Morrow

BACKGROUND

In May 2018, a judgment of dissolution of marriage was granted, awarding the parties joint legal and physical custody of their young sons. In September 2019, Mother asked the trial court to modify the custody order, accusing Father of sexual misconduct towards their children. After a four-day evidentiary hearing concluded in July 2020, the parties submitted closing argument briefs to the trial court. Mother explained that, while she “fear[ed] Father may have acted improperly,” she “hope[d] she [was] wrong,” and “concede[d] that the evidence presented at trial was not sufficient to prove Father sexually abused” the children. In a September 2020 ruling, the trial court found that Mother made “false allegations that [Father] had sexually abused both minor children.” The trial court modified the custody arrangement, but maintained parents’ joint legal and physical custody of their children. Mother filed a timely notice of appeal.

DISCUSSION

Mother does not ask us to reverse the trial court’s order of joint physical and legal custody, or the trial court’s change to the custody arrangement. Rather, she asks us to “restore . . . a measure of her good name as a competent…