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Case No. 24-0430

Catherine Smith
v.
Chad Ragan

Appellee

Catherine Smith

Appellant

Chad Ragan

Attorney for the Appellee

Esther J. Dean

Attorney for the Appellant

Wendy S. Meyer

Court of Appeals

Court of Appeals Opinion

Opinion Number:
24-0430
Date Published:
Nov 13, 2024
Summary

    Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Muscatine County, Stuart P. Werling, Judge.  AFFIRMED AS MODIFIED.  Considered by Tabor, C.J., and Chicchelly and Sandy, JJ.  Opinion by Tabor, C.J.  (11 pages)

    Chad Ragan appeals the custody order awarding primary physical care of his seven-year-old son, T.R., to the child’s mother.  He argues that the district court erred in not awarding joint physical care.  As a fallback position, he contends that his visitation should be increased.  OPINION HOLDS: In our de novo review, we agree with the district court’s assessment that it is in T.R.’s best interests to have a more predictable schedule than he has navigated under his parents’ shared-care arrangement.  But because the parents agree that T.R. would benefit from more time with his father, we modify the custody order to expand Ragan’s parenting time.  
 

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