Matter of Custody of Peal

COPELAND, Justice.

The sole issue for our review is whether Judge Wood abused his discretion in concluding that a change in the custody of Stacy Brian Peal was legally warranted in 1980. We hold that the able and experienced district judge did not exceed the bounds of his discretion in this regard and therefore reverse the decision of the Court of Appeals. In so doing, we affirm the sound reasoning expounded by Judge Clark in his dissent at the Court of Appeals. See 54 N.C. App. at 569-70, 284 S.E. 2d at 350-51.

Unfortunately, child custody disputes are often hotly-contested, bitter affairs in…