Godifay v. Asgedom (Child Custody) ( 2015 )


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  •                      respondent should be the parent with primary physical custody. There
    was no evidence offered that appellant's work schedule would affect the
    children's well-being or that appellant did not make adequate
    arrangements for child care in his absence.    See In re Marriage of Loyd,
    
    131 Cal. Rptr. 2d 80
    , 84-85 (Ct. App. 2003) ("a parent may not be deprived
    of custody based upon his or her work schedule if adequate arrangements
    are made for the child's care in the parent's absence"); Silva v. Silva, 
    136 P.3d 371
    , 377 (Idaho Ct. App. 2006) (explaining that a parent's work
    schedule is only relevant if it is shown that the parent's work schedule
    affects the well-being of the children); Gerber v. Gerber, 
    487 A.2d 413
    , 416
    (Pa. Super. Ct. 1985); Brennan u. Brennan, 
    685 A.2d 1104
    , 1106 (Vt.
    1996). Additionally, it does not appear that the district court equally
    considered respondent's work schedule in determining custody.
    Further, the district court's finding that appellant generally
    worked from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m., 5 days a week was not supported by
    substantial evidence because he testified that his work schedule could be
    as little as five hours a day for 3 days a week.   See Ellis v. Carucci, 
    123 Nev. 145
    , 149, 
    161 P.3d 239
    , 242 (2007) (providing that substantial
    evidence is evidence that a reasonable person may accept as adequate to
    sustain a judgment). It also appears that the district court failed to
    consider which parent was more likely to foster a relationship between the
    three children and their adult half-sibling. NRS 125.480(4)(0 (2009).
    Because the district court's custody award relied on appellant's work
    schedule when there was no evidence that his work schedule impacted the
    well-being of the children or that he could not arrange adequate child care
    while he worked, and because the court failed to consider the children's
    relationship with their adult half-sibling, we conclude the court abused its
    SUPREME COURT
    OF
    NEVADA
    2
    (0) I947A A76710)4
    discretion by awarding primary physical custody to respondent.     Wallace,
    112 Nev. at 1019, 922 P.2d at 543. Accordingly, we
    ORDER the judgment of the district court REVERSED AND
    REMAND this matter to the district court for proceedings consistent with
    this order.'
    Parraguirre
    J.
    cc:   Eighth Judicial District Court, Family Court Division, Department J
    Bailey Kennedy
    Kunin & Carman
    Eighth District Court Clerk
    'Because we conclude that the district court abused its discretion in
    awarding respondent primary physical custody, we need not address the
    other issues raised on appeal.
    SUPREME COURT
    OF
    NEVADA
    3
    KJ) 1947A att.
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 64289

Filed Date: 12/30/2015

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 4/18/2021