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

AT NASHVILL E

Ja nu ary 24 , 20 14 Ses si on

JO E HO UGHL AN HOOPE R, II I v . AMANDA MARIE B URES HO OPER

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I n t h i s d i v o r c e a c t i o n

, F a t h e r a p p e a l s t h e d e n i a l o f h i s m o t i o n t o s u s p e n d M o t h e r ’ s p a r e n t i n g

t i m e a n d t h e d e c i s i o n t o l o w e r M o t h e r ’ s c h i l d s u p p o r t ; h e a l s o r e q u e s t s t h a t t h i s c o u r t m o d i f y

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

. M o t h e r a p p e a l s t h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s c a l c u l a t i o n o f t h e n u m b e r

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

o r d e r e d t o p a y

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

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O P I N I O N

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, I I I ( “ F a t h e r ” ) a n d A m a n d a H o o p e r ( “ M o t h e r ” ) w e r e m a r r i e d F e b r u a r y

2 1

, 2 0 0 3 ; f

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

. T h i s d i v o r c e a c t i o n w a s i n s t i t u t e d i n

S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 1 ; t r i a l t o o k p l a c e o n N o v e m b e r 1 4 a n d 2 0

, 2 0 1 2

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, 2 0 1 3

, w h i l e

t h e c a s e w a s u n d e r a d v i s e m e n t

, F a t h e r m o v e d t o s u s p e n d M o t h e r ’ s p a r e n t i n g t i m e

, a l l e g i n g

t h a t M o t h e r h a d f

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

. A h e a r i n g w a s h e l d o n t h e m o t i o n o n 1

M a r c h 2 2

.

O n M a r c h 2 8

, 2 0 1 3 t h e c o u r t e n t e r e d t h e f i n a l d i v o r c e d e c r e e

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

P e r m a n e n t P a r e n t i n g P l a n d e s i g n a t i n g F a 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 a n d s e t t i n g

M o t h e r ’ s p a r e n t i n g t i m e e v e r y o t h e r w e e k f r o m T h u r s d a y a t 6 : 0 0 p

. m

. u n t i l M o n d a y m o r n i n g

a n d f r o m W e d n e s d a y a t 6 : 0 0 p

. m

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

e x e r c i s i n g p a r e n t i n g t i m e

. T h e c o u r t c a l c u l a t e d M o t h e r ’ s c h i l d s u p p o r t o b l i g a t i o n t o b e

$ 4 2 2

. 0 0 p e r m o n t h

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

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

p a y $ 1 0 0

. 0 0 p e r m o n t h

. O n A p r i l 8 t h e c o u r t e n t e r e d a n o r d e r d e n y i n g F a t h e r ’ s m o t i o n t o

s u s p e n d M o t h e r ’ s p a r e n t i n g t i m e

.

B o t h p a r t i e s a p p e a l

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

1

. 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 g r a n t i n g t h e M o t h e r a d o w n w a r d

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

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

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

i m p o s e s u f

f i c i e n t r e s t r i c t i o n s o n t h e M o t h e r ’ s p a r e n t i n g t i m e t o e n s u r e t h e

s a f e t y a n d w e l l

- b e i n g o f t h e m i n o r c h i l d r e n ?

3

. W h e t h e r 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 h o u l d b e m o d i f i e d t o p r o v i d e a

s c h e d u l e f

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

c h i l d r e n ’ s s c h e d u l e ?

4

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

o f p a r e n t i n g t i m e f

o r p u r p o s e s o f t h e C h i l d S u p p o r t W o r k s h e e t

, t h a t w h i c h e v e r

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

o r 1 2 h o u r s a n d 1 m i n u t e a 2 4

- h o u r p e r i o d

, w i t h t h e 2 4

-

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

, t h a t p a r e n t w i l l g e t c r e d i t f o r t h a t d a y ?

M o t h e r r a i s e s t h e f

o l l o w i n g i s s u e :

1

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

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

d e t e r m i n i n g h e r s u p p o r t o b l i g a t i o n u n d e r t h e T e n n e s s e e C h i l d S u p p o r t

G u i d e l i n e s ?

Acco rdi ng t o the m oti on, the cou rt had ord er ed Mo the r to est abl is h a “se par a t e and sat is fa ct ory 1

re si den ce con duc ive t o t he e xer ci si ng of pa re nti ng time.”

2D I S C U S S I O N

I

. D ID T H E C O U R T E R R IN C A L C U L A T IN G M O T H E R ’ S C H IL D S U P P O R T O B L IG A T IO N

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 d e s i g n a t e s F a 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

. M o t h e r

e x e r c i s e s r e s i d e n t i a l p a r e n t i n g t i m e e v e r y o t h e r T h u r s d a y f r o m 6 : 0 0 p

. m

. u n t i l t h e f o l l o w i n g

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

a l t e r n a t e w e e k s s h e e x e r c i s e s p a r e n t i n g t i m e f r o m W e d n e s d a y a t 6 : 0 0 p

. m

. u n t i l t h e n e x t

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

. M o t h e r a l s o

e x e r c i s e s r e s i d e n t i a l t i m e f o r h a l f o f t h e c h i l d r e n ’ s f a l l

, s p r i n g

, a n d w i n t e r b r e a k s

, M o t h e r ’ s

D a y

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

. M o t h e r ’ s c h i l d s u p p o r t o b l i g a t i o n w a s

c a l c u l a t e d b a s e d o n h e r e x e r c i s i n g 1 1 0 d a y s o f p a r e n t i n g t i m e ; i n c a l c u l a t i n g M o t h e r ’ s 2

p a r e n t i n g t i m e

, t h e c o u r t s t a t e d :

T h e d a y s f

o r p u r p o s e s o f t h e C h i l d S u p p o r t W o r k s h e e t w i l l b e c a l c u l a t e d b a s e d

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

, a n d w h e n c o u n t i n g d a y s

, t h e d a y s t a r t s

a t m i d n i g h t

. S o m e l a w y e r s l i k e t o t a i l o r i t t o t r y t o g i v e t h e i r c l i e n t t h e b e n e f i t

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

. W e a r e g o i n g t o s t a r t a

d a y j u s t l i k e t h e y h a v e a l w a y s b e e n c o u n t e d

, a n d t h e y s t a r t a t m i d n i g h t

.

W h o e v e r h a s t h e c h i l d r e n f o r 1 2 h o u r s a n d 1 m i n u t e w i t h a 2 4

- h o u r p e r i o d

, w i t h

t h e 2 4

- h o u r p e r i o d b e g i n n i n g a t m i d n i g h t

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

t h a t d a y

.

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

p a r e n t i n g t i m e f

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

c a l c u l a t i o n r e s u l t s i n a f i n d i n g o f 1 4 6 d a y s o f p a r e n t i n g t i m e r a t h e r t h a n 1 1 0

.

I n S t o g n e r v

. S t o g n e r

, 2 0 1 2 W L 1 9 6 5 5 9 8 ( T e n n

. C t

. A p p

. 2 0 1 2 )

, w e a p p l i e d t h e

d e f i n i t i o n o f d a y s s e t f

o r t h a t T e n n

. C o m p

. R

. & R e g s

. 1 2 4 0

- 2

- 4

-

. 0 2 ( 1 0 ) a n d h e l d t h a t a 3

T he cou rt set Fat her ’s m ont hly inc om e at $4,6 66.6 6 and Mo the r’ s at $2,1 07.0 0; the par ti es do not 2

ra is e a n i ssu e on app eal as to th e i nco m e s et

.

T he T enn ess ee Chil d Supp ort Guid el ine s def ine “da y” for the pur pos es of det er m ini ng cal cul at ing 3

chi ld sup por t a s f

oll ows:

“Days”

- - For p u r p o s e s of thi s cha pte r, a “da y” of par ent ing ti m e occ urs when the chi ld

spe nds m ore tha n twe lve (12 ) con sec uti ve hour s in a twe nty- fou r (24 ) hour per iod unde r the

car e, con tr ol or dir ect sup er visio n of one par ent or ca r e t a ker. T he twe nty- fou r (24 ) hour

per iod nee d not be the same as a twe nty- fou r (24 ) hour cal end ar day. Acco rdi ngly, a “da y”

of par ent ing ti m e m ay enc om pas s ei the r an overni ght per iod or a dayti m e per iod

, or a

3f

a t h e r w h o s e p a r e n t i n g t i m e b e g a n o n F r i d a y a t 6 : 0 0 p

. m

. a n d e n d e d a t 8 : 0 0 a

. m

. t h e f o l l o w i n g

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

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

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

- f o u r h o u r p e r i o d u n d e r t h e f a t h e r ’ s c a r e

. I

d

. a t 4

.

C o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e r a t i o n a l e a n d h o l d i n g o f S t o g n e r

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

w i t h 1 4 6 d a y s o f p a r e n t i n g t i m e i n t h e c a l c u l a t i o n o f h e r c h i l d s u p p o r t o b l i g a t i o n

. A p p l y i n g

T e n n

. C o m p

. R

. & R e g s

. 1 2 4 0

- 2

- 4

-

. 0 2 ( 1 0 )

, M o t h e r ’ s p a r e n t i n g t i m e b e g i n n i n g o n T h u r s d a y

a t 6 : 0 0 p

. m

. u n t i l 7 : 0 0 a

. m

. t h e f o l l o w i n g M o n d a y w h e n M o t h e r t a k e s t h e c h i l d r e n t o s c h o o l 4

i s c a l c u l a t e d a t f

o u r d a y s ; s i m i l a r l y

, M o t h e r ’ s m i d

- w e e k v i s i t a t i o n f r o m W e d n e s d a y a t 6 : 0 0

p

. m

. u n t i l 7 : 0 0 a

. m

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

. A s a r e s u l t o f t h e e r r o r i n

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

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

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

.

I n l i g h t o f o u r h o l d i n g

, F a t h e r ’ s c o n t e n t i o n t h a t t h e c o u r t e r r e d i n g r a n t i n g M o t h e r a

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

.

I I

. M O T IO N T O S U S P E N D M O T H E R ’ S P A R E N T IN G T IM E

O n N o v e m b e r 2 9

, 2 0 1 2 t h e c o u r t a n n o u n c e d i t s f i n d i n g s o f f

a c t a n d r u l i n g f

r o m t h e

b e n c h ; t h e s e w e r e i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o a f i n a l d i v o r c e d e c r e e e n t e r e d o n M a r c h 2 5

, 2 0 1 3

. P r i o r

t o t h e e n t r y o f t h e f

i n a l d e c r e e

, F a t h e r f

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

p a r e n t i n g t i m e

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

i n t h e r u l i n g o n N o v e m b e r 2 9

, 2 0 1 2

. S p e c i f i c a l l y

, F a t h e r a s s e r t e d t h a t M o t h e r ’ s l i v i n g

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

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

. M o t h e r r e s p o n d e d t o t h e m o t i o n a n d t h e 5

combina ti on t her eof

.

T enn . Comp. R. & Regs. 124 0- 2- 4- .02 ( 10)

.

High sch ool s in Davidso n Co u n t y b e gi n at 7:0 5 a.m., m idd le sch ool s begin at 8:5 5 a.m., and 4

el ementar y schoo ls begin at 8: 00 a .m

. See htt p:/ /www.mnps.or g/sit e23 4.as px

.

Fat her al le ged in his m oti on t hat : 5

1. At the ti m e tha t thi s Honor abl e Cour t ann ounc ed it s dec is ion on 29 N o ve mb er 2012

fi nal izing the dis sol uti on of the m ar ri age by and bet ween the par ti es, the Def end ant /M oth er

, Am and a Ma ri e Bure s Hoope r, was dir ect ed to est abl is h a sep ar at e and sat is fa ct ory re si den ce

con duc ive to the exe rc is ing of par ent ing ti m e wit h the sai d fi ve m ino r chi ldr en wit hin for tyfi ve days of

th at dat e.

2. Cont ra ry to tha t m and at e, the Def end ant /M oth er

, Am and a Ma ri e Bure s Hoope r, wil ful ly

4c o u r t e x a m i n e d h e r a t t h e M a r c h 2 2 h e a r i n g

. O n A p r i l 8

, t h e c o u r t e n t e r e d a n o r d e r d e n y i n g 6

t h e m o t i o n

, s t a t i n g :

. . . t h a t i n t h e a b s e n c e o f p r o o f o f s p e c i f i c

, i m m e d i a t e h a r m t o t h e f i v e m i n o r

c h i l d r e n o f t h e p a r t i e s b y v i r t u e o f t h e p r e s e n c e o f [ M o t h e r ’ s b o y f r i e n d ]

, t h e

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

b u t t h a t h e n c e f

o r t h t h e s a i d [ M o t h e r ’ s b o y f r i e n d ] s h o u l d b e d e e m e d t o b e a

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

a r r a n g e m e n t s e i t h e r w i t h [ M o t h e r ] o r t h e f i v e m i n o r c h i l d r e n o f t h e p a r t i e s

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

C o u r t

.

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

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

o r d e r t o m o d i f

y t h e p a r e n t i n g p l a n

, t h e r e m u s t b e e v i d e n c e o f s p e c i f i c

, i m m e d i a t e h a r m t o t h e

m i n o r c h i l d r e n ; ” h e a s s e r t s t h a t t h e c o r r e c t s t a n d a r d i s t h a t s e t f o r t h a t T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 3 6

-

6

- 1 0 1 ( a ) ( 2 ) ( C ) a p p l i c a b l e t o m a t e r i a l c h a n g e o f c i r c u m s t a n c e s

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

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

. 7

and want onl y fa il ed to abi de b y t hat dea dli ne and ra the r onl y re cen tl y est abl is hed a

re si den ce of any sor t t her eby dep ar ti ng the re si den ce of her fo rmer st ep- m oth er

.

I n he r r esp ons e, M oth er st at ed:

2. I t is admitt ed tha t the Cour t st at ed it want ed Mo the r to get her own pla ce wit hin 45 days;

however

, Mo the r did not have the fi nan ci al abi li ty to do so unt il she re cei ved her inc om e ta x

re fun d. As suc h, M oth er di d no t wi lf ull y and wan ton ly fa il to abi de by t he Cour t’ s Orde r

as re pre sen te d in Fat her ’s m oti on. Mo the r m ade numerous at te m pts to fi nd a re si den ce tha t

she cou ld af

for d wit hin the ar ea so as to st ay in, or nea r, the chi ldr en’ s r e s p e c t i ve sch ool

zone. On Febr uar y 11, 2013

, Mo the r si gned a Lea se Agreement and too k pos ses si on on an

apa rt m ent at Abbi ngton He ights

.

T he ord er ado pti ng the ora l rul ing was not ent er ed unt il Ma rc h 25, 2013 ; no is sue was ra is ed at the hea ri ng

on the m oti on or on app eal tha t the Novem ber 29 ora l rul ing was not a valid ord er for pur pos es of the re li ef

sou ght by Fat her

.

T her e is no tr ans cr ipt of the hea ri ng in the re cor d; the ord er ent er ed on the m oti on re fl ect s tha t the 6

cou rt exa m ine d M oth er and hea rd ar gum ent s of cou nse l.

T enn . Code Ann. § 36- 6- 101( a) (2) (C) pr ovides : 7

I f the is sue bef

ore the cou rt is a m odi fi cat ion of the cou rt ’s pri or dec re e per ta ini ng to a

re si den ti al par ent ing sch edu le

, the n the pet it ion er m ust pro ve by a pre p o n d e r anc e of the

eviden ce a m at er ia l cha nge of ci rc um st anc e af fe ct ing t he chi ld’ s bes t int er est

. A m at er ia l

cha nge of ci rc um st anc e doe s not re qui re a sho wing of a sub st ant ia l ri sk of har m to the chi ld.

5A s a n i n i t i a l m a t t e r

, w e d o n o t a g r e e t h a t § 3 6

- 6

- 1 0 1 ( a ) ( 2 ) ( C ) a p p l i e s t o t h e

c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f F a t h e r ’ s m o t i o n

. A t t h e t i m e t h e m o t i o n w a s f i l e d

, t h e r e w a s n o p a r e n t i n g

p l a n i n p l a c e ; r a t h e r

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

N o v e m b e r 2 9

. T h e r e l i e f s o u g h t i n t h e m o t i o n

, a s a c k n o w l e d g e d b y F a t h e r i n h i s b r i e f o n

a p p e a l

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

, r a t h e r

, t o s u s p e n d

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

f o r t h e c h i l d r e n

. I n t h i s c i r c u m s t a n c e

, i t w a s m o r e a p p r o p r i a t e f o r t h e c o u r t t o t r e a t t h e m a t t e r s

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

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

. I n e i t h e r e v e n t

, i n 8

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

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

s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w

. 9

I n h e r r e s p o n s e t o t h e m o t i o n

, M o t h e r s t a t e d t h a t s h e d i d n o t h a v e t h e f i n a n c i a l a b i l i t y

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

b o y f r i e n d

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

. M o t h e r

a s s e r t e d t h a t h e r b o y f

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

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

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

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

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

a s t h e r e s u l t o f a r e f

e r r a l f r o m F a t h e r

, a D e p a r t m e n t o f C h i l d r e n S e r v i c e s w o r k e r c o n d u c t e d

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

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

. ” T h e c o u r t h e l d a h e a r i n g o n t h e m o t i o n a t w h i c h i t e x a m i n e d M o t h e r

.

T h e c o n c e r n s F a t h e r e x p r e s s e d i n t h e m o t i o n r e l a t e d t o t h e s l e e p i n g a r r a n g e m e n t s i n

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

. T h e c o u r t k n e w o f M o t h e r ‘ s b o y f r i e n d a n d

h i s c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y f

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

, p r e s u m a b l y

, i n t e r r o g a t e d M o t h e r r e g a r d i n g

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

, t h e c o u r t ’ s r e m a r k t h a t

A m at er ia l cha nge of ci rc um st anc e for pur pos es of m odi f i c a t i o n o f a re si den ti al par ent ing

sch edu le m ay inc lud e, but is not li m it ed to, si gnifi can t cha nges in the nee ds of the chi ld over

ti m e, whic h m ay i ncl ude cha nges re la ti ng t o age; si gnifi can t cha n ges in the par ent ’s li ving

or working con dit ion th a t s ignif ic ant ly af fe ct par ent ing; fa il ure to adh er e to the par ent ing

pla n; or oth er ci rc um st anc es m aking a cha nge in the re si den ti al par en t i n g t i me in the bes t

int er est of

th e c hil d.

“[ T ]he det ai ls of cus tod y and visit at ion wit h chi ldr en ar e pec uli ar ly wit hin the bro ad dis cr et ion of 8

the tr ia l j udge”. Sut tl es v. S utt le s , 748 S.W .2d 4 27, 4 29 ( T enn . 198 8)

A tr ia l cou rt ’s dec is ion on visit at ion wil l not be re verse d abs ent an abu se of dis cr et ion

. Sut tl es

, 748 9

S

. W

. 2 d a t 429. A dis cr et ion ar y dec is ion wil l onl y be set asi de when a cou rt “ap pli e[ s] an inc orr ect l e ga l

st and ar d, or re ach e[ s] a dec is ion whic h i s a ga ins t logic or re aso nin g t hat cau se[ s] an inj ust ic e to the par ty

complai nin g.” E ldr idg e v. Eld ri dge

, 42 S.W .3d 82, 85 (c it ing Sta te v. Shi rl ey

, 6 S.W .3d 243, 247 (T enn

. 1999 ))

.

6t h e r e w a s n o “ s p e c i f i c

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

. A s n o t e d e a r l i e r

,

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

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

.

G i v i n g d e f

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

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

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

.

I I I

. P A R E N T IN G P L A N

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

,

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

o r a s c h e d u l e f

o r t h e M o t h e r ’ s p a r e n t i n g

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

. ” H e a s s e r t s t h a t d u r i n g t h e s c h o o l y e a r M o t h e r

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

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

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

.

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

. B u r t o n v

.

B u r t o n

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

, a t * 2 ( T e n n

. C t

. A p p

. F e b

. 9

, 2 0 0 9 )

. C o n s e q u e n t l y

, a t r i a l c o u r t ’ s

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

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

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

. ” 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

, 8 8 ( T e n n

.

2 0 0 1 )

.

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

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

a c t o r s a t T e n n

. C o d e

A n n

. § 3 6

- 6

- 1 0 6 ( a ) a n d s t a t e d : 1 0

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

, a n d t h e C o u r t

i s g o i n g t o s a y t h i s

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

, t h e C o u r t

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

.

T enn . Code Ann. § 36- 6- 106( a) pr ovides in par t: 1 0

I n a sui t for ann ulment, divor ce, sep ar at e m ai nte nan ce, or in any oth er pro cee din g re qui ri ng

the cou rt to m ake a cus tod y det er m ina ti on re gardi ng a m ino r chi ld, the det er m ina ti on sha ll

be m ade on the bas is of the bes t int er est of the chi ld. I n ta king int o acc ount the chi ld’ s bes t

int er est , the c our t shal l orde r a cus tod y ar ra ngem ent tha t per m it s both 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 lo cat ion of th e re si den ces of the par ent s, the chi ld’ s nee d for

st abi li ty and al l o the r r el evant fa ct ors

.

T he s ta tut e goes on t o se t f ort h t en f act ors fo r a cou rt to con si der when m aking cus tod y dete rminat ion s.

7B o t h o f y o u h a v e b e e n g u i l t y

, t h e C o u r t t h i n k s

, o f i n a p p r o p r i a t e p a r e n t i n g

- g r o s s

i n a p p r o p r i a t e p a r e n t i n g

- i n y o u r a c t i o n s t o w a r d s e a c h o t h e r

. B e t h a t a s i t m a y

,

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

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

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

, a n d t h e C o u r t d o e s

f i n d p u r s u a n t t o T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 3 6

- 6

- 1 0 6 t h a t i t i s i n t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t o f

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

o r H u s b a n d t o b e n a m 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

.

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

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

f a c t o r s a t T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. 3 6

- 6

- 4 0 4

. 1 1

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

p a r e n t i n g p l a n

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

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

, s e e T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. §

3 6

- 6

- 1 0 6 ( a )

, a n d t o e n c o u r a g e a “ l o v i n g

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

.

S e e T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 3 6

- 6

- 4 0 4 ( b )

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

w i t h t h e f

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

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

. T o t h e e x t e n t F a t h e r ’ s c o n c e r n s c r e a t e

d i f f i c u l t i e s i n t h e f

u t u r e

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

. S e e

T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 3 6

- 6

- 4 0 5

.

A g a i n g i v i n g d e f

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

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

.

T enn

. Code Ann. § 36- 6- 404 re qui re s a fi nal dec re e of divor ce in cas es invol ving chi ldr en to 1 1

inc orp ora te a per m ane nt par ent ing pla n, inc lud ing a re si den ti al par ent ing sch edu le ; § 36- 6- 404( b) pro vides

in par t:

Any per m ane nt par ent ing pla n sha ll inc lud e a re si den ti al sch edu le as def ine d in § 36- 6- 402.

T he cou rt sha ll m ake re si den ti al pro visio ns for eac h ch i l d

, c o nsi 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 ent to m ai nta in a lovin g, st abl e, and nur t u r i n g re la ti ons hip wit h the chi ld. T he

chi ld’ s r esi den ti al sc hed ule sha ll be con si st ent wit h t his par t.

T he st at ute the n pro cee ds to set for th fi ft een fa ct ors and a si xte ent h dis cr et ion ar y cat ch- al l pro visio n a cou rt

is to con si der when det er m ini ng re si den ti al par ent ing ti m e. See Bry ant v. Bry ant

, No. M2 007-02386- COAR3- CV , 200 8 W L 425 4364 , at *5– 6 ( T enn . Ct. App. S ept . 16, 200 8).

8C O N C L U S I O N

F o r t h e f

o r e g o i n g r e a s o n s

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

v a c a t e d i n p a r t

. T h e c a s e i s 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 i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h i s o p i n i o n

.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ R I C H A R D H

. D I N K I N S

, J U D G E

9