Primm v. Lopes

OPINION

Appellant Kathryn Dee Primm (“Primm”) gave birth to Thomas Lee Primm-Lopes (“Thomas”) in 1987. Although Primm and respondent Thomas Lopes (“Lopes”) never married, in March 1987, a district court order established Lopes’ parentage.

In the early fall of 1990, Primm decided to accept a job transfer to Florida. In September 1990, Lopes, fearing that Primm might abscond with Thomas to Florida, filed a complaint to establish custody of Thomas. Specifically, Lopes requested that the court award joint legal custody, but grant Lopes primary physical custody of Thomas with reasonable visitation…