SECOND DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, BOGGS and RI CKM A N, 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

A u gust 3, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A1 23 9 . HOLDAW AY v

. HOLDAW AY.

B A R N E S , Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

Th e fat h er, Owen Lee Ho l d a w a y, fi l ed a ch il d cu s t o dy m o d ifi cat i on act i o n

ag ai n s t t h e m o t h er, Bo b b i Su e Ho l d away

, seek i n g p ri m ary cu s t o d y o f t hei r d au g h t er,

L.H. Th e m at ern al g ran d m o t her, Terry J o St ewart

, fi led a m o t i o n t o i n t erv en e i n t h e

c u st o dy m od i fi cat i on act i o n, s eek i ng cu s to d y o f t h e ch i l d o r, i n t h e al ter n a t i v e

,

v i s i t at i o n ri g h t s

. T h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e g ran d m o t h er’ s m o t i o n to i nt erv en e, an d,

aft er co nd u ct i ng a b en ch t ri al

, t h e co u rt award ed t h e g ran d m o t h er cu s t o d y o f t h e ch i ld

a n d a w a rd ed t he fat h er v i s i t at io n

. On ap p eal

, t h e fat h er ch al len g es t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s

award o f cu s t o dy t o t h e g ran d m o t h er, co nt en d i n g t h at t h ere was i n s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce

t h at t h e ch i l d wo u ld b e h arm ed i f p laced i n h i s cu s t o d y

, an d t hat t h e co u rt ap p l i ed t h e

wro ng l eg al s t an d a rd u n d er o u r Su p rem e Co u rt ’ s recen t d eci s i o n in S t o n e v. S t o ne

,

2 9 7 Ga. 4 5 1 (7 7 4 SE2 d 6 8 1) (2 0 1 5 ). Fo r t h e reas o ns d i s cu s s ed b el o w, we affi rm

.Fo l l owi n g a b e n c h t r i al i n a ch i l d cu s t o dy cas e, we v iew th e ev i d en ce i n t h e

l i gh t m o s t fav o r a b l e t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n

. S t r ickl a n d v. S t r ickl a nd

, 2 9 8 Ga.

6 3 0

, 6 3 3 -6 3 4 (1 ) (7 8 3 SE2 d 6 0 6, 6 1 0 ) (2 0 1 6 ). So vi ewed

, t h e reco rd refl ect s t h at t h e

m o t her an d fat h er were m arri ed i n 2 0 07 w h en t h ey were 2 0 y ears o l d

. Sh o rt l y aft er

t h e m o t h er an d fat h er were m arri ed

, t h ei r d au g ht er L.H. was b o rn

. L .H

. w a s ei g ht

y ears o l d at t h e t i m e o f t h e b en ch t ri al

.

L.H. h as a s i s t er wh o is ap p ro x i m at el y o ne y ear o ld er t h an h er. Th e o l der s i s t er

h as t h e s am e m o t h er b ut a d i fferen t b i o l o g i cal fat h er t h an L.H. an d was aro u n d s i x

m o nt h s o l d at t h e t i m e o f t h e 2 0 0 7 m arri ag e. It i s u nd i s pu t ed t h a t t he fat h er i n t h i s

cas e h as n o l eg al cu s t o d i al ri g h t s o v er t h e o l der s is t er.

In 2 0 0 9

, t h e m o t h er a n d f a t h er di v orced

. Un d er t he t erm s o f t h e d i v o rce

ag reem en t en t ered i n t o b y t h e p a r t i es an d in co rp o rat ed i n t o t h e fi nal ju d g m en t an d

d ecree o f d i v o rce, t h e m o t h er an d fat h er s h ared jo i n t l eg al cu s t o d y o f L.H., wi t h t h e

m o th er recei v i n g p ri m ary p h y s i cal cu s t o d y an d t h e fat h er recei v i n g v i s i t at i o n

. Th e

d i v o rce ag reem en t d id n o t co n tai n an y p ro v i s i o ns ap pl icab l e t o L.H.’ s o l der s i s t er.

Sh o rt l y aft er t h e d i v o rce, t h e m o t h er, L.H., an d L.H.’ s o l d er s i s t er m o v ed i n to

t h e h o m e o f t h e m at ern al g ran d p aren t s

. Th e m at ern al g ran d m o th er b ecam e t h e

2p ri m ary careg i v er o f t h e ch il d ren an d d ev el o p ed a s t ro n g b o n d wi th t h em

. Th e

m at ern al g ran d m o t h er al s o b ecam e t h e l eg al g u ard i an o f L.H.’ s o l d er s i s ter.

In t h e y ears aft er t he d i v o rce, t he m o t h er s u ffered p ro b l em s wi t h d ru g an d

al c o h o l ad d i ct i on

, was ad m i t t ed i n t o an i n -p at i en t s ub s t an ce ab u s e reh ab i l i t at i o n

p r o g r a m

, s p en t t i m e i n j ai l

, an d h ad t wo m o re ch i l dren wi t h di fferen t fat h ers

. Th e

m o th er l i v ed wi t h t h e m at ern al g ran d p aren t s on l y s p o rad i cal l y

, w h i l e L.H. an d h er

o l d er s i s t er rem ai n ed i n t he co n ti n u o u s care o f t h e m at ern al g ran d m o t h er. T he m o t h er

p ro v id ed n o fi n an ci al s u p p ort fo r t he ch i l d ren an d d i d n o t s ee t h em co n si s t en t l y

.

Th e fat h er acq u i es ced t o t h e m at ern al g ran dm o t h er s erv in g a s t h e p ri m ary

careg i v er o f L.H. b ecau s e h e b el i ev ed t h at t he g ran dm o t h er p ro v i d ed a m o re s t ab l e

en v i r o n m e n t fo r t h e ch i ld ren t han t h e m o t h er, an d h i s errat i c em p lo y m en t si t u at i o n

p rev en ted h i m

fro m h av in g L.H. l i ve wi t h h im

. Th e fat h er ex erci s ed v i s i t at i o n wi th

L.H., bu t no t t o t he fu l l ex t en t au t h o ri zed b y th e d i v o rce ag reem en t

. He al s o

m ai n t ai n ed co n t act wi t h L.H.’ s o ld er s is t er, wh o wo u l d j o i n L.H. wh en s h e h ad

v i s i t at i o n wi t h t h e fat h er. Th e fat h er d i d n o t co n s i s t en tl y p ay h i s ch i l d s up p o rt o n t i m e

o r p ro v i d e h eal t h i n s uran ce fo r L.H. as req u i red b y t h e d i v o rce ag reem en t

.

In 2 0 1 4

, fo ll o wi ng a di s pu t e o ver s u m m er v i s it at i o n

, t h e fat h er fi l ed a p et i t i o n

t o m od i fy ch i l d cu s t o d y ag ai n s t t h e m o t h er i n wh i ch h e s o u g h t p ri m ary p h y s i cal

3cu s t o d y o f L.H. Th e m at ern al g ran d p aren t s s t o p p ed p erm it t in g t h e o l d er s i s t er t o jo in

L.H. o n h er week en d v i s i t s wi t h L.H.’ s fat h er fro m t h at p o in t fo rward

.

Th e m at ern al gran d m o t h er fi l ed a m o ti o n t o i n t erv en e i n t h e ch i l d cu s t o dy

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

, s eek in g cu s t o d y o f L.H. o r, i n t h e al t ern at i v e, v i si t at i o n ri g h t s

. 1

Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e g ran d m o th er’ s m o t i o n t o in t erv en e, an d a t wo -d ay b en ch

t ri al was co n d uct ed i n 2 0 15

.

At t h e b en ch t ri al

, s ev eral wi t n es ses t es ti fi ed ab o u t th e u n c h aract eri s t i cal l y

cl o s e rel at io n s h i p bet ween L.H. an d h er ol d er si s ter

, a n d a b o u t t h e s t ro n g b o n d

b et ween th e m at ern al g ran d m o th er an d t h e t wo s i s t ers t h at h ad d ev el op ed aft er m an y

y ears of l i v in g t o g et h er. O n e wi t n es s

, a ret i red s ch o o l teach er an d fri en d o f t h e

m at ern al g ran d m o t h er, t es t ifi ed t h at L.H. an d h er o ld er s i s t er were ex t rem el y cl o s e,

m u ch m o re s o t h an m o s t ch i ld ren t h ei r ag e, an d t h at t h e g ran d m o t h e r w a s “ t h e

s t ab i li zi n g fo rce i n t h o se g i rl s [’ ] l i ves .” An o t h er fri en d o f t he m at ern al g ran d m o t h er

t es t i fi ed t h at L.H. an d h er s i s t er are “ Su p er G l u ed t og et h er an d wh en t h ey ’ re ap art

,

t h ey ’ re m i s erab l e.”

1 Th e fat h er m ai n t ai ns t h at t he m at ern al g ran d m o t h er o n l y m o ved t o i n t erv en e

s o as t o o b t ai n v is i t at i o n ri gh t s wi t h L .H. p u rs u an t t o O C G A § 1 9 -7 -3

, b u t t h e

g ran d m o t h er’ s m o t io n st at ed in t h e al t ern at i v e t h at s h e w as s eek i n g cu s to d y o f L.H.,

wh i ch fel l u n d er t h e s t at u t ory fram ewo rk o f OCGA § 1 9 -7 -1 (b

. 1 ), as d i s cu s s ed s u p ra.

4Ad d it i on al l y, t h e s i s t ers ’ u n cl e tes t i fi ed t h at t h e s i s t ers are cl o s er t h an m o s t

s i bl i n gs an d are t og et h er m o st o f t h e t i m e, t h at th e g ran d m o t her h ad rai s ed t h e t wo

s i st ers as h er o wn d au g ht ers

, an d t h at i t wo ul d b e wro n g t o rem o v e L.H. fro m t h e

h o m e o f her o l d er s i s t er an d g ran d m o t h er wi t h wh o m “ sh e’ s go t su ch a s t ro n g b o n d.”

Th e m at ern al g ran d fat h er si m i l arl y t es t i fi ed t h at t h e s i s t ers are l i k e “ Fri ck an d Frack ”

b ecau s e “ t h ey are t ig h t

, t ig ht es t s i s t ers

, ” an d des cri b ed L.H.’ s rel at i on s hi p wi t h h er

m at ern al g ran d m o t h er as b ei n g “ l i k e Vel cro

. . . . [W ] h erev er [t h e g ran d m o t h er] g o es

,

[L.H.] g o es .” Th e g ran d fat h er fu rt h er t es t i fi ed t h at it wo u l d em ot i o nal l y h arm L.H.

t o b e s ep arat ed fro m

t h e h o u seh o l d o f h er s i s t er an d g ran dm o t h er.

Th e m o th er t es t i fi ed at t h e b e n ch tri al as wel l

. Sh e des cri b ed th e m at ern al

g r an d m o t h er as “ t h e ro ck

, t h e fo u n dat i on fo r th o s e ki d s

. ” In d i s cu s si n g t h e

rel at i o n s h i p bet ween L.H. an d t h e o l d er s i s t er, t h e m o t her t es t i fi ed

, “ I can n o t i m ag i n e

. . . m o vi n g b o th o r ei th er o n e of t hem wi t h o u t cau s i n g s o m e s o r t o f em o t i o n al

t u rm o i l

, ” an d d es cri b ed t h em as b ei n g “ l i k e t wo p i eces i n a p u zzl e t h at fi t t og et h er.”

Th e m o t h er referred t o t h e m at ern al g ran d p aren t s as t h e s i st ers ’ “ s o l i d fo u n d at i o n,”

an d n o t ed t h at t h e s i s t e r s “ are each ot h er’ s fo u n d at i on as wel l,” g iv en t h at

[t ] h ro u gh o ut t h ei r en t i re l i [v es ]

, t h e o n e t h i ng t h at h as rem ai n ed s t ab l e

. . . i s t h at t h ey

were t o g et h er.”

5Th e m at ern al gran d m o t h er al s o tes t ifi ed at t h e b en c h t ri al

. Sh e t es t i fi ed t h at

L.H. an d h er ol d er s i s t er are ex trem el y cl o se, t o t h e ex t en t th at t h ey s l eep t o get h er in

t h e s am e b ed ev ery n i g h t, th at t hey “ t h ri v e o n each o t her,” an d t h at i t wo u l d h u rt t h em

t o b e s ep arat ed fro m o n e an o t h er. Acco rd i n g t o t h e m at er n a l g ran d m o t h er,

“ em o t i o n al l y i t’ s g o i ng to k i l l t h em ” i f t he t wo s is ters were s ep arat ed fro m t h e s am e

h o u s eh o l d

, an d L .H. w o ul d su ffer em o t io n al h arm i f p ri m ar y p h ys i cal cu s to d y was

g ran t ed t o t h e fat h er. Th e m at ern al g ran d m o th er fu rt h er t es t i fi ed t h at L.H. wen t t o a

g reat el em en t ary s ch o o l an d h ad g o od fri en d s an d in d icat ed t h at th os e as p ect s o f h er

l i fe wo u l d b e en t i rel y d is ru p t ed i f s h e w ere rem ov ed f r o m h er cu rren t h o m e.

Ad d i t i o n al l y

, t h e g ran d m ot h e r t es t i fi ed t hat L.H. h ad b eco m e m o re q u i et an d

wi t h d rawn s i n ce t h i s l i t i g at io n b eg an an d t h at s h e was cu rren t l y t ak in g L.H. an d h er

o l d er s i s t er t o a co u n s el o r.

W h e n t h e fat h er t es t ifi ed at th e ben ch tri al

, h e n o ted t h at t h e m at ern al

g ran d p aren t s h ad b een a s o u rce o f s t ab i l i t y fo r L.H. an d h er si s t er a n d t h a t t h ey

p ro v id ed t h e b es t h o m e fo r t h e ch i l d ren aft er t h e d i v o rce. He ack n o wl ed ged th e cl o s e

rel at i o n s h i p b et ween L.H. an d h er o ld er s i s t er an d tes t ifi ed t h at t h e o l d er s i s t er co u ld

v i s i t as o ft en as sh e wan t ed i f h e o bt ai n ed p ri m ary cu s t o d y o f L.H., bu t h e co n ced ed

t h at h e h ad n o leg al cu s t o d i al ri gh t s t o t h e o l d er s i st er. Th e fat h er fu rt h er t es t i fi ed t h at

6h e h ad l i v ed at fi v e d i fferen t res i d en ces an d h ad el ev en di fferen t j o b s s i n c e h i s

d i v o r ce fro m t h e m o th er, an d t h at h i s cu rren t jo b was o n l y a m o n th o l d. Th e fat h e r

al s o co n ced ed t h at h e h ad n o t co n s i s t en t ly pai d h i s ch i l d s u p p o rt o n t i m e o r p ro v i d ed

h eal t h i n su ran ce fo r L .H. as req u i red b y t he di vo rce ag reem en t, al t h o u g h h e was n o w

cu rren t o n h i s ch i l d s u pp o rt ob l i g at io n s an d h ad h e a l t h i n s u ran ce in p l ace fo r L.H.

Ad d i t i o n al l y

, t he fat h er t es t ifi ed t h at aft er t h e di v o rce, h e h ad b eg u n d at i n g a 1 7 -y earo l d hi g h s ch o o l st u den t wh en h e was 2 6 y ears o ld

, an d t h at h e wo u l d n o t d is ap p ro v e

o f L.H. h av i n g a s i m i l ar rel at i o n s h i p wi t h an o l d er m an an d b el i e v e d t h a t h i s

rel at i o n s h i p wi t h t h e s t u d en t p ro v i d ed a g oo d m o d el fo r L.H.

Th e fat h er al s o cal l ed hi s g i rl fri en d an d h i s o w n f a t h er, i

. e., th e p at ern al

g ran d fat h er, as w i t nes ses at t h e b en ch t ri al

. Th ey b o t h t es t i fi ed t hat t h e fat h er i s a

cap ab l e an d l o vi n g p aren t t o L.H. a n d t h at i t wo u l d b e in her b es t in t eres t t o res i d e

wi t h h im

.

At t h e co n cl u s i o n of t h e b en ch tri al

, t h e f a t h er req ues t ed t h at th e t ri al co u rt

g ran t p ri m ary p h y s i cal cu st o dy o f L.H. t o h i m an d v i s i t a t i o n t o t h e m at ern al

g ran d m o t h er. Th e m o t h er req u es t ed t h at t he co u rt g ran t p ri m ary p h y s i cal cu s t o d y o f

L.H. t o th e gran d m o t h er an d v i s i t at i o n t o t h e m o t h er. Th e g ran dm o t h er req u es t ed t h at

7t h e co u rt g ran t p ri m ary p h y s i cal cu s to d y o f L.H. t o her an d v i s it at i o n t o t h e fat h er, b ut

n o t t h e m o t h er.

Aft er h eari ng fro m t h e part i es

, t h e t ri al co urt ru l ed fro m th e b en ch

, fi n di n g t h at

award i n g p h y s i cal cu s t od y o f L.H. t o t h e fat her o r m o t h er wo u l d “ co m p l et el y

u n d erm i n e t h e s tab i l i t y o f th e ch i l d ’ s cu rren t h om e,” w o u l d “ t rau m at i cal l y ch an g e t h e

co n ti n u i t y

o f t h e ch i l d ’ s l i fe,” an d “ w o u l d sev er, o r at l eas t d ram at ical l y ch an g e t h e

rel at i o n s h i p t hat s h e h as wi t h h er cl o s es t s i b li n g .” T he tri al co u rt fu rt h er ru l ed t h at i t

was un wi l l i n g t o s ep arat e L.H. fro m h er o ld er s i s t er b ecau s e t h ere was cl ear an d

co n vi n ci n g ev id en ce t hat su ch a s ep arat i o n

, wh en co m b i ned w i t h d i s ru pt i ng L.H.’ s

o t h er rel at io n s h ip s an d l on g-t erm l i v i n g en v i ro n m en t

, wo u l d cau se h er em o t i o n al

h arm

. Co n s eq u en tl y

, t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed p ri m ary p h y s ical cu s t o d y o f L .H. t o t h e

m at ern al g ran d m o t h er an d vi si t at i o n t o th e fat h er, an d gran t ed j o i n t l eg al cu s t o d y to

t h e g ran d m o t h er an d f

a t h e r

. Th e t ri al co u rt gran t ed n o v i si t at i o n t o t h e m o t h er.

Su b s eq uen t l y

, t h e Geo rg i a Su p rem e Co u rt i s s u ed i t s o p i n i on i n S t o n e v. S t o ne

,

2 9 7 Ga. 4 5 1

, wh i ch rev ers ed a t ri al co u rt ’ s award o f jo i n t l eg al cu s t o d y t o a p aren t

an d g ran d p aren t

. T h e t ri al co u rt i n t h e p res en t cas e t h en co n d u ct ed a s t at u s h eari n g

wi t h t h e p art i es reg ard in g t h e effect o f S t o n e o n th e cu s t o d y deci s i o n h ere. Aft er t h e

s t at u s h eari n g, t h e tri al co u rt en t ered a wr i t t e n o rd er i n w h i ch i t g ran t ed p ri m ary

8p h y s i cal cu s t o d y an d leg al cu s t o d y o f L.H. t o t he m at ern al gran d m o t h er, g ran t ed

v i s i t at i o n t o t h e fat h er, an d d ecl i n ed t o g ran t an y fo rm al v i si t at i o n t o t h e m o t h er.

In i t s wri t t en cu st o d y ord er, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at award i n g cu s t o d y t o t h e

m at ern al g ran d m o t h er rat h er th an t h e fat h er o r m ot h er was ap p ro p ri at e u n der t h e l eg al

s t an d ard s et fo rt h in Cl a r

k v. W a d e

, 2 7 3 G a. 58 7

, 59 8 -5 9 9 (IV) (5 44 SE2 d 99 ) (2 0 0 1 ).

Am o n g o t h er t hi n g s , t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d :

Th e Co u rt fi n d s t he [ m a t e rn al g ran d m o t h er’ s ] h o m e i s t h e o n l y

h o m e [L.H.] h as ev er k n own an d th e o nl y fi x ed

, cert ai n an d s t ab l e p l ace

t h i s ch i l d h as k n o w n ;

Fu rt h er, t h e Co u rt fi n d s t h e [g ra n d m o t h e r] t o be t h e o n l y

careg i v er[] t h at t h i s ch i ld h as ev e r k n o wn an d t h at t h e l as t s i x y ears

d u ri n g wh i ch th e ch i l d has res i d ed wi t h t h e [g ran d m o t her] t ran s p i r e d

d u ri ng v ery

i m p o rt an t y ears o f k ey d ev el o p m en t fo r t hi s ch i l d ;

Th e Co u rt fi n d s t h at i t s ru li n g t o d ay i s es s en ti al l y s o l i d i fy i n g th e

s i tu at i o n th at h as ex i s t ed i n p o i n t o f fact o ver m an y y ears o f t hi s ch il d ’ s

l i fe an d t hat rem o v i n g t h e ch il d fro m t h i s en v i ro nm en t an d award i n g

cu s t od y t o t

he [ f a the r ] w ould co m

p l et el y an d d ram at i cal l y u n d erm i n e th e

s t ab il i t y o f t h i s ch i l d ’ s h o m e an d t hi s ch i l d ’ s l ife;

Fu rt h er

, t h e Co u rt fi nd s co m p el l i ng th e t es t i m o n y of nu m ero u s

wi t n es s es as t o th e cl o s e rel at i o n s hi p b et ween [L.H.] a n d h er si b l i n g

wi t h wh o m sh e h as li ved h er en t i re li fe. Th e Co u rt i s n o t wi l l in g t o

9s ep arat e t h i s ch i l d fro m h er cl o s es t s i b l i n g n o r i s t h e Co u rt wi l l i n g t o

u p s et ev ery t hi ng i n t h i s ch i l d ’ s l i fe o r u n derm i ne an d s ev er h er s ecu ri t y

an d h er rel at i on s h ip s b y es s en t i al l y m o d ify i n g th e “ h ap p y arran g em en t ”

t h at t h e p aren ts h av e b een co n t en t t o al l o w al l o f t h i s t i m e.

. . . .

Acco rd i ng l y

, t h e Co u rt fi n d i n g s b y cl ear a nd c on v i nci n g ev i d en ce

t h at an award o f cu s t o d y t o t h e [g ran d m ot h er] i s ap p ro pri at e. Th e Co u rt

fu rt h er fi n d s b y cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d en ce t h at t o m ak e an y o t h er

award

, i n cl ud i n g award i n g cu s t od y t o t h e

. . . [f] at h er wo u ld b e h arm fu l

,

em o t i o n al l y harm fu l

, t o t h e ch i ld n o t s i m p l y b y s e p a r a t i n g h er fro m

s i bl i n g b u t by u p s et t in g t h e ch il d ’ s s t ab l e l iv i n g en v iro n m en t

, u p s et t i n g

ev ery o t h er rel at i o n s h i p t h at t h e ch i l d h as

, t ak i n g t h e c h i l d o u t o f th e

s ch o o l wh i ch s h e i s cu rren t l y at t en d i n g an d o t h e r w i s e s ev eri n g h er

rel at io ns h ip wi t h wh at ev er fri en d s i t i s t hat s he m i g ht hav e d ev el o p ed at

s ch o o l o r i n t h e n ei g h b o rh o o d

, al l o f wh i ch wo u l d b e s i gn i fi can t l y

em o t i o n al l y h arm fu l t o th i s ch i l d. Th e C o u rt m ak es t hi s fi n di n g b as ed

o n cl ear an d co n v i nci n g ev i d en ce.

Up o n en t ry o f th e t ri al ’ s co u rt ’ s wri tt en o rd er, t h e fat h er fi l ed t he p res en t

ap p e a l

, ch al l en g i n g t h e award o f cu s t o d y t o t h e m at ern al g ran d m o t h er. Th e m o t h er

d i d n o t ap p eal t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er an d h as fi l ed a b ri ef in t h e cu rren t ap p eal arg u i n g

fo r affi rm an ce.

10W e b eg in b y n o t i n g t h e l eg al fram ewo rk ap p l i cab l e i n t h i s cas e. Cu s t o dy

d i s p u t es b et ween a b i o l o g i cal p aren t an d cert ai n t h i rd -p art y rel at i v es

, i n cl u d i n g

g ran d p aren t s

, are go v ern ed b y OCGA § 1 9 -7 -1 (b .1 ). 2 Th e s em i n al cas e i n co n s t ru i n g

OCGA § 1 9 -7 -1 (b .1 ) i s ou r Su prem e Co u rt ’ s p l u ral i t y d eci s i o n i n Cl a r k v. W a d e

, 2 7 3

Ga. 5 87

. See Tr o t t er v. Ayr es

, 3 1 5 Ga. A pp

. 7

, 8 (2 ) ( 7 2 6 S E 2 d 4 2 4 ) (2 0 1 2 ). As

ex p lai n ed i n Cl a r

k an d s u b s eq u en t cas es o f t h e Su p rem e Co u rt an d t h i s Co u rt

,

OCGA § 1 9 -7 -1 (b .1 ) es t ab l i s h es a r e b u t t ab le p res u m p t i o n t h at i t i s i n

t h e b es t i n t eres t o f t h e ch i l d t o award cu s t o dy t o t h e p aren t o f t h e ch i ld

.

Th e fo l l o wi n g t h ree p res u m p t i o ns are i m

p l i ci t i n t h e s t at u t e: (1 ) th e

p aren t i s a fi t p ers o n en t it l ed t o cu s t o d y

, (2 ) a fi t p aren t act s in t h e b es t

i n t eres t of h i s o r h er ch i l d, an d (3 ) t he ch i l d ’ s bes t i n t eres t i s to b e i n th e

2 OCGA § 1 9 -7 -1 (b

. 1 ) p ro v i d es i n rel ev an t p art :

[I] n an y act i o n i nv o l v i ng t h e cu s to d y o f a ch i l d b et ween t h e p aren t s o r

ei t h er p aren t an d a t hi rd p art y l i m i t ed t o g ran d p aren t, g reat -g ran d p aren t

,

au n t

, u ncl e, g reat au n t

, g reat u n cl e, s i b l i n g

, o r ad op t iv e p aren t

, p aren t al

p o wer m ay b e l o st b y t h e p aren t

, p aren t s

, o r an y o t h er p ers o n i f th e co u rt

h eari n g t h e i s s ue o f cu s t o d y

, i n t h e ex erci s e of i t s s o u n d d i scret i o n an d

t a k i n g i n t o co n s id erat i o n al l th e ci rcu m st an ces o f t h e cas e, d et erm i n es

t h at an award o f cu s t o d y t o s u ch t h ird p art y i s fo r t h e b es t i n t eres t o f th e

ch i l d or ch i l d ren an d wi l l b es t p r o m o t e t hei r wel fare an d h ap p i n es s

. Th ere sh al l b e a reb u t t ab l e pres u m p t i o n t h at i t i s i n t h e b es t i n teres t o f

t h e ch i l d o r ch i l d ren fo r cu s t o d y t o be award ed t o t h e p aren t o r p aren t s

o f s u ch ch i l d o r ch i l d ren

, b u t t h i s p r e s u m p t i o n m ay b e o v erco m e b y a

s h o wi n g th at an award o f cu s t o d y t o su ch t h i rd p art y i s in t h e b e s t

i n t eres t o f t h e ch i l d o r ch i l d ren

. T h e s o le i s s u e fo r d et erm i n at i o n i n an y

s u ch cas e s h al l b e wh at i s i n t h e b es t i n t eres t o f t h e ch i ld o r ch i l d ren

.

11cu s t od y o f a p aren t . Th e p res u m p t i o n can n o net h el es s b e o v erco m e b y

t h e t h ird -p art y rel at iv e s ho wi n g

, b y cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d en ce, t hat

p aren t al cu s t od y wo u l d h a r m t h e ch i l d

. Harm i n t h i s co n t ex t has b een

d efi n ed as ei t h er p h y s i cal harm o r s i g n i fi can t

, l o n g -t erm em o t i o nal

h arm

, n o t m erel y s o ci al o r eco n o m ic d is ad v an t ag es

. O n ce th e

p res um p t i o n h as b een o v erco m e, t h e t h i rd -p art y rel at i v e m u s t p ro ve t hat

an award of cu s t o d y

t o h i m o r h er wi l l b es t p ro m o t e t h e ch i l d ’ s h eal th

,

wel fare, an d h ap p i n es s

. Th u s

, i n ap p l y i n g th e l eg al s t an dard s et fo rt h i n

OCGA § 1 9 -7 -1 (b .1 ), t h e t ri al co u rt n eed n o t d et erm i n e t h at t h e paren t

s eek in g cu s t o d y i s u n fi t

, o n l y t h at t he t h ird -p art y rel at iv e h as es t ab l i s h ed

b y cl ear an d co n v i n c i n g ev i d en ce t h at award i n g cu s to dy t o t h e paren t

wo u ld cau s e ei t h er p hy s i cal h arm o r s i g ni fi can t

, lo n g-t erm e m o t i o nal

h arm t o t h e ch il d

. If th e t h i rd -p art y rel at i v e m eet s t h i s b u rd en

, t h en th e

rel at iv e m

u s t s h o w t h at an award o f cu st o d y to hi m o r h er wo u l d b es t

p ro m o t e t h e ch i l d ’ s h eal t h , wel fare, an d h ap p i n es s

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Tr o t t er

, 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 -9 (2 ). See S t r i ckl a n d

,

2 9 8 Ga. at 6 3 1 (1 ); Cl a r

k

, 27 3 Ga. at 5 9 8 -5 9 9 (IV); B ra wn er v. Mi l l er

, 3 3 4 G a. Ap p.

2 1 4

, 2 1 5 -2 1 7 (1 ) (7 7 8 SE2 d 8 3 9 ) (2 0 1 5 ); Li vel y v. Bo wen

, 2 7 2 G a. Ap p. 4 7 9

, 4 8 2

-

4 8 3 (1 ) (6 1 2 SE2 d 6 25 ) (2 0 0 5 ).

In rev i ewi n g a t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i ng s i n a cu s to d y d i s p ut e u n d er OCGA § 1 9 -7 -1

( b

. 1 )

, w e a r e m i n d fu l t h at “ [i ] n t h e ap p el l at e rev i ew o f a b en ch tri al

, a t ri al co u rt ’s

fact ual fi n d i n g s m

u s t no t b e s et as i d e un l es s cl earl y erro n eo us .” St r i ckl a n d

, 2 9 8 Ga.

12at 6 3 3 (1 ). “ [ D] u e d eferen ce m u s t b e g i v en to t h e t ri al co u rt

, ack no wl ed g i n g t h at i t

h as t he o p p o rt u n i t y t o j u d ge t h e cred i b i li t y o f t h e wi t n es ses ,” an d t h e ev i d en ce m u s t

b e co n s t r u e d i n t h e l i g ht m os t fav o rab l e t o t h e t ri al co urt ’ s d eci s i o n

. Id

. at 6 3 3 -6 3 4

(1 ). As o u r Su p rem e Co urt h as em p h as i zed

, i t i s fo r t h e tri al co u rt

, n ot ap p el l at e

co u rt s

, “ t o res o lv e co n fl i ct s i n t h e t es t i m o n y ” i n d e t e rm in i n g wh et h er a ch i l d wi l l

s u ffer p h y s i cal h arm o r s i g n i fi can t

, l on g -t erm em o ti o n al harm i f ret urn ed t o t h e

cu s t o d y o f t h e b io l o g i cal p aren t . Id . at 6 3 4 (1 ).

1

. On ap peal

, t h e fat her co n t en d s t h a t t h e tri al co u rt erred i n fi n d i n g t h at

award i n g cu st o d y t o h i m wo u ld cau s e L.H. t o s u ffer p h y s i cal harm o r s i gn i fi can t

,

l o n g -t erm em o t i o n al h arm

, as req ui red b y Cl a r k an d i ts p ro g en y

. W h i l e t h ere was n o

ev i d en ce t h at L.H. w o u l d s u ffer p h y s i cal harm fro m an award of cu s to d y t o her fat h er,

we co n cl u d e t h at

, w h en c on s tru ed u n d er t h e ap p ro pri at e d eferen t i al s t an d ard o f

rev i ew, t h ere was cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d en ce th at L.H. wo u l d s u ffer s i gn i fi can t

,

l o n g -t erm em o t i o n al h arm

.

As t h e Su p rem e Co u r t o f Geo rg ia h as h el d wh en co nt em p l at i n g

t h e i s s u es o f h arm an d cu s t o d y

, a tri al co u rt m u s t go b ey o n d t h e p aren t ’ s

b i o l og i cal co nn ect i on o r p res en t fi t n es s an d co n s i d er a v ari et y o f fact o rs

,

i n cl u d i n g : (1 ) wh o a r e t h e p as t an d p res en t caret ak ers o f t h e ch i l d ; (2 )

wi t h wh o m h as t h e ch i l d fo rm ed p sy ch o l o gi cal b o n d s ; (3 ) h a v e t he

co m p et i n g p art i es ev i d en ced i n t eres t in

, an d co n t act wi t h

, t he ch i ld ov er

13t i m e; an d (4 ) d o es t h e ch i l d hav e u n iq u e m ed i cal o r p s y ch o l o g ical n eed s

t h at o ne p art y

i s b et t er ab l e t o m eet

.

(Pu n ct u at i on an d fo o tn o t e o m i t t ed .) Br a wn er

, 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p. at 2 1 7 (2 ), q u ot i n g Cl a r k

,

2 7 3 Ga. at 5 9 8 -5 9 9 (IV).

Here, i t i s cl ear fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o ral ru l i n g at t h e co n cl u s i o n of t h e b en ch

t ri al an d i t s s u b seq uen t wri t t en o rd er t ha t t h e c o u rt co n s id ered t h e fact o rs s et fo rt h

a b o v e a n d fo u n d t h at L.H. wo u l d s u ffer s ig n i fi can t

, lo ng -t erm em o t i on al h arm i f

cu s t o d y were g ran t ed to h er fat h er. As d et ai l ed ab o v e, m u l t i p l e w i t nes s es tes t i fi ed to

t h e u n u su al l y s t ro n g s i b l i n g b o n d b et ween L.H. an d h er s i s t er an d t h e em o t i o n a l

d am ag e t h at wo u ld b e cau s ed i f t h e y w e r e sep arat ed fro m th e sam e h o u seh o l d

, an d

ab o ut t he s t ro n g em ot i o n al b o n d b et ween th e s i b l i n g s an d t h e m at ern al g ran d m o t h er

t h at h ad d ev el op ed o v er t h e m an y y ears d u ri n g w h i ch t h ey had rem ai ned i n h er care.

Ad d i t i o n al l y

, t h ere was ev i d en ce t h at th e fat h er a c q u i es ced t o t h e g ran d m o t h er

s erv i ng as t h e d ay -t o -d ay careg i v er o f L.H. fo r m an y y e a r s

, t h a t h e h ad fai l ed to

ex erci s e al l o f t h e v i s i t at i o n av ai l ab l e t o h i m u n d er th e d i v o rce ag reem en t

, t h at h e h ad

rep eat ed l y ch an g ed jo b s an d res i d en ces

, th at h is cu rren t jo b was o n l y o n e m o n t h o l d,

an d t h at he h ad en g ag ed in a ro m an t i c rel at i o n s h i p wi t h a h i g h sch o o l s t u d en t t h at h e

co n si d ered t o b e a m o d el rel at i o n s h ip fo r L.H.

14Gi v en t h es e p art i cu l ar fact u al ci rcu m s t an ces

, an d i n l i g h t o f t h e d efe r e n t i al

s t an d ard o f rev i ew, t h e t ri al co u rt was en ti t led t o fi n d t h at L.H. w o u ld s u ffer

s i gn i fi can t

, lo n g -t erm em ot i o n al h arm i f s h e were u p ro ot ed fro m v i rt u al l y t h e o n l y

h o m e s h e h ad ev er k n o wn w i t h h er m at ern al g ran d m o t h er an d o l d er s i s t er an d i n s t ead

p l aced i n t h e cu s t o d y o f h er fat her. See S t r i ckl a n d

, 2 9 8 G a. at 6 3 4 -6 3 5 (1 ); Br a wn er

,

3 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 1 8-2 19 (2 ); Li vel y

, 2 72 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 8 3-4 8 5 (1 ). Co m p are Bel l v.

Ta yl o r

, 33 4 Ga. Ap p

. 2 6 7

, 2 6 9 (7 7 9 SE2 d 4 2) (2 0 1 5 ). 3 Wh i l e “ s o m e l ev el o f s t res s

an d d i s co m fo rt m ay b e warran t ed wh en t h e g o al i s reu n i fi cat i o n o f t h e ch i l d wi t h t h e

p aren t ,” Cl a r

k

, 2 7 3 Ga

. a t 5 9 8 ( IV), t h e t ri al co u rt w as au t ho ri zed t o fi nd t h at t h e

em ot i o n al harm t o L.H. wo u l d e x c e e d t he “ ro u t i n e” l ev el o f s t res s i n heren t i n an y

ch an ge o f cu s t od y

, part icu l arl y i n l i g h t o f t h e u n u s u al l y cl os e s ib l i n g rel at i o n s h i p t h at

wo u l d be i f d is ru p t ed i f c u s t od y were p l aced wi t h t h e fat h er. Co n s eq u en t l y

, we

d i s cern n o b as i s fo r rev ers al o n t h e as s ert ed g ro u n d

.

3 Th e fat h er rel i es u p on Bel l i n arg u i n g t hat rev ers al i s req u i red

, b u t t h at cas e

i s cl earl y d i s t i ng ui s hab l e. In Bel l

, t h e t ri al co u rt

, b efo re award i n g cu s t o d y o f t h e ch i ld

t o t h e g ran d m o t h er rat h er t h an t h e m o t h er, “ rem ark ed t hat h e co ul d d eci d e t h e cas e

ei t h er way an d wo u ld s l eep wel l at n i g h t b ecau s e h e fel t t h at bo t h p art ies wo u l d t ak e

g o o d care of [t h e ch i l d ] .” 3 3 4 G a. Ap p. at 2 6 9

. Th e t ri al co u rt i n th e p res en t cas e

n ev er s u g g es ted t h at h e “ co u l d d eci d e t h e cas e ei t h er way ” an d co n s i s t e n t l y fo u n d

t h at p l acem en t o f L.H. wi t h t h e fat h er rat h e r t h a n t h e m at ern al g ran d m o t h er wo u ld

h arm L.H. an d n o t b e i n h er b es t i n t eres t

.

152

. Th e fat h er al so co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt m i s co n s t ru ed t h e Su p rem e Co u rt

o f Geo rg i a’ s recen t d e c i s i o n i n S t o n e v. S to n e

, 2 97 Ga. 45 1

, an d th us ap p l i ed t h e

wro ng l eg al s t an d ard i n award i n g cu s to d y o f L .H. t o th e m at ern al g ran d m o t h er. W e

d i s ag ree.

In S to n e

, 2 9 7 Ga. at 45 5

, o u r Su p rem e Co u rt h el d t hat

, o n t h e on e h an d

, “ in

s i tu at i o n s wh ere a p aren t i s s u i t ab l e t o ex erci s e cu s to dy o v er a ch i l d, [OCGA § 1 9 -7 -1

(b .1 )] d o es n o t al l o w

. . . p aren t al cu s t o d y t o b e l i m i t ed b y a jo i n t cu s t o dy

arran g em en t wi th a g ran dp aren t [.] ” On t h e o th er h an d

, wh ere n ei t h er p aren t i s

s u i t ab l e t o h a v e cu s t o d y u n d er t h e s t an d ard s et fo rt h i n OCGA § 1 9 -7 -1 (b .1 ) as

co n st ru ed i n Cl ar k

, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt i n St on e h el d t hat “ a gran d p aren t m i g ht

cert ai n ly b e . . . q u al i fi ed t o h av e s o l e cu s t o dy o f a m i n o r ch i l d.” Id . at 4 55

.

Here, as p rev io u s l y n ot ed

, t h e t ri al co urt d et erm i n ed t h at u n der t h e s t an d ard s et

fo rt h in OCGA § 1 9 -7 -1 (b .1 ) as co n s t ru ed i n Cl a rk

, s o l e cu s t o d y of L.H. s h o u l d b e

award ed t o th e m at ern al g ran d m o t her r a t h e r t han t h e m o t h er o r fat h er. Th e t ri al

co u rt ’ s d et erm i n at i on was co n s is t en t wi t h t h e h o l di n g i n St o n e t hat a g ran d paren t m ay

b e qu al i fi ed t o hav e s o le cu s t o d y o f t h e ch i ld wh en n ei th er paren t is co n s i d ered

s u i t ab l e u n d er OCGA § 1 9 -7 -1 (b .1 ) an d th e Cl ar k d eci s io n

, an d th erefo re t h e t ri al

16co u rt co m

m i tt ed n o erro r i n th e l eg al fram ewo rk i t em p l oy ed

. A cco rd i n gl y

, we affi rm

t h e t ri al co urt ’ s award o f cu s to d y t o t h e m at ern al g ran d m o t h er.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Bo g

g s a n d Ri ckma n , JJ., co ncu r

.

17