Marriage of Estlund, In re

• Decision Date: 30 November 1983
• Docket Number: No. 83-161,83-161
• Citation: 344 N.W.2d 276
• Parties: In re MARRIAGE OF Mary Kersten ESTLUND and Timothy Alan Estlund. Upon the Petition of Mary Kersten Estlund, Petitioner/Appellee/Cross-Appellant, And Concerning Timothy Alan Estlund, Respondent/Appellant/Cross-Appellee.
• Court: Iowa Court of Appeals

Page 276

344 N.W.2d 276

In re MARRIAGE OF Mary Kersten ESTLUND and Timothy Alan Estlund Upon the Petition of Mary Kersten Estlund, Petitioner/Appellee/Cross-Appellant And Concerning Timothy Alan Estlund, Respondent/Appellant/Cross-Appellee.

No. 83-161.

Court of Appeals of Iowa.

Nov. 30, 1983.

Stephen B. Jackson, Cedar Rapids, for respondent/appellant/cross-appellee.

Scott E. McLeod of Lynch, Dallas, Smith & Harman, Cedar Rapids, for petitioner/appellee/cross-appellant.

Heard by DONIELSON, P.J., and SCHLEGEL and HAYDEN, JJ.

SCHLEGEL, Judge.

Respondent appeals and petitioner cross-appeals from the custodial and economic provisions of the parties' dissolution decree. Respondent contends: (1) the trial court should have awarded him physical custody in the joint custody scheme agreed to by the parties; (2) the trial court should have required petitioner to maintain a life insurance policy for the benefit of the parties' children; and (3) the division of the parties' marital assets and liabilities was inequitable. In her cross-appeal, petitioner asserts that: (1) the alimony and attorney fee awards were inadequate; and (2) the court should have ordered respondent to pay an existing real estate debt, in the event that the parties' house in Osage, Iowa, did not sell or the proceeds of a sale were inadequate to pay the debt. Petitioner also requests attorney fees on this appeal. We affirm.

I. Scope of Review. In this equity action, our review is de novo. In re Marriage of Novak, 220 N.W.2d 592, 597 (Iowa 1974). We have a duty to examine the entire record and adjudicate anew rights on the issues properly presented. In re Marriage of Steenhoek, 305 N.W.2d 448, 452 (Iowa 1981). In so doing, we give weight to the fact findings of the trial court, especially when considering the credibility of witnesses, but are not bound by them. Iowa R.App.P. 14(f)(7).

II. Custody of Children. We are faced with making a determination from the record of which parent will have primary physical custody of the children. It is apparent from the record that both parents would be good custodians of the children, and that both of them have cared for the needs of the children in their daily lives. The trial court found that "[p]etitioner was the parent primarily responsible for the rearing of the children." Respondent disputes this finding, and claims that the trial court's findings in support of its award of primary custody to petitioner: (1) are contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence; (2) are contrary to the undisputed evidence; (3) are based upon improper judicial notice of the "rigors and responsibilities of an industrious attorney;" (4) ignored opinions expressed by third-party witnesses; and (5) ignored the fact that much of petitioner's testimony was impeached, while respondent's testimony stood unimpeached.

The record reveals that both petitioner and respondent are conscientious parents. Respondent certainly demonstrates a keen parental interest in his children. Respondent's actions regarding the children indicates more than average attention to their needs. The record shows, however, that petitioner, until she became employed full-time, was primarily responsible for the rearing of the children. While there is undisputed evidence that the respondent ministered to the children a great deal when he was free to do so, it is no less true that petitioner exercised the primary parenting role during respondent's absences at work and in other activities. When petitioner returned to full-time work, she and respondent more nearly shared the responsibilities of providing for the children's daily needs. The record does not show, nor does respondent actually claim, that his caring for the needs of the children replaced petitioner as the parent more responsible for their nurture. These children are fortunate in having two able and caring parents.

From our review of the record, we cannot agree with respondent that the trial court's findings were contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence or that its findings were contrary to the undisputed evidence. Neither do we believe the trial court's findings were based upon the court's having taken improper judicial notice of the "rigors and responsibilities of an industrious attorney." The finding that respondent was an industrious attorney finds ample evidentiary support in the record. There is undisputed evidence that the respondent, in addition to working full days, some nights, and Saturday mornings, also participated in bar association activities and maintained a busy schedule. The court was justified in finding that respondent, while willing to revise his work schedule to minister to the needs of the children, would likely have a more difficult time in spending time with the children than would petitioner. Petitioner's work schedule will coincide with the children's school schedule, holiday schedule, and vacation schedule. The likelihood of night work for petitioner is remote. She has demonstrated an ability to supervise and care for the children effectively and responsibly. She, as well as respondent, appears to be stable and reliable as a parent.

Respondent, in his brief, insists that the trial court ignored the undisputed evidence of petitioner's extra-marital affair in finding that "[it] is over and that it did not materially reflect upon or adversely affect the children in any detrimental way." Moral misconduct is a circumstance to be given serious consideration in determining a parent's fitness to have custody of minor children, but it is not the only consideration. In re Marriage of Dawson, 214 N.W.2d 131, 132 (Iowa 1974). Each case must be decided on its own peculiar facts. Id. The issue of custody is ultimately decided by determining under the whole record which parent can minister more effectively to the long-range best interests of the children. In re Marriage of Bowen, 219 N.W.2d 683, 687-88 (Iowa 1974).

On the whole record, and considering the criteria found in In re Marriage of Winter, 223 N.W.2d 165, 166-67 (Iowa 1974), we approve the joint custody arrangement the parties have agreed upon and which has been incorporated in the decree, and we believe the long-range best interests of the children will be better served by awarding primary physical custody to petitioner. We give weight to the trial court's findings in this regard, and affirm the award of custody made by the trial court. See In re Marriage of McDowell, 244 N.W.2d 238, 239 (Iowa 1976).

III. Life Insurance. Respondent urged the trial court to require that petitioner maintain a $50,000 term life insurance policy on her own life for the benefit of the children. The trial court ordered petitioner to name the parties' minor children as primary beneficiaries on any life insurance provided her through her employment. At the time of trial, such a policy with a death benefit of $30,000 was provided by her employment. In addition, the court ordered petitioner to continue to maintain the partially employer-financed health, dental, and prescription coverage for the children available to petitioner through her present or subsequent employers. The trial court, however, made no requirement that petitioner maintain the $50,000 policy. In view of the rather precarious financial position petitioner will be in for the foreseeable future, although she may voluntarily wish to maintain such policy, such continuation will not be required.

IV. Division of Assets and Liabilities. The trial...