THI RD DI VI SI ON

DOYLE, P. J.

, REESE and BROWN, 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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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

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.

October 4, 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 98 0 . SKINNER v . M ILES.

R E E S E

, J u d g e.

Ro b in M i l es fi l ed s u i t ag ai n s t Sara h S k i n ner un d er OCGA § 1 9-7 -3 .1

, t h e

Eq u it ab le Careg i v er A ct (t h e “ Act ”), s eek i n g t o be ad ju d i cat ed an eq u i t ab l e careg i v er

an d req u es t i n g th at t h e su p eri or co u rt d et erm i n e c u s t o d y o f an d p aren ti n g t i m e fo r

t wo m i n o r ch i l d ren

, S. M

. S. an d K. M

. S. Sk in n er res po n d ed

, an d fo l l o wi n g a b en ch

t ri al

, t h e co u rt ru l ed i n fav or o f M i l es

, g ran t in g h er s t an di n g as an eq u it ab l e careg i v er

an d i s su i n g a p aren ti n g p l an

. Th i s ap p eal fo l lo wed

. Fo r t h e reas o ns s et fo rt h i n fra, we

affi rm

.

Vi ewed i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e t ri al co urt ’ s ju d g m en t

, 1 t h e ev i d en ce

s h o ws t h e fo l l o wi n g

. Mi l es an d Sk i n n er m et w h i l e wo rk i n g as t each ers at t h e s am e

1 See Br a d

d o ck v. Li n ds ey , 3 5 5 Ga. Ap p . 7 0 0 -7 0 1 (8 4 5 SE2 d 7 3 1 ) (2 0 2 0 ).s ch o ol i n 1 9 9 7

, b eg an d at i n g ap p ro x i m at el y t wo y ears l at er, an d ev en t u al ly p u rch as ed

a h o m e t o g et h er. Th e wo m en al s o b o t h wo re ri n g s o n t h ei r l eft ri n g fi n gers as s y m b o l s

o f t h ei r co m

m i t m en t t o each o t h er, an d d i s cu ss ed h av in g ch i ld ren

.

Th e w o m en co nt act ed an ag en cy to as s is t in t h ei r effo rt s t o ad o p t a ch i l d

, an d

Sk i n ner b eg an u n d erg o i ng fert il i t y t reat m en ts an d art i fi ci al i n s em i n at i o n i n h o p es o f

b eco m i n g p reg n an t

. In 2 0 09

, M i l es an d Sk i n n er were n o t i fi ed t h at t h ey h ad an

o p p o rt u ni t y t o ad o p t a n ewb o rn b ab y i n Tex as

, s o t h ey i m m ed iat el y fl ew t o Dal l as to

b eg in t h e ad o p t i o n p r o c e s s

. Sk i n n er was th e o n l y p aren t li s t ed o n t he ad o p t i o n

p ap erwo rk b ecau s e Tex as l aw d i d n o t al l o w s am e-s ex co up l es t o ad op t

. Ho wev er, t h e

co u pl e u s ed M i l es ’ s s u rn am e as t h e ch i l d ’ s m i d dl e n am e t o reco g n i ze h er ro l e i n h i s

l i fe. Sh o rt l y aft er ret u rn i n g t o Geo rg ia, t h e co u p le d is co v ered t h at Sk in n er was

p reg n an t, an d sh e g av e b irt h i n Jan u ary 2 0 1 0. Th e co u p l e d eci d ed t o al s o u s e M i les ’ s

s u rn am e as t h e ch i l d ’ s m i dd l e n am e i n reco g n i t i o n o f h er ro l e i n t h e ch i l d ’ s l i fe.

Al t h ou g h t h e p art i es h ad s ep arat e b an k acco u n t s

, M i l es p ro v i d e d Sk i n n er

m o ney

, wh i ch Sk in n er u s ed t o h el p p ay t h e n eces s ar y ho m e an d ch i l d ex p en s es

,

al t h o u g h t h e freq u en cy an d am ou n t s o f th es e p ay m en t s v ari ed

. Th e ch il d ren referred

t o M i l es as “ M om m a” o r “ M om b o ” an d Sk i n ner as “ M o m m y ,” an d b o t h w o m e n

as s i s ted i n cari ng fo r t h e ch i l d ren

, i n cl u d i ng b at h i n g, feed in g

, an d ch an gi ng t h em

, in

2ad d it i o n t o t ak in g t h em t o ex t racu rri cu l ar act i v i ti es

. Th e p art i es al s o t o ok t he k i d s o n

an n ual v acat i o n s, cel eb rat ed h o l i d ay s t o g et her, an d m ai l ed Ch ri s t m as card s t o fri en d s

an d fam i ly feat u ri n g pi ct u res of t h em s el v es an d t h e k i d s. M il es an d Sk i n ner sep arat ed

i n ap p ro x i m at el y

2 0 1 5 , an d Sk i n n er m arri ed Kel l y W al t er i n 2 0 1 8.

Aft er M i l es an d Sk i n n er s ep arat ed an d o bt a i n ed di fferen t res i d en ces

, t h e

ch i l d ren l i v ed wi th Sk i n n er, b u t M i l es co n ti n u ed t o v i s i t t h em

. Th e ch i ld ren o ft en

s t ay ed at h er h o u s e d u ri n g s ch ed u l ed v i si tat i o n s

. In ap p ro xi m at el y 2 0 17

, h o wev er,

Sk i n ner p res en t ed M i l es wi t h a p ro p o s ed v i s i t at i o n arran g em en t

, w h i ch M il es

b el i ev ed l i m i t ed h er t i m e wi t h t h e ch il d ren

. M i l es s u b s eq u en tl y fi l e d a Pet i t i o n to

Det erm i n e Paren t i ng T i m e ( “ P et i t i o n ”) i n th e s u peri o r co u rt

. Fo l lo wi n g a jo i nt

m ed i a t i o n

, t h e p art i es en t ered i n t o a Vi si t at i o n Arran g em en t an d M i l es v o l u n t ari l y

d i s m i s s ed t h e Pet i t i o n

.

On ce O CGA § 1 9 -7 -3 .1 b ecam e effect i v e i n J ul y 2 0 1 9

, Mi l es fi l ed an act i o n

s eek i n g d es i g n at i o n as an e q u i t ab l e careg iv er an d a d et erm i n at i o n o f v i s i t at i o n an d

cu s t o d y ri g h t s

. 2 T h e t ri al co u rt hel d a fo u r-d ay b en ch t ri al

, wh ere th e p art i es p res en t ed

t es t i m o ny reg ard i n g

, in t er al i a, th e p rev i o u s rel at i o n sh i p b et ween M il es an d Sk i n n er,

M i l es ’ s rel at i o n s h i p w i t h t h e ch i l d ren

, M i l es ’ s ro le in th ei r l i v es

, an d an y p o t en t i al

2 See 2 0 1 9 Ga. Laws 6 3 2, § 1 (effect i v e d at e J u l y 1 , 2 01 9 ).

3h arm t h at m i g h t res u lt i f M i les was n o t g ran ted eq u i t ab l e careg iv er s t at u s

. Fo l l o wi n g

t h e t ri al

, t h e co u rt ru l ed i n M i l es ’ s fav o r, fi n d i n g t h at s h e h ad “ es tab l i s h ed a s t ro n g

b o n d w i t h b o t h m i n o r ch i l d ren an d t h at [s h e] h ad an o n g oi n g rel at i o n s h i p wi t h b o th

ch i l d ren s i n ce [S. M. S.’ s ] ad op t i o n an d [K. M

. S.’ s ] b i rt h.” Th e co u rt al s o fo u n d t h at

i f M i l es was n ot g ran t ed eq u it ab l e careg i v er st at u s

, t h e ch i l d ren wo ul d s u ffer l o n g

t erm em o t i o n al h arm . Th i s ap p eal fo l lo wed

.

In cas es i n v o l vi ng cu s t o d y i s s u es

, “ a t ri al co u rt ’ s fact u al fi n di n g s m u s t n o t b e

s et as i d e u n l es s t hey are cl earl y erro n eo u s

. Rat h er, d ue d eferen ce m u s t b e gi ven t o t h e

t ri al co urt

, ack n o w l ed gi ng t h at i t has th e o p p o rt u n i ty t o ju d g e t h e cred i b i l i t y o f t h e

wi t n es s es .” 3 Ho wev er, we rev iew d e n o v o t h e l eg al co n cl u s i o n s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

d raws fro m t h e fac t s

. 4 W i t h t h es e g u i di n g p ri n ci p l es i n m i n d

, we n o w t u rn to

Sk i n ner’ s cl ai m s o f erro r.

3 S t r i ckl an d v

. S t r i c k l a n d

, 2 9 8 G a. 63 0

, 63 3 -6 34 (1 ) (7 8 3 SE2 d 6 0 6) (2 0 1 6 )

(ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Al t h o ug h M il es as sert s t h at t he co rrect s t an d ard

o f rev i ew i s t h e an y ev i d en ce s t an d ard

, t h e Su p rem e Co urt of Geo rg i a h as s tat ed

, “ [i ] n

Geo rg i a, i t i s wel l -s et t l ed t h at t h e cl earl y erro n eo us s t an d ard fo r rev i ewi ng fi n d i ng s

o f fact i s eq u i v al en t to t he h i g h l y d eferen t i al an y ev i d en ce t es t .” R eed v. St a t e

, 2 9 1

Ga. 1 0 , 1 3 (3 ) (7 2 7 SE2 d 1 1 2 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (ci t at io n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

4 Br a d d o ck

, 3 5 5 Ga. Ap p . at 7 0 3

.

41

. Sk i n n er arg ues t h at t he t ri al co urt erred i n gran t i n g M i l es s t an di n g as an

eq u it ab l e careg i v er u n d er O CGA § 1 9-7 -3 .1

. Sp eci fi cal ly

, Sk i n n er al l eg es t hat M il es

fai l ed t o s at i s fy

t h e req u i red s t at u t o ry

el em en t s b y

cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d en ce.

Un d er OCGA § 1 9 -7 -3

. 1

, wh i ch becam e effect i v e J u l y 1

, 2 0 1 9

, co u rt s are

p e r m i t t ed t o “ ad

ju d i cat e an in d i v i d u al t o b e an eq u i t ab l e careg iv er.” 5 Th e s t at u t e

p ro v id es t h at o n ce t h e in di v i d u al s eek i n g to b e ad j u d icat ed an eq u it ab l e careg i v er h as

fi led th e i n i t i al p l ead in g

, al on g w i t h an affi d av i t t o s up p o rt th e ex i s t en ce o f an

eq u it ab l e careg i v er rel at i o n sh i p wi t h t h e ch il d

, an d t h e “ ad v ers e p art y

, p aren t

, o r l eg al

g u ard i an ” h as fi led a res p on s iv e p l ead in g an d an acco m p an y i n g affi dav i t

, t h e co u rt

m u st u n d ert ak e a t wo -p art an al y s i s . Fi rs t

,

[t ] h e co u rt s h al l d et erm i ne o n t h e b a s i s o f t h e p l ead i n g s an d affi d av i t s

. . . wh et h er su ch i n d i v i d u al h as p res en t ed p ri m a faci e ev i d en ce o f th e

req u irem en ts s et fo rt h i n su b sect i o n (d ) o f [OCGA § 1 9 -7 -3 .1 ] t h i s Co de

s ect i o n

. T h e c o u r t m ay i n i t s s o l e d i s cret io n

, i f n eces s ary an d on an

ex p ed i t ed b as i s

, h o l d a heari n g t o d et erm i n e u n di s p ut ed fact s t h at are

n eces s ary an d m at eri al t o t h e i s su e o f s t an d in g [.] 6

5 OCGA § 1 9 -7 -3 .1 (a).

6 OCGA § 1 9 -7 -3 .1 (b ) (3 ).

5If th e co urt fi n ds t h e p art y h as s at i s fi ed t h i s req u irem en t, “ t h e p art y cl ai m i n g t o b e an

eq u it ab l e careg i v er h as s t an d i n g t o p ro ceed t o ad ju d i cat i o n u n d er [OCGA § 1 9 -7 -3

. 1

(d )] .” 7

Th e s eco n d st ep o f t h e an al y s i s req u i res t h at t h e co u rt fi n d, b y c l e a r an d

co n vi n ci n g ev id en ce, t h at t h e i n d i vi d u al h as :

(1 ) Fu l l y an d co m

pl et el y u n d ert ak en a perm an en t

, u n e q u i v o cal

,

co m m i t t ed , an d res p on s i b l e p aren t al ro l e i n t h e ch i l d ’ s l i fe;

(2 ) En g ag ed i n co n s i st en t caret ak in g o f t h e ch i ld ;

(3 ) Es t ab l i sh ed a b o n d ed an d d e p e n d en t rel at io n s hi p wi t h t h e ch i ld

,

wh i ch rel at i o n s h i p was fo s t ered o r s u p p ort ed b y a p aren t o f t h e ch i ld

,

an d s u ch i n d i v i d u al an d t h e p aren t h av e u n d ers t o o d

, ack n owl ed g ed

, o r

a c cep t ed t h at o r b eh av ed as t h o u g h s uch i n d i v i d u al i s a paren t o f th e

ch i l d ;

(4 ) Accep t ed fu l l an d p erm an en t res p o n si bi l i t i es as a p aren t o f t he ch i l d

wi t h ou t ex p ect at i on o f fi n an ci al co m p en s at io n ; an d

( 5 ) Dem o n s t rat ed t h at t h e ch i l d w i l l s u ffer p hy s i cal h arm o r l o n g-t erm

em o t i o n al h arm an d t h at co n t i n u i n g th e rel at i o n sh i p b et ween s u ch

i n d i vi d u al an d t h e ch i l d i s i n t h e b es t i n t eres t o f t h e ch i l d

. 8

Th e Act al s o s t at es t h at in d et erm i n i n g th e ex i s t en ce o f h arm

, t h e co urt s h al l co n s i d er

fact ors rel at ed t o th e ch i l d ’ s n eed s , i n cl u d i n g, b u t n o t l i m i t ed t o :

7 OCGA § 1 9 -7 -3 .1 (b ) (4 ).

8 OCGA § 1 9 -7 -3 .1 (d ) (1 )-(5 ).

6(1 ) W h o are t h e p as t an d p res en t caret ak ers o f t h e ch i l d ;

(2 ) W i t h wh o m h as t h e ch i l d fo rm ed p sy ch o l o gi cal b o n d s a n d th e

s t ren g t h o f t h o s e b o n d s ;

( 3 ) Wh et h er co m

p et i n g p art i es ev i d en ced an i nt eres t i n, an d co n t act

wi t h

, t h e ch i ld o v er t im e; an d

(4 ) W h et h er t h e ch il d h as u n i qu e m ed i cal o r ps y ch o l o g i c a l n eed s t hat

o n e p art y i s b et t er ab l e t o m eet

. 9

Fo l l o wi ng t h i s a n a l y s i s

, “ [t ] h e co u rt m ay en t er an o rd er as ap p ro pri at e to es t ab l i s h

p aren t al ri g h t s an d res p o n s i b i l i t i es fo r s u ch i n d i v id u al

, i ncl u d i n g

, b u t n ot l im i t ed t o,

cu s t o d y o r v i s it at i o n .” 1 0

In d i s cu s s i n g p aren t s ’ cu s t o dy ri g h t s i n g en eral

, th e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a

h as s t at ed :

Paren t s h av e a co ns t i t u t i o n al ri g h t un d er t h e Un i ted St at es an d Geo rg i a

Co n st i tu t i o n s t o t h e care an d cu s to d y o f t h ei r ch i l dren

. Th i s ri g h t to th e

cu s t od y an d co nt ro l o f o ne’ s ch il d i s a fi ercel y g u ard ed ri gh t t h at s h o u l d

b e i n fri n g ed u p on o n l y un d er t h e m o s t co m p el l i n g ci rcu m s t an ces

. . . .

Al i g ned ag ai ns t th e p aren t s ’ co n s t i t u t i on al ri g h t is t h e ch il d ’ s

9 OCGA § 1 9 -7 -3 .1 (e) (1 )-(4 ).

1 0 OCGA § 1 9 -7 -3 .1 (g ).

7co n s t i t ut i o n al ri g h t t o p ro t ect i o n o f h i s or h er p ers o n an d th e s t at e’ s

co m p el l i n g i n t eres t i n p ro t ect in g t h e wel fare o f ch i l d ren

. 1 1

In l i g h t o f t h e ab o v e, w e p ro ceed t o an al y ze t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i ng s u n d er t h e

fi ve fact o rs l i s t ed i n OCGA § 1 9 -7 -3 .1 (d ).

( a ) P e r m ane nt, une quiv oc al, c om m i tte d

, a n d r es po n s i b l e p a ren t a l r o l e. Sk i nne r

co n ten d s t h at M i l es fai l ed t o d em o n s t rat e t hat s h e fu l l y an d co m p l et el y u n d ert o o k a

p erm an en t

, u n eq u i v o cal

, co m m i t ted

, an d res p o n s i b l e p aren t al ro l e i n t h e ch i l d ren ’ s

l i ves

. Ho wev er, t he t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at M i les h ad s erv ed as a paren t a l f i g u re fo r

b o t h ch i l d ren s i n ce t he t im e S. M

. S. was ad o p t ed an d K. M. S. w as b o rn

. Su p p o rt i n g

t h e tri al co urt ’ s fi nd i n g

, ev i d en ce p res en t ed at t ri al s h o wed t hat M i l es an d Sk i n n er

s en t Ch ri s t m as card s t o fri en d s an d fam i l y feat u ri ng p i ct ures o f b ot h wo m en an d t h e

ch i l d ren

, t h at s h e at t en d ed t h e ch i l d ren ’ s ex t racu rri cu l ar ev en t s

, an d th at s h e was

l i st e d o n t h e ch i ld ren ’ s s ch o o l an d m ed ical fo rm s u n t i l ap pro x i m at el y 2 0 1 8 aft er

Sk i n ner an d M il es s ep arat ed

. Ad d i t i o n al l y

, M i l es an d Sk i n n er ag reed t o u s e M i les ’ s

s u rn am e as t h e ch il d ren ’ s m i d d l e n am es t o reco g ni ze her ro le i n t h ei r l iv es

. Fi n al l y

,

1 1 Cl a rk v. W

ad e

, 2 73 Ga. 58 7

, 5 9 6 -5 9 7 (IV) (5 4 4 SE2 d 9 9 ) ( 2 0 0 1 )

(p u n ct u at i o n an d fo o t n o t es o m it t ed ).

8M i l es p ro v i d ed fi n an ci al su p po rt t o Sk in n er t o h el p w i t h co s t s as s o ci at ed wi t h t h e

ch i l d ren an d t h e h o u seh ol d b o th wh i l e t hey were t o g et her an d aft er t h ey s ep arat ed

.

(b ) En g a g ed

i n co n s is t en t ca r et a ki n g o f t h e ch i l d

r en . Sk i n n er arg u es t h at t h e

ev i d en ce d i d n o t s u p p o rt t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi nd i n g t hat M i l es en g ag ed i n co n s i s t en t

caret ak in g o f t h e ch i ld ren

. Rat h er, Sk i n n er m ai nt ai ns t h at t h e ev i d e n ce at t ri al

es t ab l i s h ed t h at M i l es fai l ed o r refu s ed t o co n si s t en t l y en g ag e i n caret ak i n g o f t h e

ch i l d ren

. Ho wev er, t es t i m o n y at t ri al d em o n s t rat ed th at M i l es as s i s t ed i n feed i n g,

b a t h i n g

, ch an g i ng

, an d gen eral l y cari n g fo r t h e ch i l d ren

. Fu rt her, M i l es p res en t ed

ev i d en ce t h at s h e d ro v e t he k i d s t o s o m e o f t h ei r ex tracu rri cu l ar ev en t s an d t h at s h e

m et t h ei r t each ers

.

( c ) E stab l i s h ed a b o nd

ed a n d d ep en d en t r el a t i o n s h i

p wi t h t h e c hildre n. S kinne r

as s ert s t h at M il es fai led to pre s en t ev i d en ce es t ab li s h i n g t hat th e ch i l dren h ad a

b o n d ed an d d ep en d en t rel at i o n s h i p wi t h M il es

. Ho w ev er, t h e co u rt fo u n d t h at M il es

h ad “ s t ro n gl y b o n d e d wi t h b ot h ch il d ren an d

. . . m ad e m an y s acri fi ces o n t h e

ch i l d ren ’ s b eh al f.” Co n s i s t en t w i t h t h i s fi n d i n g

, ev i d en ce p res en t ed a t t ri al s h o wed

t h at b o t h ch i l d ren referred to M i l es as “ Mo m m a,” an d t es t i m o n y fro m t h e g u ard i an

ad l i t em s t at ed t h at s h e h ad a bo n d wi t h t he ch i l d ren t h at was rep ai rab le ev en t h o u g h

i t was “ cu rren t l y fract u red .” M oreo v er, as n o t ed ab o ve, M i l es ’ s su rn am e was u s ed as

9t h e ch i l d ren ’ s m i d d l e n am es i n l i g ht o f her ro l e i n th ei r l i v es

, an d M i l es was i n cl u d ed

i n b ot h t h e d o cu m en t s ub m i t t ed t o p o t en t ial b i rt h m o t h ers t o a s s i s t i n th e p art i es ’

effo rt s t o ad op t an d i n fam i l y h o l i d a y card s

. Fi n al l y

, Sk i n n er t es t i fi ed

, “ So I d o n ’ t

t h i n k t h ere was ev er a qu es t i o n ab o u t wh et h er o r n o t [M i l es ] an d I l au n ch ed i n t o t h e

en d eav o r o f p u rs ui ng ch il d ren t o g et h er.”

(d ) Accep t ed f

u l l a n d p er m a n en t r es

po n s i b i li t i es a s a p a r e n t w i t h o ut

exp ect a t i o n o

f fi n a n ci a l co mp en s a t i o n

. W h il e Sk i nn er d o es n o t cl ai m t h at Mi l es h ad

an ex p ect at i o n of fi nan ci al co m p en s at i o n co n n ect ed t o h e r rel at i on s hi p wi t h t h e

ch i l d ren , Sk i nn er d o es as sert t hat M i l es fai l ed t o d em o n s t rat e t h at s he accep t ed fu l l

an d perm an en t res p o ns i bi l i t i es as a p aren t

. Ho wev er, as d is cu s s ed p rev i o u sl y

, M il es

p res en t ed ev i d en ce at t ri al of h er accep t an ce o f t h e res p o n si b i l i t i es as t he ch i l d ren ’ s

p aren t

.

( e ) D e m onstrate d t h e ch i l d r en wi l l su f f er p h ys i ca l h a r m o r l o ng- te r

m e m otional

h a r m a n d t h a t co n t i n u i n g th e r el a t i o n s h ip i s i n t h e b es t i n t er es t o f th e ch i l d

r en

.

Sk i n ner co n t en d s t h at M i l es d i d n o t es t ab l i s h b y cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d en ce t h at

t h e ch i ld ren wi l l s u ffer p h y s i cal or l o n g -t erm em o t i o n al h arm if t h e co urt d i d n ot

g ran t Mi les eq u i t ab l e careg i v er s t at us

. Ho wev er, aft er co n si d eri ng t h e fact o rs l i s t ed

i n th e s tat u te fo r d et erm i n in g h arm

, t h e co u rt co n cl u ded th at M i l es d em o n s t rat ed t h at

10t h e ch i l d ren wo u l d s u ffer p h y s i cal o r l on g -t erm em o t i o n h arm

, an d t h at c o n t i n u i n g

t h e rel at io n s h i p b et ween M il es an d t h e ch i ld ren w as i n t h e ch i l d ren ’ s b es t i n teres t

. At

t ri al

, M i l es p res en t ed ev i d en ce t h at s h e act ed i n t h e caret ak er ro l e fo r b o t h ch i l d ren

fro m th e t i m e o f t h ei r ad o p t i o n an d b i rt h u n t i l her t i m e w i t h t h em w as res t ri ct ed

.

Ad d i t i o n al l y

, as n o t ed ab o v e, t es t i m o n y at t ri al co nfi rm ed t h at M il es fo rm ed a b o n d

wi t h t h e ch i l d ren

, an d t h at b o t h ch i l d ren s aw h er as t h ei r p aren t an d referred t o h er as

“ M om m a.” M o reo ver, M i l es dem o n s t r a t ed a d es i re t o m ai n t ai n co n t act wi t h t h e

ch i l d ren as s h e co n t i n u ed t o v i s i t wi t h t h em

, as s i s ted in tak i ng t h em t o ex t racu rri cu l ar

act i vi t i es an d s ch o o l

, an d t o o k th em o n t ri p s ev en aft er M il es an d Sk i n n er s ep arat ed

.

Fi n al l y

, al t h o u g h t h ere was s o m e ev i d en ce p res en t ed reg ard i n g S. M

. S.’ s d i ag n o s es

o f At t en t i o n -Defi ci t / H y

p eract i v i t y D i s o r d er an d an x i et y

, t es t i m o ny at t ri al d i d n ot

es t ab l i s h t h at t h e ch i l d ren h ad co n d i t i o n s th at o n e p art y wo u ld b e b et t er eq u i p p ed to

ad d res s

.

“ Du e deferen ce m

u st b e g i v en t o t h e t ri al co u rt

, ack n o wl ed g i n g th at i t h as t h e

o p p o rt u ni t y t o ju dg e th e cred ib i l i t y o f t h e wi t n es s es

, an d t h e ev id en ce m u s t b e

co n st ru ed i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s dec i s i o n .” 1 2 Th erefo re,

1 2 Ho l d a wa y v

. H o l d a wa y

, 3 3 8 Ga. Ap p

. 4 7 7, 4 8 3 (7 8 9 SE2 d 81 7 ) (2 0 1 6 )

(ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

11co n si d eri n g t h e fo reg o in g

, an d “ i n l ig h t o f t h e d eferen t i al s t an d ard o f rev i ew,” 1 3 we

co n cl u d e t h at t he reco rd s u p p o rt s t h e co u rt ’ s ru l i n g t hat M il es s at i s fi ed

, b y cl ear an d

co n vi n ci n g ev i d en ce, al l o f t h e req u i red el em en t s o f O CGA § 1 9-7 -3 .1

, an d t h at t h e

co u rt d i d n o t err i n d es i g n at i n g M i l es an eq u i t ab l e careg i v er. 1 4

2

. Sk i n n er s u m

m ari l y as s ert s t h at th e tri al co u rt erred i n g ran t i n g jo i n t l eg al o r

p h y s i cal cu s to d y of o r vi s it at i o n wi t h t h e ch il d ren t o Mi l es as s h e fai l ed t o s at i s fy t h e

req u i rem en t s un der OCGA § 1 9 -7 -3 .1

. Ho w ev er, b as ed on ou r ru l i n g i n Di v i s i o n 1,

s u p ra, t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n ot err i n ad ju d i cat i n g M il es as an eq u i t ab l e careg i v er,

we co n cl u d e t h at t h e co urt was al s o ju s t i fi ed i n i s su i n g an o rd er reg ard i n g cu s t o dy

an d v i si t at i o n p urs u an t t o OCGA § 1 9-7 -3 .1

. 1 5

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Do yl e, P. J., a n d

Br o wn

, J., co n cu r

.

1 3 Id . at 48 4 (1 ).

1 4 See S t r i ckl a nd , 2 9 8 Ga. at 6 3 5 (1 ); Br a d d o ck, 3 5 5 Ga. Ap p . at 7 0 6 (2 ).

1 5 See S t ri ckl a n d

, 2 9 8 Ga. at 6 3 5 (2 ); Ma s h b u r n v. Ma sh b u r n

, 3 53 Ga. Ap p

. 3 1,

4 4 (1 ) (a) (i ) (8 3 6 SE2 d 1 3 1 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (“ [W ] e no t e t hat al t h ou g h cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g

ev i d en ce rep res en t s a h ei g h t en ed s t an d ard o f pro o f, i t [d o es ] n o t req ui re [t he p l ai n t i ff]

t o co m e fo rward wi t h u n eq u i v o cal or u n d i s p u t e d ev i den ce

. . . . ”) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

12