Marriage of Bowman CA3

BACKGROUND

On July 3, 2012, judgment was entered dissolving father’s marriage to Richie Bowman (mother). The judgment included both an order granting the parties joint legal and physical custody of their minor children and a detailed parenting schedule. The parenting schedule was then modified in April 2013; the modification included an order that the parties’ children were “to remain in the South Lake Tahoe School District through eighth grade . . . .” On July 16, 2013, father filed a motion to modify the July 13, 2012 custody and visitation order.1 Father asked the trial court to grant him sole physical custody of the parties’ children and grant mother “reasonable visitation.” In support of his request, father argued that since the children left the school near his home and began going to school in South Lake Tahoe, their schoolwork was suffering. Father argued the children would do better if they lived with him during the week and returned to the school near his home. The trial court heard father’s motion on September 27, 2013. Mother and father each represented themselves and each testified. Father also submitted e-mails and school records in support of his claims. The trial…