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Kelly v. Kelly (11/22/96), 926 P 2d 1168
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Notice: This opinion is subject to correction before publication in the Pacific Reporter.
Readers are requested to bring errors to the attention of the Clerk of the Appellate
Courts, 303 K Street, Anchorage, Alaska 99501, phone (907) 264-0607, fax (907)
264-0878.
THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
ROBERT PATRICK KELLY, )
) Supreme Court No. S-7376
Appellant,)
) Superior Court No.
v. ) 3AN-94-4549 Civil
)
LISA ANN KELLY, )
) O P I N I O N
Appellee. )
______________________________)[No. 4439 - November 22, 1996]
Appeal from the Superior Court of the State of Alaska, Third
Judicial District, Anchorage,
Larry D. Card, Judge.
Appearances: William T. Ford, Anchorage, for Appellant. James
J. Hanlon, Taylor & Hanlon, P.C., Anchorage, for Appellee.
Before: Compton, Chief Justice, Rabinowitz, Matthews,
Eastaugh, and Fabe, Justices.
MATTHEWS, Justice.
I. FACTS & PROCEEDINGS
Robert and Lisa Kelly were married on May 3, 1992. Both were long time
residents of Dutch Harbor. The only child of the marriage, Ryan Patrick Kelly, was born on
December 18, 1992.
Robert filed for divorce in May 1994. He requested sole custody of Ryan or, in
the alternative, joint physical and legal custody.
Robert currently works as a longshoreman and earns over $60,000 per year.
Lisa's employment has been sporadic and significantly less remunerative. Following the
divorce, Robert intends to remain in Alaska, while Lisa intends to move out of state.
Trial in this case was held for three days. On September 6, 1995, Judge Card
issued revised findings of fact and conclusions of law regarding child custody and visitation.
Judge Card found that Robert and Lisa both are "good parents." He also found that Lisa cannot,
consistent with her current lifestyle, provide Ryan with a stable home. On September 6, 1995,
the superior court issued the following custody order:
Until Ryan begins Kindergarten [approximately three years
after the trial date], he shall reside with each parent for alternating
six month periods, beginning with the father, Robert Kelly, on
July 1, 1995, and extending through Christmas of 1995 until
approximately December 31. At that time, and provided Lisa
Kelly has established a stable environment in which to care for
Ryan, her six months visitation shall commence. . . .
. . . .
After Ryan begins Kindergarten, and if the parents are
living greater than 200 miles apart and provided Lisa Kelly can
provide Ryan with a stable environment, then Lisa Kelly shall
[have custody except during the Christmas break, spring break,
and the summer months].
The superior court also ordered Robert to pay $10,000 of Lisa's $13,418.65 in outstanding
attorney's fees. Robert contests the superior court's decisions regarding child custody and
attorney's fees.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Divided Custody
Although some courts have awarded divided physical custody, those cases, in
contrast to the situation in this case, typically involve parents who reside in the same
community. (EN1) Where parents reside in different parts of the country, an award of divided
physical custody may foreclose "a stable environment and the development of permanent
associations . . . ." John P. McCahey et al., Child Custody and Visitation Law and Practice,
sec. 13.04(2)(1993). Against this backdrop, Robert argues that the divided custody award in this
case was an abuse of the court's discretion.
Although we regard the question as close, we do not find an abuse of discretion
on this record. No evidence was presented that the arrangement was likely to prove harmful to
Ryan. Robert requested divided custody, in preference to primary custody in Lisa. Finally,
divided custody will terminate when Ryan reaches school age. (EN2)
B. Permanent Custody
Robert argues that the superior court erred in ordering that when Ryan enters
school Lisa will have custody during the school year and Robert will have custody during the
summer months. A review of the superior court's findings and conclusions reveals certain
findings which could be regarded as a basis for preferring Robert as primary custodian (greater
stability, presence of extended family network in Dutch Harbor), a number of findings which
apply equally to Robert and Lisa, but no findings which support the court's award of primary
custody to Lisa. Accordingly, the court's award of permanent custody to Lisa after Ryan enters
school is vacated and this aspect of the case is remanded. The court is instructed to enter
findings supporting the award of primary custody to Lisa, or, if the court determines that its
decision cannot be supported on the present record, the court may award primary custody to
Robert, or conduct such additional proceedings as the court determines to be appropriate. We
retain jurisdiction with respect to this issue.
C. Attorney's Fees
The trial court's award of attorney's fees to Lisa accurately recognizes the
substantial disparity between the earning capacity and economic situations of the parties. The
award was thus in accordance with our cases (EN3) and was not an abuse of discretion.
III. CONCLUSION
This case is AFFIRMED in part, VACATED in part, and REMANDED for
further proceedings in accordance with this opinion.
ENDNOTES:
1. See, e.g., Lapp v. Lapp, 293 N.W.2d 121 (N.D. 1980) (Affirming an alternating six-
month arrangement for a seven-year-old girl. The court specifically noted that both parents lived
in the same community.); Beck v. Beck, 432 A.2d 63, 69 n.7 (N.J. 1981) (Affirming an
alternating four-month arrangement. The court stated that the "geographic proximity of the two
homes is an important factor"in awarding alternating custody. Id. at 72.); Peyton v. Peyton,
457 So.2d 321, 323 (La. Ct. Ap. 1984) (Affirming an order of joint custody in which a four-
year-old girl alternated three- month periods with her mother and father. The court noted that
the child would benefit from contact with both parents and said the degree of possible disruption
to the child would be relatively low since the parents lived across the street from each other.);
In re Marriage of Ryan, 720 P.2d 691 (Mont. 1986) (Affirming an order of joint custody in
which the child alternated weeks between the parents' homes. The order also provided that if
one parent moved away, the child would remain with the parent who stayed in the community.
The order was affirmed, even though the mother wanted to move with the child.).
2. These reasons also lead us to conclude that this is an inappropriate case in which to
decide whether to adopt a general presumption disfavoring divided custody when the parents do
not reside in the same community.
3. We have repeatedly stated that the cost and fee awards in a divorce are to be based
primarily on the relative economic situations and earning powers of the parties. See, e.g., Lone
Wolf v. Lone Wolf, 741 P.2d 1187, 1192 (Alaska 1987); Cooke v. Cooke, 625 P.2d 291, 293
(Alaska 1981); Johnson v. Johnson, 564 P.2d 71, 76-77 (Alaska 1977).
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