In re the Dissolution of the Marriage of Jones

The parties were divorced in 1974 and custody of their three-year-old daughter was awarded to the mother subject to reasonable visitation by the father. In July, 1976, the father petitioned for modification of the dissolution decree changing custody of their child to him. Alternatively, he sought to modify the decree to provide specific times for visitation.1 Following protracted and bitterly contested proceedings, the trial court denied the change of custody and ordered that all visitation be suspended for a period of 18 months.2 The order further provided that evidence of the child’s…