Parental Responsibilities Concerning S.Z.S., a Child ( 2022 )


Menu:
  •      The summaries of the Colorado Court of Appeals published opinions
    constitute no part of the opinion of the division but have been prepared by
    the division for the convenience of the reader. The summaries may not be
    cited or relied upon as they are not the official language of the division.
    Any discrepancy between the language in the summary and in the opinion
    should be resolved in favor of the language in the opinion.
    SUMMARY
    September 8, 2022
    
    2022COA105
    No. 21CA1760, Parental Responsibility Concerning S.Z.S. —
    Family Law — Modification of Parenting Time — Child’s
    Integration with Parental Consent
    A division of the court of appeals, as a matter of first
    impression, clarifies the distinction between agreeing to the
    modification of the primary residential parent under section
    14-10-129(2)(a), C.R.S. 2021, and consenting to the child’s
    integration into the family of the nonresidential parent under
    section 14-10-129(2)(b).
    COLORADO COURT OF APPEALS                                         
    2022COA105
    Court of Appeals No. 21CA1760
    Mesa County District Court No. 16DR30036
    Honorable William T. McNulty, Judge
    Honorable Matthew D. Barrett, Judge
    In re the Parental Responsibilities Concerning S.Z.S., a Child,
    and Concerning Zofia Elise Tisue,
    Appellant,
    and
    Christopher Michael Smith,
    Appellee.
    APPEAL DISMISSED IN PART, ORDERS AFFIRMED IN PART,
    AND CASE REMANDED WITH DIRECTIONS
    Division I
    Opinion by JUDGE TOW
    Dailey and Berger, JJ., concur
    Announced September 8, 2022
    Randy L. Brown, P.C., Randy L. Brown, Grand Junction, Colorado, for
    Appellant
    Cordell Law, LLP, Dorothy Walsh Ripka, Billie Jo Sowinski, Greenwood Village,
    Colorado, for Appellee
    ¶1    In this post-decree parental responsibilities case, Zofia Elise
    Tisue (mother) appeals the district court’s order adopting a
    magistrate’s ruling that modified parenting time. She also appeals
    the magistrate’s ruling that modified decision-making
    responsibility. This appeal requires us to consider an issue not
    previously addressed by an appellate court in this state: Can a
    parent be found to have consented to a child’s integration into the
    other parent’s family even though the parents only agreed that the
    child would live with and be cared for by the other parent on a
    temporary basis?
    ¶2    Because we answer this question in the affirmative, we affirm
    the order concerning parenting time. In addition, we dismiss as
    moot the portion of mother’s appeal concerning decision-making
    responsibility. And we remand the case for further proceedings on
    mother’s request for appellate attorney fees and costs.
    I.    Relevant Facts
    ¶3    Mother had one child, S.Z.S., with Christopher Michael Smith
    (father), and, in 2017, the magistrate entered permanent orders
    allocating parental responsibilities. The magistrate gave mother
    primary residential care and sole decision-making responsibility for
    1
    the child, and father received parenting time during alternating
    weekends and school breaks.
    ¶4    Approximately six months later, mother relocated to
    Minnesota with the child, and the parties stipulated to a modified
    parenting time plan. Under the modified plan, the child lived with
    mother during the school year, and father had parenting time
    during the child’s school breaks. The magistrate approved this
    modified plan.
    ¶5    The following summer, mother’s partner experienced health
    problems, and mother indicated that she was struggling to provide
    care for the child and her partner. The parties agreed that the
    child, who was then six years old, would live primarily with father
    and attend first grade in Colorado. Mother exercised limited
    parenting time with the child during this time.
    ¶6    In the summer of 2019, the parties agreed that the child would
    remain with father and complete second grade in Colorado. They
    executed a written stipulation memorializing this agreement and
    asserted that, in the fall of 2020, the child would return to school in
    Minnesota with mother. The magistrate approved the parties’
    stipulation.
    2
    ¶7    In August 2020, father sought to have the child remain with
    him in Colorado. But the magistrate ordered the parties to resume
    their previous parenting time plan, and the child returned to
    Minnesota. Shortly after the magistrate’s ruling, father filed a
    motion to modify parenting time, requesting primary residential
    care of the child. He argued that, over those two years, the child
    had been integrated into his family with mother’s consent and that
    it was in the child’s best interests to reside primarily with him
    during the school year.
    ¶8    After a three-day hearing, the magistrate granted father’s
    motion to modify parenting time. The magistrate had concerns with
    mother’s instability and the risks this posed to the eight-year-old
    child. He then found that father could better provide for the child’s
    long-term needs and that it was in the child’s bests interests to
    allocate to him primary residential care of the child. The magistrate
    allocated to mother parenting time generally over the child’s school
    breaks. The magistrate also modified decision-making
    responsibility, directing the parties to jointly make all major
    decisions for the child.
    3
    ¶9     Mother petitioned the district court to review the magistrate’s
    order. The district court adopted the portion of the order modifying
    parenting time. It concluded that the magistrate applied the correct
    legal standard and that the record supported the child’s integration
    into father’s family with mother’s consent.
    ¶ 10   In a later order, the district court determined that the
    magistrate’s ruling concerning decision-making responsibility had
    to be modified. It explained that, in the permanent orders, the
    magistrate had made a finding of domestic violence but had then
    failed to consider this finding when modifying decision-making
    responsibility. The court set an evidentiary hearing to resolve the
    issue, but before the hearing, the parties stipulated to joint
    decision-making responsibility. The district court adopted their
    stipulation.
    II.   Standard of Review
    ¶ 11   Our review of a district court’s order adopting a magistrate’s
    ruling is, in effect, a second layer of appellate review. In re Marriage
    of Evans, 
    2021 COA 141
    , ¶ 39. We review de novo whether the
    court applied the correct legal standard. In re Parental
    Responsibilities Concerning E.S., 
    264 P.3d 623
    , 626 (Colo. App.
    4
    2011). We also review de novo the court’s conclusions of law, but
    we accept the magistrate’s factual findings unless they are clearly
    erroneous. In re Parental Responsibilities Concerning B.J., 
    242 P.3d 1128
    , 1132 (Colo. 2010). A court’s factual finding is clearly
    erroneous when it has no record support. Evans, ¶ 39.
    III.   Modifying Parenting Time
    ¶ 12   Mother contends that the magistrate erred by modifying
    parenting time because he did not apply the legal standard for
    consensual integration when issuing his ruling and the record did
    not establish that the child had been integrated into father’s family
    with mother’s consent. We disagree.
    A.   Legal Principles
    ¶ 13   A court has broad discretion to modify existing parenting
    orders, and we must exercise every presumption in favor of
    upholding its decision. See In re Marriage of Barker, 
    251 P.3d 591
    ,
    592 (Colo. App. 2010); see also In re Marriage of Hatton, 
    160 P.3d 326
    , 330 (Colo. App. 2007).
    ¶ 14   The child’s best interest is the controlling factor for a court
    when determining parenting time. See § 14-10-129(1)(a)(I), (2),
    C.R.S. 2021; Barker, 
    251 P.3d at 592
    ; see also § 14-10-124(1.5)(a),
    5
    C.R.S. 2021 (best interests factors). When a parent seeks a
    substantial modification of parenting time that also changes the
    parent with whom the child primarily resides, the court must retain
    the prior parenting time order unless there has been a change in
    circumstances and, as relevant here, the child has been integrated
    into the family of the parent seeking modification with the consent
    of the other parent. § 14-10-129(2)(b).
    ¶ 15   The child’s integration with parental consent is a factual
    determination based on the totality of the circumstances. See In re
    Marriage of Chatten, 
    967 P.2d 206
    , 208 (Colo. App. 1998); In re
    Marriage of Pontius, 
    761 P.2d 247
    , 249 (Colo. App. 1988). The court
    considers the frequency, duration, and quality of the child’s
    contacts with each parent; which parent is making decisions
    concerning the child’s health care, education, religious training,
    and general welfare; and the child’s views as to which environment
    constitutes his or her home. Chatten, 
    967 P.2d at 208
    ; Pontius, 
    761 P.2d at 249-50
    .
    ¶ 16   Integration, therefore, is more than a parent’s expanded
    visitation with the child. Chatten, 
    967 P.2d at 208
    ; Pontius, 
    761 P.2d at 249
    . It includes the parent performing normal parental
    6
    duties and guiding the child physically, mentally, morally, socially,
    and emotionally. Chatten, 
    967 P.2d at 208
    ; accord Pontius, 
    761 P.2d at 249
    . As well, the time spent by the child with the parent
    seeking primary residential care “must be of sufficient duration that
    the child has become settled into the home of that parent as though
    it were his or her primary home.” Chatten, 
    967 P.2d at 208
    .
    ¶ 17   The requirement of the other parent’s consent is satisfied
    when that parent voluntarily places the child with the noncustodial
    parent and willingly permits the child to become integrated into the
    new family. 
    Id.
     The parent’s consent does not need to be explicit.
    See 
    id.
     Rather, it “may be implied from a voluntary transfer of
    custody that results in the child’s integration into” the other
    parent’s family. 
    Id.
    B.   The Magistrate Applied the Correct Legal Standard
    ¶ 18   Mother argues that because the magistrate made no specific
    finding that the child had integrated into father’s family with
    mother’s consent, the magistrate failed to apply the correct legal
    standard. We are not persuaded.
    ¶ 19   In his ruling, the magistrate expressly set forth the applicable
    law for modifying parenting time. Specifically, the magistrate
    7
    recognized that a change to the prior parenting time order must
    serve the child’s best interests and stated that the magistrate “must
    retain the prior schedule unless [he] finds that [the] child has been
    integrated into the family of the moving party with consent of the
    other party.” The magistrate then analyzed and made findings on
    the best interests factors enumerated in section 14-10-124(1.5)(a).
    ¶ 20   In doing so, the magistrate found that
     the child had “a close relationship” with father and
    “important relationships” with the other members of
    father’s household, including father’s wife and his other
    children;
     the child was “comfortable” in father’s home and “very
    familiar” with the routine at his home;
     father provided for the child’s needs, was engaged in her
    medical and dental care, and was involved in the child’s
    education;
     father indicated that the child was “completely integrated
    into his home”;
     father had consistently provided “suitable care” for the
    child;
    8
     mother had relinquished primary care of the child to
    father in 2018 and “was somewhat disengaged” from the
    child’s life in Colorado; and
     mother had “relatively sporadic and modest amounts of
    parenting time” with the child while the child lived with
    father.
    ¶ 21   Even though made in relation to the best interests factors,
    these findings demonstrate that the magistrate applied the law
    concerning the child’s integration with mother’s consent and
    considered these circumstances when he determined that modifying
    parenting time was in the child’s best interests. See Chatten, 
    967 P.2d at 208
    ; Pontius, 
    761 P.2d at 249-50
    . Therefore, although the
    magistrate did not make a specific finding, the order indicates that
    he implicitly found that the child had been integrated into father’s
    family with mother’s consent. See Chatten, 
    967 P.2d at 208
    ;
    Pontius, 
    761 P.2d at 249-50
    ; see also In re Marriage of Finer, 
    920 P.2d 325
    , 328 (Colo. App. 1996) (recognizing that a court’s finding
    may be implicit in its ruling).
    ¶ 22   Moreover, the magistrate later stated he was modifying
    decision-making responsibility “[p]ursuant to [section] 14-10-
    9
    131(2)(b),” C.R.S. 2021. This section, similar to section 14-10-
    129(2)(b), directs the court to retain the allocation of decision-
    making responsibility unless “[t]he child has been integrated into
    the family of the petitioner with the consent of the other party.”
    § 14-10-131(2)(b). By relying on section 14-10-131(2)(b), the
    magistrate clarified that he found the child had been integrated into
    father’s family with mother’s consent.
    ¶ 23   Still, mother contends that the magistrate must make an
    express finding on the child’s integration with mother’s consent.
    While such an express finding is preferable, nothing in section
    14-10-129(2)(b) requires one. When, as here, the magistrate’s
    finding demonstrates the application of the statute and is
    sufficiently explicit to allow us to review that determination, the
    magistrate’s implicit finding suffices. See Finer, 
    920 P.2d at 328
    ; cf.
    In re Marriage of Rodrick, 
    176 P.3d 806
    , 813-14 (Colo. App. 2007)
    (affirming a court’s parental responsibilities decision when its
    findings sufficiently showed that it considered the statutory criteria,
    even though it did not make specific findings on each factor).
    ¶ 24   Mother also argues that the magistrate had to first make a
    finding on the child’s consensual integration before it could address
    10
    the child’s best interests. While we generally decline to review an
    issue not raised until the reply brief, see In re Marriage of Drexler,
    
    2013 COA 43
    , ¶ 24, we are not convinced that such a two-step
    inquiry is demanded by section 14-10-129(2)(b). Indeed, nothing in
    section 14-10-129(2)(b) forbids a court from addressing the child’s
    integration during its discussion of the best interests factors or
    demands that the court employ a two-step inquiry when addressing
    a request to modify parenting time. And, beyond citing this statute,
    mother directs us to no legal authority supporting her argument.
    ¶ 25    We therefore are not persuaded that the magistrate failed to
    apply the correct legal standard concerning the child’s integration
    into father’s family with mother’s consent.
    C.    The Record Supports a Finding of the Child’s Integration into
    Father’s Family with Mother’s Consent
    ¶ 26    Mother contends that the record fails to support findings that
    the child was integrated into father’s family and that mother had
    consented to any integration. We disagree.
    1.    The Child’s Integration into Father’s Family
    ¶ 27    Father testified that for almost two years, the child resided
    primarily with him, he was responsible for the child’s care and
    11
    welfare while with him, and he made many of the day-to-day
    decisions concerning the child during that time. He further testified
    that the child had many “connections and relationships” in
    Colorado and that when the child lived with him, mother had
    limited parenting time. In addition, father’s wife testified that she
    and father have a strong, bonded relationship with the child; the
    child and the child’s older half-sibling were “inseparable”; and the
    child and her younger half-sibling, who was born while the child
    lived with father, were constantly together. Father’s other family
    members also confirmed that the child had a strong connection
    with father’s family. And the child’s second grade teacher testified
    that father and his wife were engaged in the child’s education and
    that the child had a very close relationship with father’s family.
    ¶ 28   From this evidence, the magistrate could reasonably find that
    the child had become settled into father’s family as though it was
    her primary home and that during the approximately two years the
    child lived with father, father took care of the child and performed
    the normal parental duties. See Chatten, 
    967 P.2d at 208
    . The
    record, therefore, supports the determination that the child had
    become integrated into father’s family. While mother highlights
    12
    conflicting evidence that could support a contrary finding, we may
    not reweigh the magistrate’s resolution of the conflicts in the
    evidence. See Evans, ¶ 45.
    ¶ 29   To the extent mother asserts that the child’s integration into
    father’s family “legally terminated” when the child returned to
    Minnesota in 2020, mother develops no legal or factual argument in
    support of this assertion. We therefore will not address it. See
    Barnett v. Elite Props. of Am., Inc., 
    252 P.3d 14
    , 19 (Colo. App. 2010)
    (“We will not consider a bald legal proposition presented without
    argument or development.”).
    ¶ 30   Thus, contrary to mother’s contention, there is record support
    for the finding that the child was integrated into father’s home and
    family.
    2.    Mother’s Consent
    ¶ 31   Nor do we agree with mother that no evidence showed that she
    consented to the child’s integration. It was undisputed that mother
    voluntarily transferred primary care of the child to father in 2018,
    and she agreed to extend father’s primary care throughout the
    2019-2020 school year. Following this voluntary transfer, the
    record, as explained above, shows that the child was integrated into
    13
    father’s family. As a result, the magistrate could reasonably infer
    that mother consented to the child’s integration into father’s family.
    See Chatten, 
    967 P.2d at 208-09
    .
    ¶ 32   Mother argues that this is insufficient to establish her consent
    because the parties’ agreements to transfer the child to father were
    intended to be only temporary. But mother’s argument
    misunderstands what consent to integration means. It does not
    mean consent to change the parent with whom the child resides the
    majority of the time. An agreement to change the primary
    residential parent is the modification criterion in section 14-10-
    129(2)(a). If mother’s view were correct, section 14-10-129(2)(b)
    would be superfluous — an outcome we do not believe the General
    Assembly intended. See Wolford v. Pinnacol Assurance, 
    107 P.3d 947
    , 951 (Colo. 2005) (noting that we avoid interpretations that
    render statutory provisions redundant or superfluous).
    ¶ 33   Rather, section 14-10-129(2)(b) applies when a parent
    consents to the other parent “perform[ing] . . . normal parental
    duties . . . and guiding the child[] physically, mentally, morally,
    socially, and emotionally.” Chatten, 
    967 P.2d at 208
    . Mother
    clearly did so when she sent the child to live with father on a full-
    14
    time basis for two years, during which she exercised limited
    parenting time. And, with mother’s consent, the child became
    settled into father’s home as though it was her primary home. See
    
    id.
    ¶ 34    That the parties’ agreement was for only a temporary transfer
    of the child’s primary care to father does not change the fact that
    the child integrated into father’s family, nor does it change the fact
    that mother consented to the child doing so. The parents’
    subjective intentions concerning the length of time a child will
    reside with a particular parent are not dispositive of the issue
    because the consent requirement is intended to serve the “narrow
    purpose” of avoiding a noncustodial parent’s kidnapping of the
    child. Id.; see Unif. Marriage & Divorce Act § 409 cmt. (amended
    1973), 9A pt. II U.L.A. 440 (1998). “Instead, the consent
    requirement is satisfied when the custodian has voluntarily placed
    the child with the non-custodial parent and willingly permitted the
    child to become integrated into the new family.” Chatten, 
    967 P.2d at 208
    .
    ¶ 35    We are not persuaded otherwise by mother’s reliance on
    several Illinois cases in support of her argument. See In re Marriage
    15
    of Wechselberger, 
    450 N.E.2d 1385
    , 1391 (Ill. App. Ct. 1983); In re
    Marriage of Hill, 
    434 N.E.2d 527
    , 531 (Ill. App. Ct. 1982); People ex
    rel. Bukovic v. Smith, 
    423 N.E.2d 1302
    , 1307-08 (Ill. App. Ct. 1981);
    see also In re Custody of Dykhuis, 
    475 N.E.2d 1107
    , 1110 (Ill. App.
    Ct. 1985).
    ¶ 36   None of these cases stands for the proposition that when a
    custodial parent agrees to the child living temporarily with the
    noncustodial parent for an extended time, the temporary nature of
    that agreement necessarily defeats a claim that the custodial parent
    consented to the child’s integration.
    ¶ 37   Of these cases, only Wechselberger (on which mother primarily
    relies) discussed the point of contention at issue here: whether the
    primary custodial parent’s agreement to temporarily permit the
    child to live with the other parent, during which time the custodial
    parent had limited parenting time, amounts to integration with
    consent. But that case is unhelpful to mother for several reasons.
    ¶ 38   First, the posture of that case was the opposite of that here:
    the noncustodial parent in Wechselberger had failed to obtain the
    modification sought. 
    450 N.E.2d at 1388
    . So the issue was
    whether the trial court’s determination that the modification was
    16
    not in the child’s best interest was “against the manifest weight of
    the evidence or an abuse of discretion.” 
    Id. at 1391
    .1
    ¶ 39   Second, although the relevant Illinois statute had previously
    been consistent with Colorado’s law, it had been amended such
    that the governing statute in Wechselberger no longer required a
    showing of integration by consent. 
    Id.
     at 1388-89 (citing Ill. Rev.
    Stat. 1981, ch. 40, par. 610(b) (effective until July 1, 1982)).
    Instead, the statute governing the motion in that case required a
    showing “‘by clear and convincing evidence’ . . . that a change has
    taken place in the circumstances of the child or the child’s
    custodian and that the modification is needed to serve the best
    interests of the child.” 
    Id. at 1389
     (quoting Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch.
    40, par. 610(b) (effective July 1, 1982)). As the court observed,
    “Integration into the petitioner’s family with consent . . . is no longer
    required to be proved, although it may be a factor the court may
    1The fact that the appellate review posture was the opposite of this
    case is significant. When reviewing a court’s factual findings and
    exercise of discretion, an appellate court is deferential to the trial
    court’s decision. Whether the evidence could have supported the
    opposite finding or a different discretionary act is irrelevant. Put
    another way, the fact that an appellate court found that the record
    supported a particular finding in no way suggests that it would not
    have also supported a different finding.
    17
    take into account in determining whether a change in
    circumstances has occurred.” 
    Id. at 1391
    . Thus, the Appellate
    Court of Illinois’s discussion of whether the mother had consented
    to the child’s integration into the father’s family was arguably dicta.
    ¶ 40       And, in any event, the court ultimately acknowledged that
    integration by consent may have occurred, observing that “while a
    change of circumstances may have been proved, it is implicit in the
    trial judge’s decision that a modification was not necessary for the
    best interest of the children.” 
    Id.
     (emphasis added). In other words,
    the decision in Wechselberger ultimately rested on the trial court’s
    determination of the child’s best interests, not on whether there was
    integration by consent — again suggesting that the entire
    discussion of integration was dicta.
    ¶ 41       In short, Wechselberger cannot bear the weight mother places
    on it.
    ¶ 42       Unlike the circumstances present in Wechselberger, the
    totality of the circumstances here demonstrated that mother
    consented to the child’s integration into father’s home and family.
    Even if the parties contemplated only a temporary change in the
    child’s custodial arrangement, their agreements support such a
    18
    finding, particularly when the child primarily resided with father for
    almost two years and during that time father provided her primary
    care and mother exercised limited parenting time. See Chatten, 
    967 P.2d at 208-09
    .
    ¶ 43   We therefore do not agree that the magistrate clearly erred by
    finding that mother consented to the child’s integration.
    ¶ 44   Mother also takes issue with the magistrate’s finding that she
    “did not address how she helped [the child] adjust to her fourth
    school in four years after her return to Minnesota in August 2020.”
    While mother points to evidence that she assisted the child with her
    reading struggles, she directs us to no evidence that refutes the
    magistrate’s finding concerning the child’s adjustment to her new
    school. See Evans, ¶ 45.
    ¶ 45   Mother further argues that the magistrate’s ruling is contrary
    to the “goals and policies” of sections 14-10-124 and 14-10-129,
    because it will disincentivize a parent with primary custody from
    being willing to agree to additional parenting time with the other
    parent. Mother did not raise this argument until her reply brief,
    however, and we therefore do not address it. See Drexler, ¶ 24.
    19
    ¶ 46   That being said, it is important to note that the mere fact that
    one parent consented to the child’s integration into the other
    parent’s home does not automatically mean that the parent seeking
    the change of primary parent will succeed. It simply means that
    the decision can be made based on the best interests of the child,
    without requiring that the party seeking the modification show
    endangerment. This makes sense in light of the fact that, given the
    integration of the child into the new family, the interest in finality of
    the original order is less significant. See Unif. Marriage & Divorce
    Act § 409 cmt., 9A pt. II U.L.A. at 439 (noting that the restrictions
    on modifying the primary parent are “designed to maximize finality
    (and thus assure continuity for the child) without jeopardizing the
    child’s interest”).
    ¶ 47   In sum, the district court applied the correct legal standard
    and made factual findings that have record support. Thus, the
    magistrate did not err by modifying parenting time.
    IV.   Modifying Decision-Making Responsibilities
    ¶ 48   Mother next contends that the magistrate erred by modifying
    decision-making responsibility. In response, father argues that the
    parties’ joint decision-making responsibility stipulation, adopted by
    20
    the district court after the magistrate’s ruling, rendered this issue
    moot. We agree with father and dismiss this portion of the appeal.
    ¶ 49   Whether an issue is moot is a question of law that we review
    de novo. Colo. Mining Ass’n v. Urbina, 
    2013 COA 155
    , ¶ 23; see
    also USAA v. Parker, 
    200 P.3d 350
    , 356-57 (Colo. 2009) (recognizing
    that mootness involves the court’s subject matter jurisdiction and
    may be raised at any time).
    ¶ 50   We will not render an opinion on the merits of an issue when
    subsequent events have rendered the issue moot. In re Marriage of
    Salby, 
    126 P.3d 291
    , 301 (Colo. App. 2005); see also Colo. Mining,
    ¶ 33 (“The power of judicial review simply does not extend to moot
    questions.”). “An issue is moot when a judgment, if rendered,
    would have no practical legal effect upon the existing controversy.”
    Salby, 
    126 P.3d at 301
    .
    ¶ 51   The parties’ stipulation resolved the issue of decision-making
    responsibility. See Lego v. Schmidt, 
    805 P.2d 1119
    , 1125 (Colo.
    App. 1990) (recognizing that when the parties settle the dispute
    which is the subject of an appeal, the issue is moot). And the
    court’s order adopting that stipulation superseded the magistrate’s
    ruling modifying decision-making responsibility. See Salby, 126
    21
    P.3d at 301. Thus, any decision we render as to the merits of the
    magistrate’s ruling would have no practical legal effect. Therefore,
    this portion of mother’s appeal is moot.
    V.    Appellate Attorney Fees and Costs
    ¶ 52   Mother requests appellate attorney fees and costs under
    section 14-10-119, C.R.S. 2021, based on the financial disparity
    between the parties. We disagree with father that mother’s request
    fails to set forth a factual basis for her request. See C.A.R. 39.1;
    see also In re Marriage of Gutfreund, 
    148 P.3d 136
    , 141 (Colo. 2006)
    (providing that section 14-10-119 empowers the court to equitably
    apportion costs and attorney fees between the parties based on
    their relative abilities to pay). However, the district court is better
    equipped to determine the factual issues regarding the parties’
    current financial resources. Thus, we remand this issue. See
    C.A.R. 39.1; In re Marriage of Alvis, 
    2019 COA 97
    , ¶ 30.
    ¶ 53   For his part, father seeks an award of appellate attorney fees
    and costs under section 13-17-102(4), C.R.S. 2021, arguing that
    mother’s appeal lacked substantial justification. While we reject
    mother’s arguments, we decline to assess attorney fees and costs
    under section 13-17-102(4). See In re Estate of Shimizu, 
    2016 COA 22
    163, ¶ 34 (“[A]n award of fees on appeal is appropriate only in clear
    and unequivocal cases where no rational argument is
    presented . . . .”); see also In re Parental Responsibilities Concerning
    D.P.G., 
    2020 COA 115
    , ¶ 37 n.1 (recognizing that section 13-17-102
    does not provide for an award of costs). (That being said, in light of
    our disposition, father is entitled to appellate costs — though not
    attorney fees — pursuant to C.A.R. 39(a).)
    VI.   Disposition
    ¶ 54   We dismiss the appeal in part and affirm the court’s order
    adopting the magistrate’s ruling modifying parenting time. The case
    is remanded to the district court for further proceedings on
    mother’s request for section 14-10-119 appellate attorney fees and
    costs.
    JUDGE DAILEY and JUDGE BERGER concur.
    23