FI FTH DI VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, REESE and BETHEL, 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

Febr uar y 23, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A2 13 3 . LOW RY v . W INENGER.

B E T H E L , J u d g e.

Ap ri l Lo wry (t h e “ m o t h er”) ap p eal s fro m a fi n al ord er m od i fy i n g cu s t o d y

,

v i s i t at i o n

, an d ch i l d s u p p o rt wi t h r e g a r d to h er s ev en y ear-o l d ch i ld (t h e “ ch i l d”). 1

Th e m ot h er co nt en d s t h at th e tri al co u rt erred i n award i n g m o d i fi cat io n b ecau s e t h ere

was n o t s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce p res en ted b y h er fo rm er h u s b an d

, Ro b ert W i n en g er (t h e

“ fat h er”), t o d em o n s t rat e t hat a m at eri al ch an ge i n ci rcu m s t an ces ad v ers el y affect i n g

t h e c h i l d h ad o ccu rred

. Sh e al s o co n t en ds t h at t h e t ri al co u rt s h o u ld n o t h av e

co n si d ered p o t en t i al fu t u re n eg at i v e i m p act s t o t he ch i l d in d et erm i n i n g t h at a

1 Th e m o t h er fi l ed an ap p l i cat i o n wi t h t h is co urt fo r d i s cret io nary ap p eal o f t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er. Th i s Co u rt ru l ed t h at t h e o rd er i s d i rect l y ap peal ab l e u nd er OCGA

§ 5 -6 -3 4 (a)(1 1 ) an d g ran ted h er ap p l i cat i o n

.m a te r ia l c ha

nge in c i r c u m sta

nc e s ha d oc c ur

r e d

. F o r t h e r e a s o n s s t a

te d be l ow

, w e a f

f ir m

.

W h en co n s i d eri n g a ru l i ng o n a m at eri al ch an g e i n ci rcu m s t an ces

, t h i s Co u rt

v i ews t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e reco rd 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 o rd er

an d wi l l affi rm t he tri al co u rt ’ s d eci s io n “ i f t here is an y ev i d en ce t o su p p o rt i t .” Ho r n

v. S h ep h er d

, 2 9 2 Ga. 1 4, 1 8 (7 3 2 SE2 d 4 2 7 ) (2 01 2 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t ted ). So v i ewed

, t h e

m o th er an d t h e fat h er were d i v o rced i n 2 0 1 3

. Si n ce t h at t i m e

, p u r s u a n t t o t h ei r

d i v o rce d ecree

, t h ey h av e s h ared cu s to d y o f th e ch i ld w it h p aren t in g t i m e d i v i d ed

ro u g hl y eq u al l y b e t w e en t hem

. Th e m o t h er h as been t h e ch il d ’ s p ri m ary p h y s i cal

cu s t o d i an

, an d n ei t h er p aren t w a s o r d ered t o p ay ch i l d s u p p o rt

. Th e d i v o rce d ecree

al s o p ro v i d ed

, i nt er al i a, t h at t h e fat h er ret ai n ed fi n al d eci s i o n -m ak i ng au t h o ri t y wi th

reg ard t o t h e ch il d ’ s rel i g i o u s u p b ri n g i n g an d i n st ru ct io n

.

In t h e p ro ceed i n gs bel o w, t h e fat h er p et it i on ed t h e co u rt fo r a m o d i fi cat i o n o f

t h e d ecree, s eek i n g jo i n t l eg al an d p ri m ary p hy s i cal cu s t o d y o f t h e ch i l d. A g u ard i an

ad l i t em (t h e “ gu ard i an ”) was ap p o in t ed

.

Th e ev i d en ce sh o wed t hat s ev eral ch an g es h ad tak en pl ace i n t h e ch i ld ’ s l i v i n g

an d s o ci al arran g em en ts i n th e t i m e fo l l o wi n g t h e d i v orce. Th e m o t h er was rem arri ed

t wo m o n t h s aft er h er d i v o rce fro m t h e fat h er was fi n al ized

. So o n aft er h er rem arri ag e,

t h e m ot h er co n v ert ed t o t h e M o rm o n fai t h

, an d at t i m es wh en th e ch i l d was wi t h h er,

2t h e m o t her t o o k t h e ch i ld to a M o rm o n ch u rch an d en co u rag ed t he ch i l d t o p art i ci p at e

i n o th er act i v i t i es as s o ci at ed wi t h t h e M o rm o n ch u rch

. Th e fat h er d i d n ot co n s en t to

t h e ch il d ’ s at t en d an ce at t he m o t her’ s n ew ch urch

, a n d t h e fat h er s tat ed t h at t h e

ch i l d ’ s at t en d an ce at t h e ch urch h ad co n fu sed t h e ch i ld an d i n t e r f e r e d wi t h t h e

fat h er’ s au t h o ri t y o v er t h e ch i ld ’ s rel i g i o u s u p b ri n gi n g an d t h e fat h er ’s d eci s i o n to

rai s e t h e ch i l d i n a n o n -d en o m i n at i o n al Ch ri s t i an ch urch

.

Th e m o th er al s o m o v ed fro m t h e fo rm er m ari t al res i d en ce i n Fo rs y t h Co u n t y

t h at s h e l i v ed i n wi th t h e ch i l d fo l l o wi n g t h e d iv o rce t o a n u m b er o f o t h er res i d en ces

b efo re s et t l i n g i n t h ei r cu rren t h o m e i n Hal l Co u n t y

. Bo t h th e fat h er an d t h e g u ard i an

t es t i fi ed t h a t t h e m o t her m i s l ead t h em as t o wh ere t h e ch i l d wo ul d b e l i v i n g d u ri n g

t h i s p eri o d o f t ran si t io n.

Th e fat h er an d t he g u ard i an al s o tes t i fi ed t h at t h e m o v e ex t en d ed t h e fat h er’ s

d ri v e t o t he m o t her’ s res id en ce b y ap p ro x i m at el y 50 m i nu t es

. Th e fat h er’ s t es t i m o ny

an d t h at of t h e g uard i an in d i cat ed t h at t h i s m o v e h ad m ad e t h e ag reed p aren ti n g p l an

m o re c h al l en g i n g an d al s o m ad e i t m o re d i ffi cu l t fo r t h e ch i l d t o b e in v o l v ed in

rel i g io u s, ex t racu rri cu l ar, an d ed u cat i o n al act i vi t i es in Fo rs y t h Co u n t y th at t h e fat h er

3h ad s el ect ed fo r hi m

. 2 T h e fat h er’ s t es t i m o n y in d i cat ed t h at t h e m o v e to H al l Co u n t y

h ad faci l i t at ed t he m o t h er’ s i nt erferen ce wi t h t hat au t h o ri t y an d t h at , s in ce m o v i n g,

t h e m o t h er h ad s i g n ed t h e ch i l d u p fo r act iv i t i es t h at co n fl i ct ed w i t h t ho s e ch o s en by

t h e fat h er an d fai l ed to tak e t h e ch i l d t o act iv i t i es th at t h e fat h er had sch ed u l ed fo r t h e

ch i l d

.

Th e fat h er al so pres en ted ev i d en ce t hat t h e s ch o o l th e c h i l d a t t en d ed i n Hal l

Co u n t y was n o t as h i gh l y rat ed as t h e s ch oo l s h e co u l d at t en d i n Fo rs y t h Co u n t y an d

t h at h is i n t eres ts wo u l d b e b et t er s erv ed b y at t en d i n g sch o o l i n Fo rs y t h Co u n t y

. Th e

fat h er tes t i fi ed t h at t h e ch i l d b eg an t o ex h i b i t ap at h y t o ward h i s n ew s ch o o l i n Hal l

Co u n t y

, wh i ch h e h ad n o t s h o w n wi t h reg ard t o h i s s ch o o l i n Fo rs y t h Co u n t y

.

In h er rep o rt , t he g uard i an s u g g es ted t h at a m o d i fi cat i o n t o t he cu s t o d y o rd er

s h o u ld b e m ad e. Sh e i n d i cat ed t h at b ecau s e o f h er u n d ers t an d i n g of t h e d i fferen ces

b et ween t h e m ot h er’ s ch urch an d t h e fat her’ s ch u rch

, i t was im p o rt an t t h at o n e p aren t

b e i n ch arg e o f rel ig i o u s u pb ri n g i n g an d th at t h e o th er p aren t res p ect t h at ch o i ce. Th e

g u ard i an s u g g es t ed t h at award i n g p ri m ary cu s t o dy to t h e fat her wo u l d b es t s erv e t h e

ch i l d ’ s i n t eres t s

.

2 U n d er t h e d i vo rce d ecree, t h e fat her a l s o ret ai n ed fi n al au t h o ri ty o v er t h e

ch i l d ’ s ex t racu rri cu l ar act i vi ti es

.

4In i t s ru l in g, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d th at t h e ch i l d h ad su ffered a n u m b er o f

n eg at i v e i m

p act s fro m t h es e ch an g es

. Fi rs t

, t h e t ri al co u r t f o u n d t h at th e m o t h er’ s

act i on s t o co n ceal t h e l o cat i o n o f h er res i d en ce fro m t h e fat h er v i o l at ed t h e d i v o rce

d ecree, sh o wed po o r ju d g m en t o n h e r p art

, an d n eg at i v el y i m p act ed t h e s afet y an d

wel fare o f t h e ch i ld

. Seco nd

, th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e m o t h er’ s d eci s i o n t o m o v e

t o H al l Co u n t y ad ded t o t he ch i l d ’ s co m m ut e t i m e an d d em o n st rat ed an i n ten t i o n to

i n t erfere wi t h t h e fat h er’ s rel at io n s h i p wi t h t h e ch i l d

, wh i ch n eg at i v el y i m p act ed t h e

ch i l d

. Th i rd

, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t hat t h e ch i l d b eg an t o ex h i b i t ap at h y fo r s ch o ol

aft er h i s m o v e to Hal l Co u n t y

. Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at

, al t h o u gh t h e ch i l d co n t i n u ed

t o recei v e g o o d grad es an d had d em o n s t rat ed o t her si g n s o f acad em i c pro g res s at h i s

s ch o ol i n Hal l Co un t y

, h i s ap at h y reg ard i n g s ch o o l was a n eg at i v e i m p act res u l t i n g

fro m t h e ch an g es

. Fi n al ly

, t h e tri al co u rt fo u n d t h at

, b y t ak in g t h e ch i l d t o act i v i ti es

at h er ch u rch

, t h e m o t h er h ad n o t res pect ed t h e fat h er’ s fi n al d eci s i o n -m ak i n g

au t h o r i t y w i t h reg ard t o t h e ch i l d ’ s rel i gi o u s u p b ri n g i ng

, i n co n t rav en t i on o f t h e

d i v o rce d ecree, an d t hat t hi s d eci s i o n creat ed co nfu s i o n fo r t h e ch i ld

.

Fi n d i n g t h at a m at eri al ch an g e i n ci rcu m s t an ces ad vers el y affect i n g t h e ch i ld

h ad o ccu rred an d t h at t h e ch an g e i n cu s t o d y s o u g h t b y t he fat h er was i n t h e ch i l d ’ s

b es t i nt eres t s, b as ed o n t h e t o t al i t y o f t h e ch i l d ’ s ch an g ed ci rcu m s t an ces an d t h e

5res u l ti n g h arm s n o t e d ab o v e, t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t he fat h er’ s p et i ti o n

, award i n g

h i m p ri m ary p h y s i cal cu s t o d y of t h e ch il d

. Th e tri al co u rt g ran t ed v i s it at i o n ri g h t s to

t h e m o t h er an d o rd ered h er to p ay m o n t h ly ch i l d s u p p o rt

. Th e t ri al co u rt al s o h el d t h e

m o th er in co n t em

p t fo r v i o lat i o n s o f t h e d iv o rce d ecree rel at i n g t o t h e fat h er’ s

au t h o ri t y o v er t h e c h i ld ’ s ex t racu rri cu l ar act i vi t i es an d rel i g i o u s u p b ri n gi n g

. Th i s

ap p eal fo l l o w ed

.

1

. Th e m o t h er fi rs t co n t en d s t h at t he ev id en ce p res en t ed t o t h e t ri al co u rt was

n o t s u ffi ci en t t o d em o n s t rat e a m at eri al ch an g e i n c i r c u m st an ce t h at n eg at i v el y

i m p act ed t h e c h i l d

. On ce an award of ch i ld cu s t o d y h as b een m ad e, wh en t h e n o n

cu s t o d i al p aren t s eek s t o c h a n g e t h at arran g em en t

, t h e t ri al co u rt m us t d et erm i n e

wh et her t h ere has b een a m at eri al ch an g e i n ci rcu m s t an ces affect in g t he wel fare o f

t h e ch i l d

. Vi s k

u p v. Vi s ku

p

, 29 1 Ga. 1 0 3

, 1 0 5 (2 ) (7 27 SE2 d 9 7 ) (2 01 2 ). T h e t ri al

co u rt can t h en det erm i n e wh et h er t he ch i l d ’ s b es t i n teres t s wi l l b e serv ed b y a ch an g e

i n cu s t o d y

. To d

d v. Ca s ci a no , 2 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. 6 3 1 , 6 3 2 (1 ) (5 6 9 SE2 d 5 6 6 ) (2 0 0 2 ). 3

“ W h et her p art i cu l ar ci rcu m s t an ces warran t a ch an g e i n cu s t o d y is a fact

q u es ti o n d et erm i n ed u n d er th e u n i q u e s i t u at io n i n e a c h i n d iv i d u al cas e.” S co t t v.

3 Cf

. Ter r y v. Ga r i b a l d i

, 2 7 4 Ga. Ap p. 4 05

, 4 0 8 (6 1 8 SE2 d 6 ) ( 2 0 0 5 ) ( c i t i n g

Bi s n o v. Bi s n o

, 23 8 Ga. 3 2 8 (2 3 2 SE2 d 9 2 1 ) ( 19 7 7) an d Da n i el v. Da n i el

, 2 5 0 Ga.

Ap p . 4 8 2 (5 5 2 SE2 d 4 79 ) (2 0 0 1 )).

6S

co tt

, 2 7 6 Ga. 3 7 2, 3 7 3 (5 7 8 SE2 d 8 7 6 ) (2 0 0 3 ). T h i s Co u rt wi l l n o t i n t erfere wi t h a

t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n “ u n l es s th e ev i den ce s ho 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 an y ev id en ce t o s u p po rt th e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g, we 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 .” Au t r ey v. Au t rey

, 2 8 8 Ga. 2 83

, 2 8 5 (4 ) (7 0 2 SE2 d 8 7 8 )

(2 0 1 0).

In t h i s cas e, t h e t ri al co u rt co n s i d ered t h e t o t al i t y o f t h e c i r cu m s t an ces in

d et erm i n i n g wh et h er a m at eri al ch an g e i n ci rcu m s t an ces h ad o ccu rred warran t i n g a

ch an ge i n t h e p art i es ’ cu st o dy a r ran g em en t. No t i n g t hat n o s i n g l e fact o r was

s u ffi ci en t t o warran t t h e ch an g e s o u g h t b y t h e fat h er, t h e t ri al co u rt d et erm i n ed t h at

,

i n l i g h t o f al l of t he ev i d en ce o f ch an g es i n t h e ch i ld ’ s ci rcu m s t an ces an d t h e ev i d en ce

s h o w i n g t h ei r n eg at i v e i m p act o n t h e ch i l d

, “ t o g et her th ey co n s t it u t e t h e req u i red

ch an ge i n co n d i t i o n .” 4

Bas ed o n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ex am i n at io n of t h e tes t im o n y p res en ted

, we fi n d t h at

t h e reco rd refl ect s s u ffi ci en t ev i d en c e o f bo t h m at eri al ch an g es i n th e ch i l d ’ s

ci rcu m s t an ces an d ad vers e affect s d ue t o s u ch ch an g es

. Th e reco rd refl ect s nu m ero u s

4 It was p ro p er fo r t he t ri al co u rt t o co n si d er a vari et y of fact ors i m p act i n g t h e

ch i l d ’ s wel l -b ei n g

.. As t he Geo rg i a Su p rem e Co u rt d i s cu s s ed i n Bo dn e v. Bo d n e

, 2 7 7

Ga. 4 4 5

, 4 4 7 (5 8 8 SE2 d 7 2 8 ) (2 0 03 ), i t i s ap p ro p ri at e fo r t h e t ri al co u rt t o co n s i d er

“ t h e m y ri ad fact o rs t h at h ad [an ] i m p act o n th e [ch i ld ] as es t ab l i s h ed b y t h e ev i d en ce

ad d uced b efo re i t .”

7ch an ges i n th e ch i l d ’ s l i vi ng

, ex t racu rri cu l ar, an d sch o ol arran g em en ts s i n ce t h e

p art i es ’ di v o r c e

. A s t o t h e i m p act o f t h o se ch an ges o n t h e ch i l d

, th e fat h er’ s

s t at em en t s reg ard i n g t h e ch il d ’ s ap at h y t o ward s ch o o l wo rk a r e e vide nc e of an ad v ers e

affect on t h e ch il d

. See Fo x v. Ko r u cu

, 31 5 Ga. Ap p

. 8 5 1

, 8 5 5 (7 2 9 SE2 d 16 ) (2 0 1 2 )

(h o l d i n g t h at an affi dav i t s ub m i t t ed by a p aren t s tat i n g t h at th e ch i l d was u n h ap p y an d

s t res sed ab o u t at t en d i n g h er cu rren t s ch o ol w as ev i d en c e o f an ad v ers e ch an g e

m at eri al l y aff

e c t i n g t he ch i ld s u ffi ci en t t o creat e a m at eri al q u es t i o n o f fact ).

Li k ewi se, t h e fat h er pres en t ed ev i d en ce as t o d i fferen ces b et ween t h e fat h er’ s ch u rch

an d t h e M o rm o n ch u rch at t en d e d b y t h e m o t h er an d t h e co n fu s i on t h at th e ch i ld

s u ffered as a res u l t o f h i s ex p o s u re t o b o t h s y s t em s o f b el i ef. 5

Th e ro le o f t he t ri al co u rt i s t o wei g h t h e ev id en ce b efo re i t

, a n d t h i s Co u rt

“ wi l l n o t i nt erfere wi t h [t h e t r i a l j u d g e’ s] fi n d i n g w h en t h ere i s an y ev i d en ce to

s u p p ort i t .” Ho r n

, 2 9 2 Ga. at 18 (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ). Fi n d i n g s u c h ev i d en ce i n t h e

reco rd

, we h o l d t h at it was s uffi ci en t f o r t h e t ri al co u rt t o d et erm i n e t h at a m at eri al

ch an ge i n ci rcu m st an ce ad v ers el y affect i n g t he ch i l d h ad o ccu rred

.

5 Im p o rt an t l y

, fo r t he p u rp o s es o f o u r a n a l ys is

, th i s co nfu s i o n was th e d i rect

res u l t o f t h e m o th er act i ng i n d i rect co n t rav en t i o n o f t h e d i v orce d ecree.

82

. Th e m o t h er al s o co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt e r r e d b y l o o k i n g t o p o t en t i al

fu t u re n eg at i v e i m

p act s o n t h e ch i l d i n d et erm i n in g t hat a c u r r en t ch an g e in

ci rcu m s t an ces h ad o ccu rred

. In s u p p o rt o f h er arg u m en t

, th e m o t h er q u o tes a p o rt i o n

o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er s t at i ng t h at t h e m o t h er wo u ld n o t m ak e fu t u re deci s i o n s in

t h e ch i l d ’ s i n t eres t . Th i s i s a s el ect i ve read i ng o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s s t at em en t

.

Su m m ari zi n g i t s rat io n al e fo r award in g t h e cu s t o d y m o d i fi cat io n so u gh t b y t h e

fat h er, t h e rel ev an t p as s ag e o f t h e t ri al co urt ’ s o rd er s tat es

,

Th e Co u rt al s o co n cl u des t h at t h e M o t her h as d em o n s t rat ed t h at i f s he

m ai n t ai n s cu s t od y

, s h e wi l l co n t i n u e t o m ak e d eci si o n s wh ich are i n h er

b es t i n teres t

, n o t t he b es t i n t eres t o f t h e [] Ch il d

. Th e Mo t h er s t at ed h er

i n t en t i o n t o i g n o re th e Fat h er’ s d eci s i o n m ak in g au t h o ri t y

. Su ch

d eci si o n s wi l l n eg at i v el y

i m p act [t h e Ch i l d ] i n t h e fu t u re.

By d i rect in g th i s Co u rt t o o n l y t h e fi nal s en t en ce o f t h e ab o v e t ex t

, t h e m o t h er

m i s ch aract eri zes t h e p urp os e o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s s t at em en t an d i t s b as i s i n t h e reco rd

.

R at h er th an a fu rt h er ex p l an at i o n o f t he ad v ers e i m p act o n t h e ch i ld res u l t i n g fr o m

ch an ges in h i s ci rcu m s t an ces

, w h i ch t h e t ri al co u rt h ad al read y d i s cu s s ed i n it s o rd er,

we vi ew t hes e st at em en t s as p art o f t h e t ri al co urt ’ s an al y s i s o f wh at cu s t o d y

arran g em en t wi l l be i n th e ch i ld ’ s b es t i n t eres t s

. Th e t ri al co u rt ex am in ed t h e m o t h er’ s

c u rren t b eh av i o r an d fo u n d

, b as ed o n t h e reco rd b efo re i t

, t h at s h e wo ul d l i k el y

9co n ti n u e d is reg ard i ng t he p aren t i n g p l a n t o t h e ch i l d ’ s d et ri m en t. W e fi n d n o l eg al

erro r i n t h i s an al y s is

.

OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (a)(2 ) pro v i d es t h at a ju d g e co n s i d eri ng a cu s to d y i s s u e “ m ay

t ak e in t o co n si d erat io n al l t h e ci rcu m s t an ces o f t h e cas e

. . . in d et erm i ni n g t o wh o m

cu s t o d y of t h e ch i l d s h o u l d b e award ed ,” a n d t h at “ [t ] he d u t y o f t h e ju d g e

. . . s h al l

b e t o ex erci s e di s cret io n t o l o o k t o an d d et erm i n e s o l el y wh at i s fo r t h e b es t i n t eres t

o f t h e ch il d an d wh at wi l l b es t pro m o t e t h e ch il d’ s wel fare an d h ap p in es s

. . . .” Th e

t ri al co u rt ’ s t as k i n al l cu s t o d y m at t ers i s n eces s ari l y a fo rward -l o o k i n g an al y s i s

, an d

i n su ch m at t ers it “ h as v ery b ro ad d i s cret i o n, l o o k i ng al way s t o t he b es t i n teres t o f t h e

ch i l d .” Au t rey

, 2 8 8 Ga. at 2 85

.

Here, b ecau s e t h e t ri al co u rt i d en t i fi ed ad v ers e i m p act s o n t h e ch il d t h at i t

d eem ed t o b e t h e res ul t o f ch an g es t o h i s ci rcu m s tan ces

, t h e t r i a l c o u rt co u l d t h en

d et erm i n e h o w a ch an g e t o t h e cu s to d y arran g em en t wo u l d b es t ben efi t t h e ch i l d

. In

m ak i n g t h at an al y si s

, t h e t ri al co u rt h ad t h e d i s cret i o n t o co n s i d er t h e ev i d en ce b efo re

i t

, i n cl u d i n g ev i den ce reg ard i n g t h e p o t en t i al im p act o n t h e ch i l d s h o u l d t h e cu rren t

10cu s t o d y arran gem en t co n t i nu e, 6 t h e reco m m en d at i on s o f t h e g u ard i an

, 7 ev i d en ce

reg ard i n g t he act i o n s o f o n e p aren t t o fu rt her o r i m p ed e t h e ch i l d’ s rel at i o n s h i p wi th

t h e ot h er p aren t

, 8 t h e p ar t i e s ’ a d h eren ce t o t h e t erm s o f t h e d i v o rce d ecree, 9 t h e

m o t her’ s act i o n s t o m i s lead t h e fat her an d t h e gu ard i an

, 1 0 an d an y o t her rel ev an t

6 S ee Bo d n e

, 2 77 Ga. at 4 4 6 (d i s cu s s i ng t es t i m o n y recei v ed b y

t h e tri al co u rt

reg ard i n g i rrep arab l e h arm t h at wo u ld b e s u ffered b y t h e ch i l d were t h e cu rren t

cu s t o d y arran g em en t t o co nt in u e).

7 S ee Ku eh n v. Key

, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. 5 1 2

, 5 1 7 (1 ) (7 5 4 SE2 d 1 0 3 ) (2 0 1 4 ) an d §

OCGA 1 9 -9 -3 (a)(3 )(O) (p erm i t t i n g t h e ju d g e t o co n s i d er reco m m en d at i o n s o f a

g u ard i an ad l i t em i n d et erm i n i n g t h e ch i l d ’ s b es t i nt eres t s).

8 Se e OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (a)(3 )(N) (p erm i t t in g t h e co u rt t o co n si d er t h e

“ wi l l i n g n es s an d ab i l i t y of each o f t h e p aren t s t o faci l i t at e an d en co u rag e a cl o s e an d

c ontinu i n g p aren t -ch i l d rel at i on s h i p b et ween t h e ch i l d an d t h e o t h er p a r e n t, c onsiste nt

wi t h t h e b es t i n t eres t o f t h e ch i l d .”).

9 S ee Bo dn e

, 27 7 Ga. at 44 6 -4 7 ( d i s c u ss i n g h o w act i o ns b y o n e paren t wh i ch

n eg at i v el y

i m pact i m p ort an t as p ect s o f t h e p art i es ’ d i v o rce ag reem en t

, i .e., t h e g o al

o f co n ti n u i n g t h e p a r e n ts ’ eq u al i n v o l v em en t i n t h e ch i l d ’ s l i fe, are fact o rs t h e t ri al

co u rt m ay co n s id er i n d et erm i n i n g th at a ch a n g e i n c u s t od y i s i n t h e ch i l d ’ s b es t

i n t eres t ).

1 0 S ee Vi s ku p

, 2 9 1 Ga. at 1 0 5 (d i s cu s s i n g t ri al co urt ’ s co n s i d erat i on o f ev i d en ce

t h at t he cu s t o di al p aren t h ad b een h el d i n co n t em p t fo r v i o l at i o n o f t h e co urt ’ s

v i s i t at i o n o rd ers an d h ad t ak en s t ep s t o u nd erm i n e t h e o t h er p aren t b y s en d i n g

m i s l ead i n g l et t ers t o g o v ern m en t ag en ci es ).

11fact or. 1 1 In wei g h in g s uch fact o rs

, t h e t ri al co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at t h e b es t in t eres t s o f

t h e ch i l d wo u ld b e s erv ed b y a ch an g e i n t he cu s t o dy arran g em en t

.

Deferri n g t o th e t ri al co u rt ’ s fact u al d et erm i n at i on s b as ed o n t h e ev i d en ce in

t h e reco rd

, we fi n d t h at t h es e fact o rs were ap p ro pri at el y co n s id ered i n t h i s cas e, an d

acco rd i n g l y

we fi n d n o l eg al erro r i n t h e ru l in g o f t h e co u rt b el o w.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Di l l ar d

, P. J., a n d

Rees e, J., co n cu r

.

1 1 OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (a)(3 ).

12