Rochelle v. Rochelle

This child custody dispute raises issues concerning jurisdiction and venue. Carl and Connie Rochelle were married in 1971. Two children were born of the marriage: Carl, III, born in 1972 and John, born in 1974. The marriage proved unhappy, and the parties separated in 1976. They executed a property settlement agreement which purported to vest custody of the children in the mother and give liberal visitation rights to the father. In practice, however, the children divided their time equally between the parents.

From December 1977 until June 1978, the parties again lived together at the family…