Summary
In Shelhamer, notwithstanding the defendant's presence at the hearing, we found error in the modification of custody because he was not given notice that substantive provisions of the decree would be considered.
Summary of this case from In re StevensOpinion
No. 12202.
Submitted February 14, 1972.
Decided March 6, 1972.
Original Proceeding seeking Writ to require Modification of Order entered by District Court.
Robert L. Stephens, Jr. (argued), Billings, for relator.
Ask Brower, John L. Pratt, (argued), Roundup, for respondents.
This is an original proceeding wherein relator sought an appropriate writ to require modification of an order entered by the respondent court in a contempt proceeding.
From the record it appears that in a divorce proceeding entitled Phyllis A. Shelhamer, Plaintiff, v. Robert Duane Shelhamer, Defendant, pending the district court of Musselshell County, wherein a decree of divorce was entered on October 7, 1968, the plaintiff executed an affidavit in re contempt. It was alleged therein that the defendant had not paid certain support money as required by the aforementioned decree, and prayed that an order to show cause be issued requiring the defendant to appear and show cause, if any he had, why he should not be held in contempt of court, and also pay plaintiff's fees for the proceeding.
The respondent court issued an order to show cause under date of September 24, 1971, requiring defendant to appear before it on October 8, 1971.
The hearing was continued to October 18, 1971, at which time the parties appeared in court and testimony was taken from each side as to the delinquencies in support payments and excuses for nonpayment thereof.
Respondent court during the hearing expressed its dissatisfaction with the custody provisions contained in the original decree, found defendant guilty of contempt for failure to support the children, fined him, and over the objections of his counsel directed a change be made in the custody of the children. A formal order was thereafter entered on November 5, 1971.
It is conceded by the parties that the issue here is whether or not the court was in error in unilaterally terminating relator's partial custody rights granted by a prior divorce decree at a contempt hearing for nonsupport without request by the adverse party for the relief granted and without notice to the relator that his right of partial custody would be at issue.
The district court has continuing jurisdiction in child custody matters and has the continuing power to modify orders and change custody, all as provided in section 21-138, R.C.M. 1947, which reads:
"Orders respecting custody of children. In an action for divorce the court or judge may, before or after judgment, give such direction for the custody, care, and education of the children of the marriage as may seem necessary or proper, and may at any time vacate or modify the same."
As we stated in Barbour v. Barbour, 134 Mont. 317, 324, 330 P.2d 1093, 1097:
"The effect of R.C.M. 1947, § 21-138, is to make all child custody orders interlocutory in nature, discretionary with the district court, and conditioned by what the district court in its sound discretion believes to be for the well-being of the children concerned. * * *"
This does not contemplate, however, that due process should not be observed. Here we have a show cause order for nonsupport, no request for a change of custody; nothing in the pleadings to indicate a change in custody was sought.
The language used by the Supreme Court of Maine in Remick v. Rollins, 141 Me. 65, 38 A.2d 883, 884, appears particularly appropriate:
"There was no prayer in the petition to change any provision of the original decree as to custody and visitation of the children, but the new decree makes an alteration in that respect. Established practice gives parties a right to assume that no change will be made on an issue which is not formally presented to the Court by the petition or pleadings."
To the same effect is the statement contained in Scott v. Scott, 174 Iowa 740, 156 N.W. 834, 836, wherein the Iowa court held:
"The modification of the decree, by striking therefrom the provision relating to the custody of the child, was without authority. This order was entered at the term following that at which the decree was entered, and therefore could not properly have been made on the court's own motion or without notice to the plaintiff."
In Welch v. Welch, 256 Iowa 1020, 129 N.W.2d 642, 643, the Iowa court in ruling in the same vein, stated:
"Nothing in the application or amendment thereto sets out any change of circumstances since the divorce decree was entered that supports a change in its costody provisions nor indicates a desire therefor. The issue of change of custody was not raised. * * *"
Respondent cites the case of Pearce v. Pearce (1904) 30 Mont. 269, 79 P. 289, as authority for the proposition that the court on its own motion may inquire into the facts respecting child custody and make an appropriate order. We must bear in mind that in Pearce both parties were before the court and the issue raised by the pleadings was that a change of custody of the minor child should be made to the father, and such prayer was granted and the ex-wife appealed. In the course of its opinion this Court stated:
"* * * If it makes a mistake in the first instance, it may and should remedy the same, upon a proper showing, as soon thereafter as possible; and the law, in its beneficence, and with a tender care for the infants, has provided the means * * *." (Emphasis ours.)
In Brice v. Brice (1914), 50 Mont. 388, 147 P. 164, this Court, citing Pearce as authority, stated:
"* * * Under section 3678 the court may, in any case, before or after judgment, make such provision for the children as the circumstances require; for though under the decree the husband may be relieved entirely from any obligation to provide for the wife, the court may nevertheless, under section 3678, upon proper application, make such order for their custody and maintenance as the circumstances justify. * * *" (Emphasis ours.)
No such proper application had been made to the court in the cause here being considered.
We are not here dealing with complaints made to the court with respect to lack of care and maintenance by public authorities; certainly in such instances the court upon such showing may make any and all orders necessary and property to see that the child's custody is temporarily placed where it can be cared for; thereafter giving notice to the parents as provided by law, and if a permanent change in custody appears to the court to be necessary then due process requires that an application be made for that purpose and proper notice of such application be given.
We hold that the court here erred in changing the custody provisions in the nonsupport contempt proceedings and that portion of the court's order of November 5, 1971, is annulled and held for naught. Let a writ issue.
MR. JUSTICES JOHN C. HARRISON, and HASWELL, and the HON. JACK D. SHANSTROM, sitting in place of MR. JUSTICE CASTLES, concur.