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High court affirms child custody ruling
On Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015, the NMI Supreme Court issued a ruling in Inos v. Inos, affirming an order of the trial court that prohibited Pebbles B. Inos from taking her daughter, “G.I.,” to the Philippines and requiring Perry Gus A. Inos Jr. to cooperate in obtaining a passport for G.I.
The high court concluded that the trial court did not abuse its discretion because the factors presented by Pebbles B. Inos’ attorney were not evidence, and the trial court’s decision was supported by the record. Moreover, the high court justices noted that it was not adopting a “per se” ban on any contested request to travel to non-Hague Convention countries. Rather, it directed trial courts to permit the presentation of measures that ensure enforceability of and compliance with the custody order. Last, it instructed courts to consider all evidence from both parents, as well as further evidence upon the court’s own motion, in order to determine the child’s best interests.
The Supreme Court’s opinion is available at http://www.cnmilaw.org/supreme15.html. (NMI Judiciary)
