Stamps v. Rawlins

Robert H. Dudley, Justice.

This child custody case was certified by the court of appeals to us to decide whether a chancery court can award custody of a child to a stepparent, rather than to a natural parent. We hold that a chancellor may award custody to a stepparent, but reverse the decision doing so in this particular case.

The stepchild in this case, Ryan, was only three months old when his mother, appellant, and stepfather, appellee, were married. He was about five years old at the time the parties were divorced. In the divorce decree, entered on February 5,1987, the chancellor awarded…