Cobb v. Cobb, 2 P.3d 578 (WY 2000)

The appellant-mother challenged an order from the District Court awarding child custody to appellee-father and giving her the same visitation rights that the father had when she had custody. The Supreme Court of Wyoming affirmed the order because the domestic violence suffered by the mother at the hands of her boyfriend, in front of the children, was a change in circumstances that warranted a change in custody to protect their children. WY Stat § 20-2-113 provided that “the court shall consider evidence of spousal abuse or child abuse as being contrary to the best interest of the child.” The Supreme Court of Wyoming agreed with the District Court that the statute applied to non-marital domestic relationships. Therefore, the domestic violence experienced by the mother in front of the children, warranted a change in custody rights to protect the children from potential abuse, and was in their best interest.

Topics

• Domestic and intimate partner violence

Geographical location

• North America
• United States
• Wyoming

Keywords

• abuse of discretion
• child custody
• best interests of child

Year

• 2000

External URL

• Cobb v. Cobb, 2 P.3d 578 (WY 2000)

Court

• Wyoming Supreme Court

Type

• Domestic Case Law

Jurisdiction

• Wyoming