FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, M ERCI ER and COLVI N, JJ.

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

ph 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.

https ://w w w

. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

M ay 18, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 50 5 . BELLIVEAU et al . v . FLOYD.

D I LLA R D , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Ev el y n an d Dan i el Bel l i veau 1 ap p eal t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er g ran t i n g W en d el l

Fl o y d ’ s p et i t i o n t o l eg it i m at e h i s b i o lo g ical ch i l d (wh o was b o rn d u ri n g t h e

Bel l i veau s ’ m arri ag e) an d t erm i n at in g Dan i el ’ s p aren t al ri g h ts

. In d o i n g s o

, t h e

Bel l i veau s arg ue t h at (1 ) t h ey hav e s tan d i n g t o arg u e t hat g en et i c t es t i n g i s n o t i n t h e

b es t i n t eres t s o f t h e ch i l d ; (2 ) m o re t h an a pu t at i v e fat h er’ s b i o l o g ical co n n ect i o n wi th

t h e ch i l d s h o u l d b e req u i red t o d el i g i t i m at e a l eg al fat h er; an d (3 ) t h e t ri al co u rt erred

b y n o t h o l d i n g an ev i d en ti ary heari n g o n t h e m at t er. Becau s e we ag ree t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt erred b y fai l in g t o h o l d an ev i d en t i ary h eari n g, we v acat e t h e t ri al co urt ’ s o rd er

an d rem an d fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s co ns i s t en t wi t h t hi s o p i ni o n

.

1 Fo r t h e s ak e o f cl ari t y , we wi l l refer t o t h e Bel l i v eau s b y t h ei r fi rs t n am es

.In 20 1 6

, t he Bel l i v eau s s ep arat ed

, an d du ri n g t h at t i m e, Ev el y n h ad a ro m an t i c

rel at i o n s h i p wi t h Fl o y d

. 2 Acco rd i n g t o Fl o y d

, Ev el y n n ev er t o l d h i m t h at s h e was

m arri ed

. On No v em

b er 1 7, 2 0 1 6

, as a res u l t o f t h ei r ex t ram ari t al rel at i o n s h i p

, Fl o y d

an d Ev el y n h ad a ch i l d t o g et h er. Fl o y d was wi t h Ev el y n i n t h e h os p i t al w h en t h e ch i ld

was b orn , an d h e was l i s t ed as t h e ch i l d ’ s fat h er o n t h e b irt h cert i fi cat e. Th e co u p l e

al s o ex ecu t ed a pat ern i t y ack n o wl ed g m en t

, wh i ch was n o t ari zed . Fl o y d an d Ev el y n

l i ved t o g et h er wi t h t h ei r ch i l d u n t i l h e was si x m o n t h s o l d

, b u t ev en t u al l y

, t h e

Be l l i v e a u s reco n ci l ed an d t h ey h av e rai s ed t he ch i l d t o get h er si n ce th at ti m e. An d

wh i le Ev el y n p ro m is ed Fl o y d t h at s h e wo u l d n o t keep t h e ch il d away fro m h i m o r h i s

fam i l y

, Fl o y d h as n o t b een al l owed t o s ee t h e ch i l d si nce Ju n e 1 6

, 20 1 7

. Ad d it i o n al l y

,

at s o m e po i n t aft er s h e l eft Fl o y d

, Ev el y n fi led a p et i t i o n t o ch an g e t he ch i l d ’ s las t

n am e t o Bel l i v eau

, an d it was gran t ed

. An d b ecau se t he ch i l d w as b o r n d u r i n g t h e

Bel i v eau s ’ m arri ag e, Dan i el was t h e ch i l d ’ s l eg al fat h er. 3

2 Becau s e w e are rem an d i n g t h i s cas e t o th e t ri al co u rt d u e t o a p ro ced u ral

d efi ci en cy ( i.e.

, t h e tri al co u rt ’ s fai l u re t o h o l d an ev i d e n t i a r y h eari ng o n Fl o y d ’ s

l eg i t i m at i o n p et i t i o n ), t h e u n d erl y i n g b ack g ro u n d reg ard i n g t h e part i es ’ rel at i o n s h i p s

i s p ro v i d ed o nl y

fo r co n t ex t an d i s n o t req u ired fo r u s t o res o l ve t h i s ap p eal

.

3 S ee Ba ker v. B a ker

, 2 7 6 Ga. 7 7 8

, 7 7 9 (1 ) (5 82 SE2 d 1 0 2 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (“ Al l

ch i l d ren b o rn i n wed l ock are d eem ed u n d er l aw t o b e l eg i t im at e. A ch i l d’ s l eg al fat h er

i s defi n ed as t h e m an m arri ed t o t h e b i o l o g i c a l m o t h er at t he t i m e t h e ch i l d was

co n cei v ed o r b orn

, u n l es s s u ch p at ern i t y i s d i sp ro v ed b y fi n al co u rt o rd er.” (fo o t n o t e

2On No v em ber 6

, 2 01 7

, Fl o y d fi l ed a p et i t i o n t o l eg i t i m at e t h e c h i l d i n t h e

s u p eri o r co u rt

, an d i n i ti al l y , t h e cas e was t ran s ferred t o t h e ju v en i l e co u rt . W h i l e i n

t h at co u rt

, a g u ard i an ad l i t em (“ GAL”) was ap p o i n t ed an d g en et i c t es t i n g was

p erfo rm ed

. Th e GAL s ub m i t t ed a wri t t en rep o rt

, an d th e t es t i ng co n fi rm ed t h at Fl o y d

i s in d eed t h e ch i l d ’ s b i o l og i cal f a t h er. Th en

, o n No v em

b er 1 3

, 20 1 8

, t h e cas e was

t ran s ferred b ack t o th e su p eri or co u rt

, wh i ch

, u n d er “ OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -1 0 (3 ) (D), [h as ]

. . . ex cl u s i v e ju ri s d i ct io n t o d eci d e t erm i n at i o n o f p aren t al ri g h t s i s s u es in

l eg i t i m a t i o n cas es .” 4 An d wh i l e a fi nal h eari n g o n t h e l eg i t i m at io n p et it i o n was

s ch ed u l ed

, o n e was nev er hel d

. Ul t i m at el y

, t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed Fl o y d ’ s p et i t i o n an d

t erm i n at ed Dan i el ’ s p aren t al ri g h t s i n t h e s am e o rd er. Su b s eq u en t ly

, t h e Bel l i v eau s

fi led a m o t i o n fo r reco n s id erat i o n

, an d am o n g ot h er t h i ng s

, t h ey arg ued t h at th e co u rt

erred i n fai l i n g t o h ol d an ev i d en t i ary h eari n g p ri o r t o t erm i n at i n g Dan iel ’ s p aren t al

ri gh t s. Bu t t he t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h at m o t i on

. 5 Th is ap p eal fo l l o ws

.

o m it t ed )).

4 Ma t h en i a v. Br u mb el ow , 3 0 8 Ga. 7 1 4

, 7 2 0 (3 ) (a) (8 4 3 SE2 d 5 82 ) (2 0 2 0 ).

5 As d i s cu s s ed m o re fu l l y i n f ra

, aft er g ran t in g Fl o y d ’ s l eg i t i m at io n p et i t i o n

, t h e

co u rt h el d a h eari ng s o l el y o n t h e i s s u es o f cu s t o d y an d v is i tat i o n

. In t h i s ap p eal

, t h e

Bel l i veau s o n ly ap p eal t h e co u rt ’ s o rd e r o n t h e i s s u e o f l eg i ti m at i o n

, wh i ch was

i s su ed p r i o r t o t h e afo rem en t i o n ed h eari n g

.

3W e rev i ew a t ri al co urt ’ s r u l i n g o n a l eg it i m at i o n p et i t io n fo r ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n ,” 6 b ut t h e co u rt ’ s fact u al fi n d i n g s are “ rev i ewed fo r cl ear erro r an d wi l l b e

s u s t ai n ed o n ly i f t here i s co m p et en t ev i den ce t o s u p p o rt t h em

. ” 7 W it h t h es e g u i d i n g

p ri n ci p l es i n m i n d , we wi l l n o w co n s i d er t h e Bel l i v eau s ’ cl ai m s o f erro r.

1

. Th e Bel l i v eau s arg u e t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred i n o rd eri n g g en et i c t es t i n g

wi t h o u t d et erm i ni n g wh et h er i t was i n t h e b es t i n teres t s o f t h e ch i ld . W e d i s ag ree.

I n m ak i n g t h i s cl ai m o f erro r, t h e Bel l i v eau s i gn o re th e pl ai n l an g u ag e o f

OCGA § 1 9 -7 -2 2 (h ), wh i ch p ro v i d es

, in p art

, t hat “ [i ] n d et erm i ni n g t he b es t i n t eres t s

o f t h e ch i l d

, t h e co u rt s h o u l d en s u re t hat t h e p et it i on i n g al l eg ed b i o l o g ical fat h er i s

,

i n fact

, t h e b io l o g ical fat h er an d m ay o rd er t h e m o t h er, t h e al leg ed b i o l o g i cal fat h er,

an d t h e ch i l d t o s u b m i t t o g en et i c t es t i n g i n acco rd an ce wi t h Co d e Sect i o n 1 9 -7 -4 5.”

In d e e d

, t h ei r o p en i ng b ri ef d o es no t ev en m en t i o n t h i s s tat u te, wh i ch p l ai n l y s t at es

t h at gen et i c t es t i n g s h o u ld b e co n s i d ered i n d et er m i n i n g t h e b es t i nt er es t s of t h e ch i l d.

Th u s, g en et i c tes ti n g was n eces s ary t o p ro v e t h at Fl o y d w as

, i n fact

, t h e ch i l d ’ s

6 N e i l l v. Br a n n on

, 3 2 0 G a. Ap p

. 8 2 0, 8 2 2 (1 ) (7 3 8 SE2 d 7 2 4 ) (2 0 1 3 )

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

7 Id

.

4b i o l o g i cal fat h er b ef o r e t h e t ri al co u rt co u l d co ns i d er wh et h er l eg i t i m at io n was i n t h e

b es t i n t eres t s o f t h e ch i l d

.

Ev en s o

, rat her t h an ad d res s i ng th e m an d at e i n OCGA § 1 9 -7 -2 2 (h ), t h e

Be l l i v e a u s rel y o n cas es d eci d ed wel l b efo re J u l y 1

, 20 1 6— t h e s t at u t e’ s effect i v e

d at e. 8 Bu t t ho s e cas es d o n o t i n v o l v e a b i o l o g i cal fat h er s eek in g t o l eg i t im at e a ch i l d.

In s t ead

, t h ey co ncern m o t h ers s eek i n g t o d el i g i t i ma t e th e ch i l d ’ s l eg al fat h er. 9 In an y

ev en t, t o t h e e x t e n t t ho s e cas es are i n co n fl i ct wi th OCGA 1 9 -7 -2 2 (h ), th ey h av e

b een ab ro g at ed b y t h at s t at u t e. Su ffi ce i t to s ay

, if t h e wo rd s of a s t at u te are “ p l ai n an d

cap ab l e o f h av i n g b u t o n e m ean i n g

, an d d o no t p ro d u ce an y ab su rd

, i m p ract i cal

, o r

co n trad i ct o ry res u l t s

, t h en t h i s Co u rt i s b o u nd t o fo ll ow t h e m ean i n g o f t h o s e

wo rd s .” 1 0 W e are b o un d, t h en

, t o fo l l o w t he p l ai n l an gu ag e o f OCGA § 1 9 -7 -2 2 (h ),

8 S ee Ba ker , 2 7 6 Ga. 7 78 ; Da vi s v. La Br ec , 2 7 4 Ga. 5 (5 4 9 SE2 d 7 6 ) (2 0 0 1 );

W i l l ia ms o n v. W

i l l i a ms o n , 3 0 2 Ga. Ap p . 1 1 5 (6 9 0 SE2 d 2 5 7 ) (2 0 10 ).

9 S ee Da vi s

, 27 4 G a. at 5 (ad d res s i n g th e m o t h er’ s pet i t i o n t o d el i g it i m at e a

ch i l d ’ s b i o l o g i cal fat h er w h o s e p ri o r leg i t i m at i on p et i t i o n h ad b een g ran t ed );

W i l l ia ms o n , 3 02 Ga. Ap p . 1 1 7 (2 ) (“ In t h i s cas e, s i m i l arl y t o t h e s i t u at io n i n Ba ker

,

t h e tri a l c o u rt is faced wi t h a s i t u at i o n w h ere t h e m o th er o f a ch i l d p res u m ed t o b e

l eg i t i m at e s o u gh t p at ern it y t es t i n g i n o rd er t o del eg i t i m at e t he ch i l d b y cl ai m i n g t h at

h er h u sb an d at t h e t i m e o f t h e ch i l d ’ s co ncep t i o n an d bi rt h, al t h o u g h t h e l eg al fat h er,

i s n o t t h e b i o l o g i cal fat h er.”).

1 0 G a

. Pa c. Co n s u mer Pr o d

., LP v. Ra t n er

, 3 4 5 G a. Ap p

. 4 3 4, 4 3 8 (1 ) (a) (8 1 2

SE2 d 1 2 0) (2 0 1 8); a cco rd Bu sch v. S t a t e , 2 7 1 Ga. 5 91 , 5 9 2 (5 2 3 SE2 d 2 1 ) (1 9 9 9 ).

5wh i ch p erm i t t ed t h e co u rt t o o rd er g en et i c t es t i n g i n d et erm i ni n g w het h er Fl o y d,

rat h er t h an Dan i el , was t h e ch i l d ’ s b i o l o g i cal fat h er.

2

. Th e Bel l i v eau s al s o arg u e t h at t he t ri al co urt erred b y d el eg i t i m i zi n g Dan i el

an d gran t i n g Fl o y d’ s l eg it i m at i o n p et i t i o n b as ed s o lel y o n i n i t ial pl ead i n gs

, un p ro v en

al l eg at i o n s i n b ri efs , an d t h e GAL’ s wri tt en rep o rt

. W e ag ree.

OCGA § 19 -7 -2 2 s et s f

o r t h t h e p ro ced u re a b i o l o g ical fat h er m u s t fo l l o w to

l eg i t i m at e a ch il d . Sp eci fi cal l y

, u n d er OCGA § 1 9 -7 -2 2 (d ) (1 ),

[u ] p o n t h e p res en tat i o n an d fi l i n g o f a l eg i t i m at i o n p et i t i on

, a n d a ft er

a h ea ri n g f

o r wh i ch n o t i ce wa s p r o vi d ed to a l l i n t er es t ed p a r t i es

, t h e

co u rt m ay i s s u e an o rd er d ecl ari n g t h e bi o l o g i cal fat h er’ s rel at i o n s hi p

wi t h t h e ch il d t o b e l eg i t i m at e, p ro v i d ed t h at s u ch ord er i s i n t h e b es t

i n t eres t s o f t he ch il d

. . . . 1 1

Need l es s t o s ay

, wh en a s t at ut e (l i ke t h is o n e) i s i n d ero gat i o n of t h e co m m o n l aw,

i t “ m us t b e st ri c t l y co n s t ru ed .” 1 2 In d eed

, ] i f t h e wo rd s o f a s t at u te are “ p l ai n an d

cap ab l e o f h av i n g b u t o n e m ean i n g , an d d o n ot p ro d u ce an y ab s u rd

, i m p ract i cal

, o r

1 1 (Em p has is s u pp l i ed ).

1 2 I n r e P i cket t

, 1 3 1 Ga. Ap p

. 1 5 9

, 1 60 (2 0 5 SE2 d 5 2 2 ) (1 9 7 4) (i n t erp ret i n g

fo rm er co d e s ect i on on l eg i t i m at i o n); s ee Pa r ke v. Fa n t

, 2 6 0 G a. A pp

. 84

, 8 5 -8 6 (1 )

(5 7 8 SE2 d 8 9 6 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (“ It i s wel l es t ab l i s h ed t h at wh en a s t at u t e i s in d ero g at i o n o f

t h e co m m o n l aw, we s t ri ct l y co n s t ru e t h e s tat u te.”).

6co n t rad i ct o ry res ul t s

, t h en t h i s Co u rt is b o u n d t o fo l lo w t h e m ean in g o f t h o s e

wo rd s .” 1 3

An d h ere, t here i s n o t h i n g am b ig u o u s ab o u t OCGA § 1 9-7 -2 2 (d ) (1 )’ s

req u irem en t t h at a t ri al co u rt m ay o n l y d ecl are a b io l o g i cal fat h er’ s rel at i o ns h i p wi t h

a ch il d t o b e l eg i ti m at e af

t er a h ea r i n g fo r wh i ch no t i ce was p ro v id ed t o al l i n t eres t ed

p art i es . An d al t h o u g h t h e t ri al co u rt m en t i on s a h eari n g , i n p as si n g

, at t he o u t s et o f

i t s o rd er, i t i s u n d i sp u t ed t h at n o ev i d en t i ary h eari n g was h el d r e g a r d i n g Fl o y d ’ s

l eg i t im at i o n p et i t io n . To t he co n t rary , l at er i n t h e co u rt ’ s o rd er, i t n o t es :

A fi n al heari n g w a s s ch ed u l ed

, bu t p ri o r t o ev id en ce b ei n g p res en t ed

,

co u n s el fo r [t h e Bel l iv eau s ] req u es t ed t h e o p p o rt u n i ty t o b ri ef th e i s s u e

o f t erm i n at i n g [Dan i el ’ s ] p aren t al ri g h t s an d d el eg i t i m at i o n o f t h e m i n o r

ch i l d. As b o t h s i d es hav e fu ll y br i ef ed t h e i s s u e, t h e m at t er i s no w ri p e

fo r ru li n g .” 1 4

Th e t ri al co u rt al s o s p eci fi ed t h at

— i n ru l i n g o n Fl o y d ’ s l eg i t i m at i o n p et i t io n

— i t h ad

“ t ak e[n ] i n to co n s i d erat i o n t h e [GAL] ’ s rep o rt t h at w as fi led i n t h i s cas e, as wel l as

affi dav i ts su b m i t t ed b y t h e p ar t i e s

. . . .” An d t he co u rt ’ s o rd er d o es n ot s ay t h at i t

1 3 Ra t n er , 3 4 5 Ga. Ap p . at 4 3 8 (1 ) (a); a cco r d Bu s ch , 2 7 1 Ga. at 5 9 2

.

1 4 (Em p has is s u pp l i ed ).

7co n s id ered an y t es t im o n y o r ev i d en ce p res en t ed at a h eari n g

. 1 5 A s a res u l t

, th e co urt

erred i n g ran t i n g Fl o y d ’ s l eg i t im at i o n p et i t i on w i th o u t fi rs t ho l d i n g an ev i d en t i ary

h eari n g

.

Fu rt herm o re, Geo rg i a Un i f o r m Su p eri o r Co u rt Ru l e (“ U SCR”) 2 4.9 (6 ) s et s

fo rt h t h e req ui rem en t s fo r t h e ad m i s s ib i li t y o f t h e GAL’ s r ep o rt at a t ri al

, an d i n

rel ev an t part

, it s t at es “ t h e reco m m en d at io n s o f t h e GAL are n o t a su b st i tu t e fo r t h e

co u rt ’ s in d ep en den t d is c r e t i on an d j u d g m en t

, n o r i s t h e r ep or t a su b st i tu t e f o r t h e

GAL’s a tt en da n ce an d tes t imo n y a t t h e f in a l h ea r in g

, u n l e s s al l p art ies o t h erwi s e

1 5 On ap p eal

, Fl o y d d o es n o t d i s p ut e th at n o ev i d en t iary heari ng was h el d o n

h i s l eg i t im at i o n p e t i t i o n

, b u t h e cl ai m s t h ere w as “ an ab u n d an ce o f ev i d en ce i n t h e

reco rd t o s u p p o rt t h e [t ] ri al [c] o u rt ’ s d eci s i o n .” Bu t Fl o y d d efi nes t he ev i den ce as

b en ch b ri efs

, affi d av i t s, t h e GAL’ s wri t t en rep o rt

, an d p l ead i n gs

. Fl o y d n o tes t h at at

t h e cu s t o d y an d v i s i t at i on h eari n g , t he co u rt fo u n d t h e p art i es ag reed t h at

, i n ru l i n g

o n t h e leg i t i m at i o n p et i t i o n

, i t wo u l d rel y o n b ri efs

, affi d av it s

, an d t h e GAL’ s wri t t en

rep o rt

. It ap p ears fro m t h e reco rd t h at t hi s al leg ed ag reem en t was m ad e i n ch am b ers

an d t h e d i s cu s s i on was no t t ran s cri bed

. Bu t to t he ex t en t t h e r e w as an y co n fu s i o n

reg ard i n g t h ei r ri g h t t o a h eari n g , t h e Bel l iv eau s rep eat ed l y arg u ed t o th e t ri al co u rt

i n t hei r m o ti o n fo r reco n s i d erat i o n an d d u ri n g t h e cu s to dy an d v i s i t at i o n h eari n g t h at

t h ey were en t i t l ed t o o n e. So

, u n l i k e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s reco l l ect i o n of an u n tran s cri b ed

h eari n g

, t h e Bel li v eau s as s ert i o n o f t h ei r ri g h t t o a h eari ng was b o t h i n t h e reco rd an d

t ran s cri b ed

. An d g i v en t h es e ex p res s req u es t s an d O CGA § 1 9 -7 -2 2 (d ) (1 )’ s ma n d a t e

t h at a h eari n g b e h e l d wi t h n o t i ce t o al l i n t eres t ed part ies p ri o r t o l eg i t i m at i n g a

p u t at i v e fat h er, w e reject an y s u g g es t i o n t h at t he Bel l i v eau s fo rfei ted t h ei r ri g h t t o an

ev i d en t i ary

h eari n g

.

8ag ree.” 1 6 An d becau s e t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n ot h o l d an ev i d e n t i a r y h e a ri n g

, t h e GAL

rep o rt serv ed as a s u b s ti t u t e fo r h eari n g t e s t i m o n y i n v i o lat i o n o f t h i s ru le. Al s o

,

co n t rary t o U SCR 2 4 .9 (6 ), t h e B e l l i v eau s were u n ab l e t o u s e t h e GAL rep o rt fo r

“ d i rect ev i d en ce, i m

p each m en t ev i d en ce, o r fo r an y o t h er p u rp o s es ” at t ri al

. T h u s

, t h e

t ri al co urt erred b y rel y i n g on t h e GAL’ s wri t t en rep o rt w i t h o u t h o l d i ng a h eari n g

,

wh i ch t h e GAL co u l d at ten d , t es t i fy , an d b e s u b j ect t o cro s s -ex am i n at i o n

.

Las t ly

, i t is u n cl ear fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ord er t h at i t ap p li ed t h e co rrect l eg al

s t an d ard i n d et erm i n in g w h et h er l eg i t i m at i o n i s warran t ed

. As recen t l y ex p lai n ed b y

o ur Su p rem e Co u rt

, “ u n wed fat h ers p o s ses s an o p po rt u ni t y i n t eres t t o d ev el o p a

rel at io n sh i p wi th th ei r ch i ld ren t h a t i s p ro t ect ed b y d ue p ro ces s o f l aw.” 1 7 Th i s

o pp o rt u n i t y i n t eres t “ b eg in s at co n cep ti o n an d en d u res p ro b ab l y t hro u g h o u t t h e

m i n ori t y o f t h e ch i l d [,] [b ] u t i t i s n o t i n d e s t ru ct i b l e.” 1 8 So m e fact ors wh i ch m ay

s u p p o rt a fi n d i n g o f ab an d o n m en t i n cl u d e, wi t h o u t l i m i t at io n

, “ a b i o l o g ical fat h er’ s

i n act i o n d u ri n g p reg n an cy an d at b i rt h

, a del ay i n fi l i ng a l eg i t im at i o n p et i ti o n , an d

1 6 (Em p has is s u pp l i ed ).

1 7 Ma t h en ia , 3 0 8 Ga. at 7 2 0 -2 1 (3 ) (b ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

1 8 Id

. (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

9a l ack o f co n t act wi t h t h e ch i l d .” 1 9 An d i f th e t ri al co urt co n cl ud es th at t h e b io l o g i cal

fat h e r h a s no t ab an do n ed t hi s op p o rt u n i t y i nt eres t

, i t m u st al s o d et erm i n e wh et h er

l eg i t im at i o n i s i n t h e b es t i n t eres t s o f t h e ch i l d

. 2 0

Here, t h e t r i a l c o u rt ’ s ord er s t at es t h at “ [t ] h e is s u e o f ab an d on m en t i s n o t

b efo re t h e [c] o u rt at th i s t i m e [

, ]” an d i t al s o fo u n d t h at

, i f i t was

, Fl oy d h ad n o t

ab an do n ed h i s ri g h t t o s eek l eg i t i m at i o n o f th e ch i l d

. Bu t as d et ai l ed s u p r a

, th e i s s u e

o f wh et h er a b i o l o g i cal fat h er h as ab an d o ned h i s o p p o rt u n i t y i n t eres t i n d ev el o p i n g

a rel at io n s h i p wi t h h is ch i l d is at i s s u e i n ever y cas e. Su ch a d et erm i n at i o n m u s t b e

m ad e, t h en

, b efo re t h e co u rt co n s i d er s wh et h er l eg i ti m at i o n i s in t he ch i l d ’ s b es t

i n t eres t s

. So

, wh i l e th e ev i den ce m i g h t ul t im at el y s u pp o rt t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s co n cl u s i o n

t h at Fl o y d h as n ot ab an d o n ed h i s o p p o rt u n i t y in t eres t i n a rel at i o n s h i p wi t h h i s ch i l d

,

n o s u ch ev i d en ce cu rren t l y ex is t s b ecau s e n o ev id en t iary h eari n g was h el d.

1 9 Id . (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

2 0 S ee OCGA § 1 9 -7 -2 2 (d ) (1 ) (p ro v i d i n g, i n p art

, t h at “ t h e [t ri al ] co u r t m ay

i s su e an o rd er d ecl a r i n g t h e b i o l o g i cal fat h er’ s rel at i o ns h ip wi t h t h e ch i l d t o b e

l eg i t i m at e, p ro vi d

ed th at s u ch o r d

er is i n t h e b es t i n t er es t

s of t h e ch il d

. . .” (em

p h as i s

s u p p li ed )); W

es t b r o o k v

. E i d

ys

, 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p. 6 1 9

, 6 2 4 (3 ) (8 4 8 SE2 d 6 6 0) (2 0 2 0 )

(v acat i ng an ord er gran t i n g a le g i t i m a t i o n pet i t i o n wh en t h e t ri al co u rt d et erm i n ed

t h at t h e bi o l o g i cal fat h er h ad n ot ab an d on ed h i s o p po rt u ni t y i n t eres t i n a rel at i o n s h ip

wi t h t h e ch i l d

, b u t g ran t ed t h e p et i t i on wi t ho u t al s o co n s i d eri n g wh et h er d oi n g s o was

i n t he b es t i n t eres t s o f t h e ch il d ).

10In s u m

, t he t ri al co urt erred i n g ran ti n g Fl o y d ’ s l eg i t i m at io n p et i t i o n an d

t erm i n at i n g Dan i el ’ s p aren t al ri g h t s wi t ho u t fi rs t h ol d i ng an ev i d en t i ary h eari n g o n

t h e m at t e r

. 2 1 A s a res u l t

, we v acat e th e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er g ran t i ng Fl o y d ’ s

l egit i m at i o n p et it i on an d rem an d t h i s cas e fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s co n s i st en t wi t h t h i s

o pi n io n

.

3

. Fi n al ly

, t h e Bel l i v eau s arg u e t h at m ore t han a leg al fat he r’ s m ere b i o l o g y

s h o u l d b e req u i red t o d el ig i t i m at e a l eg al fat h er. In deed

, as ev i d en c ed by t h e l eg al

s t an d ard fo r l eg i t im at i o n s et fo rt h s u p r a

, t h ere are s ev eral ot h er fact o rs t o co n s i d er,

i n cl u d i n g t he b es t i nt eres t s o f t he ch i l d

. Bu t becau s e we are v acat i n g t he t ri al co u rt ’ s

o rd er an d rem an d i n g th e cas e fo r fu rt her p ro ceed i n g s

, i t i s prem at ure t o co ncl u d e t h at

t h e o n l y fact o r t ak en i n t o acco u n t b y t h e tri al co u rt wi ll b e Fl o y d ’ s b io l o g i cal

co n n ect io n wi t h t he ch i l d

. An d n o t h i n g i n t he co urt ’ s i n i t i al o rd er s u g g es ts i t l i m i t ed

i t s co n s i d erat i o n o f t h e cas e i n t h at way

.

Ad d it i on al l y

, co u ch ed wi t h i n t h i s cl ai m of erro r, t h e Bel l iv eau s m ai n t ai n t h at

t h e t ri al co u rt m

u st d et erm i n e wh et h er d el i g it i m izi n g a l eg al fat h er i s i n t h e ch i l d ’ s

2 1 S ee Er n st v. S

n o w

, 3 0 5 Ga. Ap p

. 1 9 4

, 1 98 (1 ) (6 9 9 SE2 d 4 0 1 ) ( 2 0 1 0 )

(h o l d i n g t h at t h e t ri al co urt ab us ed i t s d is cret i o n b y g ran ti n g a p et i t i o n t o l eg i t i m at e

wh en n o w i t n es s es were s wo rn an d n o ad m i s s i bl e ev i d en ce reg ard i n g t h e ch il d ’ s b es t

i n t eres t was o ffered ).

11b es t i n t eres t s p r io r t o d et erm i n i n g wh et h er l eg i ti m i zi ng a b i o l og i cal fat her i s i n t h e

ch i l d ’ s b es t i n teres t s

. Bu t o n ce ag ai n

, b ecau s e we are v acat i n g t h e t ri al co urt ’ s o rd er

an d rem an d i n g t h e cas e fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s

, we n eed no t ad d res s t h is arg u m en t

.

Nev ert hel es s

, we n ot e t h at t he Su p rem e Co u rt o f G eo rg i a has h el d t h at “ [t ] o g ran t [a]

l eg i t im at i o n p et i t i o n req u i re[s ] t h e s u peri o r co urt t o fi rs t t erm in at e t h e p aren t al ri g h t s

o f t h e l eg al fat h er.” 2 2

Fo r al l t hes e reas o n s

, we v acat e th e tri al co u rt ’s o rd er g ran t i n g Fl o y d ’ s

l eg i t im atio n p et it i on an d rem an d fo r fu rt h er pro ceed i n gs co n s i s t en t wi t h t h i s o p i n i o n

.

Ju d g men t va ca t ed a n d ca s e rema n d ed wi t h di r ect i o n

. M

er ci er a n d Co l vi n

, JJ.,

co n cu r

.

2 2 Br i n e v. Sh ip

p

, 29 1 Ga. 3 7 6

, 3 8 0 (3 ) (7 2 9 SE2 d 3 9 3 ) (2 0 1 2), s u p er s ed ed b y

s t at u t e o n o t her g r o u n d

s a s r eco g n i

z ed b y M a t h en i a v. Br u mb el o w

, 30 8 G a. 7 1 4 (8 4 3

SE2 d 5 8 2 ) (2 0 20 ); see Ma t h en i a

, 3 0 8 Ga. at 7 2 0 (3 ) (a) (“ It s h o u l d b e cl ear

. . . t h at

a s u p eri o r co u rt n o rm al l y co ul d n o t g ran t a b i o l o g i cal fat h er’ s l eg i t i m at i o n p e t i t i o n

wi t h o u t fi rs t t erm in at i n g t h e l eg al fat h er’ s p aren t al ri g h t s.”).

12