Katie J. Rountree v. Joshua Rountree

This is a divorce case involving issues related to the permanent parenting plan and the divisionofmarital property. The trial court adoptedMother’s proposedpermanent parenting plan, which provided that the child would attend preschool, against Father’s wishes, even though prior to trial Father had been the primary caregiver of the child while Mother worked. The trial court also adopted Mother’s proposed division of marital property. We conclude that the trial court erred in finding that Father’s desire to care for the child during the day was based on a self-serving motive. Accordingly, we vacate the parenting plan and remand for the establishment of a new permanent parenting plan. We further conclude that Mother was improperly assigned her attorney fees as a marital debt, and we reverse that award. In addition, we reverse portions of the trial court’s findings regarding the marital property, but affirm the overall division as equitable. Affirmed in part, reversed in part, vacated in part, and remanded.