Status of the Missouri Law in the Troubled Area of Child Custody, The
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Missouri Law Review Volume 27 Issue 3 June 1962 Article 5 1962 Status of the Missouri Law in the Troubled Area of Child Custody, The Joseph W. Lewis Gerald Tockman Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.missouri.edu/mlr Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation Joseph W. Lewis and Gerald Tockman, Status of the Missouri Law in the Troubled Area of Child Custody, The , 27 MO. L. REV. (1962) Available at: https://scholarship.law.missouri.edu/mlr/vol27/iss3/5 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Journals at University of Missouri School of Law Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Missouri Law Review by an authorized editor of University of Missouri School of Law Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Lewis and Tockman: Lewis: Status of the Missouri Law in the Troubled Area of Child Custody THE STATUS OF THE MISSOURI LAW IN THE TROUBLED AREA OF CHILD CUSTODY JOSEPH W. LEwis* AND GERALD TocMAN** The basic principle that the welfare of the child is the paramount con- sideration in judicial determinations of the right to custody has been so universally proclaimed by all courts of Missouri and by the other courts of the land, both federal and state, that the doctrine has indeed become a judicial truism with which no courts take issue. The layman and, indeed, the lawyer unfamiliar with child custody problems might be refreshed to know that here at least is one area of the law where a simple, noble, human precept will guide the courts in resolving the problems presented to them. It is thus somewhat disconcerting to realize that even this great principle of law is so buffeted by exceptions, exceptions to exceptions, statutory and judicial procedural restrictions, jurisdictional limitations and uncertainties and other overriding legal principles, that the great axiom so happily and so consistently enunciated appears in many instances to be all but lost in the confusion. This article comprises primarily a review of the Missouri decisions involving civil transfers of custody of children by courts pursuant to exist- ing statutory authority. Specifically, the article will discuss cases arising: (1) under the new Missouri Juvenile Code;' (2) under that portion of the Missouri divorce law relating to transfer of custody of minor children; 2 and (3) under the Missouri Habeas Corpus Statutes. 3 Custody problems in connection with adoption proceedings which are, of course, under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court,4 are discussed com- prehensively in another part of this symposium5 and will be touched upon only incidentally in this article. *Attorney, St. Louis, Mo.; B.A. Princeton University, 1934; L.L.B., Harvard University, 1937; member, Family Law Committee of the Missouri Bar; former Chairman, Juvenile Courts, Law and Procedure Committee of the St. Louis Bar; partner, Lewis, Rice, Tucker, Allen and Chubb, St. Louis, Mo. **Attorney, St. Louis, Mo.; B.A., Washington University, 1958; LL.B., Wash- ington University, 1960; associate, Lewis, Rice, Tucker, Allen and Chubb, St. Louis, Mo. 1. §§ 211.011-.431, RSMo 1959. (All statutory references herein will be to RSMo 1959 unless otherwise specifically indicated.) 2. § 452.070. 3. Ch. 532. 4. Ch. 475; § 211.031. 5. See Cook, Adoption Revisited, 27 Mo. L. REv. 391 (1962). (406) Published by University of Missouri School of Law Scholarship Repository, 1962 1 Missouri Law Review, Vol. 27, Iss. 3 [1962], Art. 5 1962] LAW IN AREA OF CHILD CUSTODY I. THE JUVENILE CODE The present Missouri Juvenile Code was enacted by the 69th General Assembly and became effective on August 29, 1957. The primary purpose of this portion of this article is to examine the problems which have been presented by the appellate cases arising to date under the law and how these problems have been resolved by the courts, and to forecast some of the not yet adjudicated problems which may be anticipated most readily. A review of the history, philosophy and social merits of the law6 are not within the scope of this article although some comments in these areas will inevita- bly be made. A. The Statute A brief summary of the most fundamental provisions of the Juvenile Code is, of course, necessary in order to understand the issues raised in the cases to be discussed and in order to appreciate some of the problems facing juvenile judges in custody proceedings under the code. The code provides that the juvenile court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction in proceedings involving a child seventeen years of age or younger who is in need of care and treatment (1) because the persons re- sponsible for the care and support of the child have neglected or refused to provide such care and support, (2) because the child is otherwise without proper care, custody or support, (3) because the behavior, environment or associations of the child are injurious to his welfare or the welfare of otherg, or (4) because the child is alleged to have violated any state law or munici- pal ordinance. Jurisdiction also vests in the juvenile court as respects a minor seventeen years of age or older who is alleged to have violated a state law or municipal ordinance prior to having become seventeen years of age, or for the suspension or revocation of an automobile license. The court also has exclusive jurisdiction for the adoption of any person and for the com- mitment of a child to the guardianship of the Department of Public Health and Welfare, as provided by law.7 6. For interesting commentaries on the history, philosophy and development of the Missouri Juvenile Code, see Weinstein, The Juvenile Court Concept in Mis- souri: Its Historical Development-The Need for New Legislation, 1957 WAsH. U.L.Q. 17; Weinstein and Robins, The Juvenile Court in Missouri: 1957-59-A Survey of Current Development and Future Requirements, 1959 WASH. U.L.Q. 373. For an excellent symposium on various facets of modern juvenile court acts, see the July 1959 issue of the National Probationand Parole Association Journal. 7. § 211.031. https://scholarship.law.missouri.edu/mlr/vol27/iss3/5 2 Lewis and Tockman: Lewis: Status of the Missouri Law in the Troubled Area of Child Custody MISSOURI LAW REVIEW [Vol. 27 Once the juvenile court has attained jurisdiction over a child, such jurisdiction is retained until the child reaches twenty-one years of age.8 Nothing in the code shall deprive other courts of the right to determine legal custody of children upon writs of habeas corpus or to determine legal custody or guardianship of children when incidental to the determination of causes pending in other courts. Such questions, however, may be certified by another court to the juvenile court for hearing, determination or recom- mendation." Any child taken into custody for an offense is immediately turned over to the juvenile court or juvenile officer.10 The juvenile court, in its discretion, may dismiss any petition with respect to any child fourteen years of age or older who is alleged to have committed an offense which would be a felony if committed by an adult or who is alleged to have violated a state or municipal traffic law, or with respect to a minor seventeen years of age or older who is alleged to have violated any state law or municipal ordinance if such child came under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court prior to reaching seventeen years of age, and, in any such case, such child may be prosecuted under the general law.,- Whenever anyone informs the juvenile court in person and in writing that a child appears to be subject to the jurisdiction of the court, the court makes a preliminary inquiry to determine the facts and to determine whether or not the interests of the public or the child require that further action be taken, and, on the basis of this inquiry, the juvenile court may make such informal adjustments as are practicable without a petition or may authorize the filing of a petition by the juvenile officer.12 When a petition is filed, the person who has custody of the child shall be summoned to appear before the court and, if such person is someone other than the parent or guardian of the child, then the parent or guardian must also be notified of the case. If it appears that the child's welfare re- quires that his custody be immediately assumed by the court, the summons shall so state and the officer serving the summons shall take the child into custody at once. Summons may be served personally or, if the juvenile court finds that it is impracticable to serve summons personally, service by registered mail to the last known address of the person is authorized.13 8. § 211.041. 9. § 211.051. 10. § 211.061. 11. § 211.071. 12. § 211.081. 13. §§ 211.101, .111. Published by University of Missouri School of Law Scholarship Repository, 1962 3 Missouri Law Review, Vol. 27, Iss. 3 [1962], Art. 5 19621 LAW IN AREA OF CHILD CUSTODY When a child is taken into custody such act is not considered an arrest.14 There are provisions for the detention of the child under certain cir- cumstances, such provisions being geared to the protection of the child.1" The juvenile court may cause a child to be examined by a physician, psychiatrist or psychologist appointed by the court, and for this purpose the services of state, county or municipal personnel or institutions may be used and a county may, at the request of the juvenile court, provide proper 1 6 services in connection with diagnosis and treatment of children.