Simons by and Through Simons v. Gisvold

SANDSTROM, Justice.

For as long as she could remember, 9-year-old Jessica Simons, her father Bruce, and his wife Debra had lived together as a family. While Bruce worked at his job, Debra stayed home and cared for Jessica. In 1993, Bruce died of cancer.

Both Debra Simons, Jessica’s “psychological parent,” and Joelle Gisvold, Jessica’s natural mother, divorced from Bruce shortly after the birth, sought custody. The guardian ad litem recommended Jessica’s best interests would be served if she continued to live with Debra.

The district court found the natural mother, although having given up…