In Re the Marriage of Dawson

LeGRAND, Justice.

We are asked to decide here only the question of child custody under a decree of dissolution terminating the marriage of the parties hereto. Custody was awarded to the respondent mother and we affirm.

William Patrick Dawson, hereafter referred to as William, and Diane Elizabeth Dawson, hereafter referred to as Diane, were married on April 5, 1969. They have one child, Michael John Dawson, who was three years old at the time of trial. Diane also had a child by a previous marriage, Christopher Allen Dawson, who was adopted by William, and who was nine years old when the case was…