THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, BETHEL, J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA T E JUDGE PHI PPS

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

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

June 1, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A0 13 7 . M O ORE v . M OORE.

E LLI N G T O N , Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

Th ad d eu s L. M o or e ( “ A

ppe lla nt” ) a nd H e a the r C

. M oor e ( “ A ppe lle e ” ) d i v o rced

i n 2 0 0 9

. Th e d iv o rce decree, t h ro u g h t h e s et t l em en t ag reem en t i n co rp o rat ed t h erei n,

p ro v id ed t h at th e p art i es s h are jo i n t l eg al cu s t o d y o f t h ei r m i n o r ch i ld an d t h at

Ap p el l ee h av e pri m ary p h y s i cal cu s t o d y o f t he ch i l d s ub ject t o Ap p el l an t ’ s v i s i t at i o n

ri gh t s. Th e p art ies al so ag reed t h at Ap p el l an t p ay c h i l d s up p ort

. In J u l y 2 0 1 6,

Ap p el l ee fi l ed a p et i t i o n fo r m o d i fi cat i o n o f ch i l d cu st o d y

.

Th e m o d i fi cat i o n p et i t i o n s h o ws th at t h e part i es ’ ch i l d h ad ex p res s ed t h e d es i re

t o l i v e wi t h Ap p el l ee an d t h at s h e b e al l o wed t o v i s it an d co m m u n i cat e wi th

Ap p el l an t o n l y at t h e ch i l d ’ s d i scret io n

. Ap p el l an t ag reed at t h e p et it i o n h eari n g t h at

t h e ch i l d

, t hen 1 4 y ears o ld

, co u l d ch o o s e wh en s h e wo u l d v i s i t h i m

. In it s fi n al o rd er,t h e t ri al co u rt award ed s o l e l eg al an d p h y s ical cu s t o d y o f th e ch i l d t o Ap p el l ee an d

o rd ered t h at t h e ch i l d wo u l d d eci d e w h et her t o v is it wi t h Ap p el l an t

. Th e tri al co u rt

al s o m od i fi ed t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s ch i l d s u p po rt o b l i g at i o ns

. On ap peal

, Ap p el l an t

c o n t e n ds t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred : (i ) i n award in g s o le l eg al cu s t o d y o f t h e ch i l d t o

Ap p el l ee, (i i ) in fai l i n g t o in co rp o rat e a p aren t i ng p l an i n t o i t s f i n a l o r d e r

, (i i i ) in

m o di fy i n g h is ch i ld s u p p o rt o b l i g at i o n wi t h o u t m ak in g a fi n d i n g t h at t h ere h ad b een

a s u b s tan t i al ch an g e i n t h e fi nan ci al ci rcu m s t an ces o f t h e p art i es o r a ch an ge i n t h e

n e e d s o f t h e ch il d

, (i v ) i n n o t i n co rp o rat i ng t h e ch i l d su p po rt wo rk s h eet s i n t o t h e

fi nal o rd er, an d (v ) o rd eri ng t h at h e p ay a p ercen t ag e o f h i s f u tu re b o n u s es as ch i ld

s u p p ort

. 1 Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we affi rm i n p art

, v acat e in part

, an d rem an d t h e

cas e wi t h d i rect i o n

.

1

. A p p el l an t co nt en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran t in g A p p el lee so l e l eg al

cu s t o d y o f t h e p art i es ’ m i n o r ch i l d

. He arg u es t h at

, wh i l e h e was p u t o n n o ti ce o f t h e

i s su e o f p h y s i cal cu s to dy

, l eg al cu s t od y of t h e ch i ld was no t rai sed b y t h e p l ead i n g s

,

n o r was t h e is s u e o f l eg al cu s t o d y tri ed b y th e ex p res s o r i m p l i ed co ns en t o f t h e

p art i es

. Th erefo re, h e m ai n t ai n s

, h e was n ev er affo rd ed an o p po rt u ni ty t o ad d res s t h e

1 Al t ho u g h sh e was rep res en t ed b y co u ns el b el o w, Ap pel l ee i s n o w p ro s e an d

h as n ot fi l ed a res p o n s e b ri ef.

2m at t er o f l eg al cu s t o d y b y i n t ro d u c i n g e v i d en ce co n cern i ng h is ab il i t y t o as s i s t in

m ak i n g l eg al d eci s i o n s fo r t h e m i n or ch i l d

. “ [ W]h e n p a ren ts d i sp u te t h e i s s u e o f

cu s t o d y o f a ch i l d

, a tri al co u rt h as v ery b ro ad di scret io n

, l o o k i ng al way s t o t h e b es t

i n t eres t o f t h e ch i l d .” (Ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Au t r ey v. Au t r ey

, 2 8 8 Ga.

2 8 3 , 2 8 5 (4 ) (7 0 2 SE2 d 8 78 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

In t h e m od i fi cat i o n p et i t i o n

, Ap p el l ee as k ed t h e co urt

, am on g o th er t h i n g s

, to

“ g ran t p r i ma r

y l eg a l an d p ri m a r y p h ys i cal cu s t o dy of t h e m i n or ch i ld t o t h e

[Ap pel lee] .” (Em

p h as i s su p pl i ed .). In h is tes t im o n y

, Ap pel l an t ack n owl ed ged t h at h e

u n d ers t o o d fro m t he p et i t i o n th at “ o n e-h u n d red -p ercen t fu ll cu s t od y o f” th e ch i l d was

at i s su e. Th e r e c o rd s h o ws t h at Ap p el l an t h ad t he o pp o rt un i t y t o as s ert d efen s es to

Ap p el l ee’ s req u es t t h at s h e b e award ed l eg al cu s t o d y o f t h e ch il d . Co m pare OCGA

§ 9 -1 1 -5 4 (c) (1 ) (“ [T] h e co u rt s h a l l n o t g iv e t h e s ucces s fu l p art y rel i ef, t h o u g h h e

m ay b e en t i t l ed t o i t

, w h ere t h e p ro p ri et y of t he rel i ef was n o t l i t i g a t e d a n d t h e

o p p o s i n g p a r t

y h ad n o o

pp o r tu n i t y t o a s s er t d

ef en s es t o s u ch rel i ef

.”) (em p h as i s

s u p p li ed ). Acco rd i n g l y , h e s ho ws n o erro r.

2

. Ap p el l an t cl ai m s t h a t t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fai l i n g t o i n co rp o rat e a

p aren t i n g p l an i n t o it s fi n al cu s t o d y o rd er. OCGA § 1 9 -9 -1 (a) p ro vi d es

, i n ap p l i cab l e

p art

, t h at “ [t ] h e fi n al o rd er in an y l eg al a c t i o n in v o l v i n g t h e cu s t o d y o f a ch i l d,

3i n cl u d i n g m o d i fi cat io n act i o ns

, s h a l l i n co r p o r a t e a p erm an en t p aren t i ng p l an as

fu rt her s et fo rt h i n t h i s Co d e s ect i o n[.] ” (Em p h as i s s u p p li ed

. ). H o wev er, “ a s ep arat e

co u rt o rd er ex cl us i vel 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 ired .” Id

.

In t h i s cas e, al t h o u gh Ap p el l an t ’ s v i s i t at i o n i s s u b ject t o th e e l ect i o n o f t h e

ch i l d

, an d th e tri al co u rt award ed Ap p el l ee s o l e l eg al an d ph y s i cal cu st o d y o f t h e

ch i l d

, Ap p el l an t ’ s p aren t al r i g h t s h av e n o t b een t erm i n at ed

. “ [T] h e paren t i n g p l an

m u st i n cl u d e s ev eral d et ai l s b ey o n d cu s t o dy an d v i s i t at i o n , i n cl u d i n g, am o n g m an y

t h i n g s

, th e ri g h t s o f bo t h p aren ts t o acces s t h e ch i l d ’ s reco rd s an d in fo rm at i o n rel at ed

t o ed u cat i o n

, h eal th

, h eal t h i n s u ran ce, ex t racu rri cu l ar act i v i t ies

, an d rel i g i ou s

co m m u n icat io ns

. OCGA § 19

- 9

- 1 (b ) (1 ) (D).” (Fo o tn o t e o m i t t ed .) W i l l i a ms v.

W i l l i a ms

, 3 0 1 Ga. 21 8

, 22 4 (3 ) (8 00 SE2 d 2 8 2 ) (2 0 1 7 ). As t h e t ri al co urt fai l ed to

i n co rp o rat e a p aren ti ng pl an i n t h e fi n al o rd er, th e ju d g m en t m u st b e v acat ed i n p art

an d t h e cas e rem an d ed fo r co m p l i an ce wi t h th e req u irem en ts o f OCGA § 19 -9 -1

. See

W i l l ia ms v. W

il l ia ms , 3 01 Ga. at 2 24 (3 ).

3

. Ap p el l an t co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n m o d i fy i n g hi s ch i l d s u p p o rt

o b l i g at i o n w i t ho u t m ak i n g a fi n d i n g t h at t h ere had been a s u b s t an t i al ch an g e i n t h e

fi nan ci al ci rcu m s t an ces of th e p art i es o r a ch an g e i n t h e n eed s o f t h e ch il d

. OCGA §

1 9 -6 -1 5 (k ) (1 ) co n t em

p l at es t h at “ a p aren t s h al l n o t h av e t h e ri g h t t o p et i t i o n fo r

4m o d i fi cat i o n o f t h e ch i l d s u p p o rt award

. . . un l es s t here is a s u b st an t i al ch an g e i n

ei t h er p aren t ’ s in co m e an d fi n an ci al s t at u s o r t h e n eed s o f t h e ch i l d

. ” As t he Su p rem e

Co u rt o f Geo rg i a h as ex p l a i n e d

, “ t h e s h owi n g of a ch an g e in t h e p aren t ’ s fi n an ci al

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

m o di f i cat i o n act i o n .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) W et h er i n g t o n v.

W et h er in g t o n

, 2 9 1 G a. 7 2 2

, 7 2 5 (2 ) (a) (7 3 2 SE2 d 4 3 3 ) (2 0 1 2). See W i n g a r d v. Pa r i s

,

2 7 0 Ga. 4 3 9

, 4 3 9 (5 1 1 SE2 d 1 67 ) (1 9 9 9) (acco rd ).

Ap p el l ee’ s p et i t i on as k e d t h at s h e b e award ed “ p erm an en t ch i l d s u p p o rt in

co m p l ian ce wi t h Geo rg ia St at u t o ry Gu i d el i n es .” Un d er t h e s et t l em en t ag reem en t

i n co rp o rat ed i nt o t h e d i vo rce d ecree, t h e p art i es ag reed th at Ap p el l ee wo u ld accep t

a m o n t h l y p ay m en t fro m A pp el l an t i n t he am o u n t o f $ 40 0 n ot wi t h s t an d i n g t h at t h e

ch i l d s up p ort w o rk s h ee t s s h o w ed t hat th e n o n -cu s t o d ial p aren t s h o u ld pay ch i ld

s u p p ort i n t h e am o u n t of $ 7 4 6.8 3

. Th u s

, t h e p et i t io n ’ s req u es t t h at Ap p el l an t b e

o rd ered t o p ay m o n t h ly ch il d s u p p o rt co n s i s t en t l y w i t h t h e st at u t o ry g u i d el i n es

req u i red th at t h e t ri al co urt m od i fy Ap pel l an t ’ s o bl i g at i o ns u n d er t h e di v o rce d ecree.

At t h e o u t s et o f t he p et i t i on h eari n g

, Ap p el l an t’ s at t o rn ey an n o u nced t h at “ we are

co n sen t i n g t o wh at [Ap p el l ee] req u es t ed an d h er p ray ers i n her p et i t i o n .” T he p art i es

t h en p res en t ed ev id en ce p ert i n en t t o th e am o u n t o f s u p p o rt

. Ap p el l an t’ s t ri al co u n s el

5l at er rep res en t ed t h at “ t h e p art i es h av e n ev er h ad an wi t h is s u e p ay i n g ch i l d s u p p o rt

.

It ’ s ju s t n o w t h e cal cu l at i o n s o f t h at .”

In l i g h t o f t h e fo reg o i n g

, Ap p el l an t co n s e n t e d t o t h e m o di fi cat i o n o f h i s

m o nt h l y ch i l d su p p ort o bl i g at i on

, al t h o ug h he d i s p u t ed t h e am o u nt t h at h e s h o u l d b e

req u i red t o p ay u nd er t h e s tat u t o ry g u i d el i n es

. Becau s e A p p el lan t acq u i es ced t o a

m o di fi cat i o n o f h i s ch i l d s up p o rt o b l i g at i o n s

, h e wai ved an y o b j ect i on t o wh et h er t h e

t h res ho l d req u i rem en t s fo r s u ch a m o d i fi cat i o n were o t h erwi s e m et

. See, e.g

.,

Mu l li n s -Leh o l m v. E

va n s

, 3 2 2 Ga. Ap p

. 8 6 9

, 8 72 (3 ) (7 4 6 SE2 d 6 2 8 ) (2 01 3 ) (m o t h er

wai v ed o b

ject i o n t o t r i a l c o u rt ’ s m o d i fi cat i o n o f her v i s i t at i o n ri gh t s by co n ced i n g

t h at t h e t ri al co u rt co u ld ch an g e v i s i tat i o n ).

4

. A p p el l an t cl ai m s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n n ot at t ach i n g th e ch i ld s u p p o rt

wo rk s h eet s t o t h e fi n al o rd er. W e ag ree.

O CGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 p ro vi d es a pro ces s fo r cal cu l at i n g ch i l d s u p p ort wh i c h,

p u rs uan t t o s u b s ect io n (m ), req u i res t h e n eces s ary in fo rm at io n u s ed i n

t h at cal cu l a t i o n t o b e reco rd ed o n t he ch i ld s u p p o rt wo rk sh eet

.

Dev i at i o n s fro m t h e pres u m p ti v e am ou n t o f ch i l d s u p p o rt

, as p ro v i d ed

b y OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (i ), are t o b e s et ou t i n Sch ed u l e E o f t he

wo rk s h eet

. OCGA § 1 9-6 -1 5 (b ) (8 ). If th e fact fi n d er d ev i at es fro m th e

p res um p t i v e am o u n t o f ch i l d s u pp o rt

, c e r t a i n s p eci fi c fi n d in gs o f fact

m u s t b e s et fo rt h i n t h e ch i l d su p p o rt o rd er, i n cl u di n g t h e reas o n s fo r th e

d ev i at i o n

, t h e am o u n t o f ch il d su p p o rt t hat wo u l d h av e b een req u i red i f

6n o d ev i at io n h ad b een ap p l i ed

, h o w t h e ap pl i cat i o n o f t h e p res u m p t iv e

am o u nt of ch i ld s u p p o rt wo u l d be u n j u s t or i n ap p r o p ri at e co n s i d eri n g

t h e rel at iv e ab i l it y o f each p aren t t o p ro v i de s u p po rt , an d h ow t h e b es t

i n t eres t o f t h e ch il d w h o i s t h e s u bject o f t h e ch i l d s u p po rt d et erm i nat i o n

i s s erv ed b y a d ev i at i on fro m t h e p res u m p t i v e am ou n t

. See OCGA §

1 9 -6 -1 5 (c) (2 ) (E) an d (i ) (1 ) (B).

(Ci t at i o n

, p u n ct uat i o n an d fo o t no t e o m i t t ed

. ) Bl a ck v. Fer l i n g er e

, 3 33 G a. Ap p

. 7 8 9,

7 9 1 (2 ) (7 7 7 SE2 d 2 6 8 ) (2 0 15 ). “ In ad di t io n t o i n cl ud i n g t h e afo rem en t i o n ed s p eci fi c

fi nd i ng s of fact

, t h e t ri al co u rt m u s t at t ach a co m

p l et ed ch i l d s u p po rt wo rk s h eet an d

Sch ed u l e E t o t h e ch i ld s u p p o rt o rd er, i n co rp o rat e t h o s e d o cu m en t s b y referen ce i n to

t h e o rd er, o r en t er t h e p ert i nen t i n fo rm at i o n fro m t h os e d o cu m en t s d irect l y i n t o t h e

o rd er i t s el f.” (Ci t at i o ns o m i t t ed .) Id . See OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (m ) (1 ). 2

T h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er referen ces t wo ch i l d s u p p o rt wo rk s h eet s p u rp o rt ed l y

at t ach ed as Ex h i bi t “ A” an d Ex h i b i t “ B,” b u t t h e wo rk s heet s were no t at t ach ed t o t h e

fi nal o rd er. W ork s h eet s an d s ch ed u l es co rres p on d in g w i th t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er were

l at er fi l ed

, ap paren t l y b y A p p el l ee’ s co u n s el

, b u t were n o t i n co rp o rat ed i n t o t h e t ri al

2 Aft er t h e en t ry o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n al o rd er, effect i v e J u ly 1

, 2 0 1 7

, OCGA

§ 1 9 -6 -1 5 (m ) (1 ) no w req u i res

, i n p ert i n en t p art

, th at “ [t ] h e ch i l d s u p p o rt wo rk s h eet s

an d an y s ch ed u l e t h at was p rep ared fo r t he p u rp os e of cal cu l at i n g t h e am ou n t o f ch i ld

s u p p ort s h al l b e at t ach ed t o t h e fi n al co u rt o rd er o r ju d g m en t [.] ” Ga. L. 2 0 1 7

, p

. 6 4 6.

7co u rt ’ s o rd er, an d it i s u n cl ear i f t h e t ri al co urt ev en h ad t h e wo rk s h eet s an d sch ed u l es

i n i t s po s s es si o n wh en t h e fi n al o rd er was en t ered

. Pert i n en t i nfo rm at i o n t h at wo u ld

o t h erwi s e b e fo u n d o n t h e wo rk s h eet s an d Sch ed u l e E, i n cl ud i n g th at p ert ai n i n g to

d e v i a t i o n s an d sp eci al ci rcu m s t an ces

, i s n o t in cl u d ed wi t h i n th e o rd er i ts el f. As

d i s cu s s ed i n Di v i s i o n 5

, i n fra, Ap p el l an t h as ch al l en g ed t h e ch i l d s u p p o rt award as

co n st i t u t in g an i m

p r o p e r d ev i at i o n fro m th e p res u m p t i v e am ou n t o f s u p p o rt

.

Acco rd in g ly

, “ we can n o t av o i d t h e co n cl u s i o n t h at a rem an d is n eces s ary d u e t o t h e

l ack o f n eces s ary fi n d i n g s bei n g act u al l y i n cl u d ed i n t h e Fi n al Ord er h ere.” Demmo n s

v. W i l s o n -Demmo n s

, 2 9 3 Ga. 3 4 9

, 3 50 (1 ) (7 4 5 SE2 d 6 4 5 ) (2 0 1 3 ). See W a l l a ce v.

W a l la ce

, 2 9 6 Ga. 3 0 7, 3 1 0 (1 ) (7 6 6 SE2 d 4 52 ) (2 0 1 4 ) ( r e v ers i n g an d rem an d i n g

b ecau s e t h e t ri al co urt fai led t o m ak e t h e req u i red fi n di n gs ). Th e t ri al co u rt ’ s award

o f ch i l d s u pp o rt i s t h erefo re vacat ed an d t h e cas e rem an d ed w i t h d irect i o n t h at t h e

wo rk s h eet s an d ap p ro p ri at e s ch ed u l es b e at t ach ed t o t h e o rd er.

5

. Th e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er p ro v i d ed t h at Ap p el l an t p ay $ 1 ,0 4 8 p er m o n t h i n ch i ld

s u p p ort b eg i n n i n g Ap ri l 2 0 1 7

. Beg i nn i n g Jan u ary 2 0 1 8

, t he t ri al co u rt o rd ered t h at

Ap p el l an t p ay $ 1,0 2 0 p er m o n th i n su p p o rt

. In ad d i t i on t o t h e m o n t h l y ch i l d s u p p o rt

am ou n t

, t h e t ri al co u rt o rd ered t h at “ [Ap p el l a n t ] s h al l p ay to [Ap p el lee] t h i rt y -fi v e

8p ercen t (3 5 %) o f an y an d al l b o n u ses recei v ed d u ri n g each cal en d er y ear ab o v e t h e

am ou n t o f $ 3 ,5 0 0 .0 0 recei v ed i n an y b o n u s .”

Ap p el l an t co n ten d s t hat t h e t ri al co urt ’ s o rd er co ns t i t u t es an i m p ro p er fu t u re

m o di fi cat i o n o f s u p p o rt

. See, e. g

., Ho wa r d v. Ho wa r d

, 2 62 Ga. 1 4 4

, 1 45 (1 ) (4 1 4

SE2 d 2 0 3 ) (1 99 2) (fi n d er o f fact m ay n o t b as e m o d ifi cat i o n o n s p ec u l at i v e fu t u re

ci rcu m s t an ces ). H e al s o co n ten d s t hat

, i n l i g h t o f S to wel l v. Hu g u en a rd

, 2 8 8 Ga. 6 2 8,

6 3 2 (7 0 6 SE2 d 4 1 9) (2 01 1 ), 3 th e t ri al co urt erred i n m ak i n g an u n s u pp o rt ed d ev i at i o n

fro m th e p res um

p t i v e am o u n t o f s u p p o rt b y req u i ri n g t h at he p ay a p ercen t ag e o f

fu t u re b o n u s es in ad d i t i o n to t h e m o n t h l y ch i l d s u p p o rt am o u n t

. Ap p el l an t

ack n owl ed ges t h at i t i s un cl ear wh at am o u n t o f i n co m e t he tri al co u rt co n s i d e r ed

wh en cal cu l at i n g ch i l d s u p p o rt i n t h e a b s e n ce o f a fi n d i n g i n t h e fi n al o rd er o r in

3 As rel ev an t h ere, S t owel l v. Hu g u en a r d

p ro v i des :

If a t ri al c o u r t b e l i e v es t h at [a p ro v i s io n pro v i di n g fo r p ay m en t o f a

p ercen t ag e of n o n recu rri n g i n co m e] is n eces s ary t o arri v e at a fai r ch i l d

s u p p o rt am o u n t

, t h en i t m u s t treat i t as a d ev i at i o n

, en t er i t o n t h e Ch i l d

Su p p o rt Sch ed u l e E

— Dev i at i on s s ect i on of t h e ch i l d s up p o rt

wo rk s h eet

, an d s u p p o rt i t wi t h t h e r e q ui red fi nd i n g s o f fact an d

ap p l icat i o n o f t he b es t i nt eres t o f th e ch i l d s t an d ard

. OCGA § 19 -6 -1 5

(b ) (8 ).

(Pu n ct u at i on o m i t t ed .) S t o wel l v. Hu g u en a rd , 2 8 8 Ga. at 6 32

.

9i n co rp o rat ed ch i l d s u pp o rt wo r k s h eet s

. No r are t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d in g s as to

d ev iat i o n s fro m

t he p res u m

p ti v e am o u n t of ch i l d s up p o rt b efo re u s

. Acco rd i n g ly , i t

i s p rem at u re fo r t h i s Co u rt t o a d d res s th es e cl ai m s o f erro r. See Demmo n s v.

W i l s o n -Demmo n s

, 2 9 3 Ga. at 3 5 0 (2 ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m e d i n 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. Bet hel

, J., a n d S en i or Ap p el l a t e Ju d

g e Her b er t

E. Ph i p p s co n cu r

.

10