Quenzer v. Quenzer

The task confronting our court in this case is that of reconciling, in the context of the power to enter a judgment modifying a child-custody decree, the laws of the State of Texas, the State of Wyoming, and the United States of America. The question of custody of the parties daughter is before the courts for the fourth time in seven years with each proceeding except this one being instituted by the father. A district court in Texas entered an Order of Modification in Suit Affecting Parent-Child Relationship, modifying the child-custody provisions of an Order entered in a circuit court of the State of Oregon essentially by awarding custody of the child to the father. The circuit court in Oregon had entered a judgment essentially confirming the child-custody provisions, but modifying the visitation provisions, of a Decree of Divorce which had been entered by the Court of Domestic Relations in Texas, and which had awarded primary custody of the child to the mother. Thereafter, the district court in Wyoming entered its Order modifying the Texas modification order by restoring primary custody to the mother. The district court in Wyoming, while denigrating the authority of the Texas court to enter a modification order, essentially relied upon its own authority to modify the provisions relating to the custody of the child based upon a change in circumstances. This appeal is by the father from the Order entered by the district court in Wyoming, which not only modified the custody provisions of the order entered by the Texas district court, but also imposed personal judgments upon the father. Having satisfied ourselves of the jurisdiction of the district court in Wyoming to enter its Order, we shall affirm the district court. - Page 297