In Re Marriage of Godwin

This is an appeal from an order of the trial court placing custody of the parties’ nine-year-old son with the petitioner, David Godwin.

David and Patricia Godwin were divorced in May of 1977. In December of 1977, the trial court awarded custody of the couple’s minor son, Bruce, to Mrs. Godwin (now Mrs. Hostens). The court also ordered extensive visitation rights to Mr. Godwin. In the time between the divorce and the original custody hearing, both parties remarried.

In April 1981, Mr. Godwin filed a petition to modify the custody order. Ten days later, he filed an amended petition to modify the…