THI RD DI VI SI ON

DOYLE, P. J.

, REESE and BROWN, 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.

https ://w w w

. 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

.

M ar ch 15, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A1 50 0 . STANLEY v . EDW ARDS.

D O Y LE , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Ti ffan y St an l ey (“ t h e m o t h er”) ap p eal s fro m t h e tri al co urt ’s o rd er g ran t i n g

Qu i nt o n Ed ward s ’ s (“ th e fat h er”) m o ti o n fo r m o d i fi cat i on of ch i l d cu s to d y an d ch i ld

s u p p ort reg ard i n g t h e c o u p l e ’ s t wo ch i ld ren

. St an l ey arg u es t h at t he t ri al co u rt (1 )

a b us ed i t s d i s cret i o n b y g ran ti n g t h e m o t i o n wi th o u t ev i d en ce o f a m at eri al c h a n g e

i n ci rcu m s t an ces ; (2 ) ab u s ed i ts d i s cret i o n b y d i s reg ard in g th e ol der ch il d ’ s el ect i o n

t o l i ve wi t h t he m o t h er; ( 3 ) ab u s ed i t s di s cret i o n reg ard i n g ev i d en t iary ru l i n g s ; an d

(4 ) erred b y fai l i n g t o in cl u d e a s t art d at e fo r ch i l d s u p po rt i n i t s fi n al o rd er. Fo r t h e

reas on s t h at fo l l o w, we rev ers e.Th i s Co urt rev iews fo r an ab u se o f d i s cret i o n an o rd er m o d i fy i n g o r d ecl i n i n g

t o m o d i fy ch i l d cu s to d y an d ch i l d s u p p o rt

, an d ev i d en t i ary fi n d in g s wi l l b e affi rm ed

i f t h ere i s an y

ev i den ce t o s u p po rt t h em

. 1

Th e reco rd s h ows t h at i n S e p t em b er 2 0 1 8

, t h e fat h er fi l ed a co m p l ai n t fo r

m o di fi cat i o n o f ch i l d cu s t od y an d ch i l d s u p p o rt

. Th e co m p l ai nt at t ach ed a co p y o f a

fi nal o rd er on a p et i t i o n fo r cu s t o d y an d v i s i t at i o n fro m J u n e 2 0 1 3

, wh i ch s h o wed t h at

Q

. E

. was b o rn No v em

b er 3 0

, 2 0 0 6

, an d C. E. was bo rn Oct o b er 2 7

, 2 0 0 9

. T h e

m o th er was g ran t ed cu s t o d y wi t h t h e fat h er h av i n g 4 8 h ou rs o f vi si t at i o n ev ery o t h er

week en d

. In h i s co m

p lai n t

, t h e fat her al l eg ed t h at he was s eek i n g 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 he m o t h er

h a s f ai l ed to di s ch arg e h er d u t i es an d has n o t t ak en act i o n fo r t h e

fu rt h eran ce o f t h e ch i l d ren ’ s wel l -b ei n g. Sp eci fi cal ly

, s h e h as fai l ed t o

s u p p o rt t h e n eed s o f th e m i n o r ch i l dren an d al l o w ed t h e ch i l d ren t o b e

aro u nd i m

m o ral beh av io r s u ch as p art y i n g an d dru g s

. Fu rt h erm o re, [t he

m o t h er] h as al l owed n um ero u s l i v e-i n bo y fri en d s t o b e a ro u nd th e

ch i l d ren , wh o h av e b een n eg at i v el y i m p act ed b y t hi s

. 2

1 See Br a z i l v. W

i ll i ams

, 3 5 9 Ga. Ap p

. 4 8 7

, 49 0 (1 ) (b ) (8 5 9 SE2 d 4 9 0 ) (2 0 2 1 ).

2 Th e m o t h er’ s t ri al co u n s el n o t ed i n o p en i n g t h at s h e fi l ed a p et it i o n t o m o d i fy

ch i l d s u p p o rt p ri o r t o t h e i n s t i g at i o n o f t h i s s u i t

.

2Th e m o t h er i n i t i al l y fi l ed a p ro s e an s wer d en y i n g t hes e al l eg at i o n s, an d l at er,

s h e h ired an at to rn ey wh o fi l ed an o t h er an s wer o n h er b eh al f. Sh e a l s o

co u nt ercl ai m ed fo r an up ward m o di fi cat io n o f ch i ld s u pp o rt

, arg u i n g t h at t h e fat h er

freq uen t l y h ad fai led t o ex erci s e p o rt i o n s o f h is v is i tat i o n s i n ce 20 1 3

, cau s in g h er to

ex p en d m o re res o u rces o n care o f t h e ch i l d ren

. On N o v em b er 1 5, 2 0 1 9

, Q. E

. fi l ed

an el ect i on t o l i v e wi t h t he m o th er.

At t h e b en ch t ri al i n M arch 2 0 2 0

, Q. E.’ s s ev en th g rad e l an g u ag e art s t each er

t es t i fi ed t h at s h e h ad t au g h t h i m t h ro u g h t h e 2 0 1 9-2 0 2 0 s ch o o l y ear, an d s h e m ai n l y

i n t eract ed wi t h t h e m o t h er u n t i l recen t l y

. Sh e d i d m eet wi t h t h e fat her t h e week b efo re

t h e b en ch t ri al , an d s he h ad s p o k en t o h i m o nce o v er t h e p ho n e p ri o r t o t h at . As fo r

Q. E.’ s p erfo rm an ce, t h e t each er t es t i fi ed t h at

[Q. E.] i s a v ery po l i t e, l i kab l e y o u n g m an

. Pl eas u re t o h av e i n cl as s

. He

i s a t y p i cal s ev en t h g rad e l i t tl e b o y

. Hi s g rad es are av erag e. H e d o es

real l y wel l

, I th i n k

, i n m at h fro m th e w ay [an o t h er teach er] t al k s. Fo r m e,

h e d oes wel l

. He h as a C av erag e ri g h t no w, b u t h e d o es n ’ t l o v e t o read

an d p ro b ab ly co ul d i m

p ro v e o n t h at a l i t t l e bi t

. Bu t

, y o u k n o w

, h e’ s l ik e

an y o f m y o t h er s t u den t s . Th ey are t al k at i v e o n s om e d ay s . Yo u k n ow,

t h ey ju s t hav e t h ei r d ay s

. Bu t he i s ju s t a v ery g o o d s t u d e n t

. H e’ s a

p l eas u re t o h av e i n cl as s

.

3Th e t each er h ad ex p eri en ce d n o is s u es wi th Q. E. h av in g been ab s en t fro m

s ch o ol

, an d s h e den i ed k n o w i n g ab o ut an y referral o f h i m t o ju v en i l e co u rt fo r s ch o ol

ab s en ces

. 3 Sh e no t ed t h at h i s g rad es at t h at t i m e were 7 1 in l an g u ag e art s

, 1 0 0 in

s ci en ce, 8 2 i n m at h

, an d 7 2 i n s o c i a l s t u d ies

, wh i ch were av erag e g rad es fo r h er

s t ud en t s

. W h en ch al l en g ed b y t h e fat h er’ s at t o rn ey

, s he ex p l ai n ed t h at ei g h t y p ercen t

o f t h e s t ud en t s at t h e s ch o o l were t wo o r m o re g rad e l ev el s b eh i nd i n read i n g

. W h en

s h e was g i v en a co p y o f Q

. E.’ s s i x th g rad e en d-o f-y ear t es t sco res

, s he ad m i t t ed t h at

t h ey were s l i g h t l y l o wer t h an s o m e o f h er s t u d e n t s

, bu t ex p l ai n ed t h at t he en t i re

s ev en t h g rad e was cu rren t ly g et t i n g an ex t ra h ou r o f l an g u ag e art s t o rem ed i at e t h o s e

s t ud en t s wh o were b eh i n d

. Sh e rei t erat ed t h at h i s s co res were “ s l i g h t l y b e l o w

av erag e, b u t as I s ai d

, o u r p o p u lat i o n as a w h o l e i s b el o w t h e s t at e av erag e.”

M o reo v er, Q

. E

. was s h o wi n g g ro wt h i n h i s read i ng l ev el an d had m ad e

i m p ro v em en t s o v er t h e y ear, an d h e was i n vo l v ed i n t h e s ch oo l -wi d e read i n g -s u p p o rt

p ro g ram

. Th e t each er t es t ifi ed t h at Q. E. was “ a s o l i d C st u d en t

. He i s b el ow read i n g

l ev el [,] an d I feel l ik e t h e wo rk t h at [Q. E .] g iv es m e i s th e b es t th at h e can g i v e m e.

3 Th i s referral was ap p aren t l y g o i n g t o b e m ad e b y t h e fat h er’ s tri al co u n s el

aft er t h is cas e was fi l ed an d n ot b y t h e s ch o o l s y st em o r t he teach er, an d m an y o f t h e

ab s en ces were a res u l t o f Q. E. h av in g an i l l n es s fo r a week

.

4I d o

. I h av e seen i m p ro v em en t i n h i s read i n g s k i l l s [

, ] a n d I d o n ’ t fo res ee [Q. E.]

fai l i n g a cl as s at al l

. ”

Sh e d i d n o t n o t i ce an y p ro b l em w i t h Q. E. b ei n g ab sen t

, n o r d i d s h e b el i ev e

t h at Q. E. h ad a b eh av io r p ro b l em ; s h e d en i ed s p eak i n g t o t h e fat h er ab o u t Q. E. b ei n g

d i s res p ect fu l

. Sh e h ad co n t act ed b o t h p aren t s ab o u t a s in g l e occas i o n o f Q. E. fal l i n g

as l eep i n cl as s

, wh i ch s he t es t i fi ed was n o t o u t s i d e o f th e n o rm fo r s t u den t s i n h er

cl as s as i t i n cl u d ed t h e s t u d en t s ’ l u n ch t i m e, an d s h e h ad n ot h ad t h at p ro b l em wi t h Q.

E. ag ai n

.

Th e t each er ex peri en ced a s i n g le i n s t an ce o f h av in g b een u n ab l e to reach t h e

m o th er t h ro u g h her co n t act i n fo rm at i o n

, wh i ch was l at er co rrect ed

, an d h ad o t h erwi s e

b een i n co n t act w it h th e m o t h er fa i r l y r e g u l a rl y an d h ad n o t h ad an y i ss u e wi t h h er

en g ag em en t . Th e at t em

p t t o co n t act was m ad e ab o u t m i s s i n g a week ly read i n g l o g,

wh i ch was a “ v ery r e g u l ar” o ccu rren ce w i t h al l h er st u d en t s

, n o t ju st Q. E. 4 Th e

t each er s ai d t h at d u ri n g t h e s in gl e i n s t an ce i n wh i ch s h e h ad m et wi t h t h e fat h er, t h e

m eet i n g w as s et u p wi th o u t h er k n o wl ed g e u n t il t h e fat h er s h o wed u p t hat d ay

, an d

4 Sp eci fi cal ly

, t h e t each er ex p l ai n ed t hat t h e as s ig n m en t was a week ly at -h o m e

read i n g l o g i n wh i ch th e s t u den t s n eed ed t o read fo r a p res cri b ed am o u n t of t i m e an d

d o cu m en t t h e read i n g ; s h e was “ m i s s i n g a l o t o f t h em ” fro m m an y o f t h e s t u d en t s

.

5s h e was no t aware i f t h e m o t her k n ew o f t h e m eet in g

. 5 As fo r Q. E.’ s ch at t i n es s

, t h e

t each er ex p l ai n ed t h at sh e was ab l e t o rem ed y t h e s i t u at i o n b y

s ep arat i n g th e ch at t y

s t ud en t s fro m

each o t h er.

Th e ch i l d ren ’ s s t ep m o th er s h ares t wo ot h er ch i ld ren wi t h t he fat h er

— a o n ey ear-o ld an d s i x-y ear-o l d

— wh o are n o t t h e s u b ject of t h i s l i ti g at i o n

. Th e s t ep m o t h er

was p ro h i b i t ed b y t h e 2 0 1 3 p aren t i n g p l an fro m hav i n g d i rect co n tact wi t h th e m o t h er

o r fro m t ran sp ort i ng Q. E. an d C. E. t o an d fro m v i s i t at i on

. Sh e tes t ifi ed t h at i f Q. E.

an d C. E. cam e t o l i v e at t h e fat h er’ s h o m e, s he wo u ld w o rk w i th t h e ch i l d ren o n t h ei r

s ch o ol wo r k

, b u t s h e d id no t cu rren t l y d o so b ecau s e t h ey “ d o n ’ t b ri n g i t .” Sh e

t es t i fi ed th at wh en t h e m o th er h ad s u rg ery

, t h e fat her an d s t ep m ot h er k ep t Q. E. an d

C. E. fo r a week , an d t h ey h el ped wi t h h o m ewo rk at t h at t i m e.

Th e s t ep m ot her al s o t es t i fi ed t h at s h e th reat en ed t o “ s p an k [Q. E.’ s ] b u t t ” fo r

s p eak i n g t o her in a way t h at s h e d i d n o t l i k e. Sh e a l s o cal l ed t h e p o l i ce to co m e to

t h ei r h o m e aft er s h e d i s ci p l i n ed Q. E

. fo r p u sh i n g h er s i x -y ear-o ld t o t h e g ro u n d

b ecau s e s h e w as afrai d t h at th e m at ern al g ran d m o t h er wo ul d rep o rt her fo r p un i s h i n g

5 Th e m o th er l at er ack n o wl ed g ed t h at s h e was n o t ifi ed o f t h e m eet i n g

, b u t s h e

d ecl i ned to p art ici pat e b ecau s e s h e al read y h ad t he i n fo rm at i o n fro m t h e t each ers an d

b ecau s e t h e fat h er had al read y i n i t i at ed t h e i n s tan t l i ti g at i o n

, w h i ch s h e fel t w o u ld

n eg at i v el y

affect t h e m eet i n g

.

6Q. E. 6 Sh e ad m i t ted g rab b i n g Q

. E. b y t h e arm

, b ut sh e d en i ed p us h in g h i m u p ag ai n s t

a d o or as Q. E. ap p aren t l y h ad rep o rt ed t o ot h ers

. Ev en t h o u g h s h e a l l eg ed l y

wi t n es s ed Q

. E. p u s h i n g her s i x -y ear-o l d

, s h e i m m ed i a t e ly l eft th e ch i l d ren al o n e

ag ai n an d wen t t o a d i fferen t ro om

, an d fi v e t o t en m i n u t es l at er, Q. E. bro u g h t h er h i s

cel l ph o n e s o s h e co u ld s p eak to h i s gran d m o t h er, wh o was as k i n g ab o u t t h e

s t ep m o th er’ s t reat m en t o f Q. E.

Th e st ep m o t h er t es t i fi ed t h at th e m o t h er d i d n ot t el l t h em ab o ut C. E.’ s ju n i o r

Be t a C l u b i n d u ct i o n

. Sh e d i d n o t s t at e wh y t h e fat h er di d n o t g et t h i s i n fo rm at i o n

d i rect l y fro m th e s ch oo l

, w h i ch s h e ad m i t ted h e co u l d h av e d o n e i n s o m e i n s t an ces

.

Th e fat h er t es t i fi ed t h at h e wo rk ed 1 6 d ay s o u t th e m o n t h in th e m o nt h p ri o r

t o t he t ri al

, an d h e wo rk ed t he s wi n g s h ift

, wh ich co u l d cau s e an errat i c s ch ed u l e. He

t es t i fi ed th at h e recei v ed h is s ch e d u l e f o r o n e y ear at a t i m e, s u b ject t o ch an g es to

co v er ab s en ces

. A d di t i o n al l y

, wh en co m p lai n i n g ab o u t h o w th e m o t h er d id n o t n o t i fy

h i m ab o u t C. E.’ s J u ni o r Bet a Cl u b i n d u ct i o n o r a sci en ce ev en t

, h e tes t ifi ed t h at

,

“ [m ] y jo b cl earl y t el l s u s i f y ou n eed s o m e t i m e o ff t o do an y t hi n g, j u s t g i v e u s a n

ad v an ced n o t i ce, so y o u can h av e y o u r t i m e. Gi v e m e a week i n ad van ce. If y o u n eed

6 Th e m at ern al g ran d m o th er ad m it t ed t hat s h e s p ok e wi t h t h e s t ep m o t h er ab o ut

t h e i n ci d en t an d t h reat en ed t o cal l t h e p ol i ce o n t h e s t ep m o t h er t o s o rt o u t t h e d et ai l s

, b u t s h e d en i ed act u al ly

cal l i n g t h e p o l i ce.

7n ex t Th u rs d ay o ff, t h at wi l l g i v e u s en o u gh t im e to g et y o u co v erag e[,] o r y o u can s et

u p a p ers o n al [d ay ] t o wh ere y o u can h av e t h at d ay o ff.” T h e f a t h er d i d n o t t es t i fy

wh y t h i s s y s t em o f leav e wo u l d n o t h a v e al l o w ed h i m t o s ch ed u l e aro u n d h i s 2

m o n t h l y 4 8-h o u r vi s i t at i o n p eri o d s

. Th e fat h er ad m i tt ed t h at h e s m o k ed an d u s ed a

“ v a p e

, ” b u t h e d en i ed o fferi n g h i s v ap e o r an y al co h o l t o t h e ch il d ren

. Th e fat h er

d en ied al l o wi n g t h e s t ep m o t h er t o p h y s i cal l y di s ci p l i n e Q

. E

. an d C. E., an d h e d en i ed

an y i n ci d en t s o f v i o l en ce i n t h e h o m e.

Th e m ot h er t es t i fi ed th at s h e wo rk s 4 0 ho u rs a week at a d ay care cen t er, an d

p ri o r t o l eav i n g fo r t h e d ay

, s h e g o t t h e ch i l dren read y fo r s ch o o l an d freq u en tl y d ro v e

t h em th ere u n l es s t h ey wan t ed t o g et u p earl y fo r t h e b u s

. Bo th ch i ld ren are i n aft er

s ch o ol p ro g ram s. Th e m o t h er co nced ed t h at s h e fai led t o t e l l t h e fat h er ab o u t t wo

s p eci fi c ev en t s o f C. E.’ s b u t t es t i fi ed t h at s h e had freq u en tl y t o ld t h e fat her ab o ut

ev en ts

, an d h e d i d n ot p art i ci p at e, n o r d id h e get t he i n fo r m a t i o n fro m t h e s ch o ol

h i m s el f.

On cro s s-ex am i nat i o n

, t he m o t h er w as co n fro n t ed b y s ev eral pi ct u res p o s t ed

o n h er s o ci al m ed i a acco u n t s t h at s h o wed h er wi th fri en d s or al o n e, i n s h o rt d res s es

o r t ig h t cl o t h i n g ; s m o ki n g fro m a h o o k ah

, wh i ch sh e t es t i fi ed co nt ai n ed fl a v o red

t o b acco ; i n o n e i n st an ce, s m o k in g a m ari ju an a ci garet t e; an d i n o ne in st an ce m ak i n g

8an ob s cen e h an d ges t u re wi t h h er m i d d l e fi n g er. Man y o f t h e p i ct u res h a d c a p t i on s

wi t h o b vi o u s s o n g l y ri cs co n tai n i n g cu rs e wo rd s or o t h er s t at em en t s co n t ai n i n g

cu rs i ng o r s l an g

. Th e m o t h e r a d m i t t ed t hat s h e s m ok ed m ari ju an a i n t h e i n s t an ce

p i ct u red

, b u t s he d en ied u s i n g t h e s u b s t an ce reg u l arl y an d p ro d u ced a n eg at i v e d ru g

t es t

. Th e fat h er p res en t ed t wo p i ct u res o f m en co nn ect ed t o h er, o n e i n wh i ch s h e was

al s o p i ct u red

, an d o n e w hi ch co n t ai n ed pi ct u res o f t h e ch i l dren

. Sh e ad m i t t ed d at i n g

o n e o f th e m en

, b u t cl ai m ed t he m an p i ct ured wi t h h er ch i l d ren fro m 2 0 1 2 an d 2 0 1 4

was a fa m i l y f

r i e n d w i t h wh o m s h e was n o t ro m an t i cal l y i n v o l v ed

. Th e fat h er al s o

p res en t ed a p ri v at e m es s ag e ch ai n b et ween h er an d a t h i rd m an

, wi t h wh o m s h e was

d i s cu s s i n g s ex an d wi t h wh o m s h e d i s cu ss ed m o n e y h e o w ed to her, t h reat en i n g to

t el l h i s wi fe wh at h e was d o i n g.

Q. E. t es t i fi ed t h at h e go es t o an aft er s ch o o l pro g ram ev ery d ay a t w h i c h h e

d o es an ho u r o f ei t h er m at h o r l an g uag e art s wo rk fo l l owed by an h o u r o f en ri ch m en t

wi t h o t h er t each ers

. At h is m o t h er’ s h o u s e, h e al s o w o r k e d on read i n g an d a m at h

p ro g ram cal led Pro d i g y

, an d h i s m o t h er w ork ed w i t h h i m o n s ch o o l w o rk

. Q. E.

d en ied t hat h i s fat h er had ev er h el p ed hi m wi t h En g l i s h

. He ad m i t t ed th at h e p ro b ab l y

l i kes p l ay i n g v i d eo g am es t o o m u ch

, b u t h e h as an en fo rced bed t i m e of 9: 0 0 p .m

. o n

s ch o ol n i g h t s an d h as t o fi n i s h h i s h o m ewo rk befo re h e can p l ay

. Al t h o ug h h e h as

9s o ci al m ed i a acco un t s

, Q. E. t es t i fi ed t h at h e is rarel y o n t h em

, p referri n g t o ch at wi th

h i s fri en ds on th e p h o n e o r t h ro u g h t h ei r v i deo g am es ; m an y o f h i s fri en d s us e v ari ou s

s o ci al m ed i a p lat fo rm s

. Q. E

. t es t i fi ed t h at h e h ad n o t s een hi s m ot h er’ s s o ci al m ed i a.

Q. E

. t e s t i fi ed t h at h e h ad s een p eo p l e s m o k i n g an d d ri nk i n g at b o t h h is p aren t s ’

h o u s es ; t h at h i s m o t h er h ad al co h o l at s o m e p o i n t in fro n t o f h i m a few y ears ag o ; t h at

s o m eo n e at h i s fat h er’ s h o u s e (p erh ap s h i s fat h er al t h o u g h i t is u n c l e a r fro m h i s

t es t i m o ny ) h ad o ffered t o al l o w h i m t o s m o k e a v ap e.

Fo l l owi n g t h e b en c h t r i al

, t h e co u rt en t ered a fi n al ord er g ran ti n g t h e fat h er

p ri m ary p h y s ical cu st o dy o f t h e t wo ch il d ren

. 7 Aft er th e m o t h er’ s m o t i on fo r n ew t ri al

was d en i ed , t h i s ap peal fo l l owed

.

1 . St an l ey fi rs t arg u es t h at t h e tri al co u rt ab u sed i t s d i scret i o n b y t ran s ferri n g

cu s t o d y ab s en t reas o n ab l e ev id en ce t h at t h ere was a m at eri al ch an g e i n ci rcu m s t an ces

t h at h ad an ad v ers e effect o n t he m i n or ch i l d ren . W e ag ree.

7 Aft er t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er was en tered

, t h e m o t h er’ s co u n s el wi t h d rew, an d

h er new co u n s el fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, i n ex pl i cab l y as s ert i n g cl ai m s fo r a n ew

t ri al u s u al l y s een i n a cri m i n al pro ceed i n g s u ch as l ack o f s u ffi ci en t ev i den ce u n d er

t h e g en eral gro un d s an d in effect i v e as s i s t an ce of co u n s e l u n d er S t ri ckl a n d v.

W a s h i n g t o n

, 4 6 6 U. S. 6 6 8 (1 0 4 SCt 2 05 2 ) (8 0 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ). Th i s m o t i o n was

d en ied aft er a heari ng

, a t ran s cri p t o f wh ich d o es n o t ap p ear i n t h e reco rd o n ap p eal

.

10In Geo rg i a, t h ere i s a wel l es tab l is h ed t wo -p art t es t wh i ch t h e t ri al

co u rt m u s t em p l o y b efo re i n s t i t u t i n g a ch an g e o f cu s to d y

. Th e t ri al co u rt

m u s t d e t e rm in e wh et h er t h ere h as b een a m at eri al ch an g e i n

ci rcu m s t an ces affect in g t h e wel fare o f t h e ch i l d s i n ce t h e l as t cu s t o d y

award

. If s o, t h e t ri al co u rt th e n d e t e rm in es wh et h er th e ch i l d’ s b es t

i n t eres t s wi l l b e serv ed b y a ch an g e i n cu s t o d y

. In o th er wo rd s

, th e b es t

i n t eres t s o f th e ch i l d s h o u l d b e u t il i zed i n d eci d i n g t h e cas e o n ce a

ch an g e i n co nd i t i o n h as b een es t a b l is h ed

. W h i l e a b es t i n t eres t s o f th e

ch i l d s t an d ard ap p l i es to an i n i ti al d et erm i n at i o n o f cu s t o d y

, i t i s

ap p l icab l e i n a ch an g e o f cu s t od y act i o n o n l y a f t e r t h ere h as b een a

s h o wi n g o f a ch an g e i n co n d i ti o n m at eri al l y affect i n g t h e ch i l d. 8

Th e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er m ad e o n l y th e fo l l o wi n g fi n d i n g s t o s up p ort i t s o rd er

m o di fy i n g cu s t o dy :

t h ere h as been a s ig n i fi can t an d m at eri al ch an g e i n ci rcu m s t an ces s o as

t o cal l t h e i s s u e o f c u s t o d y i n t o q u es t i o n i n t h at t h e M ot h er has t ak en

s t ep s t o al i en at e t he ch i l d ren fro m [t h e] Fat h er an d has fai l ed t o ap p ri s e

t h e Fat h er o f s ig ni fi can t ev en t s i n th e ch i l d ren ’ s l i v es

. Fu rt h er, t h e o l d er

ch i l d has s ig n i fi can t p ro b l em s i n s ch o ol wh i ch are s i m p l y n o t b ei n g

ad d res s ed wi t h s u ffi ci en t u rg en cy

. Fi n al ly

, t h e Mo t h er’ s m o ral s h av e

b een s h o w n t o b e qu es t io n ab l e at b es t

. Fo r t h o s e reas o n s, t h e [c] o u rt

fi nd s t h at i t i s in t h e b es t i n t eres t s o f t h e m in o r ch i l d ren t hat t h e Fat h er

8 (Ci t at io ns an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Br az i l

, 3 5 9 G a

. Ap p

. at 4 88 -4 8 9 (1 ),

q u o t i n g Od

u m v. Ru s s el l , 3 4 2 G a. Ap p. 3 9 0 , 3 92 (1 ) (8 0 2 SE2 d 8 29 ) (2 0 1 7 ).

11b e t h ere [s i c] p ri m ary care g i v er, d es p it e t he o ld er ch i l d ’ s d es i re t o l iv e

p ri m ari l y wi t h h i s M o t h er.

W e d i sag ree t hat an y o f t h e t hree fi n d i n g s b y t h e t ri al co u rt co n s ti t u t e a m at eri al

ch an ge i n ci rcu m st an ce, an d we ad d res s each fi n di n g i n t u rn

.

(a) Mo th er ’s a li en a t i o n o

f t h e f at h er

.

Th e fat h er i d en t ifi ed t wo s ch o o l ev en t s t hat were o pen to fam i ly t h at t h e m o t h er

d i d n o t t el l h i m ab o u t

— C. E.’ s i n d u ct i o n i n t o Bet a Cl ub an d C. E.’ s s ci en ce ev en t

.

Th e m o t h er t es t i fi ed th at s h e h ad t o l d t h e fat h er ab o ut m an y ev en t s , b u t b ecau s e h e

m i s s ed t h em s o f

r e q u en t l y

, s h e ceas ed d oi n g s o

. Th e fat her d i d n ot d is pu t e t h at h e

m i s s ed ev en t s

, bl am i n g wo rk o r t h e m o t h er, an d t h ere al s o was no t e s t i m o ny

reg ard i n g h i s act u al at t en d an ce at ev en t s p ri or t o t h es e t wo

.

Th e fat h er ag reed t h at he al s o p rev i o us l y m is s ed v i s i tat i o n an d arg u ed i t was

b as ed o n h is wo rk s ch ed u le. An d al th o u gh h e cl ai m ed t o b e ab l e to g et co v erag e o r

t ak e ti m e o ff, h e d i d n o t ex p l ai n wh y t h i s leav e s y s t em wo u ld h av e p rev en t ed h i m

fro m s ch ed u l i n g aro u n d h i s 2 m on t h l y 4 8 -h o u r v i s i t at i o n p eri o ds o r wh y i t h ad

p rev en ted h i m fro m at t en d i n g s ch o o l ev en t s i n t h e pas t ab o u t wh i ch h e h ad recei v ed

n o t i fi cat i o n

. Ad d i t io nal l y

, t h e o ri g i n al cu s t o dy o rd er was en t ered aft er h e had b eg u n

wo rk i n g at t h e s am e jo b h e h ad at t h e t i m e of t h e m o di fi cat i o n act i o n

, b u t h e fai l ed

12t o req u es t an y s o rt o f m o di fi ed v i si t at i o n s ch ed u le a t t h a t t i m e b as ed o n h i s wo rk

n eed s.

M o reo v er, t h ere i s n o ev i d en ce t h at t h e m o t h e r sp o ke neg at i v el y ab o u t t h e

fat h er t o t h e ch i ld ren or t h at t h ey h el d a n eg at i ve v iew o f t h e fat h er b as ed o n an y t h i n g

t h e m o t h er s ai d o r d i d

. T h ere was n o ev i d en ce t h at t he m ot h er p ro h ib i t ed t h e fat h er

fro m cal l i n g t he ch i l dren o n t h ei r cel l p h o nes an d n o ev i d en ce t hat s h e refu s ed to

d i s cu s s t h e ch i l d ren wi t h h i m i f h e h ad cal l ed wi t h an is s u e at s o m e p oi n t p ri o r t o t h e

i n s t i g at i o n o f t h i s l i t i g at i o n

. 9

Al t h ou g h t h e m o t h er s h ou l d h av e g i v en t h e fat h er n o t i ce o f t h e ev en t s i f t h e

i n fo rm at i o n w as n ot o t herwi s e p ro v i d ed b y t h e s ch o o l

, it is cl ear fro m t h e reco rd t h at

t h e an i m o s i t y b et ween th e p art i es h ad b een o n g oi n g t h ro u gh o u t t h ei r rel at io ns h i p an d

b eg an p ri o r t o th e o ri g i n al o rd er b ei n g en t ered

. No r was t h ere an y n ew o r es cal at i n g

9 Co m p are wi th Ho o

per v. To wn s en d

, _

_ Ga. Ap p

. _

_ (Cas e No

. A2 1 A1 2 9 3;

J an

. 1 9, 2 0 2 2 ) (affi rm i n g m o d i fi cat i o n o f cu s t o d y b as ed i n p art o n m ot h er’ s al i en at i o n

o f t h e ch i l d fro m t h e fat h er, s t at i n g t hat “ t h e m o t h er o bt ai n ed an ex p art e t em p o rary

p ro t ect i v e o rd er t o ci rcu m v en t t h e fat h er’ s p aren ti ng t i m e, co n si s t en t l y fai l ed t o m ak e

t h e ch i l d a v a i l a b l e t o th e fat h er b y p h o n e or v i d eo cal l

, fal s el y rep res en t ed t h at t h e

ch i l d h ad a m ed i cal co n d i t i o n o r t rav el / act i v i t y res t ri ct i o n t o ci rcu m v en t paren t i n g

t i m e b y t h e fat her, an d co ach ed t h e ch i ld t o “ refram e hi s in t erp ret at i o n of l i fe ev en t s

an d ex peri en ces t o refl ect n e ga t i v el y u p on [t he fat h er] an d [t he fat h er’ s ] fam i l y .”). W e

ack n owl ed ge t hat t h e m o t h er d ecl i n ed t o at t en d t h e m eet i n g at t h e s c h o o l t h e week

p ri o r t o th e b en ch t ri al becau s e o f t h e i n s t an t l it i gat i o n

, b u t t h at d o es n o t ap p ear t o b e

an o n g o i n g i s s u e b as ed o n t h e ev i d en ce.

13m an i fes t at i o n o f i t o n t h e p art o f t h e m o th er, an d t h erefo re, it wo ul d n o t p res en t a n ew

ci rcu m s t an ce o r m at eri al ch an g e i n ci rcu m s tan ce t o s u p p o rt t he t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er. 1 0

(b ) Q. E.’s s i

gn i f i ca n t s ch o o l p r o b l ems

.

It i s cl ear fro m t h e reco rd t h at Q. E. h as a d i f f i c u l t t i m e wi th read i n g

. Th e

m at ern al g ran d m o t h er t es t i fi ed t h at h e h as al way s h ad s uch d i ffi cu l t y

, an d th e m o t h er

an d s h e hav e al way s wo rk ed wi t h t h e ch i l d ren o n read in g an d t h ei r s ch o o l wo rk

. Th e

b u l k o f h i s d i ffi cu l tl y s eem s t o h av e ari s en du ri n g t h e t ran s i t i o n t o m i dd l e s ch o o l in

t h e fi ft h g rad e, an d n o t an y i s s u e wi t h p aren t i n g b y t h e m o th er. Q. E. tes t i fi ed t h at t h e

m o th er m ak es h i m d o h is h om ewo rk ev ery n i g h t an d t h at t h e c h i l d r e n h av e a 9 : 0 0

p .m

. b ed t i m e. Q

. E

. al s o t es t ifi ed t h at h e s p en d s t wo h o u rs p er d ay aft er s ch o o l fo r

rem ed iat i o n an d en ri ch m en t

, w h i ch was co rro b o rat ed b y h is t e a c h e r ’s t es t i m o n y

.

1 0 See, e.g

. , Co u s en s v. Pi t t ma n

, 2 6 6 Ga. Ap p

. 3 8 7, 3 9 0 (5 9 7 SE2 d 4 8 6) (2 0 0 4 )

(“ Th e t ri al co u rt reci t ed o n ly t h at t h e rel at i o n s h i p b et ween t h e ch i l d a n d h e r fat h er

was ‘ bei ng i rrep arab l y h arm ed ’ an d t hat th e ch i l d s u ffered em o t i o n al l y fro m t h e

‘ bi ck eri n g ’ o f b o t h p aren t s

. W h i l e we m ay ag ree wi t h t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi nd i n g t h at t h e

ch i l d s u ffers b ecau s e o f t h e beh av i o r o f h er p aren t s, we h av e fo u nd n o ev i d en ce i n t h e

reco rd t h at t h e paren t s ’ b eh av i o r i s ei t h er n ew o r a m at eri al ch an g e i n ci rcu m s t an ces

. To t he co n t rary

, t h e ‘ b i ck eri n g ’ h as o ccu rred c o n ti n u ou s ly si n ce t h e p aren t s ’

d i v o rce.”). See al s o S t eed v. St eed

, 3 5 6 Ga. A p p

. 1 9 4, 1 96 (1 ) (8 4 3 SE2 d 21 ) (2 0 2 0 )

(“ Hav i n g fo u n d t h at t h e l i ti gi o u s fam i l y dy n am i c was a res u lt o f t h e paren t s ’ h o s t i l e

rel at i o n s h i p

, th e t ri al co u rt t h en co rrect l y co n cl ud ed t h at t h ere was n o m at eri al ch an g e

i n ci rcu m s t an ces .”); Pa r

k-Po ap s v. Po a

ps

, 3 5 1 Ga. Ap p

. 8 5 6

, 8 6 2 (2 ) (8 3 3 SE2 d 5 5 4 )

(2 0 1 9) (“ [P] aren t al d i s co rd t h at h as be e n o n g o i n g s i n ce b efo re t h e pri o r cu s t o dy

award d o es n o t co n s t i t u te a m at eri al ch an g e i n ci rcu m st an ces .”).

14M o reo v er, t h e o n l y d i s i n t eres t ed p art y wh o t es t ifi ed an d t h e m o st qu al i fi ed p ers o n to

g i v e an o p i n i on as t o ap t it u d e

— Q. E.’ s t each er

— s t at ed t h at “ [h ] e i s b el ow read i n g

l ev el [,] an d I feel l ik e t h e wo rk t h at [Q. E .] g iv es m e i s th e b es t t h at h e can g i v e m e.

I d o

. ” Nei t h er t h e fat h er n or t h e s t ep m o t h er ex p l ai n ed wh at th ey wo u l d b e ab l e t o d o

t h at wo u l d b e d i fferen t t h an t h e rem ed i at i o n Q. E. was al read y recei v i ng

. 1 1 In d eed

, Q.

E. tes ti fi ed t h at t h e fat h er h ad nev er h el p ed h im wi t h read i n g

. Bas ed o n t h i s ev i d en ce,

i t ap p ears t h at Q

. E

. h as al way s h ad an i s s u e wi t h read i ng

, i t was k n o wn t o t h e s ch o ol

an d t h e p art ies

, an d i t was no t t h e res u l t of an y co nd u ct o n th e part o f t he m o t h er. 1 2

M o reo v er, b ey o n d s pecu l at i o n

, t h ere was n o ev i d en ce t h at a n y ch an g e i n cu s t o dy

1 1 T h e s t ep m o th er t es ti fi ed t h at s h e was w o rri ed ab o u t Q. E

. acad em i cal l y

, b ut

s h e d id n o t s t at e wh en h er wo rry b e g a n o r wh et h er sh e o r t h e fat h er h ad d o n e

an y t h i n g t o r em ed i at e h i s s k i l l s d u ri n g t h ei r cu rren t v i s i tat i o n ev en t h o u g h s h e

t es t i fi ed t h at s h e d o wn l o ad ed acad em i c co m pu t er ap p l i cat i o n s fo r h er own ch i l d ren ;

i n s t ead

, s h e t es t i fi ed t h at t hei r n o rm al v i s i t at i o n wi t h Q. E. an d C. E. u s u al l y i n v o l v ed

wat ch i n g m o vi es o r p l ay i n g g am es

. Th ere was a great d eal o f t es t i m o n y b y t h e fat h er

ab o ut g an g act i v i t y o r t h e p o t en t i al fo r g an g act iv i t y o r o t h er d i s ci p li n e pro b lem s

, b ut

t h i s was ei t h er s p ecu l at iv e o r co n t rary t o t h e teach er’ s t es t i m o n y

. T h ere were t wo

rep o rt s fro m a b u s d ri v er o f a g r o u p o f ch il d ren i n cl u d i n g Q. E. wh o were act i n g

d i s ru p t i v e o n t h e b u s , b ut t h is i n n o way ap p eared l i n ked t o g an g act i v i t y

.

1 2 Se e P a r k

-Po a p s

, 3 5 1 G a. Ap p

. at 8 6 2 -8 63 (2 ) (ex p l ai n i n g t h at t h e m o v i n g

p art y h ad t h e b u rd en t o s h ow t h at th ere i s a m at eri al ch an ge i n ci rcu m s t an ces b efo re

t h e tri al co u rt can g ran t a m o di fi cat i o n an d pre-ex is ti n g co n d i t i on s d o no t co n s t i t u t e

a ch an g e i n ci rcu m s t an ces ).

15wo u l d i m

p ro v e or rem ed y t h e s i t u at i on

. Acco rd i n g ly

, th i s fi n d i n g d o es n o t s u p p o rt

t h e m o d i fi cat i o n o f cu s t od y

.

(c) Mo th er ’s q ues t i on a b l e mo r a l s

.

In t ro d u ced at t ri al b y t h e fat h er were s ev eral s o ci al m ed i a p o s t s t h at s h o wed t h e

m o th er d res s ed u p to g o ou t wi t h g i rl fri en ds

. M an y o f t h em h ad wh at were cl earl y

m u si c l y ri cs q u o t ed o v er to p o r cap t i o n ed b el ow. No n e o f t h e p h o t o g rap h s s h o wed

t h e m o t h er o r h er fri en d s nu d e o r en g ag ed i n s ex u al l y ex p l i c i t co n d u ct

. Th e fat h er

al s o at tem p t ed t o s h ow t h at t h e m o t h er h ad a nu m b er of “ li v e-i n b oy fri en d s ” wi t h h er

p o s t s o r t h at s h e was wo rk i ng a s a n e s c o rt

. E ven as s u m in g t h at t h e m o t h er was

wo rk i n g as an es co rt or t hat s h e h ad a s eri es o f b oy fri en ds o v er t h e s ev en y ears s i nce

t h e en t ry o f t h e i n i t i a l c u s t o d y o rd er, 1 3 t here i s no ev i den ce t h at t h e ch il d ren were

aware o f o r m et an y o n e o t h er th an t h e p ers o n f r o m p i ct u res d at ed 2 0 1 2 an d 2 0 1 4,

wh o m th e m o t h er cl ai m ed was a fam i l y fri en d

.

Th ere i s n o ev i d en ce bey o n d th e fat h er’ s at t o rn ey ’ s s p ecu l at i o n t h at an y o f h er

s o ci al m ed i a p os t s co n t ai n in g cu rs e wo rd s o r t he p i ct u re o f h er m i d d l e fi ng er (1 ) were

s een b y t h e ch i l d ren ; (2 ) were i nd i cat i v e of t he way t he m o t h er b eh av ed wh en s h e was

p aren t i n g t h e ch i l d ren ; or (3 ) h a d a n y n eg at i v e effect o n th e ch i l d ren

. Th e fat h er’ s

1 3 Th ere was n o ev i den ce o f a l i v e-i n b o y fri en d

.

16at t o rn ey m ad e m u ch o f th e fact t h at t h e m o t h er was u naware t h at Q. E

. h ad a

Faceb o ok acco u n t

, wh i c h t h e ch i l d t es ti fi ed h e m ad e “ a l o n g ti m e ag o” an d d i d n ot

u s e

, p r eferri n g t o co m

m u n icat e wi t h h is fri en d s o n ot h er so ci al m ed ia o ut l et s o r o n

h i s cel l ph o ne; h o wev er, t h e fat her al s o was u n aware t h at Q. E. h ad a Faceb o o k p ag e,

t es t i fy i ng o n t h e s eco n d d ay o f t ri al th at h e “ ju st real i zed th at y es t erd ay ” wh en i t was

b ro u gh t u p b y h is at t o rn ey du ri n g t h e fi rs t day o f tri al

. Ad d i t i o n al l y

, Q. E. t es t i fi ed

t h at h e s aw s m o k i n g an d d ri nk i n g b y p eo p l e at b o th h is m o th er’ s an d fat h er’ s h o m es

,

t h at h e saw a p ers o n wi t h a g un at h i s fat h er’ s h o us e, an d t h at s o m eo n e o ffered t o l et

h i m v ap e at hi s fat h er’ s h ou s e ( t h e f a t h e r al s o ad m i t t ed t h at h e sm o k ed an d u s ed a

v a pe). Th ere i s n o ev i d en ce t h at an y o f t h e m o t her’ s b eh av i o rs po i n t ed t o i n t h e

p h o t o g rap h s co n s t i tu t ed n ew ci rcu m stan ces b ecau s e s ev eral o f th e p i ct ures were fro m

b efo re t h e i n i t ial cu s t o d y o rd er w as en t ered o r s o o n th ereaft er. M ore i m p o rt an t l y

,

t h ere i s s i m

p l y n o ev id en ce s ho wi n g t h at t h e ch i l d ren were awa r e o f a n y o f t h e

m o th er’ s co n d uct t o wh i c h t h e f at h er o bject ed or t h at t h ey had b een n eg at i v el y

affect ed t h ereb y

. 1 4

1 4 See Beckma n v. Beckma n

,

_ _ Ga. Ap p

.

_

_ (Cas e No

. A 2 1 A1 5 7 5; d e c i d ed

Feb

. 2 3, 2 0 2 2 ) (“ Th e fo cu s m us t b e o n t h e n eed s o f t h e ch i l d

, n o t t h e fau lt s o f t h e

p aren t s

. In s o m e i ns t an ces a p aren t ’ s i m m oral co n d uct m i g h t warran t l i m i t at i o n s o n

t h e co n tact b et w een p aren t an d ch i l d ; b u t o nl y i f i t i s s h own t h at t he ch i l d i s ex p o s ed

t o th e p aren t ’ s u n d es irab l e co n d u ct i n s uch a w ay t h at i t h as or wo u l d l i k el y ad v ers el y

17To o l o n g h av e co u r t s l ab o red un d er t h e no t i o n t h at d i v orced

p aren t s m

u s t so m eh ow b e p erfect i n ev ery r e s p e c t

. T he l aw s h o u l d

reco gn i ze t hat p aren t s

, m arri ed o r n o t, are i nd i v i d u al h um an b ei n g s each

wi t h h i s or her o wn p art i cu l ar v i r t u e s an d v i ces

. . . . In d o m es t i c

rel at io ns cas es t he co u rt s s h o u l d reco g n i ze t h at al l p aren t s h av e fau l t s

,

an d l o o k n o t t o t h e fau l t s o f t h e p aren t s , b u t t o t h e n eed s o f t h e ch i l d. 1 5

W e are m i n d fu l o f t h e s h o wi n g n eces s ary t o es t ab l i s h an ab u se o f d i s cret i o n

i n s u ch an i n st an ce, b u t b as ed o n t h e tes t im on y an d e v i d en ce p res en t ed

, wh i ch

co n si s t ed l arg el y o f t h e co n t i n u at i o n o f l o n g p at t ern s o f b eh av i o r am o ng th e p art i es

o v er t h e y ears an d tes t im o n y ab o u t t h e m o t h e r wi t h n o co n n ect i on t o h er paren t i n g

wi t h an y ad v ers e i m

pact t o t he ch i l d ren

, t h e m o t h er has s u cceed e d i n m e e t i n g t h i s

b u rd en

. 1 6 Acco rd i n g l y

, th e o rd er g ran t i n g t he fat h er’ s p et i t i o n fo r m o d i fi ca t i o n i s

h ereb y rev ers ed

.

affect t he ch i l d.”), q u o t i n g I n th e In t er es t o

f R. E. W

. , 2 20 G a. Ap p

. 8 6 1

, 8 6 3 (4 7 1

SE2 d 6 ) (1 9 9 6 ).

1 5 (Pu n ct u at i on o m i t t ed

. ) In t h e In t er es t of R. E

. W

. , 22 0 Ga. A p p

. at 8 6 4,

q u o t i n g Co n kel v. Co nkel

, 3 1 Oh i o Ap p

. 3 d 16 9

, 1 7 1 (5 09 N E2 d 9 8 3) (Oh i o Ct

. Ap p.

1 9 8 7 ).

1 6 See Co u s en s

, 2 6 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 9 0 -3 9 1. See al s o S teed

, 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 9 6

-

1 9 7 (1 ); Pa r

k-Po ap s , 3 5 1 Ga. Ap p . at 8 6 2 -8 6 3 (2 ).

182

. Bas ed o n t h e fo reg o i n g

, w e need n o t ad d res s t h e m o t h er’ s rem ai n i n g

en u m erat i o n s o f erro r.

Ju d g men t r ever sed . Rees e a n d

Br o wn , JJ., co ncu r

.

19