Haas v. Puchalski, 402 N.E.2d 1088 (Mass. App. Ct. 1980). · Go Syfert
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Haas v. Puchalski, 402 N.E.2d 1088 (Mass. App. Ct. 1980). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
19 citation events (12 in the last 25 years) across 2 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Marsha Philemond v. Diony Rejouis. (massappct, 2025-05-02)
Top citers, strongest first. 6 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Marsha Philemond v. Diony Rejouis.
Mass. App. Ct. · 2025 · confidence medium
See Tolos v. Tolos, 11 Mass. App. Ct. 708, 710 (1981) ("The uprooting of a child . . . should be done only for compelling reasons" [citation omitted]); Haas v. Puchalski, 9 Mass. App. Ct. 555, 557 (1980) (change in circumstances must be relevant).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Hunter v. Rose
Mass. · 2012 · confidence medium
Hugo P. v. George P., 526 U.S. 1034 (1999) (sibling relationship); Custody of Zia, 50 Mass. App. Ct. 237, 244 (2000) (custody to parent willing to respect other parent’s role in child’s life); Zatsky v. Zatsky, 36 Mass. App. Ct. 7, 13 (1994) (custody based on parent’s ability to subordinate her needs to those of children); Haas v. Puchalski, 9 Mass. App. Ct. 555, 557 (1980) (denial of custody where home was not “settled” and child would be cared for by multiple providers rather than parent).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Charara v. Yatim
Mass. App. Ct. · 2010 · confidence medium
See, e.g., Hersey v. Hersey, 271 Mass. 545, 555 (1930) (parental fault does not override child’s best interest; child happy and healthy in present home with half-brother and in care of her mother); Allen v. Allen, 326 Mass. 214, 217 (1950) (in deciding custody, judge could credit testimony “as to the home in which the girl seemed to be happier”); Vilakazi v. Maxie, 371 Mass. 406, 409 (1976) (“In providing for the custody of a minor child, while the feelings and the wishes of the parents should not be disregarded, the happiness and the welfare of the child should be the controlling cons…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Rosenthal v. Maney
Mass. App. Ct. · 2001 · confidence medium
We remand for the entry of a judgment that the custody of the parties’ minor child remain with the mother, that she may relocate with the child to Rhode Island, “and for such further proceedings consistent with this opinion relative to time and conditions of visitation.” Haas v. Puchalski, 9 Mass. App. Ct. at 558.
cited Cited "see" Hernandez v. Branciforte
Mass. App. Ct. · 2002 · signal: see · confidence high
See Haas v. Puchalski, 9 Mass. App. Ct. 555, 557 (1980).
cited Cited "see, e.g." El Chaar v. Chehab
Mass. App. Ct. · 2010 · signal: see also · confidence medium
See also Haas v. Puchalski, 9 Mass. App. Ct. 555, 557 (1980); Delmolino v. Nance, 14 Mass. App. Ct. 209, 214 (1982).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Michele Puchalski Haas vs. Raymond J. Puchalski, Jr.
Massachusetts Appeals Court.
Apr 10, 1980.
402 N.E.2d 1088
1980 Mass. App. LEXIS 1116
Paul H. Rothschild for the plaintiff., Edward P. Smith for the defendant.
Brown, Greaney, Kass.
Cited by 11 opinions  |  Published
Brown, J.

On May 25, 1977, Michele Puchalski Haas was granted a judgment of divorce nisi in a Probate Court from Raymond Puchalski on the ground of cruel and abusive treatment. Michele was awarded custody of their son Joshua, now five years old, with visitation rights to Raymond. Raymond was required to make support payments. The judgment prohibited Michele from removing Joshua from the Commonwealth.

On April 20, 1978, after Raymond filed a complaint for change of custody and termination of support payments, and moved for an order for temporary custody, he was given custody of Joshua by a temporary ex parte order on the ground that Michele had taken Joshua to Germany without notice to or the consent of Raymond.

On April 24, 1978, the Probate Court dissolved the order of April 20, 1978, and returned custody to Michele upon her[*556] posting a $1,000 bond and further “prohibited, enjoined and restrained [her] from removing the minor child of the parties, Joshua John, from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.” Michele, however, on this date, sought a modification to allow her to take Joshua to Colorado. [1] On September 7,1978, a judgment entered which relieved Raymond of all responsibility for support of the child, but otherwise made no modification of the May 25, 1977, judgment. [2]

On November 22; 1978, Raymond again filed a complaint for a change in custody, alleging violation of the order prohibiting Michele from removing Joshua from the Commonwealth. On November 24, 1978, Raymond obtained a second ex parte order transferring custody to him on the ground that Michele had taken Joshua to Colorado in violation of the restraining order. After Raymond had taken physical custody of Joshua and returned to Massachusetts with him, Michele, on March 2, 1979, filed a motion to revoke the temporary order of November 24, 1978, which was denied. She also filed a complaint for modification seeking to take Joshua back to Colorado.

By order of a probate judge, [3] judgments were entered after a hearing on the cross complaints for modification on April 17, 1979, transferring custody to Raymond and providing for one month’s visitation with Michele in Colorado, upon her posting $1,000 bond to insure the return of the child. [4] From these judgments Michele now appeals. We reverse for reasons to be set out below.

The judge made no findings of fact; however, the transcript of the evidence is before us. [5] Our standard of review[*557] in such circumstances is fully explicated in Fuller v. Fuller, 2 Mass. App. Ct. 372, 373-374 (1974), and cases cited.

The original judgment awarding custody to Michele must be presumed to have been right. It settled all questions in issue between the parties at the time it was entered. It was designed to endure until facts brought to the attention of the court should require a change. Hersey v. Hersey, 271 Mass. 545, 554 (1930). Fuller v. Fuller, 2 Mass. App. Ct. 372, 376 (1974).

To warrant a transfer of custody from one parent to another, following a determination of custody in a divorce proceeding, there must be a relevant change in circumstances. See Hinds v. Hinds, 329 Mass. 190, 191 (1952). Contrast Stevens v. Stevens, 337 Mass. 625, 627 (1958).

Although it cannot be denied that Michele acted improperly in removing the child to Germany and Colorado without the consent of Raymond, “ this conduct on her part cannot be permitted to interfere with the welfare of the child, the paramount and governing consideration.” Heard v. Heard, 323 Mass. 357, 377 (1948).

“This is not a proceeding to discipline [Michele] for her shortcomings. It is not a proceeding to reward [Raymond] for any wrong he may have suffered. It is a proceeding solely with reference to the custody of a little [child].” Hersey v. Hersey, supra at 555. There is nothing in the record to indicate that Michele has been in any respect an inadequate parent, or that her second marriage has been detrimental to Joshua. Fuller v. Fuller, supra at 377.

Although it may in fact be true that Raymond also offers a happy environment for Joshua, the evidence demonstrates that it is not a “settled home,” see Stevens v. Stevens, supra, as the child would be taken care of by many different relatives. This “militates against [Raymond’s] becoming the capable custodian of [Joshua] which [Michele] has already[*558] proven to be.” Fuller v. Fuller, supra at 377. In sum, there is nothing in the record before us that would warrant removing the child from a caring mother and a “home environment which appears to be quite satisfactory.” Ibid. We conclude, therefore, that the welfare of the child would be best served by having custody remain in Michele and by granting to Raymond such visitation rights as shall be determined by the Probate Court.

The judgments are reversed, and the matter is remanded to the Probate Court for the entry of judgments that the custody of the parties’ minor child remain in Michele, and for such further proceedings consistent with this opinion relative to time and conditions of visitation as may be appropriate to the particular circumstances of the parties. See Heard v. Heard, supra at 378.

So ordered.

1

The hearing on this complaint and Raymond’s complaint for modification, filed on April 20, 1978, was held on May 9, 1978.

2

No appeal was taken from this judgment.

3

This was not the same judge who had entered the earlier judgments.

4

Raymond had also filed a complaint for contempt, which was eventually dismissed.

5

We cannot stress too vigorously, however, that in custody cases it is imperative that the judge make findings showing that all the relevant fac[*557] tors in determining the best interests of the child have been weighed. Cf. Custody of a Minor (No. 1), 377 Mass. 876, 885-886 (1979). See also Rice v. Rice, 372 Mass. 398, 402-403 (1977).