FOURTH D I VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, BRA N CH and M ERCI ER, 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 10, 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 15 6 . EPSTINER v . SPEARS.

B R A N C H , J u d g e.

In t h i s ch i l d c u s to d y cas e, Reb ecca Bo eh m er Ep s t in er ap p eal s fro m an o rd er

o f th e Ch ero kee Co u n t y Su p eri o r Co u rt g ran ti n g Ty l er Dean Sp ears ’ s m o t i o n to

m o di fy t he o rd er p rev io u s l y en t ered b y th e co u rt a s t o t he cu s t o d y of t h e p art i es ’

m i n o r ch i l d

. Ep st i n er arg u es t h at al t h o u g h th e o ri gi n al cu s t o d y o rd er d i d n ot

accu rat el y refl ect t h e ru l i n g o f t h e t ri al co urt

, co u ns el fo r Sp ears ap p ro v ed t h at o rd er.

Sh e co n ten d s t h at b ecau s e Sp ears b ears s o m e res p o n s i b i l i t y fo r t h e erro rs co n t ai n ed

i n t h e o ri g i n al o rd er, O CGA § 9 -1 1 -6 0 d i d n o t au t h o ri ze t h e t ri al co u rt t o set as i d e o r

am en d t hat o rd er. E p s t i n er fu rt h er as s ert s th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b ecau s e i t s cu rren t

o rd er fai l s t o m eet t h e req u i rem en t s fo r a cu s to d y m o d i fi cat io n ord er s et fo rt h in

OCGA § 1 9 -9 -1 (b ). W e fi n d n o m eri t i n Ep st i ner’ s cl ai m th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred inm o di fy i n g t h e cu s t o d y p ro v i s i o n s o f i t s p rev io u s o rd er o f ju d g m en t

, an d we t h erefo re

affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f Sp ears ’ s m o t i o n

. W e ag re e wi t h Ep s t i n er, h o wev er,

t h at t h e cu rren t o rd er fai ls t o co m p l y wi t h t h e ap p l icab l e s t at u t ory req u i rem en t s

. W e

t h erefo re v acat e t hat o rd er an d rem an d fo r en t ry o f a n e w o rd er t h at co m p l i es wi th

OCGA § 1 9 -9 -1 (b ).

Th e rel ev an t fact s are un d i sp u t ed an d s h o w t h at E p s t i n e r an d Sp ears are t h e

p aren t s o f a m i no r ch i l d

, L. B. S., b o rn o n Decem b er 10

, 2 0 1 0

. In A ug u s t 2 0 1 3,

Sp ears fi led a Pet it i o n fo r Leg i t i m at i o n

, Cu s t o d y an d Ch i l d Su p p ort as t o L. B. S. A

b en ch t ri al o n t h at p et i ti o n was h el d o n Ap ri l 2 2, 2 0 1 5

, an d at t h e co n cl u s i on o f t h at

t ri al t h e co u rt i ss u ed an o ral ru l i n g as to Sp ears ’ s cu st o d y an d v i s i t at i o n ri g ht s

. 1 In i t s

o ral ru l in g

, t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed Sp ears su p erv is ed v i s i t at i o n fo r a p eri o d o f t i m e an d

s t at ed t h at b eg in n i n g Oct ob er 3 0

, 2 0 1 5

, Sp ears was gran t ed u n s u p erv i s ed v i s i t at i o n

ev ery o t h er week en d

, wi t h t h e v i s i t at i o n t o b eg i n on Fri d ay s at 6 : 0 0 p

. m

. an d en d o n

Su n d ay s at 6 : 00 p

. m

. Th e co u rt d i rec t e d c o u ns el fo r E p s t i n er t o d raft an o rd er

refl ect i n g t h e co u rt ’ s ru l i n g

. Bo t h p art i es t h ereaft er s ub m i t t ed a pro p o s ed o rd er an d

t h e t ri al co urt co p ied l an g u ag e fro m each of t h o s e o rd ers t o creat e t he fi nal o rd er o f

1 A t ran s cri p t o f t h e Ap ri l 2 0 1 5 b en ch t ri al is no t i n cl u d ed i n t h e cu rren t reco rd

. Po rt i on s o f t hat t ran s cri p t

, h o w ev er, were r e a d i n t o t he reco rd at t h e Ap ri l 2 0 1 6

h eari n g i n t h i s cas e.

2ju d g m en t

, wh i ch was en t ered o n Ap ri l 2 9

, 2 0 15

. 2 It i s u nd i sp u t ed

, h owev er, t h at t h e

ju d g m en t d i d no t accu rat el y refl ect t he co u rt ’ s o ral ru li ng

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, t h e o rd er

en t ered u s ed l an gu ag e t ak en fro m t h e p ro p o s ed o rd er d raft ed b y Ep s t i n er’ s co u n s el

wh i ch p ro v i d ed t h at Sp ears ’ s w eek en d v i s i t at i on s w o u l d n o t b eg i n u n t il Sat u rd ay

m o rn i n gs

, an d wh i ch al s o i m p o s ed cert ai n co n d i t i o n s o n Sp ears ’ s v i s it at io n t h at were

n o t s et fo rt h i n t h e t ri al co urt ’ s o ral ru l i n g

. Un d er t h e t erm s o f t h e wri t t e n o r d e r

, i f

Sp ears was m o re t h an 1 5 m i n u t es l at e i n p i ck i ng u p h is s o n fo r v i s i t at i o n, he fo rfei t ed

t h e en t ire v i s i t at io n p eri o d

. Ad d i t i o n al l y

, t h e o rd er b arred Sp ears fro m d es i g n at i n g

an y o n e o t h er t h an h i m s el f fro m p i ck i n g u p t h e ch i l d i f Sp ears was u n ab l e t o p i ck u p

L. B. S. at t h e d es i gn at ed t i m e.

Sp ears ’ s p ri o r co u n s el co n sen t ed t o t he o ri g i n al o rd er as t o fo rm

, b u t t h ere i s

n o ev i d e n c e s h o wi n g th at Sp ears s aw o r ap p ro v ed t hat o rd er b efo re i t was en t ered

.

W h en Sp ears p o i n t ed o u t t h e erro rs i n t h e o rd er t o hi s p rev i o u s co u n s el

, t h at at t o rn ey

d ecl i n e d t o a t t em

p t a rem ed y

. Sp ears t h ereaft er ret ai n ed n ew co u n s el

, an d o n

Feb ru ary 2

, 20 1 6

, h e fi l ed a M o t i o n t o Part i al l y Set A s i d e J u d g m e n t o r i n t h e

Al t ern at i v e t o Am en d t he Fi n al O rd er o n Pet i t i o n fo r Leg i t i m at i o n

, Cu s t o d y

, an d

2 Th e s p eci fi c d et ai l s o f t h e v i s i tat i o n s ch ed u l e were s et f o r t h i n a paren t i n g

p l an

, w h i ch was at t ach ed t o an d i n co rp o rat ed b y referen ce in t o t h e o rd er o f ju d g m en t

. Th e ap p el l at e reco rd , h o wev er, co n tai n s n o co p y o f t h at p aren t i n g p l an

.

3Ch i ld Su p p o rt

. By way o f t h at m o t i o n

, Sp ears s ou g h t t o h a v e t h e o ri g i n al o rd er

v acat ed an d a n ew o rd er en tered t h at accu rat el y refl ect ed t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o ral ru l i n g.

A l t e r n at i v el y

, Sp ears s o u gh t an am en d m en t o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er t o refl ect t h e

t erm s o f v i s i t at i o n as s et fo rt h b y t h e co u rt i n i ts o ral ru l i n g an d t o om i t t h e co n d i t i on s

r e l a t i n g t o th e fo rfei t u re o f v i s i t at i o n an d t h e res t ri ct i o n s o n Sp ears ’ s ri g h t t o

d es i g n at e i n d i v i d ual s wh o co u l d p i ck u p an d d ro p o ff t h e ch i ld

.

At t h e h eari n g o n Sp ears ’ s m o t i o n

, t h e tri al co u rt read i n t o t h e reco rd i t s o ral

ru l i n g a s t o v i si t at i o n

, as i t ap p eared i n t h e t ran s cri p t o f Ap ri l 2 2

, 2 0 1 5

. Th e co u rt

t h en h el d t h at t h e ju d g m e n t e n t ered d i d n o t refl ect t h e co u rt ’ s ru l i ng an d t h at t h i s

m i s t ak e h ad occu rred “ t h ro u g h n o fau l t o f” Sp ears

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, t h e co u rt n o t ed t h at

t h e o ri gi n al o rd er o f ju d g m en t

t rack ed t h e co urt ’ s l an g u ag e ex act ly as [t h e co u rt ] d i ct at ed , an d t h en i t

wen t off t rack an d d i d n o t fo l lo w t h e [c] o urt ’ s [o ral ] o rd er as t o

o v ern i gh t v i s i t at io n

. . . an d d el et ed ab o u t 2 0 l i nes o f t h e [c] o u rt ’ s [o ral ]

o rd er wh ich ad d res s ed t h e week en d v i s it at i o n fro m Fri d ay n i g h t t o

Su n d ay ev en in g . On ce t hat was d o n e .

. . t h e o rd er [ag ai n] t rack ed an d

t h e p aren ti n g p l an t rack ed ex act l y wh at th e [c] o u rt d ict at ed fro m th e

b en ch o n t h e 2 2 n d d ay of Ap ri l 2 0 1 5

. Th i s co u rt can n o t fi n d t h a t [ t h e

erro n eo us o rd er] was a m i s t ak e o r a n y fau l t o f [Sp ears ]

. An d s ho rt o f

s ay i n g t h at i t was a d el i b era t e m o v e [b y t h e m o t h er’ s t ri al co u n sel ] t o

4d el et e wh at t h i s [c] ou rt sai d

, t h e [c] o u rt ’ s g o i n g t o rel y o n t h e law an d

s t at u t es t o co rrect t h i s o v ers i g h t an d m i s t ak e o f t he o rd er.

Th e co u rt t h ereaft er en t ered a wri t t en o rd er i n wh i ch i t rel i ed o n OCGA § 9 -1 1-

6 0 (d ) (2 ) t o g ran t Sp ears ’ s m o t i o n

. Th e cu rren t ord er p urp o rt ed to s e t a s i d e t h e

o ri g i nal ju d g m en t “ as it rel at es t o t h e v i s i t at i o n s ch ed ul e bet ween t h e Part i es

reg ard i n g t h e m i n o r ch i l d beg i n n i n g Oct o b er 3 1

, 20 1 5

. ” T h at o rd er gran t ed Sp ears

“ t h e v i s i tat i o n s ch ed u l e ri g h ts t h at were o ri g i n a l l y gran t ed [at t h e] Ap ri l 2 2

, 2 0 1 5

[h eari n g ] [,] acco r d i n g t o t h e t ran s cri bed p ro ceed i n g s ” an d al s o g av e Sp ears

“ o v ern i g h t week en d v is i t at i o n fro m Fri d ay ni g h t t o Su nd ay ev en i n g .” Ad d it i o n al l y

,

t h e cu rren t o r d e r p r o v i ded th at Sp ears “ s h al l n o t b e d eem ed t o fo rfei t t h e en t i re

v i s i t at i o n wh ere h e can n ot p ers o n al l y pi ck u p [t h e] ch i l d w i t hi n a fi ft een (1 5 ) m i n u t e

g race peri o d ,” an d t h a t Sp ears “ m ay d es i g n at e p art i es t h at are ab l e t o p i ck u p t h e

m i n o r ch i l d i n h is ab s en ce.” Ep s t i n er n o w ap peal s fro m t h e cu rren t o rd er.

1

. Ep s ti ne r a r g u e s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt was wi t h o u t au t h o ri ty t o s et as i d e i t s

o ri g i nal ju dg m en t p u rs uan t t o OCGA § 9-1 1

- 6 0 (d ) (2 ) 3 b ecau s e, g iv en t h at h i s

at t o rn ey ap p ro v ed t h e erro n eo us o rd er, Sp ears was n o t wi t h o u t fau l t wi t h res p ect to

3 Un d er t h at st at u t ory p ro v i s i o n

, a m o ti o n to set as i d e a ju d g m en t m ay b e b as ed

u p o n “ [f] rau d, acci d en t

, o r m i s t ak e o r t h e act s o f t h e ad v ers e p art y u n m i x ed wi t h t h e

n eg li g en ce o r fau l t o f t h e m o v an t .” OCGA § 9 -1 1 -6 0 (d ) (2 ).

5t h at o rd er. Reg ard l es s of wh et h er Sp ears was en ti tl ed to h av e t h e ju d g m en t s et as i de,

h o wev er, we fi n d t hat g i v en t h e o rd er en t ere d b y t h e t ri al co u rt

, OCGA § 9 -1 1 -6 0

d o es no t ap p l y

t o t h i s cas e.

W h ere a m o v an t m eet s t h e req u i rem en t s o f OCGA § 9 -1 1 -6 0 (d ), a t ri al co u rt

m ay s et as i d e an en t i re ju d g m en t

, t h ereb y ret u rn i n g t h e cas e t o t h e p os t u re i t o ccu p i ed

p ri o r t o t h e en t ry

o f ju dg m en t

. See Po r t er -Ma r t i n v. Ma r t i n , 2 8 0 Ga. 1 50 , 1 5 1 (6 2 5

SE2 d 7 4 3 ) (2 0 0 6); Os b o r ne Bo n d i n g & S u r et y Co

. v. S t a t e

, 2 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. 3 8 3

, 3 8 4

(2 ) (b ) (4 9 1 SE2 d 8 3 7 ) (1 9 97 ). OCGA § 9 -1 1 -6 0 (d ), h o wev er, d o es n o t au t h o ri ze a

co u rt t o rev i s e o r am en d part o f a ju dg m en t wh i l e l eav i n g t h e ju d g m en t i n t act

. Po r t er

Ma r t i n

, 2 8 0 Ga. at 1 5 1

. Here, al t h o u g h t he t ri al co u rt ’ s cu rren t o rd er p u rp o rt s t o s et

as i d e i t s o ri g i nal o rd er o f

ju d g m en t

, t h e cu rren t o rd er di d n ot h av e t hat effect

. In s t ead

,

t h e cu rren t o rd er o perat ed o n l y t o am en d t h at p o rt i o n of t h e o r i g i n a l ju d g m en t t h at

ad d res s ed Sp ears ’ s v i s i t at io n ri g h t s, l eav i ng m u ch o f t h e ju d g m en t i n t act

. An d u n d er

Geo rg i a l aw, we co n s t ru e o rd ers “ acco rd in g t o t h ei r s u bs t an ce an d fu n ct i o n an d n ot

m erel y b y n o m en cl at u re.” S t a t e v. Ch a p ma n

, 3 2 2 Ga. A p p

. 8 2

, 8 3 (7 4 4 SE2 d 7 7 )

(2 0 1 3) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). See al s o Fo r es t Ci t y Gu n Cl u b v. Ch a t h a m

Co u n t y

, 2 8 0 Ga. Ap p

. 2 1 9, 2 2 0 (6 3 3 SE2 d 6 2 3 ) (2 0 0 6 ). Acco rd in g l y

, w e t reat t h e

cu rren t o rd er as am en d i n g t h e v i s i t at i o n p ro v i s i o n s o f t h e o ri g i n al ord er o f ju d g m en t

,

6rat h er th an s et t i n g as i d e t h at ju d g m en t i n it s en t i ret y

. See Ch a p ma n

, 3 22 Ga. Ap p

. at

8 3 (t ri al co u r t ’s d ecl arat i on o f a m is t ri al fo l l o wi ng t h e en t ry o f t h e v erd i ct

“ [n ] o twi th s t an d i n g n o m en cl at u re

. . . was i n su b st an ce t h e s u a s p on t e g ran t o f a n ew

t ri al

, an d we w i ll th erefo re t reat i t as s u ch ”). Th e i n i t i al q u es ti o n s p res en t ed b y t h i s

ap p eal

, t h erefo re, a r e w h et h er t h e t ri al co u rt w as au th o ri zed t o m od i fy i t s o ri g i n al

ju d g m en t an d

, i f so

, wh et h er i t p ro p erl y ex erci s ed t h at au t h o ri t y

. W e an s wer b o t h o f

t h es e q u es t i o n s i n t h e affi rm at i v e.

Th e rel ev an t co d e s ect i o n ap p l i cab l e t o ch i l d cu s t od y act i on s p ro v i d es

, i n p art :

In an y cas e i n wh i ch a ju d g m en t award i n g t h e cu st o d y o f a ch i l d

h a s b een en t ered

, o n t he m o t io n o f an y p art y o r o n t h e m ot i o n o f t h e

ju d g e, t h at p o rt i o n o f th e ju d g m en t effect i n g v i s i t at i o n ri g ht s b et w een

t h e p art i es an d t h e i r c h i ld o r p aren ti n g t i m e m ay b e s u bject to rev i ew

an d m o d i fi cat i o n o r al t erat i o n wi t h ou t t h e n eces si ty o f an y s h owi n g o f

a ch an g e i n an y m at eri al co n d it i o n s an d ci rcu m s tan ces o f ei t h er p art y o r

t h e ch i l d

, p ro v i d ed t h at t h e rev i ew an d m o d i fi cat i o n o r al t erat i o n sh al l

n o t b e h ad m o re o ft en th an o nce i n each t wo -y ear peri o d fo l l o w i n g th e

d at e o f en t ry

o f t h e ju d g m en t

.

OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (b ).

“ A t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n reg ard i n g a m o d ifi cat i o n o f cu s t o dy wi l l b e u p h el d o n

ap p eal i n t he ab sen ce o f a cl ear ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

, an d wh ere t here i s an y ev i d en ce

7t o s u pp o rt th e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n ,” w e can fi n d n o ab u s e of d i s cret i o n

. McFa r l a n e

v. McFa r l a n e

, 2 98 Ga. 3 6 1 (1 ) (7 8 2 SE2 d 2 9 ) ( 2 0 16 ) (ci t at i o n om i t t ed ). H ere, t h e

e v i d e n c e s ho wi n g t h at t h e ori g i n al ord er o f ju d g m en t d i d no t accu rat el y refl ect t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g w as s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n t o m o d i fy t h at

ju d g m en t

. A cco rd i n g l y

, we affi rm t h e tri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f Sp ears ’ s m o t i on t o m o d i fy

t h e o ri gi n al o rd er of ju dg m en t en t ered o n h is Pet i t i o n fo r Leg i t i m at i o n

, Cu s t o d y

, an d

Ch i ld Su p p o rt

. 4 Id

. (fi n d i n g t h at s o m e ev i d en ce, i n cl u d i n g t h e wi fe’ s t es t i m o ny

d e t a i l i ng t h e care s h e p ro v i d ed fo r t he ch i ld ren

, “ was s uffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s [d en i al o f hu s ban d ’ s p et i t i o n ] t o m o di fy cu s t o d y ”). See al s o Mo or e v. Mo o r e4 Ci t i n g B l a c k v. F

er li n g er e

, 3 33 Ga. Ap p

. 7 8 9 (7 7 7 SE2 d 2 6 8 ) (2 0 1 5 ),

Ep s ti n er arg u es t h at t h e tri al co urt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i o n i n rel y in g on t h e t ran s cri p t o f

t h e Ap ri l 2 0 1 5 h eari ng t o g ran t Sp ears ’ s m o t i o n

. L i k e t hi s cas e, Bl a ck i n v o l v ed a

m o ti o n t o m o d i fy ch i ld cu s t od y

. Th e fat h er ap p eal ed t he fi n al ju d g m en t

, arg u i n g t h at

t h e t ri al co u rt erred wh en i t en t ered a wri t t en o rd er wh i ch d i ffered i n s om e res p ect s

fro m t h e o ral s t at em en t s t h e co u rt m ad e at t h e h eari n g o n t h e m o di fi cat io n p et i t i o n.

W e affi rm ed t h e ju d g m en t , fi n di n g t h at i t was s u p p ort ed b y t he ev id en ce an d t h at a

“ t ri al co urt ’ s oral s t at em en t s o n t h e reco rd [are] n o t b i n d i ng .” 3 3 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 9 1 (1 )

(fo o t no t e a n d pu n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ). W e fu rt h er ex p l ai n ed t h at a “ t ri al co urt ’ s o ral

p ro n ou n cem en t i s no t a ju dg m en t u n t i l it i s p u t i n w ri t i n g an d e n t ered as t h e

ju d g m en t

. Al th o u g h [s u ch ] p ro n o un cem en t s o n t h e reco rd m ay p ro v i d e in s i g h t o n t h e

i n t en t o f [t h e co u rt ’ s ] s u b s eq u en t wri t t en ju d g m en t

, d is crep an ci es b et w een t h e t wo

. . . m u s t b e r e s o l v e d in fav o r o f t h e wri tt en ju d g m en t .” Id

. at 7 9 0 -7 9 1 (1 )

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Th e fact t h at a t ri al co u rt i s n ot b o u n d b y i t s o ral

p ro n ou n cem en t s

, h owev er, d o es n o t p recl u de th at co u rt fr o m m o d i f y i n g an o rd er

wh ere, as h ere, i t fi n d s t hat t h e ju d g m en t en t ere d d o e s n o t accu rat el y refl ect t h e

co u rt ’ s ru l i n g.

8McKi n n ey

, 2 9 7 Ga. Ap p

. 7 0 3

, 70 8 (2 ) (b ) (6 7 8 SE2 d 15 2 ) (2 0 09 ) (t ri al co u rt d i d n ot

a b u s e i t s d i s cret i o n i n m o di fy i n g v i si t at i o n p ro v i s i o n s of a cu s t o d y o rd er, as t h e

co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n was s up p o rt ed b y s o m e ev id en ce).

2

. Ep s t i n er al s o as s ert s t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred wh en i t en t ered a m o d i fi cat i o n

o rd er t h at m erel y referen ced t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o ral ru l i n g an d fai l ed t o s e t f o r t h o r

i n co rp o rat e a p aren t i n g p lan

, as req u i red b y OCGA § 1 9 -9 -1 (a). W e ag ree, an d we

t h erefo re v acat e t he t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er an d rem an d t h e cas e fo r en t ry o f an o rd er t h at

m eet s t h e ap p l i cab l e s t at u t o ry req u i rem en t s.

OC G A § 1 9

- 9

- 1 (a) p ro v i d es

, i n rel ev an t part “ [t ] h e fi n al o rd er in an y l eg al

act i on i n v o l v i ng t he c u s t o d y o f a ch i l d

, in cl u d i ng m o d i fi cat io n act io n s

, s h al l

i n co rp o rat e a p erm an en t p aren t i n g p l an

. . . p ro v id ed

, h owev er, t h at u n l es s o t h erwi s e

o rd ered b y

t h e co u rt , a s ep arat e co u rt o rd er ex cl u s i v el y d ev o t ed t o a p aren t i n g p l an

s h al l n o t b e req u i red

. ” 5 Gi v en t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er n ei t h er s et s fo rt h al l o f t h e

5 OCGA § 1 9 -9 -1 (b ) o u t l i n es t h e i tem s t h at a p aren t in g p l an m u s t co n t ai n an d

req u i res th at s u ch a p lan i n cl u d e, i nt er al i a, “ [w] here an d wh en a ch i l d w i l l b e i n each

p aren t ’ s p h y s i cal care, d es i gn at i n g wh ere t h e ch i l d wi l l s p en d each d ay o f t h e y ear; ”

“ [h ] o w h o l i d ay s

, b i rt h d ay s

, v acat i o n s

, s ch o o l b reak s an d ot h er s p eci al o ccas i o n s wi l l

b e s p en t wi t h each p aren t i ncl u d i n g t h e t i m e of d ay t h at each ev en t wi l l b eg i n an d

en d ;” an d “ [t ] ran s p o rt at i o n arran g em en t s i n cl u d i n g h o w t h e ch i l d wi l l b e ex ch an g ed

b et ween t h e p aren t s

, t h e l ocat io n o f t h e ex ch an g e, ho w t he t ran s p o rt at i o n co s t s wi l l

b e pai d

, an d an y o t h er m at t er rel at i n g t o t h e ch i l d s p en d i n g ti m e wi t h each p aren t .”

OCGA § 1 9 -9 -1 (b ) (2 ) (A), (B), (C).

9el em en t s o f a p aren t i n g p l an req u i red b y OCGA § 1 9 -9 -1 (b ) n o r i n co rp o rat es a

p a r e n t i n g p l an s et fo rt h i n a s ep arat e d o cu m en t

, “ we are co n s t rai n ed t o rem an d t h e

cas e wi t h i n s tru ct i o n s t h at th e t ri al co u rt i nco rp o rat e a p aren t i ng p l a n i n t o i t s fi n al

o rd er co n s i s t en t wi t h t h e [s t at u t o ry ] req u i rem en t s .” M o o r e

, 2 9 7 Ga. A p p

. at 7 1 1 (3 ).

See al s o McFa r l a ne

, 2 9 8 Ga. at 3 6 2 (2 ) (“ [b ] ecau se t he t ri al co u rt fai l ed t o en t er a

p erm an en t p aren t i n g p lan w h en i t en t ered t h e m od i fi cat i on ord er, we rem an d t h i s cas e

fo r co m pl i an ce wi t h t h e [rel ev an t s t at u to ry ] req u irem en t s ”). 6

Fo r t h e reas o n s s e t f

o rt h ab o v e, we affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f Sp ears ’ s

m o ti o n t o m od ify t h e co urt ’ s o ri g i n al o rd er en t ered o n h i s Pet i t i o n fo r Leg i ti m at i o n,

Cu s t od y an d Ch il d Su p p o rt

. W e v acat e t h e cu rren t ord er, h o wev er, an d rem an d t h e

cas e fo r en t ry o f an o rd er t hat co m p l i es wi t h t h e req u i rem en t s o f OCGA § 1 9 -9 -1 (b ).

J u d g m e n t a f f i r med in p a r t a n d va ca t ed i n p a r t

, a n d ca s e rema n ded wi th

d i r ect i o n. El l i n g t o n , P. J., a n d Mer ci er , J., co n cu r

.

6 As n o t ed ab o ve, al t h o u g h t h e t ri al co urt ad o pt ed a p aren t in g p l an at t h e t i m e

i t en t ered t h e o ri g i n a l o r d e r o f ju d gm en t

, a co p y o f t h at pl an d o es n o t ap p ear i n t h e

cu rren t reco rd

. If t he tri al co u rt d i d i n co rp o rat e a p aren t i ng pl an i n t o i ts o ri g in al o rd er

o f ju dg m en t

, t h en o n rem an d i t m ay s at i sfy t h e req u i rem en ts o f OCGA § 1 9-9 -1 (b )

b y en teri n g an o rd er t h at : (i ) s et s fo rt h t h e sp eci fi c m o d i fi cat io n s t h e co u rt i s m ak i n g

t o t h e p aren t i n g p l an p rev i o u s l y a d o p t e d an d i n co rp o rat ed i n t o t h e co u rt ’ s o ri g i n al

o rd er; an d (i i ) ex p l i ci t l y s t at es t h at al l o f t he term s an d co n di t i o n s o f t h e o ri g i n al

p aren t i n g p l an n ot m o di fi ed b y t h e co u rt ’ s n ew o rd er are t o rem ai n i n fu ll fo rce an d

effect . See W

i ll i ams v. W

i ll i a ms , 2 9 5 Ga. 1 13 , 1 1 5 (2 ) (7 5 7 SE2 d 8 5 9 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

10