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In re the Marriage of Bridget Word and Brett Word
Date: 07-19-2024
Case Number:
Judge: Gregg Rosenbladt
Court: District Court, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Plaintiff's Attorney:
Click Here For The Best Mason City Family Law Lawyer Directory
Defendant's Attorney:
Click Here For The Best Mason City Family Law Lawyer Directory
Mason City, Iowa family law lawyers represented the Plaintiff and Defendant on a petition to modify the parties' dissolution (divorce) decree.
Bridget and Brett married in 2014, and they have two children, born in 2015 and 2017. The parties' marriage was dissolved by an Arizona decree in 2019, several months after the family moved to Iowa. Bridget and Brett stipulated to the terms of the decree, and the court approved their agreement. The agreement provided Bridget and Brett would have joint legal custody of the children, alternating physical care every other weekday and weekend.
In 2022, Bridget filed a petition for modification of physical care in Iowa district court, requesting "primary physical care . . . subject to appropriate visitation by [Brett]." To support her petition, Bridget alleged:
Some of the substantial change of circumstances include, but are not limited to, a break down in the ability of [Bridget] and [Brett] to communicate and effectively cooperatively co-parent to the degree necessary to maintain shared physical custody, behaviors by [Brett] that adversely impact the emotional and mental health of the children to their detriment, the children are struggling under the terms of the current custody order which is proving unworkable for them and parents, refusal by [Brett] to reasonably cooperate in decision making for the children to the detriment of the children, deterioration in [Brett]'s mental health, etc. [Bridget] is in a superior position to raise the children to successful adulthood and it is in the children's best interests to be in the primary care of [their] mother.
Brett filed an answer, denying Bridget's claims and requesting physical care of the children.
3
The modification trial took place over three days in March 2023. The district court heard testimony from the parties and a number of other witnesses. The guardian ad litem also filed a detailed report. Both parties had remarried and were living in appropriate and nurturing homes. By all accounts, the children were well-adjusted, happy, and involved in school and activities. A large portion of the evidence was centered on the status of Brett's mental health as a "total permanent disabled veteran." In support of her petition, Bridget pointed to Brett's diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), claiming the changes in his mental health and behaviors necessitated modification of physical care.
In re Marriage of Word, 23-0864 (Iowa App. Jun 19, 2024)
Bridget and Brett married in 2014, and they have two children, born in 2015 and 2017. The parties' marriage was dissolved by an Arizona decree in 2019, several months after the family moved to Iowa. Bridget and Brett stipulated to the terms of the decree, and the court approved their agreement. The agreement provided Bridget and Brett would have joint legal custody of the children, alternating physical care every other weekday and weekend.
In 2022, Bridget filed a petition for modification of physical care in Iowa district court, requesting "primary physical care . . . subject to appropriate visitation by [Brett]." To support her petition, Bridget alleged:
Some of the substantial change of circumstances include, but are not limited to, a break down in the ability of [Bridget] and [Brett] to communicate and effectively cooperatively co-parent to the degree necessary to maintain shared physical custody, behaviors by [Brett] that adversely impact the emotional and mental health of the children to their detriment, the children are struggling under the terms of the current custody order which is proving unworkable for them and parents, refusal by [Brett] to reasonably cooperate in decision making for the children to the detriment of the children, deterioration in [Brett]'s mental health, etc. [Bridget] is in a superior position to raise the children to successful adulthood and it is in the children's best interests to be in the primary care of [their] mother.
Brett filed an answer, denying Bridget's claims and requesting physical care of the children.
3
The modification trial took place over three days in March 2023. The district court heard testimony from the parties and a number of other witnesses. The guardian ad litem also filed a detailed report. Both parties had remarried and were living in appropriate and nurturing homes. By all accounts, the children were well-adjusted, happy, and involved in school and activities. A large portion of the evidence was centered on the status of Brett's mental health as a "total permanent disabled veteran." In support of her petition, Bridget pointed to Brett's diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), claiming the changes in his mental health and behaviors necessitated modification of physical care.
In re Marriage of Word, 23-0864 (Iowa App. Jun 19, 2024)
Affirmed
About This Case
What was the outcome of In re the Marriage of Bridget Word and Brett Word?
The outcome was: Ultimately, the district court denied Bridget's request to modify physical care,[1] concluding she had not "shown a substantial change in circumstances by a preponderance of the evidence." Specifically, the court found "Brett's diagnosis appears unchanged from prior to the decree." Affirmed
Which court heard In re the Marriage of Bridget Word and Brett Word?
This case was heard in District Court, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, IA. The presiding judge was Gregg Rosenbladt.
Who were the attorneys in In re the Marriage of Bridget Word and Brett Word?
Plaintiff's attorney: Click Here For The Best Mason City Family Law Lawyer Directory. Defendant's attorney: Click Here For The Best Mason City Family Law Lawyer Directory.
When was In re the Marriage of Bridget Word and Brett Word decided?
This case was decided on July 19, 2024.