3-10.8 .
             159          [(3) The order of joint legal custody may be terminated by order of the court if one or
             160      both parents file a motion for termination and the court determines that the joint legal custody
             161      order is unworkable or inappropriate under existing circumstances. At the time of entry of an
             162      order terminating joint legal custody, the court shall enter an order of sole legal custody under
             163      Section 30-3-10 . All related issues, including parent-time and child support, shall also be
             164      determined and ordered by the court.]
             165          [(4)] (5) If the court finds that an action under this section is filed or answered
             166      frivolously and in a manner designed to harass the other party, the court shall assess [attorney's]
             167      attorney fees as costs against the offending party.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-20-09 8:39 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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