The legal issues presented in this case will be displayed here.

This section contains the nature of the case and procedural background.

P and D were married on January 31, 1998. Jessica was born on August 8, 1999. The parties separated on November 17, 2000. P filed a motion for both joint legal custody and joint physical custody of his daughter. D filed a counter-complaint in the same court, asking for a limited divorce and sole custody, both legal and physical, of her daughter. The court awarded sole physical custody to D but eventually gave joint legal custody to the P and D. The court delayed the ruling on legal custody until after P and D spent time working with a therapist, Dr. Gordon to see if P and D could communicate enough for joint legal custody. The Dr. reported to the court that after six months of counseling, there was optimism that P and D could act on the best interests of their daughter. Based on this report, the court awarded joint legal custody. D appealed.

The court's holding and decision will be displayed here.

Legal analysis from Dean's Law Dictionary will be displayed here.