Markham

*509 Opinion

This is an appeal from a denial of a joinder motion in a marriage dissolution. The motion was presented by the mother and brother of the petitioning spouse (the wife) seeking custody and visitation rights with respect to the children of the marriage. The appeal lies. (County of Alameda v. Carleson (1971) 5 Cal.3d 730, 736 [ 97 Cal.Rptr. 385 , 488 P.2d 953 ]; In re Marriage of Meier (1975) 51 Cal. App.3d 120, 122, fn. 1 [ 123 Cal.Rptr. 822 ].) We have concluded that the order was proper, and we affirm.

Procedural History

Terry Jane Williams (petitioner) filed a petition seeking dissolution of her marriage to Clayton Williams (respondent) in July 1978. She sought custody of the two minor children of the marriage, spousal support and child support. In her declaration under uniform custody of minors act, she declared that no one other than herself and her husband claimed any visitation or custody right with respect to the children. The court issued a pendente lite order awarding custody to petitioner. The father’s response, filed a few days later, also asked that custody of the children be awarded to petitioner, but asked for reasonable visitation rights. He too,…