FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, BROWN and HODGES, 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.

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

M ar ch 25, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 2 A0 49 7 . NEW L IN et al . v

. ADAM AR et al

.

B R O W N , J u d g e.

Orv i l l e an d Ho l l y Newl i n ap p eal fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f t h ei r p et i t i o n

t o ad o p t t h ei r g reat -n ep h ew, A. D. Th ey co n t en d t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred i n fi n d i n g

t h at i t wo u l d n o t b e in A. D.’ s b es t i n t eres t fo r th e a d o p t i o n t o b e g ran t ed

. Fo r t h e

reas on s ex p l ai n ed b el o w, we affi rm

.

“ [I] n an ad o p t i o n cas e, t h e t ri al ju d g e s i t s as b o t h ju d g e an d ju ry [.] ” (Ci t at i o n

an d p un ct u at i o n o m i tt ed .) Ho o p er v. Hed

gep a t h

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. 1 6 3, 1 6 5 (7 9 6 SE2 d

7 7 9 ) (2 0 1 7 ). “ [T] h e t ri al co u rt h a s a v ery b ro ad d is cret i o n wh i ch wi l l n o t b e

co n tro l l ed by t h e ap p el lat e co u rt s ex cep t i n cas es o f pl ai n ab u s e. Th u s , i f t h ere i s an y

ev i d en ce t o s u p p ort t h e j u d gm en t en t ered i n an ad o p t io n p ro ceed i ng , i t m u s t b e

affi rm ed b y t h i s Co u rt .” (Ci t at io n an d p un ct u at io n o m i t t ed .) P r i ce v. Gr eh of s ky

, 3 4 9Ga. A p p. 2 1 4

, 2 15 (8 2 5 SE2 d 5 9 4 ) (2 0 1 9 ). On ap p eal

, we co n st ru e t h e ev i d en ce to

u p h o l d t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i ng s an d ju d g m en t , b u t as t o q ues t i o n s o f l aw, we ap p l y

a d e n o vo s t an dard o f rev i ew. Ho o p er , 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p. at 1 65

.

So v i ewed

, th e reco rd s h o w s t h at A. D. w as b orn to H a yl e y Ad a m a r an d

W i ll i am D en ny i n Au g u s t 2 0 1 6

. A ft er t h e b irt h

, Ad am ar a n d t h e ch il d l i v ed wi th

Ad am ar’ s m at ern al g ran d m o t her, wh o fi n an ci al l y s u p p o rt ed A. D. So m et i m e i n 2 0 1 8,

t h e g ran d m o th er ki ck ed A d am ar o u t o f t h e h o us e, an d A d am ar m o v ed to Tex a s ,

l eav i ng A. D. b eh i n d wi t h t he g ran d m o t h er. W h i l e Ad am ar was ou t

- o f -s t at e, t h e

g ran d m o t h er h ad m

u l t i p le s t ro k es . Orv i l l e Newl i n , t h e s o n o f t h e g ran d m o th er, an d

h i s wi fe, Ho l l y , ag reed t o care fo r A. D., b eg i n ni n g i n Au g us t 2 0 1 8

. Ad am ar ret u rn ed

fro m Tex as aft er a m o n t h an d ag reed t h at t h e Newl i ns s h o ul d b e A. D.’ s t em p o rary

g u ard i an s u n t i l Ad am ar co u l d co m p l et e reh ab i l it at i o n fo r h er m et h a m p h et am i n e

ad d ict i o n . In Oct o b er 2 0 1 8

, t h e Newl i n s were ap p oi n t ed t em p o rary g u ard i an s o f A.

D.

Ad am ar en t ered t h e reh ab i l it at i o n cen t er, b u t left aft er a few d ay s

. Sh ort l y aft er,

t h e Newl i n s an d Ad am ar arr a n g e d t h at s h e wo u ld s ee A. D. ev ery W ed n es d ay

.

Ad am ar an d h er d ad v i si t ed wi th A. D., b u t at so m e p o in t t h e vi s i t at i o n s s t op p ed

, an d

t h e l as t t im e Ad am ar s aw A. D. was Decem b er 25

, 2 01 8

. O n t h e fi rs t two W ed n es day s

2o f 2 0 1 9

, Ad am ar i n fo rm ed th e N ewl i n s t h at s h e was u n ab l e t o s ee A. D. On t h e t h i rd

W ed n es d ay , Ad am ar t ex t ed Orv i l l e N ewl i n t o v i s i t A. D

., bu t N e w l i n d ecl i n ed

,

ex p lai n i n g t h at Ad am ar h ad co n t act ed t h em t o o l at e i n t h e d ay

fo r a v is i t

.

At s o m e p o i n t i n earl y

2 01 9 , Ad am ar rel ap s ed an d d i d n o t at t em p t t o co n t act

t h e Newl i n s t o s ee A. D

. u nt i l Au g u s t 2 0 1 9

, wh en sh e as k ed Orv i l le i f sh e co u l d co m e

o v er an d b ri n g A. D. b i rt h d ay g i ft s

. Th e Newl in s d ecl i n ed her v i si t

. In Feb ru ary 2 0 2 0,

Orv il l e N ewl i n cal l ed A d am ar t o as k h er p erm i s s i o n t o ad o p t A. D. Ad am ar as k ed

t h a t t hey m eet i n p ers o n t o d i s cu s s t h e is s u e, bu t th ey n ev er wo rk ed o u t a t i m e to

m eet

. Ad am ar t ex t ed Orv i l l e in M arch

, Ap ri l

, an d M ay 2 0 20

, as k i n g t o vi s i t A. D. Th e

Newl i n s ei t h er d ecl i n ed o r d i d n o t res po n d

. Sh o rt l y b efo re t h e Ne wl i n s fi l ed t h ei r

p et i t i o n , Ad am ar s en t t h em a l et t er, d et ai l i n g h er fru s t rat i o n t h at th ey h ad n o t l et h er

s ee A

. D

. an d h er i n ten t i o n to g rad u al l y re-i n tro d u ce h ers e l f in t o A. D.’ s l i fe an d

ev en tu al l y

reg ai n fu l l cu s t o dy

.

On M ay 6

, 2 0 2 0, t h e Newl i n s fi l ed a p et it io n i n t h e Su p eri or Co u rt of Ho u s t o n

Co u n t y fo r t he ad o p t i o n o f A. D., s eek i n g to t erm i n at e t h e paren t al ri g h t s o f Ad am ar

an d A

. D.’ s b i o l o g i cal fat h er, W i l l i am Den n y , p u rs u an t t o OCGA § § 1 9 -8 -7 an d 1 9 -8

-

1 0 (b ). Ad am ar fi l e d a res p o n s e an d a co u n t ercl ai m fo r vi s i t at i o n , o bject i n g t o t h e

ad o pt i o n

. Ad am ar as s ert ed t h at s h e i n t en d ed t o “ g rad u al ly res t o re h er ri g h t s as t h e

3p ri m ary ph y s i cal cu s t od ian an d l eg al cu s t o d i an o f [A. D.] ” On A p ri l 1 3

, 2 0 2 1

, t h e

t ri al co urt h el d a h e ari n g o n t he p et i t i on fo r ad o p t i on

. T h e Newl i ns , Ad am ar, an d

Den ny were p res en t an d rep res en t ed b y co u n s el

. 1

Du ri n g t h e h eari n g , Ad am ar t es t i f i e d t hat sh e h ad b een so b er fo r n earl y t wo

y ears , co m

p let ed h er GED, b een em p l o y ed fu l l-t i m e fo r a y ear, an d r e m a r r i ed

. Sh e

t es t i fi ed t h at s h e an d h er h u s b an d

, wh o al so was em p l o y ed

, h ad an o th er ch i l d an d t h at

t h e t h ree o f t h em l i v ed i n h er m o t her-i n-l aw’ s h om e. Ad am ar al s o t es t i fi ed t h at s h e

was ab l e t o p ro v id e fo r A. D. an d t h at s he wan t ed t o “ r e p a i r t h e b o nd wi t h [h er

ch i l d ] ”; h er ul t i m at e g oal w as t o h av e cu st od y o f A. D., bu t s h e reco gn i zed i t n eed ed

t o b e a g rad u al t ran s i t i o n fo r h i m

. Aft er h eari n g t es t i m o ny fro m t he Newl i ns , Ad am ar,

Ad am a r ’s dad

, Ad am ar’ s m o t h er-i n -l aw, an d W i l l i am Den n y , t h e t ri al co u rt o ral l y

ru l ed t h at i t was den y in g t h e p et it i o n b ecau s e i t di d n o t f i n d t h a t t h e Newl i n s h ad

s h o wn b y cl ear an d co n v i nci n g ev i d en ce th at t h e ad o p t i o n w o u l d be i n t h e b es t

i n t eres t o f A. D. 2 Th e Newl i n s ap p eal

, co nt en d in g t h at t h e t ri al co u r t a b u s e d i t s

1 Den n y d id n o t res p on d t o t h e p et i t i o n, bu t h e o b ject ed t o t h e ad o p t i o n d u ri n g

t h e h eari n g

.

2 Th e t r i a l co u rt s t at ed t h at i t wo ul d ru l e o n Ad am ar’ s co u n t ercl ai m fo r

v i s i t at i o n at a l at er t i m e.

4d i s cret i o n i n fi nd i n g t h at t h e bes t i n t eres t of A. D

. wo u l d be s erv ed b y d en y i n g t h ei r

p et i t i o n t o ad o p t

.

Pu rs uan t t o OCGA § 1 9 -8 -7

,

[a] ch i l d m ay b e ad o p t ed by a r e l a t i v e wh o i s rel at ed b y b l o o d o r

m arri ag e t o t h e ch i l d as a

. . . g reat au n t

, [o r] g reat u n cl e

. . . o nl y if each

l i vi n g p aren t an d g u ard i an o f s u ch ch i l d h as vo l u n t ari ly an d in wri t i n g

s u rren d ered to t hat rel at i v e an d an y s p ou s e o f s u ch rel at i v e al l o f h i s o r

h er ri g h t s t o th e ch i l d fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f en ab li n g t h at rel at i ve an d an y

s u ch s p o u s e t o ad o p t t h e ch i l d

.

OCGA § 1 9 -8 -7 (a). Ho w ev er,

[a] s u rren d e r o f ri g h t s o f a l i v i n g p aren t p u rs u an t t o Co d e Sect i o n

. . . 1 9 -8 -7 s h al l no t b e req u i red as a p rereq u i s i t e t o t he g ran t i n g o f a p et i t i o n

fo r ad op t i o n

. . ., wh en t h e co u rt d et erm in es b y cl ear a n d c o n v in ci n g

ev i d en ce t h at t he paren t

, fo r a p eri o d of o n e y ear o r lo n g er i m m ed i at el y

p ri o r t o t h e fi l i n g o f t he pet i t i o n fo r ad o p ti o n , w i t ho u t j u s t i fi ab l e cau s e,

h as s i gn ifi can t l y

fai l ed : (1 ) To co m

m u ni cat e o r t o m ak e a b on a fi d e at t em p t t o

co m m u n i cat e w i t h t h at ch i l d i n a m ean i n g f u l

, s u p po rt i v e, p aren t al

m an n er; o r (2 ) To p ro v i d e fo r t h e care an d s u p p ort o f t h at ch i l d as req u i red

b y l a w o r ju d i ci al d ecree, an d t h e co u rt i s o f t he o p i n i o n t h at th e

ad o p t i o n i s i n t h e b es t i n t eres t s of t h at ch i l d

, a ft er co ns i d eri n g th e

p h y s i cal

, m en t al

, em o t io n al

, an d m o ral co n d i t i o n an d n eed s o f t he ch i l d

5wh o i s t h e s u b j ect o f t h e pro ceed i n g , i n cl u d i ng th e n eed fo r a s ecu re an d

s t ab le h o m e.

OCGA § 1 9 -8 -1 0 ( b )

. See al s o Ho o per , 3 4 0 Ga. A p p

. at 1 65 -1 6 6 (1 ). “ It i s t h e

p et i t i o n er’ s b u rd en t o p ro v e t h at t erm i n a t i o n o f th e p aren tal ri g h ts i s warran t ed

,

i n cl u d i n g t h e l ack of ju s t i f i a b l e cau s e. If t h e pet i t i o n er m eet s t h at b u rd en o f p ro o f,

t h en th e co u rt m

u s t al s o d et erm i n e wh et h er t h e p r o p os ed ad o p ti o n i s i n t h e b es t

i n t eres t o f t h e ch il d .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t ted .) S t eel e v. St eel e , 3 4 6 Ga.

Ap p . 1 9 6 , 1 9 7 (8 1 6 SE2 d 3 2 7 ) (2 0 1 8 ).

“ In co n s i d eri n g wh at i s i n t h e b es t i nt eres t o f t h e ch i l d

, t h e t ri al co u rt m ay

co n si d er t h e ch i l d ’ s h i s to ri cal rel at i o n sh i p wi t h t h e p aren t

, t h e ch i l d’ s rel at i o n s h ip

wi t h t h e t h ird -p art y cu s t o d i an , an d th e ch i l d ’s s p e c i al m ed i cal

, em o t i o n al

, o r

ed u cat i o n al need s .” (Ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at i o n o m it t ed .) Pr i ce , 3 4 9 Ga. Ap p . at 2 2 1

(1 ) (c). “ Ho wev er, a co u rt is n o t al l o wed t o t erm i n at e a p aren t ’ s n at u ral ri g ht b ecau s e

i t h as d et erm i n ed t h at t h e ch i l d m i g ht hav e b et t er fi n an ci al

, ed u cat i o n al o r ev en m o ral

ad v an t ag es el s ewh ere. On ly u n d er co m p el l i n g ci rcu m s t an ces fo u n d t o ex i s t b y cl ear

an d co n v i n ci n g p ro o f m ay a c o u rt s ev er t he paren t -ch i l d cu s t o d i al rel at i o n s h i p.”

(Ci t at i o n , p u n ct u at i o n , an d em p h as i s o m it t ed .) In t h e In t er es t o f Ma r ks

, 3 0 0 Ga. Ap p.

2 3 9

, 2 43 (6 8 4 SE2 d 3 6 4 ) (2 0 0 9 ). “ Fu rt h er, w h ere t h ere i s s l i g ht ev i den ce in d i cat i n g

6t h e b es t in t eres t o f t h e ch i l d wi l l b e s e r v e d b y d en y i n g t h e p et i t i o n t o ad o p t

, t h e

d i s cret i o n res i d i n g i n t he tri al co u rt wi l l n o t b e h el d to h av e b een ab u s ed .” (Ci t at i o n

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Pr i ce , 3 4 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 2 1 (1 ) (c). Acco rd S t eel e , 3 4 6 Ga.

Ap p . at 2 0 7 (3 ) (b ).

In i t s wri t ten o rd er, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t hat t h e Newl i n s had p ro v en b y cl ear

a nd c o n v i n ci n g ev i d en ce t h at W i l l i am Den n y , t h e b i o l o g i c a l f a the r , w i thout j ustif

ia ble

c a u s e s i gn i fi can t ly fai led t o co m m u n i cat e or m ak e an y b o n a fi d e at t em p t t o

co m m u n icat e w i t h A

. D. i n a m ean i n g fu l m an n er, s ee OCGA § 19 -8 -1 0 (b ) (1 ), an d

t h at Ad am ar wi th ou t ju s t i fi ab l e cau s e fai l ed t o p ro v i d e fo r t h e care an d s u p p o rt o f A.

D. See OCGA § 1 9-8 -1 0 (b ) ( 2 )

. Th e co u rt fo un d t h at A d am ar h ad at t em p t ed to

co m m u n icat e w i t h A. D., b u t t h at h er at t em p t s were “ t hwart ed b y [t h e Newl i n s ] .” As

t o t h e b es t i n t eres t o f t h e ch i l d, t h e co u rt fo u n d t h at “ [A. D.] h as been w el l cared fo r

b y [t h e Newl i n s ] ; th ey hav e p ro v i d ed h im w i t h a s ecu re an d s t ab l e h o m e.” H o wev er,

t h e co u rt al s o fo u n d t h at Ad am ar’ s p ers o n al s it u at i o n h as ch an g ed fo r t h e b e t t er:

“ [s ] h e h as b een s o ber fo r s o m e t i m e, h as a fu l l -t i m e jo b an d has o b tai n ed her GED[,]

. . . h as al s o m arri ed an d h as an o t h er ch i l d wh i ch s h e i s t ak i n g care o f i n w h a t i s

ap p aren tl y a lovin g an d n urt uri ng en v i ro n m en t

. ” Fi n al l y , t h e tri al co u rt n ot ed t h at “ t h e

b i o l o g i cal m o t h er reco g n i ze d i t w o u l d n ot b e g o od fo r th e ch il d i f cu s t o d y were

7i m m ed i at el y t ran sferred t o h er

. . . [b u t ] t hat s he wan t s t o b e rei n t ro d u ced i n t o t h e

ch i l d ’ s l i fe o v er t im e.” Bas ed o n t hi s ev i d en ce, t h e t ri al co urt co n c l u d ed t h at

t erm i n at i n g A d am ar’ s p aren t al ri g h t s an d al l o wi n g t h e ad o p t i o n wo u l d n o t b e i n A.

D.’ s b es t i n t eres t

.

Hav i n g v i e w e d t h e ev i d en ce i n th e l i gh t m o st fav o rab l e t o t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

d eci s i o n , we fi n d n o ab u s e of d i s cret i o n

. See Pr ice

, 3 49 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 2 1 -2 2 2 (1 ) (c)

(t ri al co u rt was wi th i n i t s di s cret i o n t o d en y s t ep m o t h e r’ s ad o p ti o n as n o t i n t h e

ch i l d ’ s b es t i n t eres t , wh ere ev i den ce s h o wed t h at b i o lo g i cal m o t h er had b een s o b er

fo r y ears , at t ai ned a jo b

, an d was a g o od m o t h er t o ot h er ch il d ren i n h er care, an d t h at

s h e was wi ll i ng t o g rad u al l y reu n i t e wi t h t h e ch i ld ). “ [T] h e ev i d en ce s h o wed t h at t h e

ch i l d was v ery l i k el y to h av e hi s p h y s ical

, m en t al

, em ot i o n al

, an d m o ral n eed s eq u al l y

m et i n ei t h er h o m e. Un d er t hes e ci rcu m s t an ces , t h e cas e i s co nt r o l l ed b y t h e

fu n d am en t al l i b ert y in teres t o f t h e m o t h er t o t h e care, cu s t o d y, a n d m an ag em en t o f

h er o wn ch i l d ren .” (Fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed

. ) M c C o l lu m v. Jo n es , 2 7 4 Ga. Ap p

. 8 1 5

, 8 2 6

(3 ) (b ) (6 1 9 SE2 d 3 13 ) (2 0 0 5) (p h y s i cal p reced en t o n l y ) (wh ere t h e ev i d en ce s h o wed

t h at t h e ch i l d was l i kel y t o h av e h i s n eed s eq ual l y m et in ei t h er ho m e, i n t h at t h e ch i ld

was d o in g wel l wi t h t h e pet i t i o ners an d t h e b io l o g i cal m o t h er was pro p erl y cari n g fo r

8t wo o t h er wel l -ad ju s ted ch i ld ren , t h e cas e was co n t ro l led b y th e fu nd am en t al l i b ert y

i n t eres t o f t h e b i o l o g ical m o t her).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ba r nes , P. J., a n d

Ho d g es

, J., co n cu r

.

9