WILDER, J.
Defendant appeals as of right the trial court's order granting plaintiff's request to change the domicile of their minor child from Michigan to Windsor, Ontario. We affirm.
Plaintiff and defendant never married and had a son together, who was born on September 19, 2005. Around the time that the child was born, plaintiff and defendant stopped dating. Since birth, the child has lived with plaintiff in her grandmother's home in Plymouth. Defendant lives approximately 11½ miles away in Farmington Hills and is married. He and his wife have a child of their own, who was born in June 2010.
A court order awarded plaintiff and defendant joint legal and joint physical custody of their child. The order provided that the child would primarily reside with plaintiff with defendant having parenting time every Tuesday and Thursday evening and alternate weekends. Additionally, defendant received an overnight with the child every other Thursday night.
Plaintiff has tried to find other jobs in Michigan within walking distance of her home. Because of her desire to be home when the child was home, she limited her work availability to every other weekend and 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, when the child would either be with defendant or at preschool. Plaintiff did not receive any offers or call backs.
Because of her lack of employment, plaintiff was relying on child support and public assistance from the State in the form of a bridge card. Because the monthly mortgage payment was $918 she could not continue to afford to live in her grandmother's home. After plaintiff's grandmother passed away, title in the home went to plaintiff's mother, who assumed the existing mortgage. Plaintiff was paying a portion of the mortgage ($500) each month to her mother. More recently, plaintiff has not been able to afford the $500, so her mother has been paying the full mortgage amount. Plaintiff's mother testified that she is unable to continue paying the mortgage each month and that her intention is to sell the house.
Defendant is employed as a supervisor of the service department for an armored transport company and exercises additional parenting time as much as possible, bringing the child lunch, taking the child to McDonald's, and going on vacations. Defendant and the child talk on the phone two or three times per day, with the child initiating many of the calls. Defendant did the majority of transporting the child to preschool with his wife helping occasionally. Defendant also has been taking the child to ice skating classes on Tuesday evenings, during his parenting time. And defendant testified that he and the child have an "extremely strong" relationship and that their bond is "unbreakable." Even plaintiff testified that the child "idolizes his father like a superhero. He loves his father." Plaintiff added that the child looks to defendant for guidance and discipline in his day-to-day life when the child is with him.
Because of plaintiff's lack of access to transportation, defendant has always done all of the driving to and from Plymouth for his parenting time. It takes approximately 15 minutes to drive from his home in Farmington Hills to plaintiff's home in Plymouth. Defendant also has taken the child to all of his doctor appointments and dentist appointments.
Plaintiff desires to move to Windsor, where she grew up and her entire family
On August 30, 2010, plaintiff filed a motion to change the domicile of the child from Plymouth to Windsor. After conducting a hearing, the trial court granted the motion. In its order dated February 8, 2011, it found that plaintiff successfully established by a preponderance of the evidence that the move was warranted. It also found that an established custodial environment existed with both parents and that the established custodial environment would not be affected with the move "if Defendant were given an additional weekend each month and were allowed to maintain his Tuesday and Thursday parenting time sessions if desired." Because it found no change in the established custodial environment, the trial court found it unnecessary to consider any best-interests factors. The trial court also ordered plaintiff to drop off and pick up the child in Detroit for parenting time with defendant.
Defendant first contends that the trial court erred by addressing the change in legal residence factors set forth in MCL 722.31(4) from the perspective of plaintiff, rather than the child, and by improperly crediting some of plaintiff's factual claims. Defendant also suggests that other factual findings of the trial court were erroneous. We disagree.
We review a decision on a petition to change the domicile of a minor child for an abuse of discretion. Brown v. Loveman, 260 Mich.App. 576, 600, 680 N.W.2d 432 (2004). We review the trial court's findings in applying the MCL 722.31 factors under the great weight of the evidence standard. Id. "Under this standard, we may not substitute our judgment on questions of fact unless the facts clearly preponderate in the opposite direction." McKimmy v. Melling, 291 Mich.App. 577, 581, 805 N.W.2d 615 (2011).
Under MCL 722.31(1) "a parent of a child whose custody is governed by court order shall not change a legal residence of the child to a location that is more than 100 miles from the child's legal residence at the time of the commencement of the action in which the order is issued" without court approval. Before allowing a change of legal residence, a court must consider the following factors in MCL 722.31(4):
"The party requesting the change of domicile has the burden of establishing by a preponderance of the evidence that the change is warranted." McKimmy, 291 Mich.App. at 582, 805 N.W.2d 615. In addition, MCL 722.31(4) requires that the trial court consider the factors "with the child as the primary focus in the court's deliberations."
On its face, MCL 722.31 is only applicable when a parent attempts to change the domicile of a child to a location that is over 100 miles away. However, when a child's custody is governed by a court order that prohibits the child from moving to another state without the permission of the court, as is the case here, regardless of the distance involved if the proposed residence change involves leaving the state, then the factors under MCL 722.31(4) are the proper criteria for the court to consider.
With regard to MCL 722.31(4)(a), capacity to improve the quality of life for both the child and the relocating parent, the trial court found that the move would provide plaintiff with immediate employment, a support system, access to transportation, and free daycare by her family. The move would also make it more likely that plaintiff would "secure a steady income, return to school and pursue a brighter future. This could have a positive spillover effect on [the child]." The trial court also found insufficient evidence that the child would be harmed educationally by the move.
This Court has stated that "[i]t is well established that the relocating parent's increased earning potential may improve a child's quality of life." Rittershaus v. Rittershaus, 273 Mich.App. 462, 466, 730 N.W.2d 262 (2007). Thus, the trial court's finding in this case that improvement in plaintiff's income would have a spillover effect on the child is not an improper application of the law. In addition, the finding is not against the great weight of the evidence. There was evidence that plaintiff was unemployed, did not have a vehicle, and relied on defendant's child support payments and assistance from the state of Michigan for her income. In Windsor, however, she had a job offer, access to a vehicle, and free childcare available. While, as defendant contends, the child may not have suffered from a lack of transportation or basic necessities while in Michigan, the trial court's finding that the move had the capacity to improve his quality of life was not against the great weight of the evidence.
Finally, defendant's argument that plaintiff and her mother created the alleged crisis so that plaintiff could move to Windsor and make defendant a weekend parent ultimately involves credibility determinations, and this Court must defer to the trial court on issues of credibility. Mogle, 241 Mich.App. at 201, 614 N.W.2d 696. The trial court was free to believe the testimony of plaintiff and her mother regarding plaintiff's employment opportunities, the availability for plaintiff to use her mother's extra vehicle, her mother's inability to provide childcare in Michigan, and the need to sell the Plymouth residence. Therefore, when evaluating all of the above facts, we conclude that the trial court's finding that the move did have the capacity to improve the quality of life of both plaintiff and the child was not against the great weight of evidence.
With regard to MCL 722.31(4)(b), the trial court found that plaintiff's move was not inspired by a desire to deny defendant parenting time. The trial court found that plaintiff has frequently given defendant more parenting time than required by the court order, consented to additional parenting time in the summer, is willing to give defendant an extra weekend or overnight per month, and is willing to transport the child across the border for parenting time.
Although weekday parenting time may be more difficult after the move, the trial court's finding that plaintiff did not intend to frustrate defendant's parenting time is also not against the great weight of the evidence. Plaintiff offered defendant an additional weekend per month and offered to transport the child across the border for parenting time. Moreover, as previously noted, there was testimony in the record that the plaintiff's family and friends were in Windsor, plaintiff would have access to transportation in Windsor, plaintiff would have employment in Windsor, and plaintiff would have access to free childcare in Windsor. This factor also involves a credibility determination, on which we must defer to the trial court. Id.
With regard to MCL 722.31(4)(c), the trial court found that providing defendant with an additional weekend of parenting time per month, even if weekday parenting time was negatively affected, could provide an adequate basis for preserving and fostering the parental relationship between defendant and the child. The trial court concluded that this could give defendant additional extended time, which could foster an even closer parent-child relationship. In addition, the trial court found that the parties' history of cooperation regarding parenting time suggested that they would comply with the modified order. Moreover, the trial court found that
For this factor, our inquiry is "whether the proposed parenting-time schedule provides `a realistic opportunity to preserve and foster the parental relationship previously enjoyed' by the nonrelocating parent." McKimmy, 291 Mich.App. at 584, 805 N.W.2d 615, quoting Mogle, 241 Mich. App. at 204, 614 N.W.2d 696. Furthermore, "the visitation plan need not be equal to the prior visitation plan in all respects." Brown, 260 Mich.App. at 603, 680 N.W.2d 432.
The trial court's finding that the new parenting time schedule would provide an adequate basis for preserving and fostering the parent-child relationship is not against the great weight of the evidence. The parenting time schedule after the move is essentially the same as the parenting time schedule before the move, with defendant given an extra weekend per month.
The trial court found that factors (d) and (e) were not applicable. Neither plaintiff nor defendant dispute these findings on appeal, and we do not find that the findings were against the great weight of evidence.
After evaluating all the above factors, the trial court determined that plaintiff met her burden of establishing by a preponderance of the evidence that moving the child to Windsor was warranted. This ultimate finding is not against the great weight of evidence. In short, the capacity of the move to improve both plaintiff's and the child's lives was not outweighed by any possible negative ramifications associated with the move.
Defendant next contends that the trial court erred by finding that the move would not change the established custodial environment with defendant and, therefore, failed to determine whether plaintiff proved by clear and convincing evidence that the move was in the best interest of the child. We disagree.
After granting a change of domicile, the trial court must determine whether there will be a change in the established custodial environment and, if so, determine whether the relocating parent can prove, by clear and convincing evidence, that the change is in the child's best interest.
According to MCL 722.27(1)(c),
In Brown, this Court noted that it is possible to have a change of domicile without changing the established custodial environment. Id. at 596, 680 N.W.2d 432.
The parties do not dispute that an established custodial environment existed with both plaintiff and defendant. The trial court's finding that the move would not change the established custodial environment was not against the great weight of the evidence.
The trial court found that the established custodial environment with both parents would not change if defendant was given an additional weekend per month and was allowed to maintain his current parenting time if desired. The trial court further found that, even if defendant decided to no longer exercise Thursday overnights, defendant would have the same number of overnights per month as he does now (six). In addition, if defendant stopped weekday parenting time, the extra time that defendant would receive for the additional weekend (48 hours) is almost equivalent to the maximum number of weekday hours that defendant currently exercises (58 hours). Finally, the court found that with advance planning, defendant would also be able to continue to attend school-related events.
In this case, the new parenting-time schedule was essentially the same, with defendant being given an additional weekend per month. Defendant's argument stresses that plaintiff's move is more than a mere 17-mile move because it crosses international borders. Specifically, defendant argues that because of the inherent extra time needed for him to make such border crossings, his weekday parenting time will be so adversely affected that he may have to opt out of them for the benefit of the child. Defendant notes that if the move results in him becoming a weekend-only dad, then the established custodial environment the child has with him would necessarily be affected. This argument has some merit; however, the trial court ordered plaintiff to transport the child across the border to facilitate the weekday parenting time. Thus, on the face of it, the bulk of defendant's concerns about diminished weekday parenting time are not warranted. While the move to Windsor likely means the end of spontaneous lunches during the week and Thursday overnights with defendant,
However, the trial court's finding that the extra weekend per month of parenting time would offset the lack of any weekday parenting time if weekday visits became too difficult to continue, is erroneous. On the contrary, if the move were to render defendant a weekend-only parent, a change in the established custodial environment would result. Powery v. Wells, 278 Mich.App. 526, 528, 752 N.W.2d 47 (2008). But this particular finding was not central to the trial court's ultimate conclusion. The trial court's order made it clear that defendant would maintain his weekday parenting time. At another part of the opinion, the trial court found that plaintiff and defendant were likely to comply with a modified order. Thus, defendant is not made a weekend parent by the terms of the order, and the trial court's finding that the move would not change the established custodial environment was not against the great weight of the evidence.
Because there would be no change in the established custodial environment, the trial court was not required to determine whether plaintiff proved by clear and convincing evidence that the move was in the best interest of the child. See Brown, 260 Mich.App. at 590-591, 680 N.W.2d 432. However, defendant contends that, even if there was no change in the established custodial environment, the trial court was required to consider whether the move was in the best interest of the child, but at the lower preponderance of the evidence standard. We disagree.
Defendant's reliance on Pierron v. Pierron, 486 Mich. 81, 782 N.W.2d 480 (2010), is misplaced. Pierron did not specifically address a change of domicile under MCL 722.31. Instead, the Pierron Court was confronted with a situation where the parents, who had joint legal custody, could not agree regarding an important decision that affected the welfare of the child, specifically a change in the children's school.
This Court has repeatedly held that if a movant can establish that a relocation of domicile under MCL 722.31 is warranted by a preponderance of the evidence and the relocation would not alter any established custodial environment, then no best-interest analysis is necessary. Spires v. Bergman, 276 Mich.App. 432, 437 n. 1, 741 N.W.2d 523 (2007) ("Only when the parents share joint physical custody and the proposed change of domicile would also constitute a change in the child's established custodial environment is it also necessary to evaluate whether the change of domicile would be in the child's best interest."); Rittershaus, 273 Mich.App. at 470-471, 730 N.W.2d 262 ("We reiterate that the trial court is not required to consider the best-interest factors until it first determines that the modification actually changes the children's established custodial environment."); Brown, 260 Mich.App. at 598 n. 7, 680 N.W.2d 432 (stating that only when "the relocation would result in a change in parenting time so great as to necessarily change the established custodial environment that an inquiry into the best interest factors is necessary."). No-where in Pierron, did the Court explicitly overrule or modify any of this Court's prior published opinions.
Thus, Pierron differed from the present case in that it did not involve a change of domicile analysis under MCL 722.31(4) but, rather, focused on the general procedure put in place to resolve an impasse when parents cannot decide on important decisions affecting the welfare of the child. Pierron, 486 Mich. at 85, 782 N.W.2d 480, citing MCL 722.25(1) and Lombardo v. Lombardo, 202 Mich.App. 151, 159, 507 N.W.2d 788 (1993).
We conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it granted plaintiff's motion to change the child's domicile to Windsor. Furthermore, the court did not err when it concluded that the established custodial environment would not be affected. As a result, the trial court was not required to determine if defendant proved by a preponderance of the evidence that the move was in the best interests of the child.
Affirmed.
Kirsten Frank Kelly, J., concurred with WILDER, J.
JANSEN, P.J. (concurring in part and dissenting in part).
I concur with the majority's conclusion that the circuit court did not err with regard to its evaluation of the change-of-residence factors of MCL 722.31(4), or its determination that plaintiff met her burden of establishing by a preponderance of the evidence that the move to Windsor, Ontario was warranted. I respectfully dissent, however, from the majority's conclusion that the circuit court properly determined that the move to Windsor would not alter the child's established custodial environment.
The circuit court correctly determined that an established custodial environment existed with both parents in this case. See Berger v. Berger, 277 Mich.App. 700, 707, 747 N.W.2d 336 (2008) (noting that "[a]n established custodial environment may exist with both parents where a child looks to both the mother and the father for guidance, discipline, the necessities of life, and parental comfort"). I fully acknowledge that "[i]t is possible to have a change of domicile ... without disturbing the established custodial environment." Brown v. Loveman, 260 Mich.App. 576, 596, 680 N.W.2d 432 (2004); see also Pierron v. Pierron, 282 Mich.App. 222, 249-250, 765 N.W.2d 345 (2009), aff'd 486 Mich. 81, 782 N.W.2d 480 (2010); DeGrow v. DeGrow, 112 Mich.App. 260, 267, 315 N.W.2d 915 (1982). However, on the facts of this case, I conclude that the move to Windsor, Ontario would change the child's established custodial environment and that the circuit court erred by determining that it would not.
Defendant has been closely involved in the child's upbringing since the child was born in 2005. Along with plaintiff, defendant has joint legal and physical custody of the child. The record evidence establishes that defendant consistently exercises his full complement of parenting time and spends additional time with the child whenever possible. Defendant spends time with the child both during the week and on weekends. In addition to defendant's regularly scheduled parenting time, he frequently brings the child lunch, has taken the child on vacations, and talks to the child on the telephone two or three times per day. Further, defendant is responsible for the vast majority of the child's transportation needs, and takes the child to all of his medical and dental appointments. Even plaintiff admits that defendant has an extremely close relationship with the child and that the child looks to defendant for guidance and discipline in his day-to-day life.
The majority concludes that plaintiff's move to Windsor with the child would not destroy defendant's strong relationship with the child and would not render defendant a "weekend" parent. Consequently, according to the majority, the circuit court correctly determined that the move to Windsor would not affect the child's established custodial environment with defendant. I must respectfully disagree.
I realize that plaintiff has agreed to bring the child into the United States for defendant's parenting time so that defendant, himself, does not have to face the burdens of traveling to Canada to see the child. However, I still believe that plaintiff's international move with the child poses substantial difficulties for defendant. The circuit court determined that despite plaintiff's move to Windsor with the child, defendant would still be able to spend time and interact with the child on a regular basis. The circuit court further observed that, even though defendant might lose his overnight visits with the child during the week, this could be remedied by granting defendant an additional weekend of parenting time each month. But unlike a move to Ohio or Indiana, it strikes me that plaintiff's move to Canada will have the potential of significantly obstructing defendant's weekday visitation schedule. Neither the parties nor the circuit court can know for certain whether plaintiff will be able to bring the child to Michigan for all scheduled parenting time with defendant. For instance, what will happen if plaintiff must wait to cross the international border with the child or, worse yet, if the border is closed completely? While such questions are not germane in the context of interstate moves, they are certainly relevant in the context of international moves. In short, I agree with defendant that the unpredictable and time-consuming nature of crossing the international border may ultimately affect his weekday parenting-time schedule so greatly that he will have to opt out of weekday visitation altogether on certain occasions. Unlike the majority, I conclude that such a scenario would effectively relegate defendant to the role of a weekend-only parent, thereby altering the child's established custodial environment with defendant. Powery v. Wells, 278 Mich.App. 526, 528, 752 N.W.2d 47 (2008).
Once a circuit court has granted a party permission to remove a minor child from the state, and assuming that the party's move would effectively alter the child's established custodial environment, the court must undertake an analysis of the best-interest factors set forth in MCL 722.23 to determine whether the party can prove by clear and convincing evidence that the removal and consequent change in the established custodial environment will be in the child's best interests. Brown, 260 Mich.App. at 583, 680 N.W.2d 432. In the instant case, the circuit court granted plaintiff's request for permission to remove the child to Windsor. Moreover, as I have already explained, I believe that such a move would alter the child's established custodial environment with defendant. Accordingly, in my opinion, the circuit court should have undertaken an analysis of the best-interest factors to determine whether the move to Windsor and consequent change in the established custodial environment was in the child's best interests. Id. I would reverse the circuit court's determination that the move to Windsor will not affect the child's established custodial environment and remand this matter to the circuit court for a best-interests determination in accordance with Brown and MCL 722.23.