E.R.J. v. T.L.B. , 2023 ND 85 ( 2023 )

FILED
IN THE OFFICE OF THE
CLERK OF SUPREME COURT
MAY 9, 2023
STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA
IN THE SUPREME COURT
STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA
2023 ND 85E.R.J., Plaintiff and Appellee
v.
T.L.B., Defendant and Appellant
No. 20220199
Appeal from the District Court of Divide County, Northwest Judicial District,
the Honorable Benjamen J. Johnson, Judge.
AFFIRMED.
Opinion of the Court by Tufte, Justice.
Carrie L. Francis, Minot, N.D., for plaintiff and appellee; submitted on brief.
Thomas J. Corcoran, Williston, N.D., for defendant and appellant; submitted
on brief.
E.R.J. v. T.L.B.
No. 20220199
Tufte, Justice.
[¶1] T.L.B. appeals from a district court judgment changing the surname of
her child from T.L.B.’s surname to a hyphenated surname under N.D.C.C. § 14-
20-57(7). The child’s hyphenated name combines her father’s and mother’s
surnames. On appeal, T.L.B. argues the district court: (1) erroneously found
she changed her surname after her marriage; (2) erred because it hyphenated
H.R.B’s name on the erroneous basis that she shared a name with no one else
in her household; (3) erred because it did not consider the factors for changing
a name under N.D.C.C. § 32-28-02(3); (4) erred because it did not consider
T.L.B.’s emotional injury as an injury for purposes of N.D.C.C. § 32-28-02(3);
(5) erred in hyphenating H.R.B.’s surname because it had insufficient best
interests of the child evidence; and (6) erred in hyphenating H.R.B.’s surname
because the suggestion to hyphenate the child’s surname was raised for the
first time at the evidentiary proceeding. We affirm.
I
[¶2] T.L.B. and E.R.J., the child’s father, were never married. E.R.J. initiated
this action by petitioning the court to alter the child’s surname. H.R.B. was one
year old at the time the district court issued its judgment. T.L.B. gave H.R.B.
her surname when she provided personal information for H.R.B.’s birth
certificate, and E.R.J. indicated the child’s name was H.R.B. on his signed
acknowledgment of paternity. T.L.B. recently married, and the parties contest
whether she changed her name upon her marriage.
II
[¶3] A district court’s decision regarding whether a name change under the
Uniform Parentage Act is in a minor’s best interest is subject to clearly
erroneous review. Edwardson v. Lauer, 2004 ND 218, ¶ 4, 689 N.W.2d 407. A
finding of fact is clearly erroneous if it is induced by an erroneous view of the
law, if no evidence exists to support it, or if the reviewing court is left with a
1
definite and firm conviction a mistake has been made. In re Berger ex rel.
K.C.F., 2010 ND 28, ¶ 8, 778 N.W.2d 579.
[¶4] The statute at issue in Edwardson was N.D.C.C. § 14-17-14(3) [Uniform
Parentage Act (1973) § 15], which has since been repealed. Edwardson, 2004
ND 218, ¶ 4. Section 14-17-14(3), N.D.C.C., impliedly granted trial courts the
power to change a child’s surname if it was in a child’s best interest. Id.; In re
C.J.C., 2000 ND 27, ¶ 5, 606 N.W.2d 117. Under the implied authority in
N.D.C.C. § 14-17-14(3), we concluded a surname change required examination
of the best interests of the child, “which is a factual process best suited for
clearly erroneous review.” Edwardson, at ¶ 5. We conclude clearly erroneous
review continues to apply to a name change under the express authority
granted by N.D.C.C. § 14-20-57(7) [Uniform Parentage Act (2002) § 636].
Klundt v. Benjamin, 2019 ND 160, ¶ 27, 930 N.W.2d 116; In re Berger, 2010
ND 28, ¶ 8 (reviewing name change of a minor under N.D.C.C. ch. 32-28 under
clearly erroneous standard instead of abuse of discretion standard applicable
to adult name changes).
III
[¶5] T.L.B. argues the district court erred in finding that she changed her
surname upon her recent marriage. T.L.B. testified that she had not changed
her name, nor did she intend to do so. She testified, however, that she had
entered a hyphenated name on her marriage license, which was a combination
of her maiden name and her new husband’s surname.
[¶6] A “person’s surname does not automatically change upon marriage,” but
parties to a marriage may change their name after solemnization “by entering
the new surname in the space provided on the marriage license application.”
N.D.C.C. § 14-03-20.1(2)-(3). T.L.B. testified that she entered a hyphenated
name on her marriage license. This evidence supports the district court’s
finding, and the finding is not clearly erroneous.
[¶7] T.L.B. also argues the district court erred in finding that no one in
T.L.B.’s household shares a surname with H.R.B and this error requires this
Court to reverse the order. Because there was no clear error in finding T.L.B.
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had changed her name upon marriage, there is no clear error in the finding
that H.R.B. does not share a surname with anyone in T.L.B.’s household.
IV
A
[¶8] T.L.B. argues the district court erred because it changed H.R.B.’s name
solely under section 14-20-57(7), N.D.C.C., and did not also consider section
32-28-02(3), N.D.C.C. T.L.B. cited no authority requiring application of both
statutes when changing a minor’s name. She argues the court was required to
apply both statutes because it is possible to harmonize them under N.D.C.C.
§ 1-02-07. We disagree. “The interpretation and application of a statute is a
question of law, which is fully reviewable on appeal.” State ex rel. N. Dakota
Hous. Fin. Agency v. Center Mut. Ins. Co., 2006 ND 175, ¶ 9, 720 N.W.2d 425.
[¶9] These two sections differ in the findings of fact they require a district
court to make before it has authority to change a minor’s surname. Section 32-
28-02(3), N.D.C.C., is the general statute for when individuals want to change
their name or a child’s name. See also Berger, 2010 ND 28, ¶¶ 6-7. A court must
order a change of name under N.D.C.C. § 32-28-02(3) when the petitioner
establishes, among other things, “proper and reasonable cause” to change a
name. Section 14-20-57(7), N.D.C.C., applies when a party to a matter
adjudicating parentage of a child requests a change of the child’s surname “for
good cause shown.” N.D.C.C. § 14-20-57(7). This case concerns a parentage
order; therefore, N.D.C.C. § 14-20-57(7) applies. Neither statute references the
other. Both statutes set forth findings upon which the court has authority to
order a name change. The statutes provide independent alternative procedures
to grant a name change. The district court did not err when it applied only the
requirements of N.D.C.C. § 14-20-57(7) without considering additional
findings required in N.D.C.C. § 32-28-02(3).
B
[¶10] T.L.B. argues the district court erred by not considering emotional
injury—the sort of injury that precludes a finding of “proper and reasonable
cause” under N.D.C.C. § 32-28-02(3)—that she would allegedly suffer if the
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court changed her child’s name. Because we interpret section 14-20-57 and
section 32-28-02 as providing alternative name change authority rather than
overlapping requirements, we conclude the court did not err in declining to
apply the requirements of section 32-28-02(3) to this request under section 14-
20-57(7).
V
A
[¶11] T.L.B. argues the district court erred because it relied on insufficient
evidence to support a finding that hyphenating H.R.B.’s surname would be in
the child’s best interests. “On request of a party and for good cause shown, the
court may order that the name of the child be changed.” N.D.C.C. § 14-20-57(7)
[Uniform Parentage Act § 636(e)]. The act does not define the term “good
cause.” N.D.C.C. § 14-20-02. In other contexts, this Court has defined good
cause as “a legally sufficient reason.” Interest of Guardianship of G.V., 2023
ND 19, ¶ 19, 985 N.W.2d 655 (quotations and citations omitted). However, this
Court has not defined “good cause” in the context of N.D.C.C. § 14-20-57(7). We
interpret this uniform act guided by a statutory directive to make our law
uniform with other states which enact it. N.D.C.C. § 14-20-66; N.D.C.C. § 1-
02-13.
[¶12] Texas has adopted Uniform Parentage Act § 636(e). Tex. Fam. Code
§ 160.636 [Uniform Parentage Act (2002) § 636]. There is a split within the
Texas appellate courts on the interpretation of this section of the Uniform
Parentage Act. Interest of G.L.H., 630 S.W.3d 309, 313-14 (Tex. App. 2021); see
also In re H.S.B., 401 S.W.3d 77, 81 n.2 (Tex. App. 2011). One group of appellate
courts concluded that “the best interests of the child” and “good cause” are
“distinct concepts” and a petitioner must establish both to change a child’s
surname. G.L.H., at 313-14. The other group of appellate courts concluded that
“the good cause requirement in Section 160.636(e) is subsumed in the best-
interest analysis because the best interest of a child will ‘necessarily be
considered [a] good cause for changing the child’s name.’” Id. at 314 (citing
Anderson v. Dainard, 478 S.W.3d 147, 151 n.1 (Tex. App. 2015)). This latter
group weighed the best interest factors only when determining whether there
4
was “good cause.” Id. In the interest of promoting a uniform interpretation, we
consider these cases in detail to explain our interpretation of “good cause”
under the Uniform Parentage Act.
B
[¶13] The Court of Appeals of Texas, Fort Worth, determined that “good cause”
and “best interests of the child” were separate concepts. In re M.C.F., 121
S.W.3d 891, 894-95 (Tex. App. 2003) (separately analyzing “good cause” and
“best interest”). The court first defined “good cause” as a legally sufficient
reason. M.C.F., 121 S.W.3d at 896 (citing Black’s Law Dictionary 213 (7th ed.
1999)). “Good cause is often the burden placed upon a litigant ... to show why
a request should be granted or an action excused.” Id. The court then looked to
definitions of “good cause” in other legal contexts from Texas law and law from
other states. Id. at 896-97. The court concluded the “good cause” standard was
not met because there was a “complete absence of evidence.” Id. at 897.
[¶14] The Court of Appeals of Texas, Dallas, concluded that a petitioner had
the burden to separately establish both standards. In re S.M.V., 287 S.W.3d
435, 447-48 (Tex. App. 2009). Finding no case law defining good cause, the court
turned to Black’s Law Dictionary and interpreted it to require a “legally
sufficient reason.” Id. at 448. The court concluded there was a legally sufficient
reason based on the trial court’s finding that after the surname change, the
child shared a surname with the child’s joint managing conservator and named
biological parent. Id. at 448. In addition, good cause was supported by evidence
that the name change “clarifie[d] S.M.V.’s identity and avoid[ed] potential
future confusion that might be caused by S.M.V. possibly having a name
different from either biological parent.” Id.C
[¶15] The Court of Appeals of Texas, Houston, considered the “good cause”
standard to be subsumed in the “best interest” analysis. In re H.S.B., 401
S.W.3d at 81 n.2 (citing S.M.V., 287 S.W.3d at 447). The court explained that it
would “evaluate the sufficiency of the evidence for the best interest finding and
presume that the trial court found good cause on the same ground” because the
5
best interests of a child were good cause for changing a child’s name. Id. In
other words, under the statute a petitioner has the burden to show there is
good cause to change a child’s name, and a finding that the child’s best interests
favored a name change would satisfy this good cause standard. See also
Anderson, 478 S.W.3d at 151 n.1 (citing H.S.B., 401 S.W.3d at 81 n.2).
[¶16] Alabama’s court of civil appeals also interpreted the “good cause”
provision under Ala. Code § 26-17-636(e) [Uniform Parentage Act (2002)
§ 636]. J.M.V. v. J.K.H. 149 So. 3d 1100, 1104-05 (Ala. Civ. App. 2014). The
court found no Alabama case law defining good cause under Ala. Code § 26-17-
636(e), so it turned to Texas case law to promote uniformity. J.M.V., at 1105
(citing In re M.C.F., 121 S.W.3d 891; In re S.M.V., 287 S.W.3d 435). On the
basis of these authorities, the court concluded that a petitioner bears the
burden to present evidence demonstrating that a name change promotes the
best interests of a child. Id. at 1105-06 (describing “the general rule prevailing
in this country that, in disputes between unmarried parents as to the surname
of the child, the court should resolve the dispute based on the best interests of
the child”). In effect, the court decided that a child’s best interests are “good
cause” or a legally sufficient reason to change the child’s name. Under Ala.
Code § 26-17-636(e), the court reasoned petitioners had the burden to provide
evidence that a name change would benefit the child and reversed because the
petitioner offered no reason or evidence why the name change would benefit
the child. J.M.V., at 1105-06; see also K.G. v. M.E., 2021 WL 5751848, 3-4 (Ala.
Civ. App. 2021) (citing J.M.V., at 1105) (“[A] parent petitioning to change the
name of the child must present evidence showing that the change would benefit
the child in some positive manner.” The court concluded the petitioner failed
to meet his burden because he did not bring evidence establishing that a
surname change would promote the child’s interests.).
D
[¶17] We are persuaded that a district court’s findings that changing a child’s
name is in the best interests of a child satisfies the good cause standard under
N.D.C.C. § 14-20-57(7). This Court has described its method of statutory
interpretation:
6
We look at the language of the statute and give words their plain,
ordinary, and commonly understood meaning, unless a contrary
intention plainly appears or the words are specifically defined.
When the wording of a statute is clear and free of all ambiguity,
the letter of it is not to be disregarded under the pretext of
pursuing its spirit. This Court construes statutes in a practical
manner, giving consideration to the context of the statutes and the
purpose for which they were enacted.
State v. Davison, 2017 ND 188, ¶ 8, 900 N.W.2d 66 (cleaned up). Although “good
cause” and “best interests of a child” are distinct concepts, M.C.F., 121 S.W.3d
at 894-95, we agree that under the Uniform Parentage Act, a finding that a
name change is in the best interests of the child satisfies the required showing
of good cause under the Act.
[¶18] Under the Act, “good cause” is simply “a legally sufficient reason.”
Black’s Law Dictionary 274 (11th ed. 2019). “Good cause is often the burden
placed on a litigant (usu. by court rule or order) to show why a request should
be granted or an action excused.” Id. A synthesis of the other states’ cases
informs us that to demonstrate good cause under the Uniform Act, a petitioner
has the burden to provide the court with evidence that changing a child’s name
would provide some benefit to the child. See S.M.V., 287 S.W.3d at 448-49;
H.S.B., 401 S.W.3d at 81 n.2; J.M.V., 149 So. 3d at 1105-06. There is good cause
to change a child’s name if a district court finds, without error, that changing
a child’s name is in the best interests of the child. See J.M.V., 149 So. 3d at
1105.
E
[¶19] The district court analyzed the best interests of the child factors from
N.D.C.C. § 14-09-06.2 to the extent they are applicable to a child’s name
change. The court made findings under factors a, d, e, and h. We agree that few
of these statutory best interest factors in N.D.C.C. § 14-09-06.2 have relevance
to a name change, and note that these factors by their own terms relate only
to parental rights. N.D.C.C. § 14-09-06.2(1) (describing best interest factors
“[f]or the purpose of parental rights and responsibilities ….”). Under the
Uniform Parentage Act, the Texas Court of Appeals identified several
7
nonexclusive best interest factors relevant to a name change of a minor that
district courts should consider. G.L.H., 630 S.W.3d at 314-15; H.S.B., 401
S.W.3d at 84; S.M.V., 287 S.W.3d at 449–50. These nonexclusive factors
include:
(1) the name that would best avoid anxiety, embarrassment,
inconvenience, confusion, or disruption for the child, which may
include consideration of parental misconduct and the degree of
community respect (or disrespect) associated with the name;
(2) the name that would best help the child’s associational identity
within a family unit, which may include whether a change in name
would positively or negatively affect the bond between the child
and either parent or the parents’ families;
(3) assurances by the parent whose surname the child will bear
that the parent will not change his or her surname at a later time;
(4) the length of time the child has used one surname and the level
of identity the child has with the surname;
(5) the child’s preference, along with the age and maturity of the
child; and
(6) whether either parent is motivated by concerns other than the
child’s best interest—for example, an attempt to alienate the child
from the other parent.
Interest of C.M.V., 479 S.W.3d 352, 359 (Tex. App. 2015). We have previously
affirmed a child’s name change where the district court assessed the child’s
best interests in terms of the effect on the parental relationships, concerns
about name differences, the age of the child and the impact on school
enrollment and other potential benefits and challenges in the future.
Edwardson v. Lauer, 2004 ND 218, ¶¶ 7-8, 689 N.W.2d 407. This is a fact
specific inquiry and each child’s best interests may require consideration of a
different combination of factors. Because a child’s best interests with respect
to a name change will differ from the child’s best interests with respect to
residential responsibility, we encourage parties to present evidence of the
nonexclusive factors listed above rather than the statutory factors largely
inapplicable to this distinct inquiry.
[¶20] When considering the love, affection, and emotional ties between H.R.B.
and her parents, the district court found that hyphenating H.R.B.’s surname
8
was in her best interest because it would facilitate her relationship and
emotional ties with her father and her paternal extended family. The court
found that both parents have an appropriate relationship with H.R.B.
[¶21] In weighing the stability of the parents’ home environment and the
impact of extended family, the district court found that because T.L.B. has
legally assumed her husband’s surname, H.R.B. no longer shares a surname
with any of the members of T.L.B.’s household. The district court reasoned that
“it may become confusing to H.R.B. why she does not share the same legal
surname with her mother or half-brother.” In addition, the court found that
hyphenating H.L.B.’s surname would increase the familial bond with the
paternal side of her family.
[¶22] In its findings regarding the willingness of each parent to facilitate
H.R.B.’s relationship with the other parent, the district court expressed
concerns about T.L.B.’s willingness to facilitate E.R.J.’s paternal relationship
with H.L.B. The court expressed no concern about E.R.J.’s willingness to
facilitate H.R.B.’s and T.L.B.’s relationship.
[¶23] Regarding H.R.B’s home, school, and community records, the court found
that changing H.L.B.’s name would not adversely affect her but would facilitate
her paternal relationship because she would share her father’s surname.
Berger, 2010 ND 28, ¶ 13. The “primary factor” relied on by the court was
avoiding scrutiny from H.R.B.’s peer group and community that may result
from having a different surname from everyone else in her household. The
court also found the surname change would not adversely affect any of H.R.B.’s
peer relationships because H.R.B. is still very young and has not developed
significant school relationships or understanding of her name’s meaning. Id.[¶24] The factors considered by the district court were relevant and
appropriate to determine H.R.B.’s best interests regarding the proposed name
change. The court’s findings are supported by the record, and its choice
between permissible views of the evidence is not clearly erroneous.
9
VI
[¶25] T.L.B. argues the court erred in hyphenating H.R.B.’s surname because
the suggestion to give the child a hyphenated surname was raised for the first
time sua sponte by the court at the evidentiary proceeding. T.L.B. also asserts
that there was no testimony or evidence to support why a hyphenated name
would be in the child’s best interest. If the court finds good cause, the court
“may order that the name of the child be changed.” N.D.C.C. § 14-20-57(7). The
word “may” in a statute operates to confer discretion. Interest of J.J.G., 2022
ND 236, ¶ 9, 982 N.W.2d 851. “A court abuses its discretion if it acts in an
arbitrary, unconscionable, or unreasonable manner, if its decision is not the
product of a rational mental process leading to a reasonable determination, or
if it misinterprets or misapplies the law.” Klundt, 2019 ND 160, ¶ 27.
While the court’s ultimate decision of a petition for a change of
name is reviewed for an abuse of discretion, in situations where
the name change is for a minor child, the court’s analysis must
incorporate the best interest of the child. These are findings of fact
and overturned only if found to be clearly erroneous. A finding of
fact is clearly erroneous if it is induced by an erroneous view of the
law, if no evidence exists to support it, or if the reviewing court is
left with a definite and firm conviction a mistake has been made.
Id. (cleaned up). In Klundt v. Benjamin, neither party petitioned the court to
change the child’s name, and the district court acted sua sponte. This Court
reversed for abuse of discretion because the non-moving party did not have
notice or an opportunity to respond to the name change. Id. at ¶¶ 27-28.
[¶26] Here, the first time either party suggested hyphenating H.R.B.’s
surname was at the hearing on the petition. Unlike Klundt, E.R.J. petitioned
the district court to change H.R.B.’s surname to his surname. At the hearing,
the court asked E.R.J. whether he had any alternative preferences for his
child’s surname other than his own surname. E.R.J. stated that if the court did
not give the child his surname, his preferred alternative would be a
hyphenated surname. T.L.B. cites no authority suggesting that a district court
errs under these circumstances by ordering a hyphenated surname combining
the two names requested by the parties. Klundt does not apply to the current
10
case, because both parties were on notice and had an opportunity to respond to
the name change petition. Klundt, 2019 ND 160, ¶ 29. Hyphenating the child’s
surname was within the scope of E.R.J.’s petition and was at the “request of a
party” under N.D.C.C. § 14-20-57(7) because E.R.J. requested it as an
alternative. The court did not abuse its discretion in ordering the name change.
VII
[¶27] We affirm the judgment of the district court.
[¶28] Jon J. Jensen, C.J.
Lisa Fair McEvers
Jerod E. Tufte
Crothers, Justice concurring in the result.
[¶29] The statute controlling disposition of this case provides, “On request of a
party and for good cause shown, the court may order that the name of the child
be changed.” N.D.C.C. § 14-20-57(7). Chapter 14-20, N.D.C.C., is part of the
Uniform Parentage Act adopted by North Dakota in 2005. 2005 N.D. Sess.
Laws ch. 135, § 9. That legislative act repealed North Dakota’s prior version of
the Uniform Parentage Act contained in N.D.C.C. ch. 14-17. See majority
opinion, ¶ 4.
[¶30] Child name changes were permitted under the prior version of the
Uniform Parentage Act. This Court explained:
Under North Dakota’s enactment of the Uniform Parentage
Act, N.D.C.C. ch. 14-17, district courts are implicitly granted the
authority to change a minor child’s surname, assuming such a
change is in the minor’s best interest. Interest of C.J.C., 2000 ND
27, ¶ 5, 606 N.W.2d. 117. The specific statutory authority for this
conclusion comes from N.D.C.C. § 14-17-14(3), which provides, “the
judgment or order of the district court in an action brought under
the Uniform Parentage Act may contain any other provision . . .
concerning . . . any other matter in the best interest of the child.”
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Edwardson v. Lauer, 2004 ND 218, ¶ 3, 689 N.W.2d 407.
[¶31] The prior Act, N.D.C.C. § 14-17-14(3), required a best interest analysis.
In Edwardson, 2004 ND 218, at ¶ 8, this Court addressed the best interests
but did not specifically list or identify factors to consider. Rather, we affirmed
a child’s name change after the district court assessed the child’s best interests
in terms of the effect on the parental relationships, concerns about name
differences, the age of the child and the impact on school enrollment, and other
potential future benefits and challenges.
[¶32] The current Act does not expressly require a best interest analysis, and
places a burden on the movant to prove “good cause.” This Court has defined
“good cause” in a number of contexts, including unemployment law, Esselman
v. Job Service ND, 548 N.W.2d 400, 402 (N.D. 1996), workers compensation
law, Inwards v. North Dakota Workforce Safety & Ins., 2014 ND 163, ¶ 22, 851
N.W.2d 693, termination of dealership contracts, Williston Farm Equipment,
Inc. v. Steiger Tractor, Inc., 504 N.W.2d 545 n.3 (N.D. 1993), and child
guardianship cases, Interest of Guardianship of G.V., 2023 ND 19, ¶ 19, 985
N.W.2d 655; Interest of Guardianship of J.O., 2021 ND 76, ¶ 16, 958 N.W.2d
149 (defining “good cause” as “a legally sufficient reason”) (citing good cause,
Black’s Law Dictionary 274 (11th ed. 2019)).
[¶33] North Dakota law directs that “Words used in any statute are to be
understood in their ordinary sense, unless a contrary intention plainly
appears, but any words explained in this code are to be understood as thus
explained.” N.D.C.C. § 1-02-02. We also are directed to interpret uniform acts
uniformly. N.D.C.C. § 14-20-66 (“In applying and construing this chapter,
consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with
respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.”).
[¶34] When interpreting the phrase “good cause,” I question whether deep
review of the split in Texas court of appeals’ decisions and two Alabama court
of appeals’ decisions furthers either of these goals, other than to confirm some
of the foreign state holdings equate “good cause” to “best interest” and others
do not. See majority opinion, ¶¶ 12-16.
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[¶35] Our guardianship cases provide a serviceable definition of “good cause”
that is consistent with the purpose of the statute at issue in this case. See
Interest of Guardianship of G.V., 2023 ND 19, ¶ 19; Interest of Guardianship
of J.O., 2021 ND 76, ¶ 16. That definition of “good cause” also is consistent with
at least some of the Texas courts defining the phrase during their construction
of words used in the Uniform Parentage Act. Indeed, the majority ultimately
comes to this conclusion by adopting the Black’s Law Dictionary definition we
used in our guardianship cases, and holding, “Under the Act, ‘good cause’ is
simply ‘a legally sufficient reason.’” Majority opinion, ¶ 18.
[¶36] I agree that “good cause” means “a legally sufficient reason.” I also agree
with the majority that “legally sufficient reason” in the context of a name
change under N.D.C.C. § 14-20-57(7) should be measured by the child’s best
interest. Majority opinion, ¶ 18. See also Edwardson, 2004 ND 18, ¶ 3
(considering minor’s best interests under the prior Act, N.D.C.C. § 14-17-14(3)).
However, I respectfully cannot join the majority opinion’s reference to best
interest factors from three sources, the analysis under one of the sources, and
a bare conclusion the district court did not err in finding the child’s best
interests were served by a name change. Instead, this Court should more
clearly provide district courts and litigants with direction about the best
interest test or factors to be used for a name change under N.D.C.C. § 14-20-
57(7).
[¶37] By providing clear, non-exclusive factors, we will do more than
“encourage” parties to present evidence of the nonexclusive factors. Majority
opinion, ¶ 19. Rather than encourage, I would state with clarity that the
residential responsibility best interest factors from N.D.C.C. § 14-09-06.2
cannot be a court’s primary yardstick in a N.D.C.C. § 14-20-57 proceeding.
Those factors are unsuitable because they are limited by express terms: “For
the purpose of parental rights and responsibilities, the best interests and
welfare of the child is determined by the court’s consideration and evaluation
of all factors affecting the best interests and welfare of the child.” N.D.C.C.
§ 14-09-06.2(1). The factors also are unsuitable as a primary test because very
few of them have relevance to a name change under the Uniform Parentage
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Act. The statutory residential responsibility factors therefore provide little
assistance in resolving a question whether a child’s name should be changed.
[¶38] Instead of suggesting that primary reliance on the N.D.C.C. § 14-09-06.2
factors can work under some circumstances, I would expressly adopt the Texas
factors provided in the majority opinion at paragraph 19. Because those factors
are non-exclusive, child best interest factors from our residential responsibility
law can be used, but only when one or more of them directly pertains to the
facts presented in a pending matter.
[¶39] Here, the district court relied exclusively on N.D.C.C. § 14-09-06.2 and
made findings under factors a, d, e, and h. At paragraph 24, the majority
concludes without explanation that the district court’s application of these
factors to the evidence was sufficient under our standard of review. In the
posture this case was presented, I concur with the conclusion because the
evidence and the district court’s findings of fact are sufficient to show “good
cause” as required under N.D.C.C. § 14-20-57. As a result, remand for the
district court to make express findings under the non-exclusive Texas best
interest factors would be fruitless.
[¶40] Daniel J. Crothers
Douglas A. Bahr
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