FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M ERCI ER 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.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

June 4, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A0 73 0 . SELVAGE v . FRANKLIN.

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

Fran k l i n Sel vag e (“ t he fat h er”) ap p e a l s t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er den y i n g h i s

p et i t i o n t o m o d i fy cu s t o d y

, ch i l d s u p p o r t

, an d vi s i t at i o n

. H e co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt erred i n (1 ) d en yi n g h i m a n y v i s i t at i o n ; (2 ) refu s i n g t o ad o p t les s ex t rem e

v i s i t at i o n p ro v i s i o n s p u rs uan t t o OCGA § 1 9-9 -7 ; (3 ) fai l i ng t o en t er a ch i l d s u p p o rt

award p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 an d t o i n co rp o rat e a ch i l d s u p p ort wo rk s h eet o r

ad d en d u m

i n t o t h e fi n al o rd er; an d (4 ) fai l i n g t o i n co rp o rat e a p erm an en t p aren t i n g

p l an i n t o t h e fi n al o rd er. Fo r th e reas o n s t hat fo l lo w, we vacat e th e o rd er an d rem an d

t h e cas e wi t h d i rect i o n

.

Th e reco rd s h o ws t h at t h e fat h er was i n v o l v ed i n a ro m an t i c rel at i o n s h i p wi th

Lat ri n a Fran k l i n (“ t h e m o t h er”) wh en s h e b ecam e p reg n an t

. Th e fat her d id n o t wan tt h e ch i ld an d was n o t p res en t fo r t h e b i r t h i n 2 0 0 8. Th e fat h er h ad n o co n tact wi th

ei t h er t h e m o t h er or t h e ch i l d un t i l th e m o t h er co n tact ed h im i n 2 0 0 9

, n eed in g a p l ace

t o s t ay aft er a di sag reem en t wi t h h er m o t h er. Th e m o th er, t h e ch i ld

, an d t h e m o t h er’ s

o l d er ch i l d fro m a di fferen t rel at i o n s hi p st ay ed wi t h t h e fat h er fo r a week u n t i l an

i n ci d en t o ccu rred

, l e a d i n g to t h e arres t o f t h e fat h er. Th e fat h er p l ead ed g u i l t y to

f a m i ly vi o len ce b at tery an d th i rd d eg ree cru el t y t o ch il d ren fo r co m m i t t i n g a c t s o f

d o m es t ic v i o l en ce ag ai n s t t h e m o t h er i n t h e p res en ce o f b ot h o f h er m i n o r ch i l d ren

. 1

As a co n di t i o n o f h i s p ro b at i on

, t h e fat he r w a s o rd ered t o hav e n o co n t act wi t h t h e

m o th er o r h er m i n o r ch i l d ren

.

In 2 0 1 1

, t h e fat h er v io l ate d th e n o -co n tact co n di ti o n o f h is p ro b at i o n b y l eav i n g

a l et t er i n t h e m o th er’ s m ai l b o x, a n d a s a res u l t

, t h e m o t h er was g ran t ed a t wel v em o nt h fam i l y

v i o l en ce p ro t ect i v e o rd er on Feb ru ary 14

, 2 0 1 2

. Th e p ro t ect i v e o rd er

p ro h ib i t ed t h e fat her fro m h av in g an y co nt act wi t h t he m o th er an d h er t w o ch i l d ren

.

On Sep t em

b er 2 1

, 20 1 2

, t h e fat h er was ch arg ed wi t h v i ol at in g th e fam i l y v i o l en ce

p ro t ect i v e o rd er, an d h i s p ro b at i o n s t em m i ng fro m t h e 2 0 1 0 ch arg e s w a s r e v o k ed

1 Th ro u gh o u t t h e tri al

, t h e p l ead i n g s, an d t he p art i es ’ b ri efs o n ap p eal

, b o t h

p art i es h av e s t at ed t h at t he fat h er en t ered a g u i l t y p l ea t o t h e ch arg es . Ho wev er, t h e

fi nal d i sp o si t io n i n d i cat es t hat a b en ch t ri al was h el d an d th e fat h er was fo u n d g ui l t y

b y v erd i ct

.

2b ecau s e th e fat h er h ad co n t act ed t h e m o t h er. Th e f a t h er en tered a p l ea o f n o lo

co n ten d ere a n d w as sen t en ced t o t wel v e m o n t h s o f p ro bat i o n

. A co n d i t i o n o f h i s

p ro b at i o n was n o vi o l en t co n t act wi t h th e m o t h er. In 2 0 1 3

, t h e m o th er s o u g h t a

p erm an en t p ro t ect i v e o rd er ag ai n s t t h e fat h er, wh i ch was d en i ed

.

Fro m Oct ob er 2 0 0 9 u n t il 2 0 1 3

, t h e fat h er h a d n o c o n tact wi t h t h e ch i l d

. In

2 0 1 3

, t h e fat h er fi l ed a p et i ti on t o l eg i t i m at e t h e ch i l d

, s eek in g t o o b t ai n j o i n t l eg al

cu s t o d y o f t h e c h i l d, t o es t ab l i s h v is i tat i o n ri g ht s

, an d t o h av e ch i l d s u p p o rt

e s t ab li s h ed

. In i t s fi n al ord er, en t ered n un c p ro tu n c May 29

, 2 0 1 3

, t h e t ri al co u rt

g ran t ed t h e leg i t i m at io n

, d ecl ari n g t h e fat her t o b e t h e l eg a l f a t h e r o f th e ch i l d

, b ut

fo u n d t h at i t was n o t i n t h e bes t i n t eres t o f t h e ch i l d t o h av e an y v is i tat i o n o r co n t act

wi t h t h e ch i l d “ [d ] u e t o t h e [t h e fat h er] ’ s cri m i n al h i s t o ry an d fam i l y vi o len ce.” 2 Th e

co u rt award ed s ol e p h y s i cal an d l eg al cu st o d y t o t h e m o th er an d o rd ered t h at n o ch i ld

s u p p o rt b e p ai d d ue t o t h e co u rt ’ s fi nd i n g t hat t h e fat h er l ack ed t h e m ean s t o p ay

.

Fi n al l y

, t h e t ri al co u rt i n cl u d ed a n o -co n t act p ro vi s i o n i n t h e o rd er:

[Th e fat her] i s o rd ered n ot t o g o t o t h e m i n or ch i l d’ s s ch o o l an d t o h av e

n o d i rect or i n d i rect co n t act wi t h t h e m in o r ch i l d

.

2 Du ri n g t h e in st an t m o d i fi cat i o n act i on

, t h e m o t h er p res en t ed ev i d en ce o f t h e

fat h er’ s ex t en s i v e cri m i n al h i s t o ry

, i n cl ud i n g co n v i ct i o ns fo r b u rg l a r y an d t h eft by

t ak i n g . Th e m o s t recen t co n v ict i o n was fo r a m i s dem ean o r i n 2 0 1 4.

3Th e Co urt al so O rd ers t h at [ th e fat h er] i s t o hav e n o d i rect o r i n d irect

co n t act wi t h th e m i n o r ch i l d ’ s m o th er

. . . n o r i s [t h e fat her] t o h av e an y

d i rect o r i n d i rect co n tact wi t h [t h e m o t h er] ’ s o t h er m i n or ch il d

. . . . 3

In 2 0 1 5

, aft er t h e ch il d beg an ex h i b i t i n g b e h a v i o r al p ro b l em s at s ch o o l

, t h e

m o th er reach ed o u t t o t h e fat h er. Th e m o t h er b eg an al lo wi n g co nt act bet ween t h e

fat h er an d t h e ch i l d

, l ead i ng t o t h e m o t h er s u p erv i s i n g v i si t s b et ween t h e fat h er an d

t h e ch i l d

. Bo th t h e m o t h er an d t h e fat h er t es ti fi ed th at t h e fat h er p i ck ed t he ch i l d u p

fro m su m m er d ay care m o re t h an o n ce an d t h at t h e fat h er h ad un s u p erv is ed v i s i t s wi th

t h e ch i l d wi t ho u t i n ci den t

. So m et i m e i n t he fal l o f 2 01 5

, t h e m o t her cu t o ff al l co n t act

aft er an u n sp eci fi ed d is ag reem en t b et w een t h e p aren t s

.

In 2 0 1 6 , t h e fat h er fi l ed a p et i t io n fo r m od i fi cat i on of cu s t o d y , ch il d s u p p o rt

,

an d v i s i t at i o n

. T h e p et i t i o n w as d i s m i s s ed fo r wan t o f p ro s ecu t i on o n M arch 1 6,

2 0 1 6 , aft er t he fat h er fai l ed t o ap pear at a s ch ed u l ed h eari n g o n h i s p et i t i o n

.

On M arch 1 4, 20 1 7

, t h e f a t h er fi l ed an o t her p et i t i o n fo r m od i fi cat i o n o f

cu s t o d y

, ch i l d s u p po rt

, an d v i s i t at i o n

, seek i n g t o o b t ai n jo i n t p h y s ical an d l eg al

c u s t o d y o f th e ch i l d, t o es t ab l i s h v is i tat i o n ri g ht s

, an d t o h av e ch i l d s u p p o rt

3 W h i l e t h e fat h er fi l ed a m o ti o n fo r reco n si d erat i on o f t h e 2 01 3 o rd er, wh i ch

was d en i ed , t h e fat h er d i d n o t ti m el y ap p eal t h e o rd er.

4es t ab l i s h ed

. Th e m o t h er o p p o s ed t h e p et i t i o n, i n cl u d i n g th e req u es t t o es t ab l i s h ch i ld

s u p p ort

. A ft er a h eari n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h e fat h e r ’s p e t i t i on i n i t s en t i ret y

,

fi nd i ng t h at “ i t s t i l l i s n o t i n t h i s c h i l d ’ s b es t i n t eres ts t o h av e co n t act wi t h t h e

[fat h er] .” Th e fat h er n ow ap p eal s t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n al o rd er.

1

. Th e fat her fi rs t co n t en d s th at th e t ri a l c o u r t e rred i n den y i n g h i m an y

v i s i t at i o n ri g h ts wi th h i s ch il d

.

In d eci d i n g v i s i t at i o n

, t h e t ri al co u rt h as very b ro ad d is cret i o n

, l o o k i n g

al way s t o t h e b es t in t eres t o f t h e ch i l d

. W h en t he t ri al co urt h as

ex erci s ed t h at d is cret i o n

, th i s [C] o u rt wi l l n o t i n t erfere u n l es s th e

ev i d en ce s h o ws a cl ear ab u s e o f d is cret i o n

, an d wh ere t h ere i s a n y

ev i d en ce to s u p p o rt t h e tri al co u r t ’ s fi n d i n g

, t h i s [C] o u rt wi l l n o t fi n d

t h ere was an ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i tt ed .) W il l ia ms v. W

il l ia ms

, 3 0 1 Ga. 2 1 8

, 2 2 0 (1 ) (8 0 0

SE2 d 2 8 2) (2 0 1 7). W e m u s t al s o b ear i n m i n d t h at

[i ] t i s t h e e x p res s p o l i cy o f t h i s s t at e t o en co u rag e t h at a ch i ld h as

co n t in u i n g co n t act w i t h p aren t s an d g ran d p aren t s wh o h av e s h o wn th e

ab i l i t y t o act i n t h e b es t i n t eres t o f t h e ch i l d an d t o en co u rag e p aren ts t o

s h are i n t h e ri gh t s an d res p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f rai si n g t hei r ch i l d aft er s u ch

p aren t s hav e s ep arat ed o r d i s s o l v ed t h ei r m arri ag e o r rel at i on s hi p

.

5OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (d ). To t h at en d

, “ o n l y i n ex cep t i o n al ci rcu m s t an ces s ho u ld t h e n o n

cu s t o d i al p aren t b e d e n i e d t h e ri g h t of acces s t o hi s ch i l d .” (Ci tat i o n o m i t t ed .)

W o o d r u f f v. W o o d r u f f

, 2 7 2 Ga. 4 8 5 , 4 8 5 -4 8 6 (1 ) (5 31 SE2 d 7 1 4) (2 00 0 ).

In ex p l ai n i n g i t s d eci si o n t o d en y t h e fat h er an y co n t act wi t h t h e ch i l d

, t h e t ri al

co u rt pro v i d es o nl y a s h o rt reci t at i o n o f fact s an d o f t he l eg al p ro ceed i n g s in i t s o rd er

b efo re co n cl ud i n g t hat “ i t s t i l l i s n o t i n t h i s ch i l d ’ s b es t in t eres ts to h av e co n t act wi th

t h e [fat her] .” Th e res t o f t h e th ree-p ag e o rd er ad d res s es t h e m o t her’ s co u nt ercl ai m fo r

co n tem p t

. 4

Pu rs uan t to Ch ap t er 9 of Ti tl e 1 9 o f th e O f f i c i a l Co d e o f G eo rg i a wh i ch

g o v ern s ch il d cu st o dy p ro ceed i n g s

, wh ere t h e cu s t o d y o f an y ch i l d i s at is s ue b et ween

t h e p aren t s

, 5 t h e fo ll o wi ng ap p l i es :

If req u es t e d b y a n y p art y o n o r befo re t he cl o s e o f ev i d en ce in a

co n t es ted h e ari n g

, t h e p erm an en t co urt o rd er award i ng ch i ld cu s t o d y

4 I n the m odif

i c a tion act io n

, t h e m o t her co u n t ercl ai m ed fo r co n t em p t

, ste m m ing

fro m t hree i n ci d en t s of t h e fat h er h av i n g co n t ac t wi t h t h e m o t h er an d h er ch i l d ren

. Th e t ri al co u rt d ecl i n ed t o fi n d t h e fat h er i n co n t em p t fo r t w o o f t h e i n ci den t s

, b ut

fo u n d t he fat h er w i ll fu ll y v io lat ed t h e 2 0 1 3 o rd er’ s n o -co n tact p ro v i s i on wi t h reg ard

t o an in ci d en t i n wh i ch t he fat her i n i t i at ed co nt act wi t h t he m o th er’ s o l d er ch i l d i n a

p u b l i c p l ace.

5 W h i l e t h e fat her d o es n o t ap p eal t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er t o t h e ex t en t i t award s

s o l e p h y s i cal an d l eg al cu s t o d y t o t h e m ot h er, OCGA § 1 9 -9 -2 2 (1 ) d efi n es “ cu s t o d y ”

as i n cl ud i n g v i s i t at i o n ri g h t s

.

6s h a l l s et fo r t h s peci fi c fi n d i n g s o f fact as to t h e bas i s fo r t h e j u d ge’ s

d eci si o n i n m ak in g an award o f cu s t o dy i n cl u di ng a n y r el ev an t fact o r

rel i ed u po n b y t h e ju d g e as s et fo rt h in p arag rap h (3 ) o f t h i s s u b s ect i o n

.

Su ch o rd er s h al l s et fo rt h i n d et ai l wh y th e co u rt award ed cu s t o dy i n th e

m an n er s et fo rt h i n t h e o rd er. . . .

(Em p h as i s s u p p l i ed .) OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (a) (8 ). Fu rt herm o r e

, OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 2 (a)

p ro v id es t h at “ i n al l n o n

ju ry t ri al s i n co u rt s o f reco rd

, t h e co u rt sh al l u p o n req u es t o f

an y p art y m ad e pri o r t o s u ch ru l i n g

, fi n d t h e fact s sp eci al ly an d s h al l s tat e s ep arat el y

i t s co n cl u s io n s o f l aw.” See W ar r en v. Smi t h

, 3 3 6 Ga. A p p

. 3 42

, 3 4 4 -3 45 (7 8 5 SE2 d

2 5 ) (2 0 1 6). Here, b ecau s e th e reco rd cl earl y refl ect s t hat t h e fat h er req u es t ed t h e t ri al

co u rt m ak e fi nd i n g s o f f a c t an d co n cl u s io n s o f l aw p ri o r t o t h e h eari n g

, h e was

en t i t l ed t o th em

. Th i s i s p art i cu l arl y t ru e g i v en t h e grav i t y o f t h e co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n to

d en y t h e fat h er a n

y v i s i t at i o n o r co n t a ct w i t h t h e ch i l d

. See, e.g

., Ch a n d l er v.

Ch a n d l er

, 2 6 1 Ga. 5 9 8

, 5 99 (1 ) (4 0 9 SE2 d 2 0 3 ) (1 9 9 1 ) (t ri al co u rt ’ s effect i v e d en i al

o f an y v i s i t at i o n w i th ch i l d was ab u s e o f t ri al co u rt ’ s d i scret i o n wh ere “ [l ] es s ex t rem e

arran g em en t s

, i ncl u d i ng l i m it ed an d s u p erv is ed v i s it at io n

, co ul d b e i n st it u t ed to

s at i s fy t h e t ri al co urt ’ s co n cern s t h at ap p el lan t m i g h t a b d u ct t he ch i l d i f g ran t ed

v i s i t at i o n ”); Ta

yl or v. Ta yl o r

, 2 8 2 Ga. 1 1 3, 11 6 (6 4 6 SE2 d 2 3 8 ) ( 2 0 0 7 ) (Sears

, J

.,

d i s s en t i n g) (t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er d en y i n g al l v i s i t at i o n an d p ro h i b it i ng an y co n t act wi th

7ch i l d i s “ a d e fact o t erm i n at i on o rd er” wh i ch s i d es t ep s th e cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g

ev i d en ce s t an d ard o f p ro o f co n s t i t u t i o n al ly m an d at ed i n t erm i n at i on o f p aren t a l r ights

p ro ceed in g ). Acco rd i n gl y

, we v acat e t h e p o rt io n of th e tri al co urt ’ s o rd er to t h e ex t en t

i t d en i ed t h e fat h er’ s req u es t fo r a m o d i fi cat i on o f v i s i t at i o n

, an d we rem an d t h e cas e

wi t h i n s tru ct i o n s fo r t h e t ri al co u rt t o e n t er an o rd er p ro v i d i n g fi n di n gs o f fact an d

co n cl u s i o n s o f l aw. See W ar r en

, 3 3 6 Ga. A p p

. at 3 4 4 -3 45 ( v a c a t i n g t ri al co urt ’ s

cu s t o d y o rd er an d rem an d i n g cas e wh ere fat h er req u es t ed fi n d i n g s o f fact an d

co n cl u s i o n s o f l aw an d o rd er fai l ed t o p ro v i de s u ch ).

2

. Th e fat h er n ex t co n t en d s t h at t o t h e ex t en t t h e t ri al co u rt h ad an y val i d b as i s

fo r co n s i d e r i n g act s o f fam i l y v i o l en ce, th e t ri al co u rt erred in n o t ad o pt i n g l es s

ex t rem e v i s i t at i o n pro vi s io ns pu rs u an t t o OCGA § 1 9 -9 -7

. In d et erm i n i n g t h e b es t

i n t eres t of t h e ch i ld du ri n g a cu s t o d y p ro ceed i n g

, th e ju d g e m ay co n s i d er an y rel ev an t

fact or in cl u d i n g “ [ a ] ny ev i d en ce o f fam il y v i ol en ce.” (Em p h as i s s up p l i ed .) OCGA §

1 9 -9 -3 (a) (3 ) (P). Du ri n g th e h eari n g

, t h e m o t h er p ro v i d ed t es t i m o n y co n cern i n g t h e

i n ci d e n t w h i c h p ro m

p t ed t h e fam i l y v i o l en ce pro t ect iv e o rd er ag ai n st t h e fat h er.

Fu rt h erm o re, t he t ri al co u rt was p res en t ed wi t h ev i d en ce, i n cl u d i n g t he fat h er’ s o wn

t es t i m o n y, o f t h e fat h er’ s gu i l t y p l ea t o fam i l y v i o len ce bat t ery an d t h ird d eg ree

8cru el t y t o ch i l d ren

. Th u s

, we can n ot ag ree t h at t h e t ri al co u rt h ad n o val i d b as i s fo r

co n si d eri n g act s o f fam i l y v i o l en ce i n t h is cas e.

OCGA § 1 9 -9 -7 al l o ws a ju d g e t o award v i s i t at io n or paren t i n g t i m e t o a p aren t

wh o co m m i t t ed o ne o r m o re act s i n v o l v i n g fam i l y v i o l en ce p ro v i d ed t h e ju d g e fi nd s

t h at ad eq u at e p ro v i s i on fo r t h e s afet y o f t he ch i l d an d t h e p aren t wh o i s a v i ct i m o f

fam i l y v i o l en ce can b e m ad e. OCGA § 1 9 -9 -7 (a). If th e ju d g e m ak es s u ch a fi n d i n g,

t h e ju dg e m ay :

(1 ) Ord er an ex ch an g e o f a ch i l d t o o ccu r i n a p ro t ect ed s et t i n g ;

(2 ) Ord er v i s i t at i o n o r p a ren t i n g ti m e s u p erv is ed b y an o t h er p ers on o r

ag en cy ;

(3 ) Ord er t h e p erp et rat o r o f fam i l y v i o len ce t o at t en d an d co m p l et e, t o

t h e s at i s fact i o n o f t h e ju d g e, a ce r ti fi ed fam i l y v i o l en ce in t erv en t i o n

p ro g ram fo r perp et rat o rs as d efi n ed i n A rt i cl e 1 A of Ch ap ter 1 3 o f t h i s

t i tl e as a co n d i ti o n o f t h e v i s i tat i o n o r p aren t i n g t i m e;

(4 ) Ord er t h e p erp et rat or o f fam i l y v i ol en ce t o ab s t ai n fro m p o ss es s i o n

o r co n s um

pt i o n o f al co h o l

, m ari

ju an a, o r an y Sch ed u l e I c o n t ro l led

s u b s t an ce l i s t ed i n Co d e Sect i o n 1 6 -1 3 -2 5 d u ri ng t h e v i s i t at i o n o r

p aren t i n g t i m e an d fo r 24 h o u rs p reced i n g t h e v i s i t at i o n o r paren t i n g

t i m e;

(5 ) Ord er t he p erp et rat o r o f fam i l y v i o l e n c e t o p a y a fee t o d efray th e

co s t s o f s u p erv i sed v i s i t at i o n o r p aren t i n g t i m e;

(6 ) Pro h i b i t o v ern i g h t v i s i t at i o n o r p aren t i ng t i m e;

9(7 ) Req u i re a b o n d fro m t h e p erp et rat o r o f fam il y v i o l en ce fo r t h e ret u rn

an d s afet y

o f t h e ch i l d ; an d

(8 ) Im p o s e an y o t h er co n d i t i o n t hat i s d eem ed n eces s ary t o p ro v id e fo r

t h e s afet y o f t he ch i l d, t he v ict i m o f fam i l y v i o l en ce, o r an o t h er fam i l y

o r h o u s eh o l d m em

b er.

OCGA § 1 9 -9 -7 (a). In h is m o d i fi cat i o n p et i t io n

, th e fat h e r r e q u es t ed “ reas o n ab l e

v i s i t at i o n ” wi t h t h e ch i l d

. At t h e h eari n g

, t h e fat h er’ s at to rn ey p ro po s ed a “ g rad u at ed

p l an ” t o eas e t h e ch i l d i n t o v is i t at i o n w i t h t h e fat h er. Th e m ot h er t es t i fi ed t h at i f t h e

co u rt were i ncl i n ed t o g ran t v i s i t a t i o n to th e fat h er, sh e wo u l d p refer s up erv i s ed

v i s i t s

.

In l i gh t o f o u r h o ld i n g in Di v i s io n 1

, we rem an d t o g i v e t h e t r i a l c o u r t t h e

o p p o rt u ni t y to co n s i d er t h e ap p l i c a b i l i t y o f OCGA § 1 9 -9 -7

, an d t o en t er t h e

ap p ro p ri at e fi n d i n g s t h ereu n der i f t h e t ri al co u rt is i n cl i n ed t o im p o s e an y o f t h e

co n di t i o n s s et fo rt h t h erei n , i n cl u d i n g s u perv i s ed v i s i t at i on

.

3

. T h e fat h er n ex t arg ues t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in fai l i n g t o en t er a c h i l d

s u p p ort award an d i n fai l i n g t o i n co rp o rat e a ch i l d s u p po rt wo rk sh eet o r ch i l d s u p p o rt

ad d en d u m

i n t o i t s fi n al o rd er. W e ag ree.

OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (c) (1 ) p ert i n en t l y p ro v id es :

Th e ch i l d su p po rt g u i d e l i n es co n t ai n ed i n t h is Co d e s ect i on are a

m i n i m um b as is fo r d et erm i n i n g t h e am o u n t of c h i l d s up p ort an d s h a l l

10a

p p l y a s a r eb u t t a b le p r es u mp t i o n i n a ll l eg al p ro ceed i n g s i n vo l vi n g th e

ch i l d s u p p o r t r es p on s i b i l i t y o f a p a r en t

. Th is Co d e s ect i o n s h a l l b e u s ed

wh en t h e co u r t en t er

s a t emp o r a r

y o r p er ma n en t ch i l d su

p po r t o r d er i n

a co n t es t ed or no n co nt es t ed h ea ri n g o r ord er i n a ci v i l act i o n f i l ed

p u rs uan t t o Co d e Sect i o n 1 9 -1 3 -4

.

(Em p h as i s s up p l i ed .) As p rev i o u s l y ex p l ai ned b y th e Su prem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a, “ t h e

ch i l d s up p o rt g u i d el i n es ap pl y n o t o n l y to i n i t ial d et erm i n at i on s of ch i l d s u p p o rt

, b ut

al s o t o m o d i fi cat i o n act i o n s

, an d are t h e ex p res si o n of th e l eg i s l at i v e wi l l reg ard i n g

t h e cal cu l at i on o f ch i l d s u pp ort an d m u st b e co n s i d ered b y an y co u rt s et t i n g ch i ld

suppor t. ” ( C ita tions a nd punc tua tion o m i tt ed .) W et h er in g t on v. W

et h er i ng t o n

, 291 G a

.

7 2 2 , 7 2 6 (2 ) (a) (7 3 2 SE2 d 4 33 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

I n a m o di fi cat i o n act i o n

, “ t h e s h o wi n g o f a ch an ge i n t h e p aren t ’ s f i n a n c i a l

s t at u s o r a ch an g e i n t h e n eed s o f t h e ch i ld i s a t h res h o l d req u irem en t

. . . .” (Ci t at i o n

an d pu n ct u at io n o m i t t ed .) Mo o r e v. Mo o r e

, 3 4 6 Ga. Ap p

. 5 8

, 6 0 (3 ) (8 1 5 SE2 d 2 4 2 )

(2 0 1 8). “ Aft er t h e t ri al co u rt fi nd s s at i s fact o ry p ro o f o f a ch an ge i n fi n an ci al s t at u s

,

i t m u s t reco n s i d er t h e am o u n t o f ch i l d s up p o rt u n d er t h e g u i d el i n es of OCGA §

1 9 -6 -1 5 (b ).” W

i n g a rd v. P a r i s

, 2 7 0 Ga. 4 3 9

, 4 40 (5 1 1 SE2 d 1 6 7 ) (1 9 9 9 ). See al s o

W et h er in g t o n

, 2 9 1 Ga. at 7 25 (2 ) (a).

11Here, t h e t ri a l c o u r t d i d n o t ad d res s wh et h er t here h ad b een a ch an g e i n t h e

fi nan ci al ci rcu m s tan ces of t h e fat h e r or t h e n eed s o f t h e ch il d s i n ce t he 2 0 1 3 o rd er

d en y i n g an y ch i l d s u pp o rt

. 6 I n s t ead

, t he tri al co u rt ag ai n s um m ari ly d en i ed t h e

fat h er’ s req u es t t o p ay ch i l d s u pp o rt b ecau s e t h e co u rt fo u n d t h at “ i t st il l is n o t i n t h i s

ch i l d ’ s b es t i n t eres t s t o h av e co n t act wi t h [t he fat her]

. ” Acco rd in g ly

, w e rev ers e t h e

ch i l d s u pp ort award m ad e i n th e fi n al ord er an d rem an d t h e cas e fo r t h e t ri al co u rt to

d et erm i n e wh et h e r t h ere h as b een a s u b s t an t i al ch an g e i n ci rcu m s t an ces m eri t i n g a

m o di fi cat i o n an d

, if s o

, wh at ch i l d s u p p o rt award i s ap p ro p ri at e u nd er t he g u i d el i n es

,

6 W e reco g ni ze t h at t h e 2 0 1 3 o rd er i s n ot b efo re u s

, b u t we n o te t h at it d i d n ot

i n cl u d e a ch i l d s up p o rt wo rk s h eet or ad d en d um

. T h e o n ly s peci fi c fi nd i ng s i n cl u d ed

i n t he 2 0 1 3 o rd er to s u p p o rt t he co u rt ’ s d eci si on t o award zero ch i l d s u p po rt was t h at

t h e fat h er h ad b een u n em p l o y ed s i n ce 2 0 0 6, an d d i d no t h av e t h e m ean s t o p ay ch i ld

s u p p ort “ ev en t h o u gh h e i s n o t d i s ab led .”

12wi t h an y

d ev i at i on s su p p o rt ed b y t h e req u i red wri t ten fi n d i n g s. 7 See W et h er i n g t o n

,

2 9 1 Ga. at 7 2 8 (2 ) (c).

W e al s o t ak e t h i s op p o rt u n i t y t o rem i n d t h e t ri al co u rt t h at “ [c] h i l d s u p p o rt i s

t h e ri g ht o f t h e ch i l d an d n ot o f i t s cu s t o d i an

. . . . Th e co nd u ct o f t h e cu s t od i an can n ot

d ep ri v e t h e ch i l d o f t h i s ri g h t to s u p p o rt

, an y m o re t h an t h e cu s t o d i an can wai v e i t fo r

t h e ch i l d o r co nt ract i t away .” (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Dep t

. o f Hu ma n

Res o u r ces v. Pr in ce , 1 9 8 Ga. Ap p . 3 2 9

, 3 3 1 (2 ) (4 0 1 SE2 d 3 4 2 ) (1 9 9 1 ).

4

. Fi n al l y

, t h e fat h er arg u es t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred i n fai l i n g to i n co rp o rat e

a paren t in g p l an in t o it s o rd er. Ag ai n

, we ag ree. OCGA § 1 9-9 -1 (a) p ro v i d es

, i n p art

,

t h at “ [t ] h e fi n al ord er i n an y l eg al act io n i nv o l v i n g t h e cu s t o d y of a ch i ld

, i n cl u d i n g

7 Th e m ot h er co n ten d s t h a t n o m o d i fi cat i o n i n ch i l d s u p p o rt w as warran t ed

b ecau s e th ere was n o s u b s t an t i al ch an g e i n t h e fat her’ s fi n an ci al p os i t i o n

. Th i s

arg u m en t o v erl o o k s t he fact t h at t h e tri al co u rt n ev er ad d res s ed wh et h er a s u b s t an t i al

ch an ge i n t h e fat h er’ s fi nan ci al p o s i t i o n warran t ed a m o di fi cat i o n . Th e m ot h er al s o

arg u es t h at ev en i f h i s fi n an ci al p o s i t i o n h as ch an g ed s i n ce t h e l eg i t i m at i o n o rd er, t h e

fat h er s t i l l d o es n o t h av e th e m ean s t o p ay ch i l d s u p p o rt b as ed o n h i s s u b m i t t ed

d o cu m en t at i o n

. Ho wev er, it i s n o t fo r t h i s Co urt t o d et erm i n e i n t h e fi rs t i n s t an ce

wh et h er t h e fat h er h as t he m ean s t o p ay c h i l d su p p o rt

. Th at i s an i s s u e fo r t h e t ri al

co u rt

, fo l l o wi ng t h e ch i l d s u p p o r t g u id el in es

, t o d et erm i ne. See, e.g

., Bl a ck v.

Fer l i n g e r e

, 3 3 3 Ga. A p p. 7 8 9

, 7 9 1 -7 92 (2 ) (7 7 7 SE2 d 2 6 8 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (rev ers i n g t ri al

co u rt ’ s ord er t h at n o ch i l d s u p p o rt o wed b y ei t h er p aren t wh ere o rd er fai led to i n cl u d e

a ch i l d s up p o rt wo rk s heet o r ad d en d u m

, an d s p eci fi c fi n d i n gs o f fact t o s u p p o rt

d ev iat i o n fro m

p res u m p ti v e am o u n t as req ui red b y OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5).

13m o di fi cat i o n act i o n s

, s h a l l i n co rp o rat e a p erm an en t p aren t in g p l an as fu rt h er s et fo rt h

i n t hi s Co d e s ect i on [.] ” (Em p h as i s s u p pl i ed .)

[T] h e p aren t i n g p l an m

u s t i n cl u de s ev eral d et ai l s bey o n d cu s to d y an d

v i s i t at i o n

, i ncl u d i ng

, am o n g m an y t h i ng s

, t h e ri g h t s of b ot h p aren t s t o

acces s t h e ch i l d ’ s reco rd s an d i n fo rm at i o n rel at ed t o ed ucat i o n

, h eal th

,

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

, e x t r a c u r r i c u l a r a c t i v i t i e s

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

co m m u n i cat io ns . OCGA § 1 9 -9 -1 (b ) (1 ) (D).

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i tt ed .) Mo o r e

, 3 4 6 Ga. A p p

. at 6 0

. In t h i s cas e, t h e t ri al

co u rt fai l ed t o in co rp o rat e a p aren t i n g p l an i n t o i t s fi n al o rd er. Th e m o t her arg u es t h at

t o th e ex t en t an y p aren t i n g p l an was warran t ed i n t h is cas e, it was in cl u d ed i n t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s o rd er. W h il e we ag ree t h at “ a s ep arat e co u rt o rd er ex cl u s i v e l y d e v o t ed t o a

p aren t i n g p l an [i s ] n o t

. . . req u i red ,” t h e s t at ut e cl earl y req u i res t h at t h e o rd er i n cl u d e

m o re “ det ai l s bey o n d cu s t o d y an d v i s i t at i o n.” OCGA § 1 9 -9 -1 ( a ), (b ) (1 ) (D). See

Mo o r e

, 3 4 6 G a. A p p. at 5 9 -6 0 (2 ). Th e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er, h ere, m erel y s t at es t h at t h e

m o th er s h al l h av e s o l e l eg al an d p h y s i cal cu s t o d y of t h e ch i l d an d t h at t h e fat h er s h al l

h av e n o v i s i tat io n

. Th e t ri al co u rt ’ s referen ce t o t h e 2 01 3 o rd er d o es no t rem ed y t h e

i s s u e as t h at o rd er al s o fai l ed t o i n cl ud e a p aren t i ng pl an

. See McFa r l a n e v

.

McFa r l a n e

, 29 8 Ga. 3 6 1

, 3 6 2 (2 ) (7 8 2 SE2 d 2 9 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (reject i n g arg u m en t t h at t ri al

co u rt ’ s d en i al of a m o d i fi cat i on req u es t l eft t h e p rev io u s p aren t i n g p l an in p l ace an d

14m ad e new p aren t i n g p lan u n neces s ary w h ere pri o r o rd er al s o fai led t o i n cl u d e

p aren t i n g p l an ). Becau s e t h e t ri al co u rt d i d no t en t er a p aren t i n g p lan wi t h i t s o rd er,

we v acat e t h e ju d g m en t an d rem an d t h is cas e fo r co m p l ian ce w i t h t h e req ui rem en t s

o f OCGA § 1 9-9 -1

. See Mo o r e

, 3 4 6 Ga. Ap p. at 5 9-6 0 (2 ). See al s o W i l l ia ms

, 3 0 1 Ga.

at 2 2 3 -2 2 4 (3 ).

Ju d g men t va ca t e d a n d ca se r ema n ded wi t h d i r ect io n

. Ba rn es

, P. J., a n d

Mer ci er , J., co n cu r

.

15