Title: Danford v. Dupree

State: alabama

Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court

Document:

132 So. 2d 734 (1961)
Myrtle Irene DANFORD
v.
Bailey DUPREE.
4 Div. 37.

Supreme Court of Alabama.
June 29, 1961.
Rehearing Denied September 14, 1961.
J. Hubert Farmer, Dothan, for appellant.
Lee & McInish, Dothan, for appellee.
SIMPSON, Justice.
This is an appeal from a decree rendered by the Houston County Circuit Court in a habeas corpus proceeding instituted by appellant against appellee seeking the custody of her minor child, James Earl Kelley, born out of wedlock, custody of which appellant had voluntarily reliquished to the appellee when the child was ten and one-half months old. The child is now about three and onehalf years of age and petitioner has since married a man who is gainfully employed, who owns a comfortable three bedroom home in the city of Dothan, with modern conveniences, ect., with whom appellant is living.
When the case came on for hearing, and after the testimony of the appellant on cross examination, the following proceedings occurred which resulted in this appeal:
No further testimony was taken and the court entered a decree declaring that appellant was not a fit and proper person to have the custody of the minor child, and awarded custody to appellee and his wife. From this decree appellant appeals. Assignments of error argued are to the effect that the trial court concluded the hearing without permitting appellant by her witnesses to adequately present all of the facts pertinent to the issues in the case. We are at the conclusion that the assignments are well taken.
The rules governing in such a case have many times been stated and need little repetition here. While the best interest of an illegitimate child is the important factor, the mother of such child has a superior claim as against the world to its custody if she is fit and proper. Griggs v. Barnes, 262 Ala. 357, 362, 78 So. 2d 910, citing with approval In Guardianship of Smith (Howes v. Cohen), Cal., 255 P.2d 761, 762.
True, the parent may forfeit the right to custody of the child by her conduct and the relinquishment of such custody to another and continued acquiescence therein should be, and is, a factor to be considered in determining custody. Blevins v. Underwood, 232 Ala. 100, 166 So. 801.
But no agreement by the parent for the custody of a child is binding on the court, nor is the question of custody ever res judicata. Horton v. Gilmer, 266 Ala. 124, 94 So. 2d 393; Jackson v. Farmer, 247 Ala. 298, 24 So. 2d 130.
And although the testimony might disclose "one or more acts of each parent, which if considered alone would stamp each of them as an improper person to have the custody of this child, * * * the right of a parent, the mother or the father, to the custody and control of a child must not be concluded by one unbecoming or immoral act". Whitten v. Whitten, 214 Ala. 653, 654, 108 So. 751, 752.
In dealing with such a delicate and difficult questionthe welfare of a minor childdue process of law in legal proceedings should be observed. These settled *736 courses of procedure, as established by our law, include due notice, a hearing or opportunity to be heard before a court of competent jurisdiction. Tillman v. Walters, 214 Ala. 71, 108 So. 62.
It seems apparent from the record that the learned trial court failed to give recognition to these governing principles and in effect stopped the proceedings and prejudged the case without having a full hearing. It seems, also, the trial court placed the burden on the appellant to show that appellees were not fit persons to have custody of the child, whereas the burden, as stated in Esco v. Davidson, supra, was on the appellees contesting the parent's right to custody.
So considered, the decree was laid in error.
Reversed and remanded.
LIVINGSTON, C. J., and GOODWYN and COLEMAN, JJ., concur.