FI RST DI VI SI ON

DOYLE, C. J.

, PHI PPS, P. J, and BOGGS, J.

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

Nov em ber 17, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A1 20 1 . M E DLEY v

. M O SLEY. DO-0 6 0

D O Y LE , Ch ief J ud g e.

Ven y k e M ed l ey ap peal s fro m th e t r ia l c our t’ s f i na l or d er, wh ich award ed J u s t an

M o s l ey (“ M o s l ey ”), t h e fat h er o f h er s o n

, J u s t an

, Jr. (“ J u st an ”), p ri m ary p h y s i cal

cu s t o d y o f J u s t an

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er o n M o s l ey ’ s p et i t i o n fo r co n t em p t or to

co m p el , wh i ch award ed M o s ley $ 2 ,5 80 i n b ack ch i l d s u p po rt fo r t h e p eri o d o f t i m e

p ri o r t o t h e en t ry o f a s up p o rt o rd er. M ed l ey ap p eal s

, arg u i n g t h at (1 ) Fu l t o n Co u n t y

Su p eri o r Co urt ’ s u s e o f o ffi cers o t h er t h an s u p eri o r co u rt ju dg es i n m ak i n g cu s t o dy

d eci s i o n s i s u n co n s t i t u t i o nal ; (2 ) t h e co urt ’ s d eci s i o n t o g ran t an em erg en cy m o t i o n

t o m o di fy cu s t od y fro m M ed l ey t o M o s l ey was an ab u s e o f d is cret i o n b ecau s e M ed l ey

was n o t p res en t at t h e co n feren ce o n t h e m o t i on ; (3 ) t h e s u p eri o r co u rt ab u s ed i t s

d i s cret i o n b ecau s e (a) t h ere was i n s u ffi ci en t ev i den ce t o s h o w t h at perm an en t l yg i v i n g Mo s l ey pri m ary cu s t o d y w a s i n J u s tan ’ s b es t i n t eres t s

, an d (b ) t h ere was

i n s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t h at M ed ley ’ s fai l u re t o al l o w v i s i t at i o n w i t h M o s l ey m at eri al l y

affect ed J u s t an ’ s wel fare o r was i n h i s b es t i n t eres t s ; an d (4 ) t h e t ri al co u rt erred by

award i n g b ack ch i l d s u p p o rt t o M o s ley b ecau s e (a) i t was erro n e o u s to award t h e

s u p p ort fo r a p eri od o f t im e p ri o r t o en t ry o f a s u p p o rt o rd er, an d (b ) M ed l ey ’ s l ack

o f i n co m e w as n o t tak en i n to acco u n t

. W e affi rm i n part

, vacat e i n part

, an d rem an d

t h e cas e fo r t he reas o n s t h at fo l l o w.

Th e reco rd s ho ws t hat M o s l ey fi l ed a l eg i ti m at i o n act io n i n Cl ay t on Co u n t y

wi t h reg ard t o J u s tan

, wh o was b o rn i n J u l y 2 00 8

, an d an o rd er was en t ered in M arch

2 0 1 2

, wh i ch i n cl u d ed a p ar en t i n g p l an award i n g pri m ary p hy s i cal cu s t o d y an d

s u p p ort t o M ed l ey an d v is i t at io n t o M o s l ey

. T h ereaft er, o n Ju l y 9

, 2 0 1 3

, M o s l ey fi l ed

t h e i n s t an t “ Pet i t i o n fo r M o d i fi cat i o n o f Ch i l d C u s t o d y, Ch i l d Su p p o rt

, an d

Vi s i t at i o n ” (“ t h e Pet i t i on ”), al l eg i n g t h at Med l ey h ad b een d en y i n g h i m v i s i t at i o n an d

i n t erferi ng wi t h h i s p aren t al ri g h t s s i n ce en t ry o f t h e M arch 2 0 12 o rd er.

A 3 0 -d ay st at u s co n feren ce was s ch ed u l ed fo r Au gu s t 1 3

, 20 1 3

, on wh i ch d at e

M o s l ey fi l ed a “ M o t i o n fo r Em erg e n c y T e m p o rary Ch i l d Cu s t o dy Heari n g an d

M o t i on fo r Co nt em

p t ” (“ Em erg en cy Pet it i o n ”). At t h e co n feren ce, d es p i t e M ed l ey ’ s

2ab s en ce, 1 t h e co urt 2 h eard ev i d en ce rel at ed t o M o s l ey ’ s Em erg en cy Pet i t i o n

. Bas ed

o n M o s ley’s e v i d e n ce, t h e co u rt en t ered a Tem po rary Cu s t o d y Ord er, award i n g

M o s l ey s ol e l eg al an d ph y s i cal cu s t o d y

, award i n g M ed ley su p erv is ed v is it at i o n o n l y

i f t h e p art i es co u l d n o t a g r e e o n v is i t at i on

, an d s u s p en d i n g M o s l ey ’ s ch i l d s u p p o rt

req u i rem en t

. 3

In i t s o rd er, th e co u rt fo un d t h at i n J an u ary 2 0 1 3, M o s l e y h a d f i l ed a m o t i o n

fo r co n t em

p t in Cl ay t o n Co u n t y

, al l eg i n g t h at Med ley had wi t h h el d vi s i t at i o n

, an d t h e

p art i es reach ed a m ed i at ed ag reem en t o n Ap ri l 2 3

, 2 0 1 3

. N ev ert h el es s

, o n Ap ri l 2 5,

M ed l ey rep u d i at ed t h e ag reem en t

, an d a h eari n g o n t h e m at t er was s ch ed ul ed fo r J u n e

1 7

, 2 0 1 3

, at wh i ch heari n g M ed l ey ag reed to ad h ere to t h e A pri l 2 3 s et t l e m e n t

ag reem en t

. Im

m ed i at el y t h ereaft er, h o wev er, M ed l ey refu s ed t o a l l o w M o s l ey h i s

v i s i t at i o n u n d er t h e ag reem en t

, an d s he al s o f i l e d a t em

p o rary p ro t ect i v e o rd er

(“ TPO”) ag ai ns t h i m

, wh i ch w as l at er d i s m i s s ed o n A u g u s t 6

, 2 0 1 3

, fo r l ack o f

1 M ed l ey cl ai m ed s h e d i d n o t b el i ev e her at ten d an ce w as n eces s ary b ecau s e s h e

b el i ev ed s erv i ce was i m

p ro p er.

2 M ag i s trat e J ud g e M arg aret Do rs ey was s i t t i ng b y d es i g nat i o n t o h ear t h e

Em erg en cy

Pet i t i o n

.

3 Th e co u rt d i d n o t en t er an o rd er of s u p p o r t r e q ui ri ng M ed l ey t o m ak e

p ay m en t s t o M o s l ey

.

3ev i d en ce. On Au g u s t 9

, 2 01 3

, 4 d es pi t e M o s l ey arri v i n g at a p re-arran g ed l o cat i o n to

ex ch an g e J u st an , M ed l ey fai l ed t o ap p ear, p ro m p t i ng Mo s l ey to fi l e t he Em erg en cy

Pet i t io n

.

On Au g us t 1 9, 2 0 1 3

, Med l ey fi l ed her an s wer to t h e Pet i t i o n

, as ki n g fo r t h e

co u rt t o ret u rn cu s t o d y t o h er, al l eg i n g t h at s h e had p rev en t ed M o s l ey fro m v i s i t i n g

wi t h J u s t an b eca u s e v i s i t s wi t h M o s l ey d is t urb ed h i m

, l ead in g Med l ey t o s eek

p s y ch o lo g i cal care fo r J u s t an fro m p s y ch o l og i s t D av i d Ru s h ; M ed l ey al s o cl ai m ed

t h at Mo s l ey was n o t p ay i n g ch i l d s up p o rt as req u i red

. M ed l ey al s o fi l ed an em erg en cy

m o t i o n f o r a cu s t o d y m od i fi cat i o n

, a Ru l e 1 0 0 0 -4 Req ues t t o hav e al l m at t ers

p res i ded o v er b y a s up eri o r co urt ju d g e, an d a m ot i o n fo r ret u rn o f cu s to d y

, al l eg i n g,

am on g o t h er t h i n gs , t h at i t was i n t h e b es t i n t eres t s o f J u s t an t o b e ret u rn ed t o h er.

On Sep t em

b er 18

, 2 0 1 3, M ed l ey m o v ed fo r ap p o i n t m en t o f a g uard i an ad l i t em

(“ GAL”) o n t h e b as is t hat Dr. Ru s h w as co n cern e d b ecau s e J us t an had d es cri b ed

b e i n g s p an k ed b y M o sl ey an d h ad d rawn wh at Dr. Ru sh d es cri b ed as a “ sm o k i n g

ap p ara t u s b u t n o t a ci g aret t e” aft er J u st an ’ s p ri o r vi s i t s wi t h M o s l ey ; ad d it i o n al l y

,

M ed l ey al l eg ed t h at J us t a

n’ s f or m e r P r e

- K inde r ga

r t e n te ach er rep o rt ed t h at Ju s t an h ad

a d i ffi cu l t ti m e co ncen t rat i ng aft er p rev i o u s l y v i s i t i n g wi t h M o s l ey

. Mo sl ey

, t h o u g h

4 Th i s i n ci d en t o ccu rred aft er t h e i n s t an t Pet i t i o n h ad b een fi l ed

.

4h e di d n o t ag ree t h at h e had h arm ed t h e ch i ld

, co ns en t ed t o ap p o i nt m en t o f a GAL.

On N o v em

b er 1 1

, 20 1 3

, a co n s en t o rd er ap p o i n t in g Jes s i e R. A l t m a n as GAL was

en t ered b y

a s u p eri or co u rt ju d g e.

A s t at us co n feren ce was s ch ed u led fo r Oct o b er 2

, 20 1 3

, b efo re t h e co u rt , b ut

i n s t ead t h e p a r ti es m ed i at ed becau s e M ed l ey ’ s Ru l e 1 0 0 0 -4 Req u es t prev en t ed a

h eari n g b efo re an o ffi ci al o t h er t h an a s u p eri o r co u rt ju d g e. Th e p art i es cam e t o an

ag reem en t

, en t ered as a co n s en t o rd er o n Oct o ber 1 8, w h i ch l eft pri m ary p h y s i cal

cu s t o d y wi t h M o s ley

, g ran t ed M ed l ey jo i n t l eg al cu s t o d y an d v i s i t at i o n ev ery s eco n d,

t h i rd

, an d fo u rt h week en d p er m o n t h

, an d g ran ted h er s p eci fi ed p aren t i n g ti m e o v er

t h e ap pro ach i n g wi n t er h o l i d ay s

. An am en d ed o rd e r was en t ered o n Oct o b er 2 5,

ad d in g t h at cu s t od y

ex ch an ges wo u l d o ccu r at a s p eci fi ed l o cat i o n

.

On Feb ru ary 1 0, 2 0 1 4

, Mo s l e y f i l ed a m o t i o n t o co m

p el di s co v ery

, al l eg i n g

t h at M ed l ey h ad fa i l e d to res p o n d t o d i sco v ery he h ad fi l ed i n Oct ob er 2 3

, 2 0 1 3.

M ed l ey res p on d ed

, co n ten d i n g t h at s h e h ad p ro vi d ed res p o n s es an d t h e m ot i o n fo r

c o nt em p t s h o u l d b e d en i ed

. A co n s en t ag reem en t fo r ch i l d s u p p o rt was en t er e d o n

M ay 1 3

, 2 0 1 4

, s t at i n g t h at M ed l ey w o u l d p ay $ 2 5 0 p er m o nt h to M o s l ey

. Th ereaft er,

M ed l ey fi l ed a d o m es t i c rel at i on s fi n an ci al affi d av i t

, an d th e p art ies were o rd ered to

m ed i at i o n b efo re J u n e 3 0 , 2 0 1 4

.

5On O c t o b er 3 1, 20 1 4

, t h e s up eri o r co u rt h el d a h eari n g an d as a res u l t o f

p rev i o u s m ed i at i o n s

, t h e p art i es h ad ag reed o n cert ai n p ro v i s i o n s

, b u t t h ey need ed t h e

co u rt t o d eci de (1 ) wh i ch p aren t wo u l d h av e s ch o o l -y ear p ri m ary cu s t o d y ; (2 ) wh i ch

p aren t wo u l d h av e su m

m er s es s i o n p ri m ary cu s t o d y ; an d (3 ) v ari o u s o th er i s s u es

. At

t h e h eari n g

, M ed l ey tes t ifi ed t h at p ri o r t o t h e Cl ay t o n Co u nt y co n t em p t m o t i o n

, s h e

h ad b eg u n l im i t i n g J us t an ’ s v i s i t s wi t h M o s l ey b ecau s e J u s tan w a s n o t a ct i n g l i k e

h i m s el f aft erward an d i ns t ead w as cry i n g an d u p set . M ed l ey d id n o t fo rce J u s t an t o

g o wi t h Mo s l ey wh en Ju s t an s t art ed pro t es t i n g t o h er t h at h e wan t ed t o s t ay wi t h h er

i n s t ead ; s h e a d m i t ted th at t h is “ was wro n g ,” b u t at t h e ti m e, sh e b el iev ed t h at

s o m et h in g d u ri n g t h e v i s i t s m us t h av e cau s ed J us t an t o b eh av e t h at way

. M ed l ey

ad m i t t ed t h at s h e reg i s t ered J us t an fo r b as k et b al l, an d i t was in co n v en i en t fo r M o s l ey

t o at t en d g am es an d p ract i ces b ecau s e he wo ul d h av e t o d ri v e ab o ut 2 5 -3 0 m i n u t es

.

M ed l ey al s o ad m i t t ed t h at s h e h ad b een ch arg ed w i t h s i m p l e b at t ery fo r b eh av i o r at

a cu s t o d y ex ch an g e wi th M os l ey , an d s h e was awai t i n g a h eari ng o n t he ch arg e.

Th e GAL t es t i fi ed t h at h er reco m m en d at i o n was f

o r Mo s l ey

t o h av e p ri m ary

cu s t o d y b ecau s e M ed l ey wo rk ed n i g h t s an d M ed l ey ’ s m o t h er was p ro v i d in g m o s t o f

t h e care fo r J u s tan wh en M ed l ey h ad cu s to d y

. Al t m an s t at ed t h at M ed ley ad m i t t ed s h e

d en ied v i s i t at i o n wh en J u s t an refu s ed t o g o w i t h M o s ley

, b u t M ed ley h ad l earn ed t h at

6i s no t accep t ab l e. Fi n al l y

, al l M ed l ey ’ s n eg at i v e al l eg at i on s ab o u t M os l ey

, i n cl u d i n g

al l eg at i o n s o f d ru g u s e i n fro n t o f J u s t an

, were n o t s up p o rt ed b y t h e GAL’ s v i s i t s an d

i n t eract i o n s wi t h h i m

an d J u s t an

.

Aft er th e heari n g

, o n No v em b er 4

, 2 0 1 3

, th e t ri al co u rt o rd ered jo i n t l eg al an d

p h y s i cal cu s t o d y

, bu t w i th M o s ley h av in g p ri m ary p h y s i cal cu s t o d y d u ri n g t h e s ch o ol

y ear an d M ed l ey h av i n g th e m ajo ri t y o f t h e s u m m er. Th e t ri al co u rt s p eci fi ed p aren t al

d eci s i o n m ak i n g au t h ori ty

, o ff-cu st o d y v i s it at i o n fo r e a c h p aren t

, l o cat i o n s fo r

cu s t o d y ex ch an g es

, d i rect io ns fo r ex t racu rri cu l ar ac t i v i ti es an d co m m u n i cat i on s

b et ween t h e p aren t s

. Th e t ri al co u rt award ed no ch i ld s u pp o r t p e r t h e p art i es ’

ag reem en t

, b u t o rd ered th em t o s p l i t t h e co s t s o f u n co v ered m ed ical ex p en s es a n d

ex t r a c u r r i c u lar act i v i t i es

, an d i t o rd ered M o s l ey to m ai n t ai n h eal t h i n s u ran ce fo r

J u s t an

. On No v em

b er 1 0

, 2 0 14

, t h e t ri al co u rt en t ered an o rd er i n res p o n s e to

M o s l ey ’ s Co n t em

p t m o t i o n, o rd eri n g at t o rn ey fees an d b ack ch i l d s u p p o rt i n t h e

am ou n t o f $ 2

, 5 8 0

, wh i ch was h al f o f M o sl ey ’ s pro v en ch i l d -rel at ed ex p en s es o v er t h e

ap p li cab l e t i m e fram e. Th is ap p eal fo l l owed

.

1

. A s an i n i t ial m at t er, we n o t e t h at al th o u g h M ed l ey en um erat es s i x erro rs as

s t at ed ab o v e, h er bri ef pro vi d es arg u m en t an d ci t at i o n s of au t h o ri ty on l y as t o fo u r o f

t h o s e erro rs

, wh i ch we ad d res s bel o w, des p i te t h e fact t h at t h e arg u m en t s ect i o n o f h er

7b ri ef i s d iv i d ed i n to o n l y t wo s ect i o n s

. Pu rs uan t t o Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 2 5 (c) (2 )

an y u n s u pp o rt ed en u m erat i o n o f erro r i s d eem ed ab an d on ed

. 5

2

. M ed l ey arg u es t h at t he t ri al co u rt ab u s ed it s d i s cret i o n b y award i n g p ri m ary

p h y s i cal cu s t o d y t o M o s l ey wi t h o u t a s h o wi n g o f h o w h er fai l u re to al l o w v i s i t at i o n

wi t h M o sl ey

m at eri al l y

affect ed J u s t an ’ s wel fare o r t hat t h e ch an g e was i n J u s t an ’ s

b es t i n t eres t s

. 6

[A] t ri al co u rt ’ s deci s i o n reg ard i n g a ch an g e i n cu s t o d y / v i s i t at i o n

wi l l b e up hel d o n ap p eal u n l es s i t i s s h o w n t h at t h e co u rt cl earl y ab u s ed

i t s d i s cret i o n

. Fu rt h erm o re, a t ri a l co u rt faced wi t h a p et i t io n fo r

m o d i fi cat i o n o f ch i l d cu s t o d y i s ch arg ed wi th ex erci s i n g it s d i scret i o n

t o d et erm i n e wh at i s i n th e ch i l d ’ s b es t i n teres t

. An d wh ere t h ere i s an y

5 See Mu rp h

y v. Mu r ph y

, 33 0 Ga. Ap p

. 1 69

, 1 7 2 -1 73 (4 ) (7 6 7 SE2 d 7 8 9 )

(2 0 1 4). M ed ley ’ s fi rs t en u m erat i o n t h at th e u s e o f ju d i ci al o ffi cers i n m ak i n g cu s t o dy

d eci s i o n s i s u n co ns t it u t i o n al p res en t s n o t h i n g fo r rev i e w b e c a u s e i t was n o t ru l ed

u p o n by t h e t ri al co u rt

. See G a

. Bo a r d of Den ti s tr y v. Pen ce

, 2 2 3 Ga. Ap p

. 6 0 3

, 6 0 4

( 1 ) ( 4 78 SE2 d 43 7 ) (1 9 96 ) (h o l d i ng t hat an ap p el l at e co u rt wi l l no t ru l e o n a

co n st i t u t io n al qu es t i o n “ u n l es s i t cl earl y ap p ears i n t h e reco rd t h at t h e tri al co u rt

d i s t i n ct l y p as s ed o n t h e p o i n t ”) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct uat i o n o m it t ed ); Ra s ki n v. W a l l a ce

, 2 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. 6 0 3

, 6 0 4 (1 ) (4 5 1 SE2 d 4 8 5 ) (1 9 9 4) (h o l d i ng t h at i f a t ri al co u rt d i d n ot

“ d i st i n c t l y p a s s o r ru l e o n” a co n s t i t ut i o nal i s s u e, an as s ert i o n as t o i t o n ap p eal

“ p res en t s n o t h i n g fo r rev i ew”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

6 To t h e ex t en t t hat M ed l ey co n t en ds t h at t he t em p o rary o rd er en t ered b y t h e

m ag i s t rat e ju d ge i n A u gu s t 2 0 1 3 was erro n eo us becau s e M ed l ey w a s n o t at t h e

h eari n g

, s h e h as n o t ci t ed an y au t ho ri t y t o s up p ort t hi s co n t en t i on an d is t h erefo re

ab an do n ed . See Di v i s i o n 1

, s u p r a ; Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 2 5 (c) (2 ).

8ev i d en ce to s u pp o rt t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g

, a rev i ewi n g co u rt can n o t s ay

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

. 7

In t h i s cas e, we fi n d n o erro r i n t h e t em p o rary ord er m od i fy i n g cu s t od y

, o r t h e

en s u in g o rd ers res u l t i n g i n M o s l ey h av i n g pri m ary p h y s i cal cu s t o d y

. Th e ev i d en ce

b efo re t h e ju d i ci al o ffi cer s h o wed t h at M ed l ey

, i n v io l at i o n o f n um ero u s co u rt o rd ers

an d co n s en t ag reem en ts

, prev en t ed M o sl ey fr o m e x erci s i n g v is i tat i o n wi t h J u s t an

b et ween Decem

b er 2 0 1 1 an d Au g u s t 2 0 1 3

. “ As recen t l y n ot ed b y o u r Su p rem e Co u rt

,

t h e fact t h at a p aren t h as i n t erfered w i t h t he o t h er p aren t ’ s v i s i t at i on s u p p o rt ed t h e

t ri al co urt ’ s fi n d i n g t h at i t was m o re l ik el y t hat t h e o th er paren t w i l l pro v i de v i s i t at i o n

an d ab i d e b y t he Co u rt ’ s Ord ers

, an d i t s co n cl u s i o n t h at i t was i n th e bes t i n t eres t o f

t h e ch i ld t o m o di fy cu s t o d y .” 8 M ed l ey al s o o ft en l eft J u s tan i n h i s gran d m o t h er’ s

cu s t o d y rat h er t h an al l o wi n g h i m t o v i si t wi t h h i s fat her wh i le s he wo rk ed n i g h ts

. 9

7 (Fo o t n o tes an d p un ct u at i o n o m i tt ed .) Ja cks o n v. S an d er s

, 3 3 3 Ga. Ap p

. 5 5 4,

5 5 8 -5 5 9 (5 ) (7 7 3 SE2 d 8 3 5 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

8 ( P u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Fi f ad a r a v. Go ya l

, 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 1 9 6, 20 1 (3 ) (7 3 3

S E2 d 4 7 8 ) (2 0 1 2 ), q u o t i n g V i sku p v. Vi s ku

p

, 29 1 G a. 1 0 3

, 1 0 5 (2 ) (7 2 7 SE 2 d 9 7 )

(2 0 1 2).

9 S ee S h o t wel l v. F

i l i p

, 3 1 4 Ga. Ap p

. 9 3

, 96 -9 7 (1 ) (7 2 2 SE2 d 9 0 6 ) (2 0 1 2 )

(h o l d i n g t h at m o t h er’ s act i on s o f al l o wi n g m at ern a l g ran d m o t h er rat her t h an fat h er

t o k eep t h e ch i l d co n s t i t u ted m at eri al ch an g e i n ci rcu m s t an ces ).

9An d d u ri n g t h e t i m e p eri o d b et ween t h e t em p o rary award o f p ri m ary cu s t o dy

t o Mo s l ey an d t h e h eari n g b efo re t he t ri al co u rt

, J us t an was d o i n g v ery wel l at s ch o ol

an d was em o ti on al l y ad ju s t ed

, w h i ch fi n d i n gs s u pp o rt t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er

co n ti n u i n g p ri m ary cu s t od y wi t h M o s l ey

. 1 0 M ed ley ’ s b eh av i o r, i n cl u d i n g tak i n g o ut

an u n s up p o rt ed T PO ag ai n s t M o s l ey b u t t h en i n vi t i n g h i m

t o h er h o m e fo r J u s t an ’ s

b i rt h day p art y an d co m

m i t t i n g an act to warran t a ch arg e fo r s i m p l e b a t t e ry

, al s o

s u p p ort ed th e tri al co u rt ’ s d et erm i n at i o n t h at J u s tan s h o u l d rem ai n i n t h e p ri m ary

p h y s i cal cu s t o d y o f M os l ey d u ri n g t h e s ch o ol y ear. Acco rd i n g l y

, we can n o t s ay t h at

t h e s u p eri o r co u rt erred by gran ti n g Mo s l ey p ri m ary p h y s i cal cu s t o d y d uri n g t h e

s ch o ol y ear.

3

. M ed l ey

al so arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred b y award i n g ch i l d s u p p o rt fo r

t h e p eri o d o f t i m e p ri o r t o en t ry o f an o rd er becau s e t h e t ri al co u rt i n co rrect l y b as ed

i t s ru l i n g o n W

ea ver v. Ch es t er

, 1 1 wh i ch M ed l ey co n t en d s ap p li es on l y t o p u t at i v e

fat h ers wh o fai l t o s u pp o rt t h ei r ch i l dren

. As ex p l ai ned i n S mi t h v. Ca r ter

, 1 2 h o wev er,

t h e req u i rem en t t o pro v i de ch i ld s u p po rt ex ten d s t o b o t h m o t h ers an d fat h ers

, an d t h e

1 0 See Vi s ku

p , 2 91 Ga. at 1 0 5

.

1 1 1 9 5 Ga. Ap p . 4 7 1 (3 9 3 SE2 d 7 1 5 ) (1 9 9 0 ).

1 2 3 0 5 Ga. Ap p . 4 7 9 (6 9 9 SE2 d 7 9 6 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

10cu s t o d i al p aren t m ay s eek b ack s u p p o rt fo r at m o s t th e act u al ex p en s es t h e p aren t

p ro v id ed d u ri n g t h e t i m e t h e n on cu st o di al p aren t fai l ed t o p ay

. 1 3

Des p i t e M o sl ey ’ s ar g u m e n t t hat t h e award is s u p p ort ed b y th e l aw, “ in

d e t e r m i n i n g wh at po rt i o n o f t h e am o u nt act u al ly ex p en d ed m u s t be b o rn b y t h e

n o n cu s t od i al p aren t, a tri al co u rt i s req u i red t o fo l l o w t h e Ch i l d Su p p o rt Gu i d el i n es

,

wh i ch wo u l d i n cl ud e at l eas t a co n s i d erat i o n o f t h e cu s to d i al p aren t ’ s i nco m e, t h e

n o n cu s t od i al p aren t ’ s i n co m e, an d o t h er ch i l d s u p p o rt ob l ig at i o n s o f t h e p aren t s .” 1 4

Becau s e t h e reco rd d o es n o t refl ect t h at t h e s u p eri o r co u rt ap p l i ed t h e ch i l d s u p p o rt

g u i d el i n es t o t h e p art i e s ’ i n co m es du ri n g th e ti m e p eri o d i n q ues t i o n t o s up p o rt t h e

Co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n t o award M o s l ey h al f hi s p ro v en ex p en d i t u res

, we v acat e t h e Ord er

o n Pet it i o n fo r Co n t em

p t an d t o Co m

p el an d rem an d fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i ng s

co n si s t en t wi t h t h i s o p i ni on

.

Ju d g men t a f f ir med i n p a rt

, va ca t ed in pa r t

, a n d ca s e rema n ded wi t h d i r ect i o n.

Ph i p ps , P. J., a n d

Bo g g s, J., co n cu r

.

1 3 See i d . at 4 8 1 -4 8 2 (2 ).

1 4 Id . at 48 2 (2 ).

11