### IN THE CO URT OF APPEALS OF TE NNE SS EE

AT JACKSON

Ja nu ary 24 , 20 13 Ses si on

SOUMYA PANDEY v. MANIS H SHRI VASTAVA

D i r e c t A p p e a l f

r o m t h e C h a n c e r y C o u r t f o r S h e l b y C o u n t y

N o

. C H

- 0 8

- 1 2 5 9

, P t

. I W a l t e r L

. E v a n s , C h a n c e l l o r

N o

. W 2 0 1 2

- 0 0 0 5 9

- C O A

- R 3

- C V

- F i l e d F e b r u a r y 2 2

, 2 0 1 3

F o l l o w i n g a f

o u r

- d a y t r i a l i n t h i s d i v o r c e c a s e

, t h e t r i a l c o u r t e n t e r e d a n o r d e r n a m i n g t h e

M o t h e r p r i m a r y r e s i d e n t i a l p a r e n t a n d p e r m i t t i n g h e r t o r e l o c a t e t o A r k a n s a s w i t h t h e p a r t i e s ’

m i n o r c h i l d

. T h e F a t h e r a p p e a l s

. B e c a u s e t h e t r i a l c o u r t f a i l e d t o p r o v i d e a n y r e a s o n f o r i t s

d e c i s i o n

, w e a r e u n a b l e t o p e r f o r m a m e a n i n g f

u l r e v i e w o n a p p e a l

. T h e r e f o r e

, w e r e m a n d

t h i s m a t t e r t o t h e t r i a l c o u r t t o e n t e r a n o r d e r t h a t c o n t a i n s t h e f i n d i n g s a n d c o n c l u s i o n s

m a n d a t e d b y T e n n e s s e e R u l e o f C i v i l P r o c e d u r e 5 2

. 0 1

.

T e n n

. R

. A p p

. P

. 3 ; A p p e a l a s o f R i g h t ; J u d g m e n t o f t h e C h a n c e r y C o u r t R e m a n d e d

A LA N E

. H IG H E R S

, P

. J

. , W

. S

. , d e l i v e r e d t h e o p i n i o n o f t h e C o u r t

, i n w h i c h H O LLY M

. K IR B Y

,

J

. , a n d J

. S T E V E N S T A F F O R D

, J

. , j o i n e d

.

R o b e r t L

. J

. S p e n c e

, J r

. , B r y a n M

. M e r e d i t h

, M e m p h i s

, T e n n e s s e e

, f o r t h e a p p e l l a n t

, M a n i s h

S h r i v a s t a v a

M a r g a r e t M

. C h e s n e y

, M e m p h i s

, T e n n e s s e e

, f o r t h e a p p e l l e e

, S o u m y a P a n d e yO P I N I O N

I

. F A C T S & P R O C E D U R A L H IS T O R Y

M a n i s h S h r i v a s t a v a ( “ F a t h e r ” ) a n d S o u m y a P a n d e y ( “ M o t h e r ” ) a r e c i t i z e n s o f I n d i a

.

A t s o m e p o i n t

, t h e y m o v e d t o O h i o

, w h e r e t h e y m a r r i e d i n M a r c h 2 0 0 5

. T h e y h a d a s o n

,

A k u l

, i n M a r c h 2 0 0 6

. A k u l i s a c i t i z e n o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d a l s o a c i t i z e n o f I n d i a

. T h e

f a m i l y m o v e d t o M e m p h i s

, T e n n e s s e e i n J u n e 2 0 0 7

, s o t h a t M o t h e r

, w h o i s a m e d i c a l d o c t o r

,

c o u l d p a r t i c i p a t e i n a f

o u r

- y e a r r e s i d e n c y p r o g r a m a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f T e n n e s s e e

. I n J u l y

2 0 0 8

, w h e n A k u l w a s t w o y e a r s o l d

, M o t h e r f i l e d a c o m p l a i n t f

o r d i v o r c e

. F a t h e r l a t e r f i l e d

a c o u n t e r c o m p l a i n t f

o r d i v o r c e

. B o t h M o t h e r a n d F a t h e r s o u g h t t o b e n a m e d p r i m a r y

r e s i d e n t i a l p a r e n t o f A k u l

. A t e m p o r a r y p a r e n t i n g p l a n w a s e n t e r e d p r o v i d i n g t h a t A k u l

w o u l d r e s i d e w i t h M o t h e r f o u r n i g h t s p e r w e e k a n d w i t h F a t h e r t h r e e n i g h t s p e r w e e k

.

I n J a n u a r y 2 0 1 1

, w h i l e t h e d i v o r c e p r o c e e d i n g s w e r e s t i l l p e n d i n g

, M o t h e r s e n t a l e t t e r

t o F a t h e r i n f

o r m i n g h i m o f h e r i n t e n t t o r e l o c a t e t o L i t t l e R o c k

, A r k a n s a s

, w i t h A k u l

, l a t e r

t h a t y e a r

. S h e e x p l a i n e d t h a t h e r f o u r

- y e a r r e s i d e n c y p r o g r a m i n M e m p h i s w o u l d e n d i n J u n e

2 0 1 1

, a n d t h a t s h e h a d b e e n a c c e p t e d t o a o n e

- y e a r f e l l o w s h i p p r o g r a m a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f

A r k a n s a s

. F a t h e r t h e n f i l e d

, i n t h e o n g o i n g d i v o r c e p r o c e e d i n g s

, a p e t i t i o n t o o p p o s e

M o t h e r ’ s p r o p o s e d r e l o c a t i o n w i t h A k u l

, a g a i n s e e k i n g t o b e n a m e d p r i m a r y r e s i d e n t i a l

p a r e n t

. F a t h e r a l s o a l l e g e d i n h i s p e t i t i o n t h a t M o t h e r h a d t o l d A k u l t h a t s h e i n t e n d e d t o

r e t u r n t o I n d i a w i t h h i m

. F a t h e r s t a t e d t h a t M o t h e r h a d n o f a m i l y t i e s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

a n d t h a t a l l o f h e r f

a m i l y r e m a i n e d i n I n d i a

, a n d h e f e a r e d t h a t s h e w o u l d f

l e e t h e r e w i t h

A k u l

. F a t h e r c l a i m e d t h a t b e c a u s e I n d i a i s n o t a s i g n a t o r y t o t h e H a g u e C o n v e n t i o n

, h e

1

w o u l d f a c e g r e a t d i f

f i c u l t y i n h a v i n g A k u l r e t u r n e d t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i f M o t h e r c h o s e t o

t a k e h i m t h e r e

. T h e r e f

o r e

, F a t h e r a s k e d t h e t r i a l c o u r t t o r e q u i r e M o t h e r t o s u r r e n d e r A k u l ’ s

p a s s p o r t a n d d o c u m e n t s o f I n d i a n c i t i z e n s h i p t o t h e c l e r k o f t h e c o u r t i n o r d e r t o p r o t e c t

a g a i n s t t h e r i s k t h a t s h e w o u l d f l e e t h e c o u n t r y w i t h h i m

.

M o t h e r s u b s e q u e n t l y f

i l e d h e r o w n p e t i t i o n

, s e e k i n g p e r m i s s i o n t o r e l o c a t e w i t h A k u l

t o A r k a n s a s a n d s e e k i n g t o a l t e r t h e p a r e n t i n g s c h e d u l e

. T h e p a r t i e s e n t e r e d i n t o a s e t t l e m e n t

a g r e e m e n t r e s o l v i n g m a n y o f t h e i s s u e s i n v o l v e d i n t h e d i v o r c e

, s u c h a s t h e d i v i s i o n o f t h e

p a r t i e s ’ m a r i t a l a n d s e p a r a t e p r o p e r t y

, a n d a l i m o n y

. B a s i c a l l y

, t h e o n l y i s s u e s r e m a i n i n g f o r

t r i a l w e r e r e g a r d i n g p a r e n t i n g t i m e a n d c h i l d s u p p o r t

. T h e p a r t i e s e n t e r e d i n t o a “ s t i p u l a t i o n ”

Nei the r par ent was a Unit ed Sta te s ci ti zen, and nei the r had obt ai ned a “gree n car d” at the ti m e of 1

the pro cee din gs bel ow. Mo the r exp la ine d at tr ia l tha t the onl y way tha t she cou ld re m ai n in the Unit ed Sta te s

was to be invol ved in a fe ll owsh ip pro gram or to have a spo nso r. She sai d tha t she was “on a V is a

. . . wit h

[t he] Uni versi ty of T enn ess ee onl y for f our years ,” and that she cou ld onl y get an oth er visa by acce pti ng a

fe ll owsh ip.

-2-t h a t w a s m e a n t t o r e s o l v e v a r i o u s p a r e n t i n g i s s u e s i n t h e e v e n t t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t r u l e d i n a

c e r t a i n m a n n e r

. F o r e x a m p l e

, t h e p a r t i e s s t i p u l a t e d t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t w o u l d d e t e r m i n e w h o

w o u l d b e n a m e d t h e p r i m a r y r e s i d e n t i a l p a r e n t

, b u t i n t h e e v e n t t h a t t h e c o u r t n a m e d M o t h e r

p r i m a r y r e s i d e n t i a l p a r e n t

, t h e n F a t h e r w o u l d b e a w a r d e d 1 4 5 d a y s o f p a r e n t i n g t i m e

.

A b e n c h t r i a l w a s h e l d o v e r t h e c o u r s e o f f o u r d a y s i n M a y 2 0 1 1

. T h e r e a f t e r

, t h e t r i a l

c o u r t e n t e r e d a n o r d e r a n d p e r m a n e n t p a r e n t i n g p l a n n a m i n g M o t h e r p r i m a r y r e s i d e n t i a l

p a r e n t o f f

i v e

- ye a r

- o l d A k u l a n d p e r m i t t i n g h e r t o r e l o c a t e t o L i t t l e R o c k

, A r k a n s a s w i t h h i m

.

T h e p e r m a n e n t p a r e n t i n g p l a n s t a t e d t h a t F a t h e r w o u l d h a v e 1 4 5 d a y s o f p a r e n t i n g t i m e

.

A k u l ’ s p a s s p o r t h a d a p p a r e n t l y e x p i r e d

, a n d t h e t r i a l c o u r t o r d e r e d b o t h p a r t i e s t o c o o p e r a t e

i n h a v i n g i t r e n e w e d

. A l t h o u g h F a t h e r h a d o f f e r e d t o p a y f

o r t h e c o s t o f

a s a f e d e p o s i t b o x

w h e r e A k u l ’ s p a s s p o r t c o u l d b e h e l d a n d a c c e s s e d o n l y i f b o t h p a r e n t s w e r e p r e s e n t

, t h e t r i a l

c o u r t d e c l i n e d t h a t o p t i o n a n d i n s t e a d o r d e r e d t h e p a r t i e s

, w h e n a p p l y i n g f o r t h e c h i l d ’ s

p a s s p o r t

, t o “ n o t i f

y t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t t h a t t h e c h i l d c a n o n l y t r a v e l o u t s i d e o f

t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w i t h w r i t t e n c o n s e n t o f t h e o t h e r p a r e n t o r o r d e r o f t h e C o u r t

. ”

F a t h e r f i l e d a m o t i o n t o a l t e r o r a m e n d t h e d i v o r c e d e c r e e o n n u m e r o u s g r o u n d s

.

R e l e v a n t t o t h i s a p p e a l

, h e p o i n t e d o u t t h a t w h i l e t h e p a r e n t i n g p l a n s t a t e d t h a t F a t h e r w o u l d

r e c e i v e 1 4 5 d a y s o f p a r e n t i n g t i m e

, i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e p a r t i e s ’ p r e v i o u s s t i p u l a t i o n

, t h e

a c t u a l s c h e d u l e o f d a y s s e t f o r t h i n t h e p a r e n t i n g p l a n o n l y a m o u n t e d t o 1 3 1 d a y s b e i n g

a l l o c a t e d t o F a t h e r

. F a t h e r a l s o i n f o r m e d t h e t r i a l c o u r t t h a t h e h a d b e e n i n c o n t a c t w i t h t h e 2

D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e r e g a r d i n g t h e c h i l d ’ s p a s s p o r t

, a n d h e w a s i n f o r m e d t h a t t h e D e p a r t m e n t

c o u l d n o t i s s u e a c o n d i t i o n a l p a s s p o r t w i t h t h e t y p e s o f r e s t r i c t i o n s s e t f o r t h i n t h e f

i n a l

d e c r e e o f d i v o r c e

. H e a t t a c h e d t o h i s m o t i o n h i s c o r r e s p o n d e n c e w i t h t h e D e p a r t m e n t a n d

a n o f f i c i a l f l y e r h e r e c e i v e d f

r o m t h e D e p a r t m e n t r e g a r d i n g t h e p a r t i c u l a r d i f f i c u l t i e s

i n v o l v e d w i t h p a r e n t a l a b d u c t i o n s t o I n d i a

.

M o t h e r f i l e d a r e s p o n s e

, b a s i c a l l y a s s e r t i n g t h a t i t w a s F a t h e r ’ s f a u l t t h a t t h e p a r e n t i n g

p l a n s c h e d u l e d i d n o t p r o v i d e h i m w i t h 1 4 5 d a y s o f p a r e n t i n g t i m e b e c a u s e i t w a s d e r i v e d

f r o m a s c h e d u l e o r i g i n a l l y p r e p a r e d b y h i s a t t o r n e y

. M o t h e r c l a i m e d t h a t F a t h e r ’ s

p r e p a r a t i o n o f t h e f

a u l t y s c h e d u l e f

o r t h e a l t e r n a t e r e s i d e n t i a l p a r e n t a m o u n t e d t o a

“ m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n

, ” a n d s h e c l a i m e d t h a t

, d e s p i t e t h e p r e v i o u s s t i p u l a t i o n

, h e s h o u l d n o t

r e c e i v e 1 4 5 d a y s o f p a r e n t i n g t i m e b e c a u s e o f h i s “ u n c l e a n h a n d s

. ”

T h e t r i a l c o u r t e n t e r e d a n a m e n d e d d i v o r c e d e c r e e a n d p a r e n t i n g p l a n

, a l t e r i n g t h e

p a r e n t i n g s c h e d u l e t o p r o v i d e F a t h e r w i t h 1 4 0 d a y s o f p a r e n t i n g t i m e

, b u t n o t 1 4 5

, a s s e t

A great dea l of Fat her ’s par ent ing ti m e was to ta ke pla ce dur i n g bre aks fr om sch ool

, and the 2

par ent ing pla n sch edu le was somewhat la cking in spe ci fi cs re gardi ng the se bre aks, si m ply st a t i ng, for

ins ta nce , th at Fat her ’s par ent ing ti m e wou ld begin “ on t he d ay the chi ld is re le ase d f rom scho ol. ”

-3-f

o r t h i n t h e p a r t i e s ’ p r e v i o u s s t i p u l a t i o n

. T h e t r i a l c o u r t a l s o r e f u s e d t o r e q u i r e t h e p a s s p o r t

t o b e k e p t i n a s a f

e d e p o s i t b o x

, a n d i n s t e a d r e i t e r a t e d i t s p r e v i o u s o r d e r t h a t n e i t h e r p a r e n t

w a s a l l o w e d t o l e a v e t h e c o u n t r y w i t h t h e c h i l d w i t h o u t e i t h e r t h e c o n s e n t o f t h e o t h e r p a r e n t

o r a c o u r t o r d e r

. F a t h e r t i m e l y f i l e d a n o t i c e o f a p p e a l

.

I I

. I S S U E S P R E S E N T E D

O n a p p e a l

, F a t h e r r a i s e s t h r e e i s s u e s f o r r e v i e w :

1

. W h e t h e r t h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s r u l i n g d e s i g n a t i n g M o t h e r a s p r i m a r y r e s i d e n t i a l p a r e n t i s

c o n t r a r y t o t h e w e i g h t o f t h e e v i d e n c e a n d r e s u l t e d f r o m a m i s a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e l a w ;

2

. W h e t h e r t h e t r i a l c o u r t e r r e d i n a r b i t r a r i l y r e d u c i n g F a t h e r ’ s p a r e n t i n g t i m e a f t e r

o r i g i n a l l y s t a t i n g t h a t h e w o u l d r e c e i v e 1 4 5 d a y s ; a n d

3

. W h e t h e r t h e t r i a l c o u r t e r r e d i n d e n y i n g F a t h e r ’ s r e a s o n a b l e r e q u e s t t h a t t h e c h i l d ’ s

p a s s p o r t b e h e l d i n a s a f e d e p o s i t b o x t o l e s s e n t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l c h i l d

a b d u c t i o n

.

F o r t h e f o l l o w i n g r e a s o n s

, w e r e m a n d t h i s m a t t e r f o r t h e t r i a l c o u r t t o e n t e r a n o r d e r t h a t

c o n t a i n s t h e r e q u i s i t e f

i n d i n g s o f

f a c t a n d c o n c l u s i o n s o f l a w m a n d a t e d b y T e n n e s s e e R u l e

o f C i v i l P r o c e d u r e 5 2

. 0 1

.

I I I

. D IS C U S S IO N

“ A t r i a l c o u r t ' s d e c i s i o n s o n p a r e n t i n g a r r a n g e m e n t s a n d t h e d e s i g n a t i o n o f t h e

p r i m a r y r e s i d e n t i a l p a r e n t a r e ‘ a m o n g t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t d e c i s i o n s c o n f r o n t i n g a t r i a l c o u r t

i n a d i v o r c e c a s e

. ’ ” M o r r i s v

. M o r r i s

, N o

. W 2 0 1 0

- 0 0 2 9 3

- C O A

- R 3

- C V

, 2 0 1 1 W L 3 9 8 0 4 4

,

a t * 8 ( T e n n

. C t

. A p p

. F e b

. 8

, 2 0 1 1 ) ( q u o t i n g C h a f f i n v

. E l l i s

, 2 1 1 S

. W

. 3 d 2 6 4

, 2 8 6 ( T e n n

.

C t

. A p p

. 2 0 0 6 ) )

. “ I n c h o o s i n g w h i c h p a r e n t t o d e s i g n a t e a s t h e p r i m a r y r e s i d e n t i a l p a r e n t f o r

t h e c h i l d

, t h e c o u r t m u s t c o n d u c t a ‘ c o m p a r a t i v e f i t n e s s ’ a n a l y s i s

, r e q u i r i n g t h e c o u r t t o

d e t e r m i n e w h i c h p a r e n t w o u l d b e c o m p a r a t i v e l y m o r e f i t

. ” I d

. “ T h e r e a r e c u r r e n t l y t w o 3

Alt hough thi s cas e invol ves a pro pos ed par ent al re loc at ion

, the “pa re nta l re loc at ion st at ute ,” T enn

. 3

Code Ann. § 36- 6- 108, has bee n hel d ina ppl ic abl e in cas es wher e the tr ia l cou rt is m aking an ini ti al cus tod y

dec is ion or par ent ing ar ra ngem ent

. See Nasg ovi tz v. Nasg ovi tz

, No. M2 010-02606- COA- R3- CV

, 2012 WL

2445 076, at *5- 7 (T enn

. Ct. App. J un. 27, 2012 ); Rudd v. Rudd

, No. W2 009-00251- COA- R3- CV

, 2009 WL

4642 582, at *5

- 6 (T enn

. Ct. App. Dec. 9, 2009 ); Greg ory v. Greg ory

, No. W2 002-01049- COA- R3- CV

, 2003

WL 2172 9431

, at *5 (T enn

. Ct. App. J uly 14, 2003 ). I nst ead

, a bes t int er est ana lysis app li es, and the cou rt

sho uld con si der the pro pos ed re loc at ion of the par ent when m aking it s bes t int er est ana lysis

. Mo rri s

, 2011

WL 3980 44, a t * 9; Rudd , 200 9 W L 464 2582 , at *6.

-4-d i f

f e r e n t s t a t u t e s s e t t i n g o u t n o n

- e x c l u s i v e l i s t s o f f a c t o r s f o r t h e t r i a l c o u r t t o a p p l y t o h e l p 4

i t r e a c h t h e g o a l o f

d e t e r m i n i n g a c h i l d ' s b e s t i n t e r e s t ”

– T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 3 6

- 6

- 1 0 6 a n d 5

“Bot h st at ute s set for th a none xcl usi ve li st of fa ct ors app li cab le when the cou rt ado pts a par ent ing 4

pla n.” Tayl

or v. Knot t

, No. M2 012-00172- COA- R3- J V

, 2012 WL 6449 981, at *4 n.5 (T enn

. Ct. App. Dec.

12, 2012 ). Sec ti on 36- 6- 106( a) “en um er at es fa ct ors re le vant to the bes t int er est of the chi ld in divor ce cas es

and oth er chi ld cus tod y det er m ina ti ons ,” whil e sec ti on 36- 6- 40 4( b) “e nu m er at es fa ct ors re le vant to the cou rt ' s

des ignat ion of a pri m ar y re si den ti al par ent a n d t h e d i vi si on of par ent ing ti m e.” Id. T he fa ct ors in bot h

st at ute s ar e “su bst ant ia ll y si m il ar ,” and “bo th st at ute s al low the cou rt to con si der any oth er re le vant fa ct ors .”

Id. “‘ [I ]n m ost cas es, the ana lysis and the re sul t woul d be the same re gardl ess of whic h set of fa ct ors is

app li ed.’ ” Id. (qu oti ng Thomps on v. Thomps on

, No. M2 011-02438- COA- R3- CV

, 2012 WL 5266 319, at *6

(T enn . Ct. App. Oc t. 2 4, 20 12) ).

T enn ess ee Code Annot at ed s ect ion 36- 6- 106( a) pr ovides , in re le vant pa rt : 5

I n ta king int o acc ount the chi ld's bes t int er est

, the cou rt sha ll ord er a cus tod y ar ra ngem ent tha t per m it s bot h

par ent s to enj oy the m axi m um par ti ci pat ion pos si ble in the li fe of the chi ld con si st ent wit h the fa ct ors set out

in sub divis ion s (a )( 1)-(10)

, the loc at ion of the re si den ces of the par ent s, the chi ld's nee d for st abi li ty and al l

oth er re le vant fa ct ors

. T he cou rt sha ll co ns ide r al l re le vant fa ct ors

, inc lud ing the fol lowi ng, wher e app li cab le :

(1) T he l ove, af

fe ct ion and emotio nal ti es exi st ing bet ween th e pa re nts or ca re giv er s a nd t he c hil d;

(2) T he dis pos it ion of the par ent s or car egivers to pro vide the chi ld wit h foo d, cl oth ing, m edi cal car e,

edu cat ion and oth er nec ess ar y car e and the degree to whic h a par ent or car egiver has bee n the pri m ar y

car egiver;

(3) T he import anc e of con ti nui ty in the chi ld's li fe and the le ngth of ti m e the chi ld has li ved i n a st abl e,

sat is fa ct ory envir onment;

. . . . (4) T he s ta bil it y of t he f

amily unit of

th e pa re nts or ca re giv er s;

(5) T he menta l a nd p hysic al hea lt h of th e pa re nts or ca re giv er s;

(6) T he h om e, s cho ol and comm uni ty re cor d of

th e c hil d;

(7) (A) T he r eas ona ble pr ef er enc e of th e c hil d, i f t wel ve (12) years of age or ol der ;

(B) T he cou rt m ay hea r the pre fe re nce of a yo u n ge r chi ld on re que st

. T he pre fe re nce s of old er

chi ldr en s houl d no rmall y be given great er wei ght th an t hos e of younger ch il dre n;

(8) Eviden ce of physic al or emotio nal abu se to the chi ld, to th e ot her par ent or to any ot her per son ; .

. . . (9) T he cha ra ct er and beh avior of any oth er per son who re si des in or fr equ ent s the ho me o f a par ent or

car egiver a nd t he p er son ' s i nte ra ct ion s wi th the chi ld; and

(10 ) Eac h par ent ’s or car egiver' s pas t and pot ent ia l for fut ure per for m anc e of par ent ing re sp o n s i b i l it ie s,

inc lud ing the wil li ngness and abi li ty of eac h of the par ent s and car egivers to fa ci li ta te and enc our age a cl ose

and con ti nui ng p ar ent

- chi ld re la ti ons hip be t w een the chi ld and bot h of the chi ld's par ent s, con si st ent wit h

the bes t int er est of the chi ld. I n det er m ini ng the wil li ngness of eac h of the par ent s and car egivers to fa ci li ta te

and e nco ura ge a cl ose and con ti nui ng par ent

- chi ld re la ti ons hip bet ween the chi ld and bot h of the chi ld's

par ent s, the cou rt sha ll con si der the li kelih o o d o f e a c h p ar ent and car egiver to hono r and fa ci li ta te cou rt

ord er ed par ent ing arra ngem ent s and rights , and the cour t shal l fur the r cons ide r any his tor y of ei the r par ent

or any car egiver de nying par ent ing ti m e t o ei the r p ar ent in viola ti on o f a cou rt or der

.

-5-§ 3 6

- 6

- 4 0 4

. T h o m p s o n v

. T

h o m p s o n

, N o

. M 2 0 1 1

- 0 2 4 3 8

- C O A

- R 3

- C V

, 2 0 1 2 W L 5 2 6 6 3 1 9

, 6

a t * 5 ( T e n n

. C t

. A p p

. O c t

. 2 4

, 2 0 1 2 )

. B o t h o f t h e s e s t a t u t e s p r o v i d e t h a t t h e c o u r t ' s p a r e n t i n g

d e c i s i o n i s t o b e b a s e d o n t h e c h i l d ' s b e s t i n t e r e s t

. I d

. “ I n f a s h i o n i n g a p a r e n t i n g p l a n

, t h e

t r i a l c o u r t i s c h a r g e d w i t h k e e p i n g t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t o f t h e c h i l d p a r a m o u n t ; t h e n e e d s o f t h e

p a r e n t s a r e s e c o n d a r y

. T h e p a r e n t i n g p l a n i s f o c u s e d o n t h e c h i l d

, a n d t h e g o a l i s t o p l a c e t h e

c h i l d i n t h e e n v i r o n m e n t t h a t b e s t s e r v e s h i s o r h e r n e e d s

. ” B a r n e s v

. B a r n e s

, N o

. M 2 0 1 1

-

0 1 8 2 4

- C O A

- R 3

- C V

, 2 0 1 2 W L 5 2 6 6 3 8 2

, a t * 6 ( T e n n

. C t

. A p p

. O c t

. 2 4

, 2 0 1 2 ) ( c i t i n g T e n n

.

C o d e A n n

. § 3 6

- 6

- 1 0 6 ( a ) ; T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 3 6

- 6

- 4 0 4 ; E l d r i d g e v

. E l d r i d

g e

, 4 2 S

. W

. 3 d 8 2

,

T enn ess ee Code Annot at ed s ect ion 36- 6- 404( b) pro vides , as re le vant he re : 6

T he cou rt sha ll m ake re si den ti al pro visio ns for eac h chi ld, con si st ent wit h the chi ld's develo pm ent al le vel

and the fa m il y' s soc ia l and eco nomic ci rc um st anc es, whic h enc our age eac h par e n t t o ma i n t ai n a lovin g,

st abl e, a nd n urt uri ng rel at ion shi p wi th the chi ld.

. . . [T ]he cou rt sha ll con si der th e f oll owin g fact ors :

(1) T he pa r e n t 's a b il it y to ins tr uct

, ins pir e, and enc our age the chi ld to pre par e for a li fe of ser vice, and to

compete suc ces sf

ull y in t he s oci et y that th e c hil d f ace s a s a n ad ult ;

(2) T he re la ti ve st re ngth, nat ure

, and st abi li ty of the chi ld's re la ti ons hip wit h eac h par ent

, inc lud ing whet her

a par ent has ta ken great er re spo nsi bil it y for per for m ing par ent ing re spo nsi bil it ie s re la ti ng to the dai ly nee ds

of the chi ld;

( 3 ) T he wil li ngness and abi li ty of eac h of the par ent s to fa ci li ta te and enc our age a cl ose and c o n t i n u i n g

par ent

- chi ld re la ti ons hip bet ween the chi ld and the oth er par ent

, con si st ent wit h the bes t int er est s of the chi ld;

(4) Wi ll ful re fus al to at te nd a c o u r t

- ord er ed par ent edu cat ion seminar m ay be con si der ed by the cou rt as

eviden ce of tha t p ar ent ' s l ack of good fa it h i n t hes e pr oce edi ngs;

(5) T he dis pos it ion of eac h par ent to pro vide the chi ld wit h foo d, cl oth ing, m edi cal car e, edu cat ion and oth er

nec ess ar y care ;

(6) T he degree to whic h a par ent has bee n the pri ma ry car egiver, def ine d as the par ent who has ta ken the

great er re spo nsi bil it y for p er for m ing par ent al re spo nsi bil it ie s;

(7) T he l ove, af

fe ct ion , an d emoti ona l t ie s e xis ti ng betwe en e ach par ent and th e c hil d;

(8) T he e m oti ona l n eed s a nd d evelop m ent al le vel of th e c hil d;

(9) T he cha ra ct er and physic al and emotion al fi tne ss o f e a c h p a r e n t as it re la te s to eac h par ent ' s abi li ty to

par ent or th e wel fa re of

th e c hil d;

(10 ) T he chi ld's int er act ion and int er re la ti ons hip s w i t h s i b l ings and wit h si gnifi can t adu lt s, as wel l as the

chi ld's involvement wi th the chi ld's physic al sur rou ndi ngs, sc hool , or ot her si gnifi can t a ct ivit ie s;

(11 ) T he import anc e of con ti nui ty in the chi ld's l i f e a n d t h e l e n gt h of ti m e the chi ld has li ved in a st abl e,

sat is fa ct ory envir onment;

(12 ) Evide nce of

physi cal or emotio nal abu se to the chi ld, to th e ot her par ent or to any ot her per son ;

(13 ) T he cha ra ct er and beh avior of any oth er per son who re si des in or fr equ ent s the home o f a par ent and

suc h pe rs on' s i nte ra ct ion s wi th the chi ld;

( 14) T he re aso nab le pre fe re nce of the chi ld if twe lve (12 ) years of age or old er

. T he cou rt m ay hea r t h e

pre fe re nce of a younger chi ld upon re que st

. T he pre fe re nce of old er chi l d r e n s h o u l d nor m al ly be giv en

great er wei ght th an t hos e of younger ch il dre n;

(15 ) Ea c h p a r e n t 's employm ent sch edu le

, and the cou rt m ay m ake acc om m oda ti ons con si st ent wit h tho se

sch edu le s; and

(16 ) An y other fa ct ors dee m ed r el evant by the cou rt

.

-6-8 5 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 1 ) ; P a r k e r v

. P a r k e r

, 9 8 6 S

. W

. 2 d 5 5 7

, 5 6 2 ( T e n n

. 1 9 9 9 ) ; C u m m i n g s v

.

C u m m i n g s

, N o

. M 2 0 0 3

- 0 0 0 8 6

- C O A

- R 3

- C V

, 2 0 0 4 W L 2 3 4 6 0 0 0

, a t * 5 ( T e n n

. C t

. A p p

. O c t

.

1 5

, 2 0 0 4 ) )

.

I n t h e c a s e b e f

o r e u s

, F a t h e r a r g u e s t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t a p p l i e d a n i n c o r r e c t s t a n d a r d

b y f o c u s i n g o n M o t h e r ’ s d e s i r e t o m o v e r a t h e r t h a n t h e c h i l d ’ s b e s t i n t e r e s t

. H e c o n t e n d s t h a t

i t w a s i n A k u l ’ s b e s t i n t e r e s t t o r e m a i n i n M e m p h i s w i t h h i m r a t h e r t h a n m o v i n g t o A r k a n s a s

w i t h M o t h e r

, w h e r e s h e

, a d m i t t e d l y

, h a d o n l y a o n e

- y e a r f e l l o w s h i p

. U n f

o r t u n a t e l y

, o u r

r e v i e w o f t h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s d e c i s i o n i s h a m p e r e d b y t h e f a c t t h a t

, a f

t e r t h e f o u r

- d a y t r i a l

, t h e

t r i a l c o u r t m a d e n o f

i n d i n g s o f f

a c t w i t h r e g a r d t o i t s d e c i s i o n t o n a m e M o t h e r t h e p r i m a r y

r e s i d e n t i a l p a r e n t r a t h e r t h a n F a t h e r

. T h e d i v o r c e d e c r e e s i m p l y s t a t e d :

T h e C o u r t f

i n d s a n d r u l e s t h a t M o t h e r s h o u l d b e d e s i g n a t e d a s t h e p r i m a r y

r e s i d e n t i a l p a r e n t o f t h e p a r t i e s ' m i n o r c h i l d

, A k u l S h r i v a s t a v a

, b o r n M a r c h 2

,

2 0 0 6

. T h e C o u r t f

u r t h e r f i n d s t h a t M o t h e r s h a l l b e p e r m i t t e d t o r e l o c a t e w i t h

t h e m i n o r c h i l d t o L i t t l e R o c k

, A r k a n s a s f o r M o t h e r ' s m e d i c a l f

e l l o w s h i p

. . .

.

T h e C o u r t h a s o r d e r e d t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e A m e n d e d P e r m a n e n t P a r e n t i n g

P l a n O r d e r b a s e d o n t h e C o u r t ' s r u l i n g t h a t M o t h e r b e a w a r d e d t h e p r i m a r y

r e s i d e n t i a l p a r e n t o f

t h e m i n o r c h i l d a n d t h a t M o t h e r a n d t h e m i n o r c h i l d c a n

r e l o c a t e t o L i t t l e R o c k

, A r k a n s a s f o r M o t h e r ' s m e d i c a l f

e l l o w s h i p

. T h e C o u r t

f i n d s t h a t t h e A m e n d e d P a r e n t i n g P l a n m a k e s a d e q u a t e a n d s u f f i c i e n t

p r o v i s i o n s f

o r t h e c u s t o d y a n d m a i n t e n a n c e o f t h e m i n o r c h i l d o f t h i s m a r r i a g e

. . . .

T h e r e w e r e n o f

a c t u a l f i n d i n g s r e g a r d i n g t h e c o m p a r a t i v e f i t n e s s o f t h e p a r e n t s

, a n d t h e r e

w a s n o m e n t i o n o f t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t o f A k u l o r t h e s t a t u t o r y “ b e s t i n t e r e s t ” f a c t o r s t h a t s h o u l d

h a v e c o n t r o l l e d t h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s d e c i s i o n

.

“ I n b e n c h t r i a l s

, t r i a l c o u r t s m u s t m a k e f i n d i n g s o f f

a c t a n d c o n c l u s i o n s o f l a w t o

s u p p o r t t h e i r r u l i n g s

. ” H a r d i n v

. H a r d i n

, N o

. W 2 0 1 2

- 0 0 2 7 3

- C O A

- R 3

- C V

, 2 0 1 2 W L

6 7 2 7 5 3 3

, a t * 3 ( T e n n

. C t

. A p p

. D e c

. 2 7

, 2 0 1 2 )

. “ S i m p l y s t a t i n g t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s d e c i s i o n

,

w i t h o u t m o r e

, d o e s n o t f u l f i l l t h i s m a n d a t e

. ” B a r n e s

, 2 0 1 2 W L 5 2 6 6 3 8 2

, a t * 8

. T e n n e s s e e

R u l e o f C i v i l P r o c e d u r e 5 2

. 0 1 s t a t e s

, i n p e r t i n e n t p a r t : 7

We not e tha t pri or to J uly 1, 2009

, tr ia l cou rt s wer e onl y re qui re d to m ake spe ci fi c fi ndi ngs of fa ct 7

and con cl usi ons of la w “up on re que st m ade by any par ty” pri or to the ent ry of j udgm en t. However, the

cur re nt versi on of Rule 52.0 1 re qui re s the cou rt to m ake the se fi ndi ngs re gardl ess of a re que st by ei the r par ty.

(c ont inu ed.. .)

-7-I n a l l a c t i o n s t r i e d u p o n t h e f a c t s w i t h o u t a j u r y

, t h e c o u r t s h a l l f i n d t h e f a c t s

s p e c i a l l y a n d s h a l l s t a t e s e p a r a t e l y i t s c o n c l u s i o n s o f l a w a n d d i r e c t t h e e n t r y

o f t h e a p p r o p r i a t e j u d g m e n t

.

( E m p h a s i s a d d e d )

. W e h a v e p r e v i o u s l y h e l d t h a t “ t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y ’ s d e c i s i o n t o

r e q u i r e f i n d i n g s o f f

a c t a n d c o n c l u s i o n s o f l a w i s ‘ n o t a m e r e t e c h n i c a l i t y

. ’ ” H a r d i n

, 2 0 1 2

W L 6 7 2 7 5 3 3

, a t * 3 ( q u o t i n g I n r e K

. H

. , N o

. W 2 0 0 8

- 0 1 1 4 4

- C O A

- R 3

- P T

, 2 0 0 9 W L 1 3 6 2 3 1 4

,

a t * 8 ( T e n n

. C t

. A p p

. M a y 1 5

, 2 0 0 9 ) )

. I t s e r v e s t h e i m p o r t a n t p u r p o s e s o f f a c i l i t a t i n g

a p p e l l a t e r e v i e w a n d p r o m o t i n g t h e j u s t a n d s p e e d y r e s o l u t i o n o f a p p e a l s

. I d

. “ ‘ W i t h o u t

s u c h f i n d i n g s a n d c o n c l u s i o n s

, t h i s c o u r t i s l e f t t o w o n d e r o n w h a t b a s i s t h e c o u r t r e a c h e d

i t s u l t i m a t e d e c i s i o n

. ’ ” I d

. ( q u o t i n g I

n r e K

. H

. , 2 0 0 9 W L 1 3 6 2 3 1 4

, a t * 8 )

.

“ [ F ] i n d i n g s o f f

a c t a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y i m p o r t a n t i n c a s e s i n v o l v i n g t h e c u s t o d y a n d

p a r e n t i n g s c h e d u l e o f c h i l d r e n

, a s t h e s e d e t e r m i n a t i o n s ‘ o f t e n h i n g e o n s u b t l e f

a c t o r s

, i n c l u d i n g t h e p a r e n t s ' d e m e a n o r a n d c r e d i b i l i t y d u r i n g [ t h e ] p r o c e e d i n g s

. ’ ” I n r e C o n n o r

S

. L

. , N o

. W 2 0 1 2

- 0 0 5 8 7

- C O A

- R 3

- J V

, 2 0 1 2 W L 5 4 6 2 8 3 9

, a t * 4 ( T e n n

. C t

. A p p

. N o v

. 8

,

2 0 1 2 ) ( q u o t i n g H

y d e v

. B r a d l e

y

, N o

. M 2 0 0 9

- 0 2 1 1 7

- C O A

- R 3

- J V

, 2 0 1 0 W L 4 0 2 4 9 0 5

, a t * 3

( T e n n

. C t

. A p p

. O c t

. 1 2

, 2 0 1 0 ) )

. N o r m a l l y

, a p p e l l a t e c o u r t s a r e r e l u c t a n t t o s e c o n d

- g u e s s a

t r i a l c o u r t ' s d e c i s i o n w i t h r e g a r d t o a p a r e n t i n g s c h e d u l e

, b u t w i t h o u t f i n d i n g s o f f

a c t

, w e

c a n n o t d i s c e r n t h e b a s i s f o r t h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s d e c i s i o n

, “ a n d w e a r e u n a b l e t o a f f o r d

a p p r o p r i a t e d e f

e r e n c e t o t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s d e c i s i o n

. ” I d

. A l t h o u g h “ t h e r e i s n o s t a t u t o r y

r e q u i r e m e n t t h a t t h e c o u r t l i s t e v e r y a p p l i c a b l e f a c t o r a l o n g w i t h i t s c o n c l u s i o n a s t o h o w t h a t

p a r t i c u l a r f

a c t o r i m p a c t e d t h e o v e r a l l c u s t o d y d e t e r m i n a t i o n

, ” t h e s t a t u t e

, n e v e r t h e l e s s

,

“ r e q u i r e s t h e t r i a l c o u r t t o c o n s i d e r a l l t h e a p p l i c a b l e f a c t o r s

. ” I

d

. a t * 7 ; s e e

, e

. g

. , T e n n

. 8

C o d e A n n

. § 3 6

- 6

- 4 0 4 ( s t a t i n g t h a t “ t h e c o u r t s h a l l c o n s i d e r t h e f o l l o w i n g f

a c t o r s ” )

( e m p h a s i s a d d e d )

. “ M o r e o v e r

, t h i s C o u r t h a s e n c o u r a g e d t r i a l c o u r t s t o ‘ b e a s p r e c i s e a s

p o s s i b l e i n m a k i n g c h i l d c u s t o d y f i n d i n g s ’ i n o r d e r t o f

a c i l i t a t e m e a n i n g f

u l a p p e l l a t e r e v i e w

. ”

I d

. ( q u o t i n g I

n r e E l a i n a M

. , N o

. M 2 0 1 0

- 0 1 8 8 0

- C O A

- R 3

- J V

, 2 0 1 1 W L 5 0 7 1 9 0 1

, a t * 8

( T e n n

. C t

. A p p

. O c t

. 2 5

, 2 0 1 1 ) )

. T h e o r d e r s e n t e r e d b y t h e t r i a l c o u r t i n t h i s c a s e s i m p l y d o

n o t i n d i c a t e h o w o r w h y t h e t r i a l c o u r t r e a c h e d i t s d e c i s i o n o r w h a t f a c t u a l f i n d i n g s l e d i t t o

r u l e a s i t d i d

.

(... con ti nue d) 7

Ha rdi n , 201 2 W L 672 7533 , at *3.

“T his Cour t has pre viousl y exp re sse d con cer n tha t the cas e la w hol din g tha t tr ia l j udges nee d not 8

ar ti cul at e the fa ct ors pur sua nt to T enn ess ee Code Annot at ed Sec ti on 36- 6- 106( a) app ear s to con fl ic t wit h the

int ent of T enn ess ee Rule of Civil Pro ced ure 52.0 1.” In re Connor S.L.

, 2012 WL 5462 839, at *7 n.6 (c it ing

In re Ela ina M

. , No. M2 010-01880- COA- R3- J V

, 2011 WL 5071 901, at *8 n.13 (T enn

. Ct. App. Oct

. 25,

2011 ))

.

-8-O n o c c a s i o n

, w h e n a t r i a l j u d g e f a i l s t o m a k e f

i n d i n g s o f f

a c t a n d c o n c l u s i o n s o f l a w

,

t h e a p p e l l a t e c o u r t “ m a y ‘ s o l d i e r o n ’ w h e n t h e c a s e i n v o l v e s o n l y a c l e a r l e g a l i s s u e

, o r w h e n

t h e c o u r t ' s d e c i s i o n i s ‘ r e a d i l y a s c e r t a i n a b l e

. ’ ” H a n s o n v

. J

. C

. H o b b s C o

. , I

n c

. , N o

. W 2 0 1 1

-

0 2 5 2 3

- C O A

- R 3

- C V

, 2 0 1 2 W L 5 8 7 3 5 8 2

, a t * 1 0 ( T e n n

. C t

. A p p

. N o v

. 2 1

, 2 0 1 2 ) ( q u o t i n g

S i m p s o n v

. F o w l e r

, N o

. W 2 0 1 1

- 0 2 1 1 2

- C O A

- R 3

- C V

, 2 0 1 2 W L 3 6 7 5 3 2 1

, a t * 4 ( T e n n

. C t

.

A p p

. A u g

. 2 8

, 2 0 1 2 ) )

. H o w e v e r

, t h a t i s n o t t h e c a s e h e r e

. D e t e r m i n i n g t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t o f

a c h i l d i s a “ f

a c t

- i n t e n s i v e i s s u e

, ” H

a r d i n

, 2 0 1 2 W L 6 7 2 7 5 3 3

, a t * 5

, a n d t h e b a s i s o f t h e t r i a l

c o u r t ’ s d e c i s i o n i n t h i s c a s e i s n o t r e a d i l y a s c e r t a i n a b l e

. W e n o t e t h a t t h e t r i a l j u d g e d i d

m a k e a f e w o r a l r e m a r k s a t t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e t r i a l r e g a r d i n g h i s p e r c e p t i o n o f t h e p a r e n t s

.

H e s a i d t h a t b o t h M o t h e r a n d F a t h e r w e r e “ w o r t h y p a r e n t s ” w h o h a d “ d o n e a n o u t s t a n d i n g

j o b ” i n r a i s i n g A k u l

, h a d “ a n e q u a l a n d b u r n i n g a f f e c t i o n ” f o r h i m

, a n d w a n t e d t h e b e s t f o r

h i m

. T h e j u d g e n o t e d t h a t b o t h p a r e n t s h a d “ d e v o t e d s u b s t a n t i a l t i m e t o t h e i r p r o f e s s i o n s

w h i l e a t t h e s a m e t i m e b e i n g i d e a l p a r e n t s f o r t h i s m i n o r c h i l d

. ” H e a l s o s a i d t h a t b o t h

p a r e n t s h a d “ d e v o t e d s u b s t a n t i a l t i m e a n d a t t e n t i o n t o t h e c a r e a n d s u p p o r t o f A k u l

, w h i c h

h a s r e s u l t e d i n A k u l d o i n g w e l l i n s c h o o l

, a p p a r e n t l y l o v e s h i s m o m a n d l o v e s h i s f a t h e r a n d

e n j o y s b e i n g w i t h b o t h o f t h e m

. ” C l e a r l y

, t h e s e o b s e r v a t i o n s w e i g h e q u a l l y i n f a v o r o f

M o t h e r a n d F a t h e r a n d d o n o t e x p l a i n w h y t h e t r i a l c o u r t c h o s e t o n a m e M o t h e r p r i m a r y

r e s i d e n t i a l p a r e n t

, a l l o w i n g h e r t o r e l o c a t e w i t h A k u l t o A r k a n s a s f o r a o n e

- y e a r j o b

o p p o r t u n i t y

. T h e o n l y c o m m e n t t h a t s h e d s l i g h t o n t h e c o u r t ’ s d e c i s i o n i n t h i s r e g a r d w a s

t h e f o l l o w i n g s t a t e m e n t b y t h e t r i a l j u d g e :

A s t h e C o u r t h a s i n d i c a t e d t o t h e a t t o r n e y s

, c h i l d r e n m o v e t o w h e r e v e r t h e i r

p a r e n t s r e l o c a t e t o

. A n d p a r e n t s r e l o c a t e o r l i v e i n a p a r t i c u l a r a r e a w h e r e t h e y

p r i m a r i l y h a v e t h e i r s o u r c e o f i n c o m e a n d e m p l o y m e n t

. A n d t h e C o u r t

c o n s i d e r s t h e p a r e n t ’ s d e c i s i o n t o m o v e t o b e m o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a n a c h i l d ’ s

d e c i s i o n t o r e m a i n i n a p a r t i c u l a r l o c a t i o n w h e r e t h e c h i l d m a y h a v e d e v e l o p e d

f r i e n d s a n d c l a s s m a t e s t h a t t h e y m a y h a v e g r o w n u p w i t h

. 9

C l e a r l y

, t h i s s t a t e m e n t i s a t o d d s w i t h t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t a n a l y s i s t h a t s h o u l d h a v e g o v e r n e d t h e

t r i a l c o u r t ’ s d e c i s i o n

. S e e

, e

. g

. , B a r n e s

, 2 0 1 2 W L 5 2 6 6 3 8 2

, a t * 6 ( “ I n f a s h i o n i n g a p a r e n t i n g

p l a n

, t h e t r i a l c o u r t i s c h a r g e d w i t h k e e p i n g t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t o f t h e c h i l d p a r a m o u n t ; t h e

n e e d s o f t h e p a r e n t s a r e s e c o n d a r y

. T h e p a r e n t i n g p l a n i s f o c u s e d o n t h e c h i l d

, a n d t h e g o a l

i s t o p l a c e t h e c h i l d i n t h e e n v i r o n m e n t t h a t b e s t s e r v e s h i s o r h e r n e e d s

. ” )

. F u r t h e r m o r e

, t h e

f i n a l o r d e r e n t e r e d b y t h e t r i a l c o u r t d i d n o t i n c o r p o r a t e t h e s e o r a l s t a t e m e n t s

. “ I t i s w e l l

T he j udge la te r sai d, “i t' s a cl ose cal l bec a u s e o f the out st and ing j ob and comm it m ent tha t Mr

. 9

Shr ivast ava has sho wn for the chi ld. ” We re cognize tha t “[ t] he dec is ion of whic h par ent to des ignat e as the

pri m ar y re si den ti al par ent bec om es inc re asi ngly dif fi c u l t w h e r e, as her e, bot h par ent s ar e fi t and pro per

per son s to car e for the chi ld. ” Greg ory

, 2003 WL 2172 9431

, at *4. However, thi s doe s not exc use the cou rt

fr om pr ovidi ng som e r eas on f or it s de ci si on.

-9-s e t t l e d t h a t a c o u r t s p e a k s t h r o u g h i t s o r d e r s

. ” I n r e C o n n o r S

. L

. , 2 0 1 2 W L 5 4 6 2 8 3 9

, a t * 5

( c i t i n g P a l m e r v

. P a l m e r

, 5 6 2 S

. W

. 2 d 8 3 3

, 8 3 7 ( T e n n

. C t

. A p p

. 1 9 7 7 ) )

. “ ‘ A j u d g m e n t m u s t

b e r e d u c e d t o w r i t i n g i n o r d e r t o b e v a l i d

. I t i s i n c h o a t e

, a n d h a s n o f o r c e w h a t e v e r

, u n t i l i t

h a s b e e n r e d u c e d t o w r i t i n g a n d e n t e r e d o n t h e m i n u t e s o f t h e c o u r t [

. ] ’ ” I d

. ( q u o t i n g

C u n n i n g h a m v

. C u n n i n g h a m

, N o

. W 2 0 0 6

- 0 2 6 8 5

- C O A

- R 3

- C V

, 2 0 0 8 W L 2 5 2 1 4 2 5

, a t * 5

( T e n n

. C t

. A p p

. J u n

. 2 5

, 2 0 0 8 ) )

.

A l t h o u g h t r i a l c o u r t s h a v e b r o a d d i s c r e t i o n i n f a s h i o n i n g a p a r e n t i n g a r r a n g e m e n t

, t h e

d e c i s i o n “ m u s t b e b a s e d o n t h e p r o o f a t t r i a l a n d t h e a p p l i c a b l e p r i n c i p l e s o f l a w

. ” M o r r i s

,

2 0 1 1 W L 3 9 8 0 4 4

, a t * 8

. W e c a n n o t d i s c e r n

, f r o m t h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s o r d e r

, w h a t “ p r o o f a t t r i a l ”

a f f e c t e d t h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s r u l i n g

, n o r c a n w e t e l l w h e t h e r t h e t r i a l c o u r t a p p l i e d t h e a p p r o p r i a t e

l e g a l a n a l y s i s i n m a k i n g i t s d e c i s i o n

. W e d o n o t k n o w w h a t f a c t o r s

, i f a n y

, t h e t r i a l c o u r t

c o n s i d e r e d i n n a m i n g M o t h e r t h e p r i m a r y r e s i d e n t i a l p a r e n t a n d f a s h i o n i n g t h e p a r e n t i n g

s c h e d u l e

. D u r i n g t h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s o r a l r e m a r k s a t t r i a l

, c o u n s e l f o r F a t h e r a s k e d t h e j u d g e i f

h e h a d a p p l i e d t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t a n a l y s i s

, t o w h i c h t h e j u d g e r e s p o n d e d

, “ Y e s

. ” H o w e v e r

, l a t e r i n t h e p r o c e e d i n g s

, t h e j u d g e s t a t e d t h a t h e h a d “ c o n s i d e r e d 1 0 8 f a c t o r a s j u s t i f

y i n g s u c h

a m o v e [ t o A r k a n s a s ]

. ” A s n o t e d a b o v e

, t h e p a r e n t a l r e l o c a t i o n s t a t u t e

, T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. §

3 6

- 6

- 1 0 8

, w a s i n a p p l i c a b l e i n t h i s c a s e

. N o t k n o w i n g w h i c h a n a l y s i s t h e t r i a l c o u r t a p p l i e d

,

w e a r e s i m p l y l e f

t t o w o n d e r w h y t h e t r i a l c o u r t c h o s e t o p l a c e A k u l w i t h M o t h e r i n A r k a n s a s

o v e r F a t h e r i n M e m p h i s

.

B e c a u s e w e a r e u n a b l e t o c o n d u c t a m e a n i n g f u l a p p e l l a t e r e v i e w o f t h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s

d e c i s i o n

, w e r e m a n d t o t h e t r i a l c o u r t f o r t h e e n t r y o f

a n o r d e r o n t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t i s s u e t h a t

c o m p l i e s w i t h R u l e 5 2

. 0 1

. S e e H a r d i n

, 2 0 1 2 W L 6 7 2 7 5 3 3

, a t * 3

. T h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s o r d e r s

d i d n o t p r o v i d e a n y e x p l a n a t i o n f o r d e n y i n g F a t h e r ’ s r e q u e s t t o h a v e A k u l ’ s p a s s p o r t h e l d

i n a s a f e d e p o s i t b o x

, o r f

o r r e d u c i n g h i s p a r e n t i n g t i m e b e y o n d t h e p a r t i e s ’ p r e v i o u s

s t i p u l a t i o n

. T h e s e m a t t e r s s h o u l d b e a d d r e s s e d o n r e m a n d a s w e l l

.

I V

. C O N C L U S IO N

F o r t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d r e a s o n s

, t h e d e c i s i o n o f t h e c h a n c e r y c o u r t i s h e r e b y r e m a n d e d

f o r f u r t h e r p r o c e e d i n g s c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h i s o p i n i o n

. C o s t s o f t h i s a p p e a l a r e t a x e d o n e

- h a l f

t o t h e a p p e l l a n t

, M a n i s h S h r i v a s t a v a

, a n d h i s s u r e t y

, a n d o n e

- h a l f t o t h e a p p e l l e e

, S o u m y a

P a n d e y

, f

o r w h i c h e x e c u t i o n m a y i s s u e i f n e c e s s a r y

.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A L A N E

. H I G H E R S

, P

. J

. , W

. S

.

-10-