THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, BETHEL, J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA T E JUDGE PHI PPS

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

p h y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

M ay 18, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A0 07 4 . SIGAFOOSE v . COBB.

B E T H E L , J u d g e.

Herb ert Rh et t Co b b an d Am b er El i zab et h Si g afo o s e are t h e p aren t s o f a m i n o r

ch i l d

. Co b b

, wh o res i d es i n No rt h Caro l i n a, fi l ed a co m pl ai n t fo r leg i ti m at i o n an d

ch i l d cu s t o d y i n G wi n n et t Co u n t y Su p eri o r Co u rt ag ai n s t Si g afo o se. 1 Si g afo o s e

an s wered t he co m

p l ai n t an d al s o fi l ed a co u n t ercl ai m r e q u e s t i n g t h at s h e m ai n t ai n

s o l e ph y s i cal an d l eg al cu s t od y t o t h e ch il d

. Aft er a h eari n g, t he t ri al co u rt en t ered a

t em p o rary o rd er g ran t i n g p h y s i cal cu s t o d y o f t h e ch i l d t o Co b b

, p en d i n g a

p s y ch o lo g i cal ev al uat i o n o f Si g afo o s e. 2 F o l l o wi ng t hat ev al u at i o n an d a s eco n d

1 Co b b h ad p rev i o u sl y b een g ran ted an ord er es t ab l i s hi n g p at ern i t y b y a ci rcu i t

co u rt i n t h e St at e o f Fl o ri d a.

2 Si g afo o s e fi l ed an ap p l i cat i o n fo r d i s cret i o n ary ap p eal i n reg ard t o t h e

t em p o rary o r d e r

, w h i c h t h i s Co u rt d i sm is s ed fo r l ack o f j u ri s d i ct i o n b ecau s e t h eh eari n g , t h e t ri al co u rt i ss u ed a fi n al o rd er i n wh i ch i t g ran t ed t h e p art i es jo i n t l eg al

cu s t o d y of t h e ch il d

, award ed Co b b p ri m ary p h y s i cal cu s t o d y

, affo r d ed Si g afo o s e

v i s i t at i o n ri g h t s

, 3 an d o rd ered Si g afo o s e t o pay at t o rn ey fees

. Si g afo o s e cl ai m s o n

ap p eal t h at t h e cu s t o d y award an d t h e award o f at t orn ey fees w ere erro n eo u s

. Fo r t h e

reas on s s et fo rt h b el o w, we d i sag ree an d affi rm

.

1

. Si g afo o s e fi rs t arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i o n in i s s u i n g i t s

cu s t o d y award . W e d i s ag ree.

W h ere t h e t ri al co u rt h as e x e r ci s ed i t s d i scret i o n an d award ed cu s t o d y

o f ch i l dren t o on e fi t p aren t o ver t h e o t h er fi t p aren t

, t h i s Co u rt wi l l n o t

i n t erfere wi t h t h at deci s i o n u n l es s t h e ev i d en ce s h o w s t h e t ri al co u rt

cl earl y ab u s ed i t s di s cret io n

. W h ere t h ere i s an y ev i d en ce t o s u p p ort th e

d ec i s i o n o f t h e t ri al co u rt

, t h i s Co u rt can n ot s ay t h ere was an ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n

.

S i mmo n s v. W

i l s o n

, 3 43 Ga. A p p

. 8 5 7

, 8 5 8 (8 0 6 SE2 d 2 6 7) (2 0 1 7 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). “ W h en rev i ewi n g a ch i l d cu s t o d y deci s io n

, t h is [C] o u rt v iews

t h e ev i den ce p res en ted i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o u p h o l d i n g th e t ri al co urt ’ s

ap p li cat io n was n o t t i m el y fi l ed

. S ee Cas e n u m

b er A1 7 D0 1 7 9.

3 Fo r t h e fi rs t s i x m o n t h s fo l lo wi n g t h e en try o f t h e ord er, Si g afo o s e was o n l y

p erm i t t ed t o hav e s u p erv i sed v i s i t at i o n wi t h t h e ch i ld

. W hi l e s h e cl ai m s t hat req u i ri n g

h er t o v is i t h er ch i ld u n d er s up erv i s i o n was i n erro r, i n h er b ri ef s h e co n ced es t h at t h e

i s su e i s n o w m o o t an d h as ab an d o n ed i t fo r p u rp o s es o f t h i s ap p eal

.

2o rd er.” Mi t ch a m v. S p ry

, 3 0 0 G a. Ap p

. 3 8 6

, 3 8 6 (6 8 5 S E 2 d 3 7 4 ) (2 0 09 ) (fo o t n o t e

o m it t ed ).

So v i ewed

, tes ti m on y at an i n i t i al h eari n g h el d fo r t h is cas e s h o wed t h at Co b b

an d Si g afo o s e o ri gi n al l y m et t h r o u g h an o n l i n e d at i n g web s i t e an d b eg an a d at i n g

rel at i o n s h i p

. At t h e t i m e, t h ey res i d ed i n n ei g h b o ri n g to w n s i n Fl ori d a. Th ey wen t o n

s ev eral d at es to g et h er an d s o o n b ecam e en g ag ed t o b e m a r r i e d

. T h ey p l an n ed to

m arry fi v e m o n t hs l at er. Du ri n g t h ei r en g ag em en t

, Si g afo o s e b ecam e p reg n an t

. Th e

rel at i o n s h i p b et ween Si g afo o s e an d Co b b t h ereaft er d et eri orat ed

.

Du ri n g t h at t i m e, Si g afo o s e b eg an recei v i n g cal l s fro m a m an i n At l an t a wi th

wh o m s h e h ad a prev i o u s rel at i o n s h i p t h at i n cl u ded co hab i t at i o n. Sh e l eft Fl o ri d a an d

m o ve d i n w i t h h i m at h i s h o m e i n t h e A t l an t a area. Si gafo o s e was ph y s i cal l y an d

v erb al l y ab us ed b y t h i s m an o n s ev e r al o ccas i o n s (i n cl u d in g i n t hei r p ri o r

rel at i o n s h i p ), an d s h e h ad p rev i o u s l y ret u rn ed t o l iv e wi t h h er paren t s at t h ei r h o m e

i n Fl o ri d a o n m

u l ti p l e o ccas i o ns b efo re ret urn i n g to A t lan t a t o l iv e w i t h hi m ag ai n.

Si g afo o s e’ s m ot h er an d fat h er t es t ifi ed at t h e i ni t i al h eari n g

. Bo t h t es t i fi ed t h at

t h ey b el i ev ed Co b b wo u l d be a g o o d fat her, n ot i n g t h e cl o s e t i es h e m ai n t ai n ed wi th

h i s o wn p aren ts

.

3S ig afo os e’ s p aren t s al s o t es ti fi ed t h at t hey were co n cern ed ab o u t t h e c h i l d ’ s

wel l -b ei n g i f l eft i n Si g afo o s e’ s c a r e b e c a u s e o f t h e ab u s i v e rel at i on s hi p Si g afo o s e

h ad wi t h t h e m an s he l i v ed wi t h i n At l an t a. Si g afo o se’ s m ot h er t es ti fi ed t h at i n t ex t

co n vers at i on s s h e h ad wi t h t h e m an

, he h ad s ai d “ i n ap p ro p ri at e” t h i n g s t o h er an d t o ld

h er t o s t ay

away fro m Si g afo os e. Th e m an h ad al s o t h reat en ed t o h a r m S i g afo o s e’ s

p aren t s i f t h ey t ri ed t o v i s it t h em i n At l an t a. Si gafo o s e h ad al s o t o l d her paren t s n ot

t o co nt act her, an d

, as o f t he t i m e o f t h e i n it i al h eari n g

, t hey h ad n o t h ad an y co n t act

wi t h h er fo r o v er a y ear an d a h al f an d h a d n ev er m et t h e ch i l d

. Si g afo o se h ad al s o

f o r e g o n e co n t act w i t h Co bb ’ s p aren t s, n ei th er o f wh o m h ad m et t h e ch i l d as o f t h e

t i m e o f t h e h eari n g

.

Th e reco rd al s o es t ab l i s h ed t h at Co b b m ai n tai n ed em p l o y m en t as a res t au ran t

m an ag er. He m ai n t ai n ed a cl ean h o m e, wh i ch i ncl u d ed a fu rn i s hed ro om fo r t h e ch i l d,

an d he m ad e arran g em en t s fo r th e ch i l d t o at t en d a l o cal d ay care. Co b b t es t i fi ed t h at

h e m ad e h i s o wn s ch ed u le, wh i ch affo rd ed h i m fl ex i b i l i t y

. H e n ot ed t h at h e h ad t ak en

co u rt -reco m

m en d ed paren t i n g cl as s es i n p rep arat i o n fo r h i s effo rt s to o b t ai n cu s t o dy

o f t h e ch i l d

.

Co b b al s o t es t i fi ed t h at h e h ad n ev er s een t h e ch i l d i n p ers o n

, h av i n g o n l y s een

Faceb o ok p i ct ures o f h er s i n ce h e r b i rt h

. Si g afo o s e co n fi rm ed t h at Co b b n ev er m et

4t h e ch i l d p ri o r t o t h e in it i al h eari n g i n t h i s cas e. Co b b t es t i f i e d t h a t Si gafo o s e h ad

m i s l ed h i m ab o u t h er wh ereab ou t s aft er s h e l eft Fl o ri d a. Co b b was no t p res en t at t h e

b i rt h o f t h e ch i ld

, an d h e t es t i fi ed t h at Si g afo o s e h a d r e f u s e d t o t el l h i m wh i ch

h o s p it al s h e wo u l d b e ad m i t t ed t o fo r t h e d el iv ery In h e r t e s t i m o ny at t h e i n i t i al

h eari n g

, Si g afo o s e i n d i cat ed t h at s h e d i d n o t wan t t h e ch i l d t o h av e a rel at i o n s h ip

wi t h Co b b o r wi t h h er o wn p aren t s

.

Aft er th e in i t i al h eari n g, Co bb w as award ed p h y s i cal cu s t o dy o f t h e ch i l d o n

a tem p o rary b as i s

. Si gafo o s e was g ran t ed a ri g h t t o reg u l ar s u p erv i s ed v i s i t at i o n

, an d

s h e was o rd ered t o s ub m i t t o a p s y ch o l o gi cal ev al u at i o n

.

Si x m o n th s l at er, t h e t ri al co u rt h el d a fi n al h eari n g i n t h e cas e. Co b b t es t i fi ed

t h at aft er h e was award ed cu s to d y u n d er t h e t em p o rary o rd er, h e m o v ed fro m Fl o ri d a

t o No rt h Caro l i n a, wh i ch al l o wed h i m t o be cl o s er t o h i s p a r e nt s an d t o s h o rt en t h e

d i s t an ce Si g afo os e w ou l d h av e t o trav el fo r vi s i t at i o n wi t h t he ch i l d. He t es ti fi ed t h at

t h e ch i l d h a d h e r o w n b e d ro o m in t h e n ew res id en ce. He al s o t es t i fi ed t h at h e

m ai n t ai n ed h i s p o s i ti o n wi t h th e res t au ran t co m p an y t h at em

p l o y ed h im

, o v ers eei n g

a d i fferen t reg i o n o f res t au ran t s

. He t es t i fi ed t h at he s t i l l m ai n tai n ed a fl ex ib l e wo rk

s ch ed u l e d es p it e t h e ch an g e i n h i s em pl o y m en t s i tu at i o n

.

5Co b b p res en t ed ev id en ce t h at t h e ch i l d h ad at t en ded d ay care w h i l e s h e was

l i vi n g wi t h h i m

i n Fl o ri d a an d t h at s h e h ad b een wel l cared fo r d u ri ng t h is t i m e. He

t es t i fi ed t h at he had s ecu red al l req u i red i m m u n i zat i o n s so th at t h e ch i l d co u l d at t en d

d ay care i n No rt h Caro l i na an d t h at s h e h ad g o n e t o reg u l ar m ed i cal ch eck u p s wh i l e

s h e l i v ed wi t h h i m

. H e al s o t es t i fi ed t h at h e h ad secu red h eal t h i n s u ran ce fo r t h e ch i ld

an d t h at he h ad s ch ed u led a reg u l ar ch eck u p fo r t h e ch i l d near t h ei r n ew res i d en ce in

No rt h Caro l i n a.

Co b b t es t i fi ed t h at

, wh i l e h e w as s t i l l res i d in g i n F l o ri d a, h e h ad faci l i t at ed

s ev eral o p p o rt u n i t i es fo r t h e ch i l d t o v i si t hi s paren t s

, Si g afo o s e’ s p aren t s

, an d o t h er

f a m il y m em

b ers w h o l i v ed i n t h e area. He p l an ned t o co n t i nu e t o faci l it at e t h o s e

rel at i o n s h i p s

. Co b b al s o t es t i fi ed t hat t h e ch i l d s eem ed t o b e h ap py l i v i n g wi t h h i m

an d t h at th e ch il d h ad d ev el o ped a bo n d w i t h h i m an d hi s p aren t s d u ri n g t h e m o n t h s

aft er Co b b was t em

p o rari l y award ed cu s t o d y

. He t es t i fi ed t h at he had faci l i t at ed an d

b ro u gh t t h e ch i l d t o each o f t he v i s i ts sch ed u l ed wi th Si gafo o s e. H e al s o t es t i fi ed t h at

Si g afo o se h ad no t m ad e effo rt s t o res t o re a rel at i on s h i p wi t h h er paren t s

. Si g afo o s e

co n fi rm ed t h at s h e h ad n o t m ad e co n tact wi t h h er paren t s or seen th em s i n ce t h e

i n i t i al h eari n g i n t h i s cas e.

6W h en a fat h er s eek s cu s t o d y o f h is ch i l d fo l l owi n g l eg i t i m at i o n

, th e t ri al co u rt

i s to ap pl y t h e b es t i nt eres t o f t h e ch i l d s t an d ard i n m ak i ng t h e cu s t o d y d et erm i n at i o n

Br a yn o n v. Hi l b er t

, 2 75 G a. Ap p

. 5 1 1

, 5 1 2 (6 2 1 SE2 d 5 29 ) (2 0 0 5). OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3

(a) (1 ) p ro v i d es t h at

[i ] n al l cas es i n w h ich t he cu st o dy o f an y c h i l d i s at is s u e b et ween th e

p aren t s

, t h ere sh al l b e no p ri m a-faci e ri g h t t o th e cu s t o d y o f th e ch i l d i n

t h e fat h er o r m o t h er. T h ere s h al l b e n o p res u m p t i o n i n fav or of an y

p art i cu l ar fo rm o f c u s t o d y

, l eg al o r p h y s ical

, n o r in fav o r o f ei t h er

p aren t

. Jo i n t c u s to d y m ay b e co n s i d ered as an al t ern at i v e fo rm o f

c u s t o d y b y t h e ju d g e an d t h e ju d g e at an y tem po rary or p e r m a n e n t

h eari n g m ay g r a n t s o le cu s t o d y

, jo i n t cu s t o d y

, j o i n t leg al cu s t o d y

, o r

jo i n t p h y s i cal cu s t o d y

as ap p ro pri at e.

OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (a) (2 ) g o es o n t o p ro v i de t h at

[t ] h e ju d g e h eari n g t h e i s s u e o f c u st od y s h al l m ak e a d et erm i n at i on o f

cu s t od y o f a ch i l d an d s u ch m at t er s h al l no t b e d eci d ed b y a ju ry

. T he

ju d g e m ay t ak e in t o co n si d erat i on al l t h e ci rcu m s tan ces o f t h e cas e .

. .

i n d e t e r m i ni ng to wh o m cu s t o d y o f t h e ch i l d s h o u l d b e award ed

. T he

d u t y o f t h e ju d g e in al l su ch cas es s h al l b e t o ex erci s e d i s cret i o n t o l o o k

t o an d d et erm i n e s o l el y wh at i s fo r t h e b es t i n teres t o f t h e ch i l d an d wh at

wi l l b es t p ro m o te t h e ch i l d ’ s w el fare an d h ap p i n es s an d t o m ak e h i s o r

h er award acco rd in g l y

.

7OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (a) (3 ) t h en set s fo rt h a n o n -ex h au s t i v e l i s t o f fact o rs t he ju d g e m ay

co n si d er i n m ak i n g i t s cu s t o d y d et erm i n at i o n

.

In t h i s cas e, t h e t ri al co urt ’ s ord er d i d n o t s et fo rt h an y s t at em en t o f fact s u p o n

wh i ch i t b as ed i ts co n cl u s i o n t hat i t s cu s t od y award was i n t h e ch i l d ’ s b es t i n t eres t s

.

Ho wev er, b ecau s e i t ap p ears t h at n ei t h er p art y req u es t e d t h a t s u ch fi n d i n g s b e

i n cl u d ed i n t h e fi n al ord er, t h e o rd er i s n ot d efect iv e o n t hat bas i s

. OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3

(a) (8 ) (“ If req u es t ed b y a n y part y o n o r b efo re t h e cl o s e o f ev i d en ce i n a co n t es t ed

h e a r i n g

, t h e p erm an en t co u rt o rd er award i n g ch i l d cu s t o d y s hal l s et fo rt h s p eci fi c

fi nd i ng s o f fact as t o t h e b as i s fo r t h e ju d g e’ s d eci s i o n i n m ak i n g an award o f cu s t o dy

i n cl u d i n g an y rel ev an t fact o r rel i ed u p o n b y t h e ju d g e[.] ”) See Mo r g a n v. Fo r d

h a m

,

3 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. 2 2 7, 2 2 9 (7 6 1 SE2 d 6 2 1 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (p h y s i cal p reced en t o n l y ). In t h i s cas e,

t h e t e s t i m o n y es t ab l i s h ed t h at Co b b co u l d p ro v i d e fo r t h e ch il d ’ s b as ic n eed s an d

care, h e was g ai n fu l l y

em p lo y ed i n a jo b th at al l o wed h i m fl ex ib i l i t y t o care fo r t h e

ch i l d

, h e h ad tak en s t ep s t o es t ab l i s h a h o m e fo r t he ch i l d

, an d h e h ad m ad e ch i l d care

arran g em en t s fo r t h e ch i l d i n t h e m o n t h s aft er h e t em p o rari l y recei v ed cu st o d y o f h er.

S ee OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (a) (3 ) (E); (F). Th e reco rd al s o es t ab l i s h ed t h at h e m ai n t ai n ed

a fl ex i b l e wo rk s ch ed u l e t hat al l o wed h i m to care fo r th e ch il d an d b e p res en t at h o m e

i n t h e ev en i n g

. See OCGA § 1 9

- 9

- 3 ( a) (3 ) (K). Co b b ’ s t es t i m o ny al s o es t ab l i s h ed

8t h at d u ri n g t he m o n t h s aft er h e recei v ed cu s t o d y of t h e c h i l d

, t he t w o d ev el o p ed a

b o n d an d t h at h e learn ed t o care fo r h er d ay t o d ay n eed s

. S ee OCGA §§ 1 9 -9 -3 (a)

(3 ) (A); (D). Th e ev i den ce i n t h i s c a s e es t ab l i s h ed th at t h e ch il d was wel l cared fo r

wh i le i n h i s cu s t o d y

. S

ee OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (a) (3 ) (M ).

M o reo v er, th e t es t i m o ny o f Si g afo o s e’ s m o t h er r a ise d c o n cern s ab o u t th e h o m e

en v iro n m en t t h e ch i l d wo u l d face s h o u l d sh e co n t i n u e t o r e s i d e ex cl u s i v el y wi th

Si g afo o se an d her b o y fri en d i n At l an t a. S ee OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (a) (3 ) (F). Th e ev i d en ce

es t ab l i s h ed t he v o lat i l e an d ab u s i v e n at u re o f t h e rel at i o n sh i p Si g afo o se m ai n t ai n ed

wi t h h er b o y fri en d an d t h e ef f o rt s t h ey h ad t ak en t o k eep Si gafo o s e’ s p aren t s away

fro m t h e ch i l d

. Th e ev i den ce al s o es t ab l i s h ed th at Si g afo os e d id n o t h av e co n t act wi th

h er p a ren t s an d d i d n o t w an t t h em t o b e aro u n d t h e ch i l d

. Th e tri al co u rt co u ld

co n si d er each o f t h es e fact o rs i n reg ard t o t h e s t ab i l it y o f Si gafo o s e’ s fam i l y u n i t as

wel l as t he ab sen ce o f a s u pp o rt s y s t em aro u n d Si gafo o s e. S ee OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (a) (3 )

(H); (P). Becau s e, p ri o r t o t h e i n i t i al h eari n g i n t h i s cas e, Co b b h ad n e v e r s een t h e

ch i l d an d b ecau s e Si g afo o s e had t ak en sp eci fi c act i o n s t o en su re as m u ch

, t he reco rd

al s o es t ab l i s h ed t h at Si g afo os e h ad b een u nwi l l i n g t o faci l i t at e a rel at i o n s h i p b et ween

Co b b an d t h e ch i l d

. S

ee W i l s o n v. W i l s on

, 3 3 8 Ga. Ap p

. 8 9 1

, 8 9 4 ( 7 9 2 SE2 d 1 3 9 )

(2 0 1 6); OCGA § 1 9-9 -3 (a) (3 ) (N).

9By co n t ras t

, t h e r eco rd refl ect ed t h at

, d uri n g th e t i m e t h e ch i l d w as i n h i s

cu s t o d y

, Co b b h ad n o t o nl y faci l i t at ed req u ired v i s i t at i o n b et ween Si g afo o se an d t h e

ch i l d bu t t h at h e h ad al s o m ad e effo rt s t o en s u re t h at t h e ch i l d s pen t t i m e wi t h Co b b ’ s

p a r e n ts

, Si g afo os e’ s p aren t s

, an d m em b ers o f t h ei r ex t en ded fam i l i es

. Du ri n g t h at

t i m e h e al s o m o v ed t o N o rt h Caro l i n a, wh i ch al l owed h im to b e cl o s er t o h i s fam i l y

an d t o s h o rt en t he di s tan ce b e t w e e n Si g afo o s e an d t h e ch i ld

. Th e tri al co u rt co u ld

co n si d er each o f t h es e fact s i n co n s i d eri n g t h e av ai lab i l i ty o f a su p p o rt sy s t em aro u n d

Co b b an d h i s effo rt s t o faci l i t at e a rel at i o n s h i p b et ween Si gafo o s e an d th e ch i l d

. See

OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (a) (3 ) (F); (N).

Fi n al l y

, al t h o u gh Si g afo o s e pres en t ed ev i d en ce in reg ard to b o t h h er fi t n es s as

a p aren t an d Co b b ’ s l ack t h ereo f, we n ot e th at th e tri al c o u r t ex p res s ed co n cern s

reg ard i n g Si gafo o s e’ s cred ib i l i t y an d cal l ed h er m en t al h eal t h i n t o q u es t i o n wh en i t

i s su ed th e o rd ers i n t h is cas e. Th e t ri al co u rt n o t e d o n t h e reco rd t h at th e p art i es ’

cu s t o d y h eari n g was “ rem ark ab l e” b ecau s e o f Si g afo o se’ s t es ti m o n y

. Th e t ri al co u rt

n o t ed t h at Si gafo o s e’ s affect was “ o d d an d o ccas i o n a l l y i n ap p ro p ri at e t o t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces

, ” t hat h er t es ti m o n y “ lack [ed ] fact ual fo u n d at i on i n m an y cas es ,” t h at

i t was “ u n co m fo rt ab l e” t o li s ten t o

, an d t h at it g av e t he co u rt “ s eri o u s co n cern s ab o ut

[Si g afo o s e] ’ s p res en t m en t al s i t u at i o n.” A t t h e fi n al h eari n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt al s o n o t ed

10t h at i t reg ard ed t h e p s y ch ol o g i cal ev al u at i o n u n d erg o ne b y S i g a fo o s e t o b e

“ s u p erfi ci al an d i n co m

p let e.”

As t hi s Co u rt h as n o ted rep eat ed l y in i t s ch i l d cu s t o d y ju ri s p ru d en ce, “ we are

m i n d fu l th at t h e So l om o n i c tas k o f m a k i n g t h es e d eci s i o n s l i es s q uarel y u p o n t h e

s h o u ld ers o f t h e ju d g e wh o can s ee an d h ear t h e p art i es an d t hei r wi t n es s es

, o b s erv e

t h ei r d e m e a n o r an d at t i t u d es

, an d as s es s t h ei r cred i bi l i t y

. ” S mi th v. Cu r t i s

, 3 1 6 Ga.

Ap p

. 8 9 0

, 8 9 2 (7 3 0 SE2 d 6 0 4) (2 0 1 2 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). M o reo v er,

OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (a) (3 ) (I) ex p l i ci t ly p erm i t s t h e t ri al co u rt t o co n s i d er t h e “ m en t al

.

. . h eal t h o f each p aren t” i n m ak i n g it s d et erm in at i o n as t o t he cu s t o d y arran g em en t

t h at wi l l ad v an ce t h e b es t i n t eres t s o f t h e ch i l d

. Al t h o ug h s o m e ev i d en ce p res en t ed

i n t h es e p ro ceed i n g s s u p po rt ed t h e cl ai m s m ad e b y Si g afo os e

, b e cau s e t h ere was

ev i d en ce i n t h e reco rd s up p o rt i n g t h e t ri al co urt ’ s award o f cu s t o d y t o Co b b u n d er

n u m ero u s o f t h e fact o rs s et fo rt h i n OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (a) (3 ), we fi n d t h at t h e co u rt d id

n o t ab u s e i t s d is cret i o n i n ren deri n g t h at d eci s i o n

. S ee Smi t h v. Pea r ce

, 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p.

8 4

, 9 2 (4 ) (7 7 8 SE2 d 2 4 8) (2 0 1 5 ) (award o f cu s t o d y i n fav o r of fat h er affi rm ed wh ere

ev i d en ce d em o ns t rat ed fat h e r’ s l o v e fo r an d b on d wi t h ch i l d

, hi s fi n an ci al an d

res i den t ial s t ab i l i ty

, an d h i s rel at i o n s h i p wi t h h i s fam i l y an d d em o n s t rat ed m o t h er’ s

res i den t ial i n s t ab il i ty

an d p ri o r act s o f wi t hh o ld i n g ch i l d fro m fat h er).

112

. Si g afo o se al s o cl ai m s t h at b ecau s e t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i o n in

t ran s ferri n g cu s t o d y o f t h e ch i l d t o Co b b, Co b b was n o t en t it l ed t o an award o f

at t o rn ey fees p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (g ). W e d is ag ree an d affi rm t h e award o f

at t o rn ey fees t o Co bb

.

OCGA § 1 9-9 -3 (g ) p ro vi d es t h at “ t h e ju d g e m ay o rd er reas on ab l e at t o rn ey ’ s

fees

. . . t o b e p ai d b y t h e p art i es i n p ro p ort i o n s an d at t i m es d et erm i n ed b y t h e ju d g e.”

Th e tri al co urt h as w i d e d i s cret i o n t o award at to rn ey f e e s u n d er t h i s p ro v i s i o n.

Go r do n v. Ab r a h a ms , 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p . 7 9 5 , 7 9 9 (3 ) (b ) (7 6 9 SE2 d 5 4 4 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

Here, o t h er t h an at t ack in g t h e u n d erl y i n g award o f jo i n t leg al an d p ri m ary

p h y s i cal cu s t o d y o f t he ch i l d t o Co b b

, Si g afo o s e d o es no t o ffer t hi s Co u rt an y b as i s

u p o n wh i ch t o d e t e r m i n e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d is cret i o n in o rd eri ng h er to

p ay at t o rn ey fees u n d er OCGA § 1 9-9 -3 (g ). T h e reco rd refl ect s t h at

, pri o r t o t h e fi n al

h e a ri n g, Co b b ag reed t o pay h i s at t orn ey a fl at fee o f $ 2 ,0 0 0 t o co m pl et e t h e cas e.

Co b b ’ s req u es t fo r fees was s u p p o rt ed b y th e s u bm i s s i o n o f h is at t o r n e y ’ s b i l l i n g

reco rd s fo r t he ca s e

. C f

. Jack s o n v

. San d ers

, 3 3 3 Ga. Ap p

. 5 4 4

, 5 6 1 (6 ) (7 7 3 SE2 d

8 3 5 ) (2 0 1 5 ). Th e $ 2 ,0 0 0 i n fees a g r e e d t o b y Co b b i s t h e p reci s e am o u n t o f fees

award ed t o h im b y t h e t ri al co u rt

. As we fi n d t h e award o f cu s t o dy t o b e wi t h i n t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s d is cret i o n

, an d becau s e S i g a f o o s e h as o ffered t h i s Co u rt n o b as i s to

12ch al l en g e t h e award

, w e fi n d n o ab u s e o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s di s cret io n in m ak in g t h e fee

award p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (g ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m e d

. El li n g t o n

, P. J., an d Sen i o r Ap p el l a t e Ju d

g e Her b er t E.

Ph i p ps , co ncu r

.

13