In Re Vodila, Unpublished Decision (2-7-2005)
In Re Vodila, Unpublished Decision (2-7-2005)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 3} On August 19, 2002, father filed a Complaint for Custody in the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division. The trial court appointed a guardian ad litem for the child. Via Agreed Entry filed January 3, 2003, the trial court issued temporary orders, which set forth a companionship schedule. The magistrate conducted a hearing on March 27, 2003, July 25, 2003, and November 13, 2003. The magistrate filed an Interim Magistrate Decision on December 9, 2003. The magistrate found it was in the best interest of Asheton mother be the residential parent under a shared parenting plan. The magistrate instructed the parties to mutually modify the proposed shared parenting plan submitted by father by February 2, 2004. The magistrate instructed the parties to continue to operate pursuant to the agreed temporary orders of companionship.
{¶ 4} The magistrate conducted a status call hearing on February 19, 2004. Neither party had timely filed his/her proposed shared parenting plan, and the plans which were submitted failed to include the topics the magistrate specifically asked the parties to address. In her second Interim Magistrate Decision filed February 20, 2004, the magistrate referred the parties to mediation to craft a shared parenting plan.
{¶ 5} The parties reappeared before the magistrate on April 1, 2004. By this date, mother had relocated to Maryland with her new husband, and father intended to also move to Maryland once he sold his home in Stark County. As such, the parties asked the magistrate to issue temporary orders regarding the companionship of Asheton until father's relocation occurred. Via Judgment Entry filed April 2, 2004, the magistrate approved and adopted father's second amended proposed shared parenting plan. The magistrate noted the shared parenting plan would go into effect upon full relocation of father. Until such time, the magistrate issued temporary companionship orders. Father filed timely objections to the magistrate's decision, specifically contending the magistrate erred in failing to designate him as the residential parent and legal custodian of Asheton. The trial court conducted a hearing on father's objections on July 1, 2004. Via Judgment Entry filed July 6, 2004, the trial court overruled father's objections, and approved and adopted the magistrate's decision as order of the court.
{¶ 6} It is from this judgment entry father appeals, raising the following assignments of error:
{¶ 7} "I. Trial court erred as a matter of law by adopting and approving fathers second proposed shared parenting plan upon relocation of father to maryland.
{¶ 8} "II. The trial court erred as a matter of law by issuing orders to be followed for companionship pending relocation of appellant-father without designating residental [sic] and legal parent status to either party.
{¶ 9} "III. The trial court abused its discretion by failing to find that it was in the best interest of the child to designate father the residental [sic] and legal custodian of the child.
{¶ 10} "IV. The judgment of the trial court that the father not be the residential and legal custodian of the child is against the manifest weight of the evidence."
{¶ 12} Father failed to raise this alleged error in his objection to the magistrate's decision. Having failed to do so, we find father has waived the alleged error. {¶ 13} Father's first assignment is overruled.
{¶ 15} Father, likewise, did not raise this issue to the trial court in his objection to the magistrate's decision. As such, father has also waived this alleged error.
{¶ 16} Father's second assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 18} With regard to the review of custody matters, the Ohio Supreme Court has stated:
{¶ 19} "The discretion which a trial court enjoys in custody matters should be accorded the utmost respect, given the nature of the proceeding and the impact the court's determination will have on the lives of the parties concerned. The knowledge a trial court gains through observing the witnesses and the parties in a custody proceeding cannot be conveyed to a reviewing court by a printed record. Trickey v. Trickey (1952),
{¶ 20} R.C.
{¶ 21} In support of his position, father refers this Court to the testimony describing Asheton's relationship with his extended paternal family in Stark County, Ohio, and the testimony regarding Asheton's lack of relationship with his extended maternal family in Pennsylvania as well as lack of contact with mother's husband. Father also references evidence which he contends establishes mother's lack of cooperation and unwillingness to facilitate visitation and contact between father and Asheton. Father further notes the guardian ad litem recommended an award of custody to father if mother relocated.
{¶ 22} The record clearly demonstrates both father and mother have strong bonds with Asheton and wish to continue fostering those bonds. The record reflects, and the magistrate found, "each parent is able and capable of carrying for the child" and "[e]ach family has great love and affection for" Asheton. However, the magistrate considered mother to be more mature and parent-like, noting father's immature attitude towards parenthood and the legal proceedings relative to this custody dispute. We find the magistrate sufficiently considered the best interest of Asheton as set forth in the statutory factors in its designation of mother as the residential parent and legal custodian. We further find there was a sufficient amount of substantial credible and competent evidence to support his designation and the trial court did not abuse its discretion in making this decision.
{¶ 23} Father's third and fourth assignments of error are overruled.
{¶ 24} The judgment of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, is affirmed.
By: Hoffman, P.J. Wise, J. and Edwards, J. concur.
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