M. Arthur Beck, Plaintiff-Appellant v. Susan M. Beck, Defendant-Respondent

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey affirmed the trial court’s joint legal and physical custody decree, holding that the trial court has authority to order joint custody sua sponte and that the decree was supported by sufficient credible evidence. The Court reversed the Appellate Division’s reversal, finding that Sorento v. Family & Children’s Society does not apply to post‑divorce custody and that the Johnson standard requires only that findings be supported by sufficient credible evidence. The matter was remanded for further fact‑finding. Justice Sullivan dissented, arguing that sole custody with visitation for the father was in the children’s best interests.