Cotton v. Wise

WOLFF, Judge.

The question presented here is whether the trial court can by-pass the provisions of Missouri’s guardianship statute and grant custody and guardianship of minor children to a person the court deems to be an “equitable parent.” Because the guardianship statute, section 475.030, RSMo 1994, is quite sufficient in the circumstances presented here to serve the interests of these children, we reverse and remand for the entry of an order complying with the statute.

Wallace Cotton and Bobbi Jo Cotton were married on June 14,1982. At the time of her marriage, Bobbi Jo had two daughters,…