In th e S u p re m e Co u rt o f Ge o rg ia

De c id e d: Ju n e 2 9 , 2 0 1 5

S1 5F 0 0 6 4 . S TONE v . S T ONE e t a l.

MELTON, Ju stic e

.

P u rsu a n t to S up re m e Co u rt R u le 3 4, we g ra n te d D a v i d E. S to n e ’s

(Hu sb a n d ) a

p p lic a tio n to a

p p e a l t h e f

i n a l de c re e e n te re d in h is div o rc e fro m

An n a S to n e (Wife ). In d o in g so , we sta te d o u r sp e c ific in te re st in d e te rm in in g

wh e th e r th e tria l c o u rt e rre d b y a wa r d i n g j o i n t le g a l c u sto d y o f th e p a rtie s’

m in o r so n to Hu sb a n d a n d S a n d ra We b b

, th e ma te rn a l g ra n d m o th e r

(Gra nd m o th e r). 1 Be c a

u se Ge o rg ia sta tu to ry la w su p p o rts jo in t c u sto d y

a rra n ge m e n ts o n ly b e twe e n p a re n ts, w e m u st re v e rse th e a wa rd o f jo in t le g a l

c u sto d y in th is c a se

. 2

As is p e rtin e n t h e re

, th e re c o rd sh ows th a t H u sb a n d a n d W ife h a v e b e e n

1 Gra n d m o th e r wa s a llo we d to in te rv e n e in th e d iv orc e p ro c e e d in g s.

2 We n o te th a t th e re a re two a d ditio n a l re la te d c a se s n o w pe n d in g in th is

Co u rt- Ca se No

. S 15 A 0 2 6 6 a n d Ca se N o

. S 1 5 A0 2 6 7. We d o n ot a d d re ss th ose

c a se s in th is o p in io n

.m a rrie d to e a c h o th e r twic e

, a n d th e y h a v e o n e m in o r so n

. H u s b a n d a n d Wife

we re d iv o rc e d th e se c o n d tim e b y a de c re e da te d Ja n ua ry 13

, 2 0 1 4

, a n d th is

d e c re e in c o rp o ra te d a pa re ntin g p la n

. Am o n g o th e r th in g s, th e p a re n tin g p la n

a wa rd e d jo in t le g a l c usto d y o f th e m in o r c hild to Hu sb a n d, wh o th e c o urt

sp e c ific a lly fo u n d wa s a fit p a re n ta l c usto d ia n

, a n d G ra n d m o th e r. Hu sb a n d wa s

g iv e n p rim a ry p h y sic a l c u sto d y , Gra n d m o th e r wa s g iv e n v isita tio n rig h ts, a n d

Wife

, w h o th e c o u rt fo u n d wa s u n fit to h a v e c u sto dy

, wa s g iv e n o n ly a p o te n tia l

fo r fu tu re v isita tio n

.

In th e Ge o rg ia Co de

, o u r le g isla tu re h a s c le a rly in dic a te d th a t jo in t

c u sto d y a rra n g e m e n ts d o no t in c lu d e th ird p a rtie s wh e n o n e o r b o th p a re n ts a re

su itab le c u sto d ia ns. 3 O CGA § 1 9-9 -3

, wh ic h la y s o u t th e ge n e ra l g u id e lin e s fo r

c u sto d y c o n s i d era tio ns, sh o ws a re c o g n itio n th a t jo in t c u sto dy c on sid e ra tio n s

re m a in with th e p a re n ts o f th e c h ild . OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (a ) (1 ) p ro v id e s:

3 In m a k in g th is d e te rm in a tio n

,

we a p p ly th e fu n d a m e n ta l r u l e s o f sta tu to ry c o n stru c tio n th a t

re q u ire u s to c o n stru e [th e ] sta tu te a c c o rd in g to i t s t e r m s, to g iv e

wo rd s th e ir p la in a n d ord in a ry m e a n in g, a n d to a v o id a c o n stru c tio n

th a t m a k e s so m e la n g u a g e m e re su rp lu sa g e

. At th e sa m e t i me

, w e

m u st se e k to e ffe c tu a te th e in te n t o f th e le g isla tu re

. (Cita tio n s o m itte d .) S la km a n v

. Co n ti n e n t a l Ca s. Co

., 2 77 Ga

. 1 8 9

, 1 9 1 (5 8 7

S E2 d 2 4) (2 0 0 3 ).

2In a ll c a se s in wh ic h th e c u sto d y o f a n y c h ild is a t issu e b e twe e n th e

p a re n ts

, th e re sh a ll be n o p rim a -fa c ie rig h t to t h e c u s t o d y of th e

c h ild in th e fa th e r o r m oth e r. Th e re sh a ll b e n o p re su m p tio n in fa v o r

o f a n y p a rtic u la r fo rm o f c u sto d y

, le ga l o r p hy sic a l, no r in fa v o r o f

e ith e r p a re nt

. Jo in t c u sto d y ma y be c o n sid e re d a s a n a lte rn a tiv e

fo rm o f c u sto d y b y th e ju d g e a n d th e ju d g e a t a n y te m p ora ry o r

p e rm a n e n t h e a rin g m a

y g ra n t so le c usto d y

, jo in t c u sto d y

, jo in t le g a l

c u sto dy

, o r jo in t p h y sic a l c u sto dy a s a p p ro p ria te

.

(Em p h a sis su pp lie d

. ) Th e sta tu te g o e s o n to sta te a n e xp re ss d e sire to p re se rv e

sh a rin g o f rig h ts b e twe e n p a re n ts a n d v isita tio n with p a re n ts a n d g ra nd p a re n ts.

OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (d ) sta te s:

It is th e e x p re ss p o lic y o f th is sta te to e n c o ura ge th a t a c h ild h a s

c o n tin u in g c o nta c t with p a re n ts an d g ra n d p a re n ts wh o h a v e sh o wn

th e a b ility to a c t in th e b e st in te re st o f th e c h ild a n d to e n c o u ra g e

p a re n ts to sh are in th e rig h ts a n d re sp on sib ilit i es o f ra isin g th e ir

c h ild a fte r su c h p a re n ts h a v e se p a ra te d o r disso lv e d th e ir m a rria g e

o r re la tio n sh ip

.

(Em p h a sis su p p lie d .) Q u ite e x p lic itly

, th e sta tu te in c lu d e s g ra n d p a re n ts with

p a re n ts fo r pu rp o se s o f c o n ta c t (v isita tio n ) with th e m in o r c hild

, bu t, wh e n

rig h ts a n d re sp o n sib i l i t i es (c u sto d y ) a re in c o n sid e ra tio n

, th e sta tu te e x c lu de s

g ra n dp a re n ts a nd e n c o u ra g e s sh a rin g b e twe e n th e p are n ts o n ly

.

Th is e xp re ss p o lic y is th e n e m p lo y e d in th e d e fin itio n s o f k e y te rm s in th e

sta tu te . OCGA § 1 9 -9 -6 (5 ) e x p la in s:

“ Jo in t le g a l c u sto d y ” m e a n s b o th p a re n ts h a v e e q u a l ri g h t s a n d

3re sp o n sib ilitie s fo r m a jo r d e c isio n s c o n c e rn in g th e c h ild

, in c lu d in g

th e c hild ' s e d u c a tio n

, h e alth c are

, e x tra c urric u la r a c tiv itie s, a n d

re lig io u s tra in in g ; p ro v id e d

, h o w e v e r, th a t th e ju d g e m a y d e sig n a te

o n e p a re n t to h a v e so le p o w e r to m a k e c e rta in d e c isio n s wh ile b o th

p a re n ts re ta in e q u a l rig h ts a n d re sp o nsib ilitie s fo r oth e r d e c isio n s.

(Em p h a sis su pp lie d

. ) On c e m o re

, th e sta tu te p a irs “ rig h ts a n d re sp o n sib ilitie s”

so le ly with th e p a re nts, a n d g ra n d p a re nts a re e x c lu d e d. Th is is to b e e xp e c te d

,

a s th e sta te d d e fin itio n o f “ jo in t le ga l c u sto d y ” fu rth e rs th e e x p re ss p o lic y o f

e n c o u r a g i n g s h a

r e d r i g h ts a n d re sp o n sib ilitie s b e twe e n p a re n ts. To a sim ila r e n d

,

th e sta tu te sta te s th a t “ ‘[j] o in t p hy sic a l c u sto d y ’ m e a n s th a t p h y sic a l c usto d y is

sh a re d b y th e p a re n ts in su c h a wa y a s to a ssu re th e c h ild of su bsta n tia lly e q u a l

tim e a n d c o n ta c t with b o th p a re n ts .” (Em p h a sis su p p lie d .) OCGA § 1 9 -9 -6 (6 ).

Gra n d p a re n ts a re a g a in e x c lu d e d fro m a n a rra n ge m e n t fo r jo in t c u sto d y

.

Th e p u rp o se fu l n a tu re o f t h e Le g isla tu re ’s d e c isio n to e x c lu d e

g ra n dp a re n ts fro m

sh a rin g jo in t c u sto d y with a p a re nt is a lso e v id e n t fro m th e

sta tu to ry d e fin itio n o f “ so le c u sto d y

. ”

“ S o le c u sto d y ” me a

n s a p e rso n

, in c lu d in g

, b ut n o t limite d to

, a

p a re n t

, wh o h a s b e e n a wa rd e d p e rm a n e n t c u sto d y o f a c h i l d b y a

c o u rt o rd e r. Un le ss o th e rwise p ro v id e d b y c o u rt ord e r, th e p e rso n

a wa rd e d so le c u sto d

y o f a c h ild sh a ll h a v e th e rig h ts a n d

re sp o n sib ilitie s fo r m a

jo r d e c isio n s c o n c e rn in g th e c h ild

, in c lu d in g

th e c hild ' s e d u c a tio n

, h e a lth c a re

, e x t r a c urric u la r a c tiv itie s, a n d

re lig io u s tra in in g

, a n d th e n o n c u sto dia l p a re n t sh a ll h a ve th e rig h t

4to v isita tio n o r p a re n tin g tim e

.

(Em p h a sis su p p lie d .) OCGA § 1 9 -9 -6 (1 1 ). H e re

, th e e n tity p a ire d with “ rig h ts

a n d re sp o n sib ilitie s” is a “ p e rso n ,” wh ic h m a y b e so m e o n e o th e r th an a p a re n t.

Th is sh o ws, o n th e fa c e o f th e sta tu te

, th a t th e Le g isla tu re in te n d e d th a t p e rso n s

ma y h a ve so le le ga l c u sto dy o f a c h ild wh e n n o p a re nt is su ita b le fo r c u sto d y

,

b u t o nly p a re n ts m a y h a v e jo in t le g a l c usto d y

. If th e Le g i sla tu re ha d in te n d e d

o th e rwise

, it wo u ld h a v e in c lu d e d “ a p e rso n ” in th e c a te g ory o f th o se wh o c o u ld

h a v e jo in t c usto d y o f a

c h ild with a

p a re n t. It d id n o t.

Th is sta tu to ry c o n stru c tio n d o v e t ails p e rfe c tly with th e Le gisla tu re ’s

p re su m p tio n s re g a rd in g t he e x e rc ise a nd re m ov a l of pa re nta l p o we r. O CGA §

1 9 -7 -1 (b .1 ) sta te s:

in a n y a c tio n in v o lv in g th e c u sto d y o f a c h ild b e twe e n th e p a re n ts

o r e ith e r p a re n t a n d a th ird p a rty lim ite d to g ra n dp a re n t,

g re a t-g ra n d

p a re n t, a u n t, un c le

, g re a t a

u n t, gr e a t u n c le

, sib lin g

, o r

a d o p tiv e p a re n t, p a re n ta l p o we r m a y b e lo st b y th e p a re n t, p a re n ts,

o r a n y o th e r p e rso n if th e c o u rt h e a rin g th e issu e o f c u sto d y

, in th e

e x e rc ise of its so un d d isc re tio n a n d ta k in g in to c o n sid e ra tio n a ll th e

c irc u m sta n c e s o f t h e c a se

, d e te rm in e s th a t a n awa rd of c u sto d y to

su c h th ird p a rty is fo r th e b e st in te re st o f th e c h ild o r c h ild re n a n d

will b e st p ro m o te th e ir we lfa re a n d ha p p in e s s

. Th e re sh a ll be a

re b u ttab le pre s u m

p t i o n t h a t it is in th e be st in te re st o f th e c h ild o r

c h ild re n fo r c usto d y to b e a wa rd e d to th e p a re n t o r p a re n ts o f su c h

c h ild or c h ild re n

, b u t th is p re su m p tio n m a y b e o v e r c o me b y a

sh o win g th a t a

n a wa rd o f c usto d y

to su c h th ird p arty is in th e b e st

5in te re st o f th e c h ild o r c h ild re n

. T h e so le issu e fo r de te rm in a tio n in

a n y su c h c a se sh a ll b e w h a t i s i n th e b e st in te re st o f th e c h ild o r

c h ild re n

.

Th is sta tu te in d ic a te s th a t th e re a re o nly th re e g ro u p s c a p a b le o f e x e rc isin g

p a re n ta l c o n tro l: a p a re n t, p a re n ts, o r a th ird p artie s of a lim ite d c la ss. A g ro u p

c o m p rise d o f a pa re n t a n d a th ird p a rty is n o t m e n tio n e d b e c a u s e i t is n o t a

c o m b in a tio n w h o m a y b e e m p o we re d with jo in t c o n tro l o v e r a c h ild

. Th is

b e c o m e s e v e n m o re e v id e n t sin c e th e re is a re bu tta b le p re su m

ptio n th a t it is in

th e b e st in te re sts o f a c h ild to g iv e c u sto dy to a p are n t o r p a re n ts

, a n d a th ird

p a rty m a y g a in c u sto dy o n ly a fte r sh o win g “ b y c le a r a n d c o n v in c in g e v id e n c e

th a t p a re n ta l c usto d y wo u l d h a rm th e c hild .” Cla rk v

. Wa d e

, 27 3 Ga

. 5 8 7

,

5 8 7 -5 8 8 (5 4 4 S E2 d 9 9 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (c o n stru in g OCGA § 1 9 -7 -1 (b .1 )). Mo re o ve r,

c o n stru in g th e Co de a s a

u th o riz in g th e Sta te to re q uire a fit a n d c a p a ble p a re n t

to sh a re c u sto d y of h is c hild with a n y o n e e x c e p t th e c h ild ’s o th e r p a re n t wo u ld

ra ise sig n ific a n t c o n stitu tio n a l c o n c e rn s. S e e Bro ok s v. P ark e rso n

, 2 65 Ga

. 1 8 9

(4 5 4 SE2 d 7 6 9) (1 9 9 5 ). S ta tu te s sh o u l d b e in te rp re te d to a v o id se rio u s

c o n stitu tio n a l c o n c e rn s wh e re su c h a n in te rp re ta tio n is re a so n a b le

. Se e Ha le y

v . S ta te , 2 8 9 Ga

. 5 1 5, 5 2 2 (7 12 S E 2 d 8 3 8 ) (2 0 11 ).

In lig h t o f th e fo re g o in g, th e tria l c o u rt in th is c a se h a d n o p o we r to g ra n t

6jo in t c u sto d y to Hu sb a n d a n d Gra n d m oth e r, a n d th a t a wa rd m u st b e v a c a te d

.

Th is r es u lt d oe s n o t m e a n

, h o w e v e r, th a t th e sta tu te d o e s n o t re sp e c t a n d

p ro m ote t h e i n te ra c tio n o f lo v in g g ra nd p a re n ts with a m in o r c h ild

. To th e

c o n tra ry

, th e sta tu te e n c o u r a g e s c on ta c t with g ra n d p a re n ts in OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3

(d ), a n d OCGA § 19 -7 -3 pro v id e s a m e c h an ism fo r a g ra n t o f v isita tio n rig h ts

to g ra n d p a re n ts wh e n n e c e ssa ry to e n su re a n d p re se rv e t h i s c o n ta c t. Also

, in

situ a tio n s wh e re n e ith e r p a re nt is su itab le to h a v e c u sto d y

, a g ra n d p a re n t m ig h t

c e r ta in ly b e “a p e rso n” q u a lifie d to h a v e so le c u sto d y o f a m in o r c h i l d

.

Ho we ve r, in situ a tio n s w h e re a p a re n t is su itab le to e x e rc ise c usto d y o v e r a

c h ild

, th e sta tu te d o e s n o t a llo w th a t p a re n t a l c usto d y to b e lim ite d b y a jo in t

c u sto d y a rra ng e m e n t with a g ra n d p a re n t o r, fo r th a t m a tte r, a n y o th e r p e rso n

.

J u d g me n t re v e rse d in p a rt. All th e Ju stic e s c o n c u r, e x c e p t Be nh a m a n d

Hu n ste in , JJ., wh o d isse n t.

7S 1 5 F 0 0 6 4 . S TONE v . S T ONE e t a l.

HUNS T EIN, Ju stic e

, d isse n tin g

.

Th e re su lt of th e m a

jo rity ’s op in io n is th a t a g ra n d m oth e r, wh o h a s b e e n

th e p rim a ry c a re ta k e r a n d th e so le so u rc e o f sta b ility an d se c u rity fo r a lm o st th e

e n tire life o f h e r g ra n d so n

, will n o lo ng e r h a v e a n y le g a l rig h t to p artic ip a te in

h is c a re

. Be c a

u se I d isa g re e w ith th e h o ld in g of th e m a jo rity a n d d o no t b e lie v e

th a t so le le g a l c u sto d y to Da v id E. S to ne (Hu sb an d ) is in th e b e st in te re st o f th e

c h ild

, I m u st d isse n t.

In o rd e r to u n d e rsta n d th e re p e rc u ssio n s o f t h e m a jo rity ’s de c isio n

, it is

im p o rta n t to re c ite h e re th e p a rtic u la r c irc u m sta nc e s o f th is c a se

. In 2 0 0 5

, a

c h i l d wa s b o rn to Hu sb a nd a n d A n n a Sto n e (Wife ); th e p a re n ts we re n o t

m a rrie d

. Hu sb a n d

, Wife

, a n d c h ild mo v e d in to th e h o m e o f c h ild ' s m a te rn a l

g ra n dm o th e r, S a n d ra We b b (Gra n d m o th e r). W ife h a d a h isto ry o f d ru g a b u se

,

a n d th e re fo re

, th e De p a rtm e n t o f F a m ily a n d C h ild S e rv ic e s wo u ld v isit

Gra n d m o th e r’s h o m e to d ru g te st Wi f e. S ix m o n th s la te r, W ife a n d Hu sb a n d

we re m a rrie d a nd m o v e d in to th e ir o wn ho m e

, a n d th e c h ild re sid e d with th e m

.

O v e r th e n e x t fe w y e a rs, Hu sb an d a nd Wife c o n tin u e d to stru g g l e w i t hd iffic u ltie s, in c lu d in g Wi f e ’ s a rre st a n d c o n tin u e d d ru g a b u se a n d H u sb a n d ’s

wo rk o u t o f sta te

. Alth ou gh th e re we re tim e s th a t th e c h ild re sid e d with Wife

o r Hu sb an d , Gra n dm oth e r wa s th e p rim a ry c a re ta k e r o f th e c h ild

.

Hu sb a n d a n d Wife we re d iv o rc e d fo r th e first tim e in Ma rc h 2 0 1 1

. At th a t

tim e

, Wife wa s a wa rd e d p rim a ry p h y sic a l c u sto d y o f th e c h ild ; Wife a n d c h ild

liv e d w ith Gra n d m o th e r. In Oc to b e r 2 0 1 1

, Gra n d m oth e r w a s g ra n te d te m p o ra ry

g u a rd ia n sh ip o f th e c hild with th e c o n se n t o f bo th Hu sb a n d

, b e c a u se h e wo rk e d

o u t o f sta te

, a n d Wife

, b e c a u se sh e n e e d e d to a tte n d in p a tie n t d ru g tre a tm e n t.

Be fo re th is g u a rd ia n sh ip c a se wa s c om p le te d

, Gra n d m o t h e r p e titio n e d fo r

c u sto d y in Gwin ne tt S u p e rio r Co u rt o n Ma rc h 2 6, 2 01 3

.

In th e m e a

n tim e

, a fte r in p a tie n t d ru g tre a tm e n t, W ife le ft Ge o rg ia to liv e

with Hu sb a n d

, ra th e r th a n c o m p le te h e r o u tp a tie n t d r u g tre a tm e n t. Wife a n d

Hu sb a nd re m a rrie d in Ap ril 20 1 3

. Hu sb a n d th e n file d fo r d iv o rc e in Gwin n e tt

S u p e rio r Co u rt o n Ju ly 16

, 2 0 1 3

. Th e c o u rt g ra n te d Gra nd m o th e r’s m o tio n to

in te rv e n e in th e d iv o rc e a c tio n

. At a ll tim e s, th e c hild re m a in e d with

Gra n d m o th e r a nd a tte nd e d sc h o o l in h e r d istric t.

With Gra n d m o th e r h a v in g b e e n gra n te d le a ve to in te rv e n e in th e d iv orc e

a c t i o n

, th e th re e p a rtie s we re c o n c u rre n tly litig a tin g th e d iv o rc e and c u sto d y

2p ro c e e d in g s. 1 Be c a use th is is a c u sto d y disp u te b e twe e n p a r e n t s a n d a

g ra n dp a re n t, it is go v e rn e d b y OCGA § 1 9 -7 -1 (b .1 ). 2 Se e Cla rk v. Wa d e

, 2 7 3

1 T h e t r i a l co u rt co ns o l i dat ed t h e p en d i n g act i o ns an d h el d h eari n g s i n t h e

co n so l i d at ed c a s e s

. Th e co u rt i s s u ed o rd ers s i m ul t an eo u s l y reg ard in g cu s t o d y an d

v i s i t at i o n i n t h e p en d i n g cas es

, wi t h s o m e o rd ers fi led i n m o re t h an o n e cas e. In t h e

d i v o rce act i o n

, o f wh i ch t h i s Co u rt h as ju ri s d i ct i o n

, t h e co u rt en t ered a d i v o rce d ecree

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

. Al t h ou g h t h e p erm an en t p aren ti n g p l an

award s jo i n t l eg al cu s to dy t o Hu s b an d an d Gran d m o t her, t h e co u rt d i d n o t p ro v i d e

an y rat i o n al e fo r t h i s d eci s i o n i n t he p erm an en t paren t i n g p l an

. In s t ead

, th e co u rt

ex p lai n ed i t s d eci s io n t o award jo i n t l eg al cu s t od y du ri n g o ne o f t he co n s o l i d at ed

h ear i n g s an d l at er s et fo rt h t h i s ex p l an at i o n i n t h e o rd er t h e co u rt en t ered i n t h e

cu s t o d y cas e. To b e c l e a r

, I d o n o t p u rp o rt t o ren d er an o pi n io n wi th reg ard t o t h e

wri t ten cu s t o d y o rd er en t ered b y t h e co u rt

. Ho wev er, I h av e rev i ewed t h e reco rd in

t h e d i v o rce p ro ceed i n g s an d rel y o n th e ex p lan at i o n th e co u rt pro v i d ed t h erei n fo r i t s

award o f jo i n t l eg al cu s to dy

.

2 OCGA § 1 9 -7 -1 (b .1 ) p ro v i d es as fo l l ows :

No t wi t h s t an d i n g su b sect i o n s (a) an d (b ) o f t h i s Co d e s ect i o n o r an y

o t h er l aw t o t h e co n t rary

, i n an y act i o n i n vo l v i n g t h e cu s t o 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 h i rd p art y l i m i t e d t o

g ran dp aren t

, g reat -g ran d p aren t, au n t

, u ncl e, g r e a t au n t

, g reat un cl e,

s i bl i n g

, o r ad o p t i ve p aren t

, paren t al p o w e r m ay b e l o s t b y t h e p aren t

,

p aren t s

, o r an y o t her pers o n if t h e co u rt h eari n g t he i s s ue o f cu s t o d y

, i n

t h e ex erci s e o f i t s s o u n d d i s cret i o n an d t ak i n g i nt o co n s i d erat i o n al l th e

ci rcu m s t an ces o f t h e cas e, d et erm i nes t h at an award o f cu s to d y t o s u ch

t h i rd p ar t y is fo r t h e b es t i n teres t o f t h e ch il d o r ch i l d ren an d wi l l b es t

p ro m o t e th ei r wel fare an d h ap p i n es s

. Th ere s h al l b e a reb u t t ab l e

p r e s u m p t i o n t hat i t is i n t h e b es t i n t eres t o f th e ch i l d o r ch i l d ren fo r

cu s t od y t o b e 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 or ch i ld ren

, b u t t h i s p res 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 t h at an award o f

cu s t od y t o s u ch t h i rd p art y i s i n th e b es t i nt eres t of t h e ch il d o r ch i ld ren

. Th e s o l e i s s u e fo r d et erm i n at i on i n an y s u ch cas e s h al l b e wh at i s in th e

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

.

3Ga . 5 87 (II) (5 4 4 S E2 d 9 9 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (p lu ra lity o p in io n ).

P u rsu a n t to OCGA § 1 9 -7 -1 ( b .1 ), in a wa rd in g c u sto d y

, th e c o u rt is to

d e te rm in e w h a t is in th e b e st in te re st o f th e c h ild a n d to c o n sid e r th e c h ild ' s

in te re st in a sa f

e

, s e c u re e n v iro n m e n t th a t p ro m o te s h is p h y sic a l, m e n ta l, a n d

e m o tio n a l h e a lth a nd d e ve lo p m e n t. Cla rk

, 2 7 3 Ga

. a t 5 9 3

. “ In c o n sid e rin g wh a t

is in th e b e st in te re st o f th e c h ild

, th e tria l c o urt m ay c o n s i d e r t h e c h ild ' s

h isto ric a l re la tio n sh ip with th e p a re n t, th e c h ild ' s re la tio n sh ip with th e

th ird -p a rty c usto d ia n, a n d th e c h ild ' s sp e c ia l m e d ic a l, e m o tio n a l, o r e d u c a tio n a l

n e e d s.” Id

.

[OCGA § 1 9 -7 -1 (b .1 ) ] e sta b lish e s a re b u ttab le p re su m p tio n th a t it

is in th e b e st in te re st o f th e c h ild to a wa rd c u sto d y to th e p a re n t o f

th e c hild

. Th e fo llo wi n g t h re e pre su m p tio n s are im

p lic it in th e

sta tu te : (1 ) th e p a r e n t is a fit pe rso n e n title d to c u sto d y

, (2 ) a fit

p a re n t a c ts in th e b e st in te re st o f h is o r h e r c h ild

, a n d (3 ) th e c h ild ' s

b e st in te re st is to b e in th e c u sto d y o f a p a re n t. Th e p re su m p tio n c a n

n o n e th e le ss b e o v e rc o m e by th e th ird -p a rty r e l ativ e sh o w in g

, b y

c l e a r a n d c o n v in c in g e v id e n c e

, th a t pa re n ta l c u sto d y wo u ld h a rm

t h e c h i l d

. Ha rm in th is c o nte x t h a s b e e n d e fin e d

. . . a s e ith e r

p h y sic a l h a rm o r sig n ific a n t, lo n g -t e rm e m o tio n a l h a rm [, n o t]

m e re ly so c ia l o r e c o n o m i c d i s a d v a n ta g e s. On c e th e p re su m ptio n h a s

b e e n ov e rc o m e

, th e th ird -p a rty re la tiv e m u st pro v e th a t a n awa rd o f

c u sto dy to h im o r he r will b e st p ro m o te th e c h ild ' s h e a lth

, we lfa re

,

a n d h a p p in e ss.

Ga ltie ri v. O' De ll, 2 9 5 Ga

. Ap p

. 7 9 7

, 79 8 (6 7 3 SE2 d 3 0 0 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (c ita tio n s a n d

4p u n c tu a tio n o m itte d ); se e Cla rk

, 2 7 3 Ga

. a t 5 9 3

, 5 98 -5 9 9

. Ad d itio n a lly

, in

e v a lu a tin g th e i s s u e s o f h a rm a n d c u sto d y

, th e tria l c o u rt sh o u ld c o n sid e r a

v a rie t y o f fa c to rs to e n c o m p a ss th e c h ild ’s n e e d s: “ (1 ) wh o a re th e p a st a n d

p re se nt c a

re ta k e rs o f th e c h ild ; (2 ) with wh o m h a s th e c h i l d fo rm e d

p sy c ho lo g ic a l b o n d s a

n d h o w stro n g a re th ose bo n d s; (3 ) h a v e th e c o m p e tin g

p a rtie s e vid e n c e d in te re st in

, a n d c o n ta c t w ith

, th e c hild ov e r tim e ; an d (4 ) d oe s

th e c h i l d h a v e u n iq ue m e d ic a l o r p sy c h o lo g ic a l n e e ds th a t o n e p a rty is b e tte r

a b le to m e e t.” Cla

rk , 2 7 3 Ga . a t 5 9 8 -9 9 (fo otn ote s o m itte d).

With re ga rd t o W i f

e

, t h e c ou rt fo u n d b y c le a r a nd c o n v in c in g e v id e n c e

th a t Wife wa s c u rre n tly un fit to h a v e c u st o d y o f th e c h ild a n d a n a wa rd o f

c u s t o d y t o h e r wo u ld re su lt in p h y sic a l a n d sig n ific a n t, lo ng -te rm e m o tio n a l

h a rm to th e c hild

. Th is fin d in g wa s b a se d o n Wife ’s c o n tin u e d stru gg le s with

c h ro nic

, u n -re h a

bilita te d su b sta n c e a

b use

, a n d th e fa c t th a t, a t th e tim e o f th e

tria l, sh e wa s in c a rc e ra te d a n d h a d n o m e a n s o f su pp o rt o r h o m e to p ro v id e fo r

th e c h ild

.

With Gra n d m o th e r h a v in g o v e rc om e t h e pre su m p tio n a s to Wife

, se e

Cla rk

, 2 7 3 Ga

. a t 5 9 8, th e c o u rt c o n c lu d e d th a t Gra n d m o th e r ha d sh o wn b y c le a r

a n d c o n vin c in g e vid e n c e th a t th e c h ild wo uld su ffe r sig nific a n t, lo n g -te rm

5e m o tio n a l h a rm if Gra nd m o th e r wa s n o t a llo we d to c o n tin u e to b e “ a le g a l a n d

p h y sic a l p re se n c e in th e c h ild ’s life ” a n d a lso th a t it wa s in th e b e st in te re st o f

th e c h ild th a t Gra n d m oth e r m a in ta i n a p re se n c e in th e c h ild ’s life

. Th e c o urt

a lso n o te d th a t Gra n d m o th e r h a d d o n e a n e x e m pla ry jo b o f p ro v id in g a

c a rin g

a n d n u rtu rin g h o m e fo r th e c h ild

.

With re ga rd to Hu sb a n d

, th e c o urt fo u nd th a t h e wa s n o t a n un fit p a re n t.

Ad m itte d l y

, h e h a d c e d e d h is p are n ta l p re ro ga tiv e to Gra n d m o th e r o fte n tim e s

th ro u g h o u t th e c h ild ’s life

, a nd h e h a d c o n tin u e d to b e e n m e sh e d with Wife ’s

stru gg le s a n d a dd ic tio n s a nd u se d p o o r ju d g m e n t a s a re su lt. Ho we v e r, h e a lso

h a d e sta blish e d a sta b le b u sin e ss in S o u th C a ro lin a a n d m a in ta in e d a ve ry stro n g

b o n de d re la tio n sh ip w ith th e c h ild

. Ac c o rd in g ly

, th e c o u r t f o u n d th a t

Gra n d m o th e r h a d n o t sh own b y c le ar a n d c o n vin c in g e v id e n c e th a t a n a wa rd o f

p rim a ry p hy sic a l c u sto d y to H u sb an d wo u ld c a u se th e c h ild to su ffe r p h y sic a l

o r sig n ific a n t, lo ng -te rm

e m o tio n a l h a rm

.

Be c a u se th e be st in te re sts o f th e c h i l d r e su lte d in a d e te rm in a tio n th a t

c u sto d y sh o u ld b e to b o th Hu sb a n d an d Gra n d m o th e r, th e c o u r t c o rre c tly

a wa rd e d th e m

jo in t le g a l c u sto d y in th e p e rm a n e n t p a re ntin g p la n

.

As th e m a

jo rity p o in ts o u t, “

jo in t le g a l c u sto d y ” is d e fin e d a s “ b o th

6p a re n ts” h a v in g e q u a l rig hts; th e d e fin itio n d o e s n o t in c lu d e a th ird p a rty

re la tiv e

, su c h a s a g ra n d

p a re n t. OCGA § 19 -9 -6 (5 ). Ho w e v e r, su c h a stric t

re a d in g of th e s ta tu e ig n ore s § 1 9-7 -1 (b

. 1 )’s re q u ire m e n t th a t

“ [n ] o twith sta n d in g

. . . a n y o th e r la w to th e c o n tra ry ,” th e “ so le issu e fo r

d e te rm in a tio n ” “ in a n y a c tio n in v o lv in g th e c u sto d y o f a c h i ld b e twe e n th e

p a re n ts o r e ith e r p a re n t a

n d a

. . . g ra n d

pa re n t,” is “ wh a t is in th e b e st in te re st o f

th e c h ild .” He re

, “in de te rm in in g th e b e s t i n t e re sts o f th e c h ild

, th e su p e rio r

c o u r t h a d t o c o nsid e r wh o a m o ng th e p a rtie s w o u ld be m o re lik e ly to p ro v id e

[th e c h ild ] with th e e n v iro n m e n t a n d c o n siste n t t r e a t me n t [] h e n e e d e d .”

Ma u ld in v

. Ma

u ld in

, 3 2 2 G a

. A p p

. 5 0 7

, 5 18 (4 ) (7 4 5 S E 2 d 7 5 4 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

Ac c o rd in g to th e e v id e n c e p re se n te d to th e tri a l c o u rt, th e b e st in te re sts o f th e

c h ild m a n da te d jo in t le g a l c u sto d y to Hu sb a nd a nd Gra n d m o th e r.

In o u r so c ie ty

, th e re h a s b e e n a ste a d y in c re a se in th e n u m b e r o f

g ra n dp a re n ts ra isin g th e ir g ra n d c h ild re n

. S e e Ma ry F

. Ra d fo rd

, Ga

.

Gu a rd ia n sh ip a n d Co n se rv a to rsh ip § 2 :5

, n .1 (2 0 1 4 ) ( c itin g a 2 0 1 3 Pe w

Re se a rc h Ce nte r a n a ly sis o f U.S

. Ce n su s B u re a u d a ta

, wh ic h re ve a le d th a t a b o u t

7 m illio n g ra n d

pa re n ts we re liv in g with gra nd c h ild re n in 20 11

, a 2 2 % in c re a se

sin c e 2 0 0 0

, a n d th a t th e g r a n d p a re n t wa s th e p rim a ry c are g iv e r fo r a b o u t 3

7m illio n o f th e se c h ild re n ); Ka th le e n Me a ra

, Wh a t' s in A Na m e ? De fin in g a n d

Gra n tin g A Le g a l S ta tu s to Gra n d p are n ts Wh o Are In fo rm a l P rim ary Ca re g iv e rs

o f Th e ir Gra n d c h ild re n , 5 2 F a m . Ct. Re v . 1 2 8

, 1 2 9 (2 0 1 4 ) (c itin g a 2 0 1 0 U.S

.

Ce n su s R e p o rt, wh ic h fo u n d th a t mo r e th a n 2 .5 m illio n g ra n d p are n ts a re

re sp o n sib le fo r th e ir g ra n d c h i l d r en )

. As I h a v e p re vio u sly re c o g n iz e d

, “ [i] n

re a lity

, m a n y c h ild re n t o d a y a re b e in g ra ise d no t b y th e ir p a re n ts b ut b y o th e r

fa m ily m e m

b e rs with a stro n g a tta c h m e n t to th e c h i l d an d wh o h a v e lo v in g ly

a n d re sp o n sib ly a c te d in th e ro le o f th e c h ild ' s p a re n t.” Cla rk

, 2 7 3 Ga

. a t 6 0 2

(Hu nste in

, J., c o n c u rrin g ). In lig h t o f th i s t r e n d

, it is im p ra c tic a l a n d

sh o rtsig h te d to c o n c lu d e th a t jo in t le g a l c u sto d y m ust b e lim ite d to p a re n ts. “ In

o rd e r to b a la n c e a nd p r o te c t th e rig h ts o f a ll p artie s, a tria l c o u rt m u st b e

a u th oriz e d to c o n sid e r th e e n tire ty o f t h e c irc u m sta n c e s a n d to a sse ss th e

im p o rta n c e o f th e c o n flic tin g in te re sts p re se nt in e v e ry c u sto dy d isp u te .” Cla rk

,

2 7 3 G a

. a t 6 0 5 (Hu nste in

, J., c o n c u rrin g ). An d if th o se c irc um sta n c e s d i c t a t e

th a t jo in t le g a l c u sto d y b e twe e n a p a re nt a n d a gra n d pa re nt is in th e be st in te re st

o f th e c h ild

, th e n a wa rd in g su c h c u sto d y sh o u ld be a n o p tio n. S e e Ma u ld in

, 3 2 2

Ga

. Ap p

. a t 5 1 8 (a ffirm in g a wa rd o f jo in t le g a l c u sto dy to th e g ra n dp a re n ts a n d

th e fa th e r, p rim a ry p h y sic a l c u sto d y to th e g ra n d p a re n ts, a nd v isita tio n b y th e

8m o th e r). 3

I a m p a r t i c u l a rly tro ub le d b y th e p ra c tic a l ou tc o m e th a t re su lts fro m th e

m a jo rity ’s o p in io n

. As a

rg u e d b y th e c h ild ’s g u a rd ia n a d lite m in th is c a se

, it

is in th e b e st in te re st of th e c h ild th a t Gra nd m o th e r be a wa rd e d c u sto d ia l rig h ts

b e c a u se sh e h a s p ro v id e d th e o n ly sta b le a n d se c u re h o m e th a t th e c hild h a s e v e r

k n o w n

. S in c e th e c h ild ’s b irth

, Wife h a s stru g g le d with c h ro n ic

,

u n -re h a b ilita te d d ru g a

b u se a n d re su ltin g le g a l p ro b le m s; Hu sb a n d ha s

c o n tin u e d to b e e n me s h e d with W ife ’s a d d ic tio n stru g g le s. F o r n e a rly th e

c h ild ’s e ntire life

, bo th Hu sb a n d a n d Wife willin g ly

, c o n tin u a lly c e d e d p a re n ta l

re sp o n sib ility to Gra n d m oth e r. F ro m b irth u n til h e wa s e ig ht, th e Gra n d m o th e r

m a d e a ll o f th e m a

jo r d e c isio n s fo r th e c h ild

, i n c l u d i n g m e dic a l a n d re lig io u s

d e c isio n s, e n ro llin g h im in h e r sc ho o l d istric t, a n d e n su rin g his p a rtic ip a tio n in

e x tra c u rric u la r a c tiv itie s.

Th e tria l c o u rt wa s c orre c t in its fin d in g th a t th e a b se n c e o f G ra nd m o th e r’s

“ le g a l a nd p h y sic a l p re se n c e ” wo u ld c a u se h a rm to th e c h ild

. In so ho ld in g

, th e

tria l c o u rt wa s lo g ic a lly p re c lu d e d fro m a n y a w a rd o f c usto d y to H u sb a n d wh ic h

3 As M au l d i n ev i d en ces

, I s i n cerel y d o ub t t hat award i n g j o i n t l eg al cu s t o d y to

a p aren t an d g ran d p aren t i s a u n i q u e o ccu rren ce fo r ju d g es faci n g co n t en t i ou s cu s t o dy

d i s p u t es

.

9wo u ld simu lta n e o u sly te rm in a te Gra n dm o th e r’s le g a l c u sto dia l rig h ts a s to th e

c h ild

. It is a

p p a re n t fro m th e tria l c ou rt’s o rd e r th a t c u sto d y in Hu sb a n d wo u ld

o n ly be in th e c h ild ’s b e st in te re st, a n d n o t c a u se lo n g -te rm h a rm

, if it we re

p re d ic a te d o n th e c o n c u rre n t e x e rc ise o f le g a l c u sto d y b y Gra n d m o th e r.

F o r a ll o f th e se re a so n s, I m ust d isse n t. I u r g e t h e L e g isla tu re to

re c o n sid e r its lim ite d d e fin itio n o f “ jo in t le g a l c u sto d y ” a s sta te d in OCGA § 1 9

-

9 -6 (5 ). I wo u ld a ffirm th e tria l c o u rt’s aw a rd o f jo in t le g a l c u sto d y to Hu sb a n d

a n d Gra n d m o th e r.

I a m a u th o riz e d to sta te th a t Ju stic e Be n h a m c o n c urs in th is d isse n t.

10