Case ID: ga_234/html/0729-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Hill, Justice.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

29956.
    AVERY v. AVERY.
    Submitted May 19, 1975
    Decided July 2, 1975.
   Hill, Justice.

This is an appeal from an order denying and dismissing an action for a change of custody brought by the mother of a minor child. The action was heard by the court without a jury and was opposed by the father. The case was dismissed January 10, 1975, for failure to present sufficient evidence to authorize the granting of the relief prayed for.

The mother enumerates error upon the grounds that the court erred in denying and dismissing her complaint and abused its discretion in failing to award her custody of the minor child, and upon the failure of the trial court to make findings of fact and conclusions of law in its final order. Code Ann. § 81A-152 (a) provides that in all actions in superior court tried upon the facts without a jury, except uncontested divorce, alimony and custody of minors, the court shall find the facts specially and state separately its conclusions of law thereon. The court recently has held that Code Ann. § 81A-152 (a) is mandatory. Doyal Development Co. v. Blair, 234 Ga. 261 (215 SE2d 471). It is applicable to contested child custody cases. Githens v. Githens, 234 Ga. 715.

The trial court is directed to enter the findings of fact and conclusions of law on which its decision is based.

Judgment reversed with direction.

All the Justices concur, except Nichols, C. J., and Undercofler, P. J., who dissent.

Baker, Baker & Marshall, Elizabeth M. Baker, for appellant.

Donald A. Page, for appellee.