FI FTH DI VI SI ON

RI CKM A N, C. J.

, M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE 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.

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. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

Septem ber 22, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 91 3 . PASCAL v

. PINO.

P H I P P S , Sen i o r Ap p el l at e J u d g e.

Th i s cu s t o d y d is p ut e aro s e wh en Di an a M ari e Pas cal (t he “ m o t h er”) pet i t i o n ed

t o m o d i fy t h e cu s to d y arran g em en t p rev i o u s l y ag reed t o b y her an d h er ex -h u s b an d,

J o s e Go n zal ez Pi n o (t h e “ fat h er”). Th e fat h er co u n terc lai m ed t o m o d ify ch i l d s u p p o rt

.

Fo l l o wi ng a b en ch t ri al at wh ich t h e fat h er a l s o s o u g h t t o m o d i fy cu s t o d y

, t h e t ri al

co u rt award ed p ri m ary ph y s i cal cu s t od y o f t h e m in or c h i l d ren to t h e fat h er. Th e

m o th er co n t en ds o n ap peal th at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i ts d i s cret i on b y g ran t i n g rel i ef

n o t s o u g h t i n t h e fat h er’ s co u n t ercl ai m an d fi n d in g t h at t h e ev i den ce was s u ffi ci en t

t o su p p o rt a m o d i fi cat i o n of p h y s i cal cu s t o d y t o th e fat her. Becau s e w e co n cl u d e t h at

t h e tri al co u rt erred b y co n s i d eri n g t h e fat h er’ s req u es t fo r p ri m ary ph y s ical cu s t o dywh en t h at req u es t was n o t p ro p erl y b efo re t h e co u rt

, we vacat e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er

an d rem an d t h i s cas e t o t h e t ri al co u rt fo r a h eari n g o n t h e m o t h er’ s co m p l ai n t o n l y

.

Geo rg i a l aw i s wel l s et t l ed

,

[a] t ri al co u rt faced wi t h a p et i t i on fo r m o d ifi cat io n o f ch i ld cu s t o d y i s

ch arg ed wi t h ex erci s i n g it s d i s cret i o n t o d et erm i n e wh at i s in t h e ch il d ’ s

b es t i n t eres t

. Ou r s tan d ard o f rev i ew i s deferen ti al : we wi ll u p h o l d th e

t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n u n l es s t h e co u rt ab u sed i t s d i scret i o n, an d wh ere

t h ere i s an y ev i d en ce t o s up p o rt t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g

, a r e v i e w i n g

co u rt can no t s ay

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

.

Les t er v. Bo l es

, 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p

. 8 9 1

, 8 9 2 ( 1 ) (7 82 SE2 d 5 3) (2 0 1 6 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). W h en

, h o wev er, t h e arg u m en t as s ert ed p res en ts a q u es t i o n o f

l aw, as here, “ we o we n o d eferen ce t o t h e t r i a l co u rt ’ s ru l i n g an d ap p l y t he ‘ p l ai n

l eg al erro r’ s t an dard o f rev iew

. ” S e e l e y v

. S eel ey

, 2 8 2 Ga. Ap p

. 3 9 4, 39 5 (1 ) (6 3 8

SE2 d 8 37 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed ); acco rd Bo r g er s v. Bo r g er s

, 3 4 7

Ga. Ap p . 6 4 0 , 6 4 5 (1 ) (b ) (8 2 0 SE2 d 4 7 4 ) (2 0 1 8 ).

Th e u nd i s p u t ed ev id en ce i n t h i s cas e s h o ws t h at t h e p art i es hav e t wo m i n o r

ch i l d ren , b orn i n 2 0 1 1 an d 2 0 1 5 . Th e p art i es d i v o rced i n 2 0 18 an d ag reed t h at t h ey

wo u l d h av e jo i n t leg al an d p h y s i cal cu st o d y of th e m i n o r ch il d ren

. Th e fi n al d ecree

o f d i v o rce i n co rp o rat ed t h e p art i es ’ s i g n ed s et t l em en t ag reem en t an d p aren t i n g p l an

.

2In Au g u s t 2 0 1 9

, t h e m o t h er p et i t i o n ed to m o d i fy cu s t o d y

, v i s i t at io n

, an d ch i ld

s u p p ort

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, s h e s o ug h t t o b e n a m e d t he ch i l d ren ’ s p ri m ary p h y s i cal

cu s t o d i an

, t o ad

ju st t h e paren ti n g t i m e s ch ed u l e, an d t o o b tai n fi n al d eci s i o n -m ak i n g

au t h o ri t y o v er al l deci sio n s reg ard i n g t h e ch i l d ren

, in cl u d i n g w h ere t h ey wo u l d at t en d

s ch o ol

. Th e m o t h er al s o req ues ted a m o di fi cat i o n o f ch il d s u p p o rt t o acco u nt fo r an y

ch an ge i n cu s t o d y an d p aren t in g t i m e. Pri o r t o fi l i n g h i s an s wer an d co u n t ercl ai m

, t h e

fat h er fi l ed an em erg en cy m o t io n fo r cu s t o d y b as ed o n h i s as s ert i o n s t h at t h e m o t h er

m ad e “ h i g h l y t ro u b l i ng ” s t at em en t s t o h i m an d ex h i b i t ed u nu s ual b eh av i o r d u ri n g a

cu s t o d y ex ch an g e. T h e t ri al co u r t h el d a h eari n g

, an d gran t ed t h e fat h er’ s m o t i o n,

t em p o rari l y award i ng h i m s o l e leg al an d p h y s i cal cu s t o d y o f t h e ch i ld ren an d l i m i t i n g

t h e m o t h er’ s v is i t at i o n

.

Ap p ro x im at el y on e m on th l at er, t he fat h er an s wered t h e m o t h er’ s p et it i o n an d

co u nt ercl ai m ed

. Al t h o u g h t h e p l ead i n g ’ s t i t l e i den t i fi ed i t as “ An s w er an d

Co u n t ercl ai m t o M o di fy Cu s t o d y

, Vi s i t at i o n

, an d Su pp o rt

, ” t h e co u nt er cl ai m i t s el f

was t i t l ed “ Co un t ercl ai m t o M od i fy Ch i l d Su p p o rt ,” an d th e fat h er d i d no t req u es t a

m o d i fi cat i o n o f ch i l d cu s to d y wi t h i n th e p l ead i ng

. In fact

, th e fat h er s p eci f i c a l l y

p ray ed “ [t ] h at t h e rel ev an t p o rt i o n s o f t h e Fi n al J ud g m en t an d Decree, an d Perm an en t

Paren t i n g Pl an g o v ern i n g ch i l d cu s t o d y rem ai n u n ch an g ed .”

3In Au g u s t 2 0 2 0, t h e t ri al co u rt co nd u ct ed a b en ch t ri al o n t h e m o t h er’ s p et i t i o n

an d t h e fat h er’ s co u n tercl ai m

. In t he f a the r ’ s ope ning s t at em en t, h i s co u n s el i n d i cat ed

,

fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e, t h at t h e fat h er was s eek i n g perm an en t p ri m ary p h y s i cal cu s t o d y o f

t h e ch i l d ren

. In t h at reg ard

, co u n s el as s ert ed

, “ [W ] e b el i ev e t h e ev i d en ce i s g o i n g to

s h o w t h at i t ’ s n ot ap p ro p ri at e fo r [t h e m o t her] t o co n t i n u e t o h av e p ri m ary cu s t o dy

[s i c] o f t h e s e k i d s

. It ’ s i n t h ei r b es t i n t eres t t o b e in a h o m e wi t h a p aren t wh o i s

s t ab l e.

. . . Th e ch i l d ren are b et t er o ff wi t h m y cl i en t i n a s tab l e, s a f

e h o u s e h o l d .”

Al t h o u g h t h e fat h er t es t i fi ed t h at h e was no t seek i n g s o l e ph y s i cal cu st o d y o f t h e

ch i l d ren

, h e n ev ert h el es s req u es t ed t hat cu s t o d y “ rem ai n as cl o s e as p o s s i b l e t o h o w

[i t h as ] b een s i nce t h e em erg en cy h eari n g,” wh ere h e recei v ed s ol e l eg al an d p h y s i cal

cu s t o d y

. He t h en t es ti fi ed ab o u t wh at h e wo ul d d o i f g ran t ed p ri m ary p h y si cal cu s t o dy

o f t h e ch i l d ren

. O n cro s s-ex am i n at i o n

, h o wev er, t h e fat h er ack no w l e d ged t h at h i s

o n l y req u es t fo r a ch an g e i n cu s t od y h ad b een i n co n ju n ct i o n wi th t he em erg en cy

m o ti o n h e fi l ed i n t h is p ro ceed i n g

. T h e m o th er o b j ect ed t o th e fat her’ s cu s t o dy

m o di fi cat i o n req u es t

, arg u i n g t h at h e n ev er co u n t ercl ai m ed fo r s u ch a m o d i fi cat i o n.

Th e t ri al co u rt i ss ued a fi n al o rd er co n cl u di n g t h at i t was i n t h e b es t i n t eres t s

o f t h e ch i l d ren fo r t he p art i es t o hav e j o i n t l eg al cu st o d y

, wi t h t h e fat h er h av i n g

4p ri m ary p h y s ical cu s t o d y

. Th e co u rt t h en en t ered a p erm an en t p aren ti n g p l an t o t h at

effect . Th e m o t h er ap p eal s fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n al o rd er.

1

. In h er fi rs t en u m erat i o n o f erro r, t h e m o t her as s ert s t hat t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed

i t s d i s cret i o n i n g ran ti n g t h e fat h er rel i ef n o t s o u g h t i n h i s co u n tercl ai m

. Sp eci fi cal l y

,

t h e m o th er arg u es th at t he t ri al co u rt h ad n o au t h o r i t y t o a w a rd t h e fat h er p ri m ary

p h y s i cal cu s t o d y o f t h e ch i l d ren b ecau s e t h e fat h er di d n o t r e q u e s t a ch an g e in

cu s t o d y i n h is co u n t ercl ai m an d

, i n fact

, s peci fi cal l y req u es t ed t h at t h e p ro vi s i o n s o f

t h e o ri g i n al p aren ti n g p l an

– i n wh i ch t h e part i es h ad jo i nt l eg al an d p h y s i cal cu s t o dy

– rem ai n u n ch an g ed . W e ag ree.

OCGA § 1 9 -9 -2 3 g o v ern s act i o n s t o o b tai n a ch an g e o f l eg al o r p h y s i cal

cu s t o d y

. Un d er t h e cu rren t v ers i o n o f t hat s tat u t e

– wh i ch was i n effect at th e t i m e t h e

m o th er fi l ed h er p et i t i o n fo r m o d i fi cat i o n o f cu s t o dy

, v is it at i on

, an d s up p o rt

– a p art y

m u st req u es t a ch an g e of l eg al o r p h y si cal cu st o d y i n o n e o f t wo w ay s : (a) by

i n i t i at i n g a co m

p l ai nt s eek i n g s u ch rel i ef i n t h e ap p ro p ri at e v en u e, o r (b ) b y b ri n g i n g

a co u n t ercl ai m fo r m o di fi cat i o n o f l eg al o r p h y s i cal cu s t o d y i n r es p o ns e t o a

co m p l ai n t s eek i n g to m o d i fy cu s t o d y. O C G A § 1 9 -9 -2 3 (a), (d ) (2 01 9 ). Th i s Co u rt

rep eat ed l y h as n o t ed t hat “ t he l an g u ag e o f OCGA § 1 9 -9 -2 3 [req u i ri n g a p art y to

b ri n g a s ep arat e co m

pl ai n t t o c h a n g e cu s t o d y ] i s cl ear an d u n eq u i v ocal an d i s

5m an d at o ry .” 1 Ba i l ey v. Ba i l ey

, 2 8 3 Ga. Ap p. 36 1

, 3 6 2 (6 4 1 S E 2 d 5 8 0 ) (2 0 0 7 )

(ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i on o m i tt ed ); acco rd S eel ey v. S eel ey

, 2 8 2 G a. A p p

. 3 9 4

, 3 9 6

(1 ) (6 38 SE2 d 8 37 ) (2 0 0 6 ); Ter r y v. Ga r i b a l d i

, 2 7 4 Ga. Ap p

. 4 05

, 4 0 8 (1 ) (6 1 8 SE2 d

6 ) (2 0 0 5 ). Li k ewi s e, t h e 2 0 1 9 s t at u t o ry rev i s i o n p erm i t t i n g a p a r t y t o b ri n g “ a

co u nt ercl ai m fo r m o di fi cat i o n o f l eg al cu s to d y or p hy s i cal cu s t o dy i n res p on s e t o a

co m p l ai n t ” fo r m o d ifi cat i o n o f t h e s am e, s i m il arl y i s cl ear an d u n am b i g u ou s

. 2 See Ga.

L. 2 01 9 , p . 9 0 4 , § 2 ; OCGA § 1 9 -9 -2 3 (d ) (2 0 1 9 ).

In t h i s cas e, it i s u n d i s p u t ed t h at t h e fat h er d i d n o t i n it i at e a co m p l ai n t

, an d h e

i m p l i ci tl y co n ced es th at h e d i d n o t b ri n g a co u n t ercl ai m t o m o d i fy cu s t o d y in

1 O CGA § 1 9 -9 -2 3 was en act ed i n 1 9 7 8, Ga. L. 19 7 8

, p

. 1 9 5 7

, § 4, an d i t s

l a n gu ag e reg ard in g t h e fi l i n g o f a s ep arat e co m p l ai n t t o ch an g e cu s t o d y es s en t i al l y

h as rem ai n ed u nch an g ed

. Fro m 1 9 7 8 u n t i l t h e st at ut e w a s rev i s ed i n 2 0 1 9

, t h e l aw

s t at ed th at “ [a] co m

p lai n t b y t h e l eg al cu s t o d i an s eek i ng a ch an g e o f l eg al cu s t o d y o r

v i s i t at i o n ri g h t s sh al l b e b ro u g h t as a s ep arat e act i o n” i n t h e ap p ro p ri at e v en u e. Ga.

L. 1 9 7 8

, p

. 1 95 7

, § 4 (b ); s ee G a. L. 1 9 8 3

, p. 3

, § 5 2 (rev i s i n g s tat u t e t o refl ect co rrect

co n st i t u t io n al p ro v i s i o n reg ard i n g v en u e). Th e cu rren t l aw s t at es t h at “ [a] co m p l ai nt

s eek i n g a ch an g e o f l eg al cu s t o d y o r p hy s i cal cu s to d y s hal l b e i ni t i at ed ” i n t h e

ap p ro p ri at e v en u e. OCGA § 1 9 -9 -2 3 (a) (2 0 1 9 ).

2 Fro m 1 9 7 8 u n ti l t h e 20 1 9 st at u to ry rev i s i o n

, t h e l aw m an dat ed th at fi l i n g a

s ep arat e act i o n was t h e o n l y m et h o d t o s eek a ch a n g e i n c u s t o dy ; t h e l aw d i d n ot

al l o w a p art y

t o co u n tercl ai m fo r s u ch rel ief. Ga. L. 1 9 7 8 , p . 1 95 7 , § 4 (c). See al s o

Ter r y

, 2 7 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 0 7

. Ho wev er, effect i v e J u ly 1

, 2 01 9

, t h e s t at u te was rev i s ed

t o ex p li ci t l y a u t h o r i z e a p art y t o bri n g a co u n tercl ai m fo r m o d i fi cat i o n of l eg al o r

p h y s i cal cu s t od y i n res po n s e t o a co m p l ai nt i n i t i at ed to ch an g e cu s to d y

. Ga. L. 2 0 1 9,

p . 9 04 , § 2 ; OCGA § 1 9 -9 -2 3 (d ) (2 0 1 9 ).

6res p o n s e t o t h e m o t h er’ s p et i t i o n b y fai l i n g t o m ak e an y

s u ch cl ai m

i n h i s ap p el l at e

b ri ef. In fact

, t h e fat h er sp eci fi cal l y s tat es i n h i s ap p el l at e b ri ef t h at h e “ w as n ot

req u i red t o fi l e a co u n t ercl ai m fo r m o d i fi cat i o n b efo re b ei n g p erm it t ed t o arg u e t h e

b es t i n t eres t o f t h e m i n o r ch i l dren were s erv ed b y an al t ern at i v e t o t h e o n e s u g g es t ed

b y [ t h e m o t h er] .” 3 Becau s e t h e fat h er fai l ed t o p ro p erl y s eek a ch an g e o f l eg al o r

p h y s i cal cu s t o d y u n d er OCGA § 1 9 -9 -2 3

, he was precl u d ed fro m o b tai n i n g s u ch an

award . See g en eral l y Ba i l ey , 2 8 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 6 2 ; S eel ey , 2 8 2 Ga. Ap p . at 3 9 5 -3 9 6

(1 ); Ter r y , 2 74 Ga. Ap p . at 4 07

.

In an at t em

p t t o av o i d t h e req u i rem en t s o f OCGA § 1 9 -9 -2 3

, t h e fat h er arg u es

t h at “ [t ] ri al co urt s are n o t l i m i t e d b y p l e a d i ng s i n d et erm i n i n g t h e b es t i n t eres t s o f

ch i l d ren .” He cl ai m s t h at “ [w] h et h er a t ri al co urt h a s t h e d i s cret i o n t o o rd er wh at i t

d et erm i n es i s i n t h e b es t i n t eres t s o f a ch il d i f i t ru n s co un t er t o t h e rel i ef pray ed fo r

3 Th e reco rd s h o ws t h a t t h e f a t h e r n ev er fi l ed a co u n tercl ai m fo r a ch an g e o f

cu s t o d y

, b u t

, rat h er, fi l ed a co u n t ercl ai m s eek i ng t o m o d i fy h i s ch i l d s u p p o rt

o b l i g at i o n. W e d ecl i n e t o co n st r u e t h e fat h er’ s fi l i n g o f an em erg en cy m o t i o n fo r

cu s t o d y wi t h i n th e m o t h er’ s m o d i fi cat io n act i o n as a co u n tercl a i m fo r p erm an en t

cu s t o d y i n t h i s cas e b ecau s e t h e p l ead i n g h e su b s eq u en t ly fi l ed p l ai nl y req u es t ed t h at

“ t h e rel ev an t p o rt i o n s of th e F i n a l J u d gm en t an d Decree, an d Perm an en t Paren t i n g

Pl an go v ern i n g ch i l d cu s to d y rem ai n u n ch an g ed .” In ad d i t i o n

, we decl i n e t o co n s t ru e

t h e fat h er’ s o ral req u es t fo r a m o d i fi cat i o n o f cu s to d y at t ri al as “ b r i n g [ i n g ] a

co u nt ercl ai m fo r m o d i fi cat i o n of

. . . cu st o d y i n res p o ns e t o a co m p l ai n t ” as req u i red

b y OCGA § 1 9 -9 -2 3

.

7i n t h e p et i t i o n

. . . ap p ears t o b e a m at t er o f fi rs t i m p res s i o n i n G e o r g i a.” H o wev er,

t h es e arg u m en ts ru n co u n t er t o t h e cl ear s t at u t o ry m an d at es o f OCGA § 1 9 -9 -2 3

. In

co n st ru i n g t h e pri or v ers io n of OCGA § 1 9 -9 -2 3

, t h i s Co u rt rep eat ed l y n o t ed t h at t ri al

co u rt s can n o t en tert ai n a req u es t t o m o di fy cu s t o d y if n o t p ro p erl y b ro u g h t p u rs u an t

t o OCGA § 1 9 -9 -2 3

, ev en i f cu s t o d y

– wh i ch n eces s ari l y req u i res a d et erm i n at i o n

reg ard i n g t h e b es t i nt eres ts o f t h e ch i l d ren

– i s b efo re t h e t ri al co u rt i n t h e un d erl y i n g

p et i t i o n

. See g en eral l y Jo n es v. Jo n es

, 2 5 6 G a. 7 4 2, 7 43 (3 5 2 SE2 d 75 4 ) (1 9 8 7 )

(ad d res s i n g pri o r v ers i o n o f s tat u t e); Ba i l ey

, 2 8 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 6 2 (s am e); S eel ey

, 2 8 2

Ga. Ap p . at 3 9 5 -3 9 6 (1 ) (s am e).

In ad d i t i o n

, ad op ti n g t h e fat h er’ s arg u m en t t h at

, reg ard l es s o f t h e p art i es ’

p l ead i n g s o r p ray ers fo r rel i ef, a t ri al co u rt a lwa ys is au t h o ri zed t o co n s id er t h e b es t

i n t e r e s t s o f t h e ch i l d ren an d g ran t an award refl ect i n g t h o s e i n t eres t s wo ul d ren d er

OCGA § 1 9 -9 -2 3 m ean i n g l es s

. In d eed

, t h e an al y s i s p ro p o s ed by t h e fat h er wo u ld

al l o w an y p aren t t o arg ue t h at m o d i fi cat i o n o f cu s to d y i n h i s fav o r i s i n t h e b es t

i n t eres t s o f t h e ch i l d ren wi t h o u t co m p l y i n g wi t h t h e ex p res s s tat u to ry p ro v i s i on s

s p eci fy in g t h e m et h o d s b y wh i ch a p art y can bri n g a m od i fi cat i o n o f cu s t od y cl ai m

. 4

4 Li k ewi s e, t h e fat h er’ s s p eci o u s arg u m en t t h at t h e t ri a l c o urt “ gran t ed [t h e]

M o t h er’ s p et i ti o n t o m od i fy ” b u t “ s i m p l y d i d n o t ag ree wi t h wh at [t h e] M o t h er

cl ai m ed was i n t h e b es t i n t e res t s o f t h e m i no r ch i l d ren ” i s y et an o t h er at t em p t to

8Th i s we can n ot d o becau s e t hi s Co u rt m u s t p res u m e t h at “ t h e leg i sl at ur e m ean t

s o m et h in g b y t h e pas s ag e o f [a s t at u t e,] an d, [we are] ch arg ed wi t h t h e d u t y to

co n st ru e a st at u t e s o as n o t t o ren d er i t m ean i n g les s

. ” Po wel l v. S t u ds t i l l

, 2 6 4 Ga. 1 0 9,

1 1 3 ( 3 ) ( b ) (4 41 SE2 d 5 2 ) (1 9 9 4 ) (ci t at i o n o m it t ed ); acco rd Ha n d el v. Po wel l

, 2 8 4

Ga. 5 5 0

, 5 5 4 -5 5 5 (6 7 0 SE2 d 6 2 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (co u rt s m u st co ns t ru e a s t at u t e t o g i v e

s en s i b l e an d i n t el l i g e n t e f fect t o al l o f i ts p ro v i s i o n s an d t o refrai n fro m an y

i n t erp ret at io n th at ren d ers an y p ar t o f th e s t at u te m ean i n g les s ). A cco rd i n gl y

, al t h o u g h

t h e fat h er p o i n t s t o fact s el i ci t ed d u ri n g t h e h eari n g o n h i s em erg en cy m o t i o n an d at

t ri al as s u p p o rt fo r h i s as s ert i o n t h at t h e t ri al co urt ’ s award o f p r i m a r y p h ys i cal

cu s t o d y t o h i m was i n t h e ch i l d ren ’ s b es t i nt eres t s, t h es e fact o rs d o n o t

, t h em s el v es

,

crea t e a s ep arat e b as i s fo r ju ri s d ict i o n i n co n t rav en ti o n o f t h e cl ear m an d at es o f

OCGA § 1 9 -9 -2 3

.

W e are s y m

p at h et i c t o t h e fat h er’ s arg um en t th at a t ri al co u rt i s o b l i g at ed to

d eci d e wh at award i s i n t h e ch il d ren ’ s b es t i n t eres t s . An d

[w] e real i ze t h at th e fi li n g of a s ep arat e ch a n g e o f cu s t o dy s u i t b y th e

[fat h er] co u l d res u l t i n co n s o l i d at i o n o f t h e t w o a c t io n s i n fro n t o f th e

s am e ju d g e, an d t h at t h e t ri al co urt w o u ld h av e h ad t o co n s i d e r t h e

cu s t od y i ss u e w h et h er t h e [fat h er] fi l ed a co u n t ercl ai m o r a s ep arat e

b y p as s t h e s t at u to ry

req u i rem en t s o f OCGA § 1 9 -9 -2 3

.

9co m

p lai n t

. In t erm s o f j u d i ci al effi ci en cy

, t h e [fat h er’ s ] p o s it i on i s

u n d ers t an dab l e, ev en co m p el l i n g

.

Ter r y

, 2 74 G a. Ap p

. at 4 0 7 -4 0 8 (1 ). H o wev er, t h i s C o u r t h as nev er reco g n i zed

u n fet t ered d i s cret i o n i n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ab i l i t y t o craft a rem ed y i n t he b es t i n t eres t s

o f t h e ch i l d ren reg a r d l e s s o f t h e req u es t ed rel i ef b efo re t h e co u rt

. “ A t ri al co urt ’ s

d i s cret i o n m

us t b e ci rcu m s cri bed b y ap pl i cab l e l eg al p ri n ci p l es an d ex erci s ed wi t h in

a p p ro p ri at e l awfu l b o u n d s

. ” McCl el l a n v. S t a t e

, 2 7 4 Ga. 81 9

, 8 2 4 (5 6 1 SE2 d 8 2 )

(2 0 0 2) (Carl ey

, J

., co n cu rri n g i n p art an d d i ss en t i n g i n p art ). In ad d i t i on

, as t h i s Co u rt

p rev i o u s l y n o t ed wh en ad d res s i n g t h e p ri o r v ers i o n of OCG A § 19- 9 -2 3

, “ [w] e can n ot

i g n o re th e cl ear l an g u ag e o f t he s t at u t e, ev en wh ere it ap p ears to d efy l o g ic.” Ba i l ey

,

2 8 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 63 (ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at i o n om i t t ed ); acco rd S eel ey

, 2 82 G a. Ap p.

3 9 6 (1 ).

Here, b ecau s e t h e fat h er d i d n o t co m p l y wi t h t he m an d at es o f OCGA § 1 9 -9 -2 3

b y i ni t iat i n g a co m

p l ai n t o r b ri n g i n g a co u n t e r c l ai m t o m od i fy cu s to d y

, h e was

p recl u d ed fro m s e e k i n g t o m o d i fy cu s t o dy i n t h i s act i o n

. Th e t ri al co u rt

, t herefo re,

l ack ed au t h o ri t y t o co ns i der th e fat h er ’s req u es t fo r m o d i fi cat i o n o f cu s t o d y an d to

award t h e fat h er pri m ary p h y s i cal cu s t od y o f t he ch i l dren ; th e co u rt was b o u n d to

co n si d er o n l y t h e m o t her’ s p et i t i o n fo r m o d i fi cat io n an d n o t t ak e ev i d en ce o n an y

10cl ai m fo r m o d i fi cat i o n b y t h e fat h er. See S eel ey

, 2 8 2 Ga

. A p p

. a t 39 6 (1 ).

Co n s eq u en t l y

, we v acat e t h e t ri al co urt ’ s o rd er an d rem an d t h e cas e wi th i ns t ru ct i o n

t h at t h e t ri al co u rt co n s id er o n l y t h e m o th er’ s m o d ifi cat i o n p e t i t i o n

, as t h e i s s u es

co n tai n ed i n t h at p et it i o n a r e t h e o n l y i s s u es p ro p erl y b efo re t he t ri al co u rt i n t h i s

cas e. See i d

.

2

. In s ep arat e e n u m e r a t io n s o f erro r, t h e m o t h er co n ten d s t h at (i ) t ri al co u rt

ab u sed it s d is cret io n i n award i n g p ri m ary ph y s i cal cu s t o d y t o t h e fat h er ab s en t a

s h o wi n g o f a s u b s t an ti al ch an g e i n ci rcu m s t an ces n eces s it at i n g a ch an g e i n cu s t o d y

,

(i i) t h e t r i a l co urt ab u sed i t s d i s cret i on b y m o di fy in g cu s to d y b as ed o n s l eep

d ep ri v at i o n is su es th e m o t h er ex p eri en ced nearl y a y ear b efo re t h e fi n al h eari n g,

wh i ch h av e n o t s i nce recu rred

, an d (i i i ) th e ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o es t ab l i s h t h at

g ran t i n g t h e fat h er p ri m ary p hy s i cal cu s t od y was i n t h e b es t in t eres t s o f t h e ch i l d ren

.

Bas ed o n o u r h o l d i n g i n Di v i s i o n 1 , we n eed n o t reach t h es e arg u m en t s

.

Ju d g men t va ca t ed a n d ca s e r ema nd ed

. Ri ckma n

, C. J., an d

McFa d d en , P. J.,

co n cu r

.

11