Edwards v. Edwards

Katherine and Robert Edwards (plaintiff and defendant) divorced, remarried, and divorced again; Robert was not the biological father of Katherine's daughter K.A.E., who was born between their two marriages, but K.A.E. lived with the couple and had little contact with her natural father, coming to know Robert as her only real father figure. In the second divorce decree, the trial court found Robert was a good father to K.A.E. and awarded him visitation along with an equal role in major decisions about her education, healthcare, and religion (with Katherine having final say in disputes), while noting Robert's rights remained subordinate to those of K.A.E.'s natural father. Katherine appealed, arguing the court erred by granting Robert any parental rights without an explicit finding that he was K.A.E.'s "psychological parent."