Custody Dispute Involving Sibling Separation and Mandatory Child Hearing

The appellate court reviewed a custody dispute where the lower court had separated three siblings, granting custody of two daughters to one parent and the son to the other, despite the parties' initial disagreement over all three children. The appellate court reasoned that judicial discretion permits holding a child hearing, as mandated by relevant statutes, even in family law matters where child custody aspects appear uncontested at the appellate stage or when a child is under the statutory hearing age, because the hearing serves the factual investigation purpose and allows observation of sibling bonds, ultimately resulting in the court granting custody of the youngest child to the parent retaining the older siblings to maintain the family unit.