Stamps v. Rawlins

761 S.W.2d 933 (1988)

297 Ark. 270

Deborah Rae (Rawlins) STAMPS, Appellant,

v.

Paul Eugene RAWLINS, Appellee.

No. 88-239.

Supreme Court of Arkansas.

December 19, 1988.

Greg Clark, Bentonville, for appellant.

Johnnie Emberton Rhoads, Rogers, for appellee.

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…