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NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 D . S .
v. H . H . N.P . Appellant : : : : : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 646 WDA 2021 Appeal from the Order Entered May 3, 2021 In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Family Court at No(s): FD13 - 006087 - 008 BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., BOWES , J., and PELLEGRINI, J. * MEMORANDUM BY BENDER, P.J.E.: FILED: JANUARY 25, 2022 H.H.N.P. (Mother) appeals from the order entered on May 3, 2021, by the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County that awarded D.S. (Father) sole legal custody and primary physical custody of M.A.D. (Child), born in January of 2013. Moth er was awarded partial physical custody of Child in accordance with a schedule delineated in the order. The order also held Mother in contempt of four prior orders of court. After careful review, we affirm the trial court’s custody order. However, we de ny Father’s applications to quash and to dismiss this appeal and also deny his request for counsel fees . Before consider ing the merits of Mother’s appeal, which she filed on June 4, 2021, we review ed this Court’s docket and note that Father filed both an application to quash and an application to dismiss this appeal. Specifically,

_________________ ____________________ _______ * Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.J - A29001 - 21

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on June 10, 2021, Father filed an application to quash, and on June 21, 2021, Mother respon ded . This Court ’s order, date d July 8, 2021, denied the application to quash without prejudice, thus, allowing Father to file a new application to quash after the appeal was assigned to a merits panel. Then, on August 31, 2021, Father filed the application to dismiss, and Mother file d an answer on September 10, 2021. The application to dismiss was deferred to the merits panel. Thereafter, Father renewed his application to quash Mother’s appeal, which was granted by this Court in an order dated November 17, 2021. F ollowing Mother’s application to reconsider the order granting the quashal and Father’s response, this Court vacated its November 17, 2021 order and deferred the quashal issue to the time of disposition by the merits panel . As a result , the case was relisted for argument o n December 14, 2021. To begin, w e deny Father’s application s to quash or to dismiss Mother’s appeal. We disagree with Father that Mother’s appeal was untimely and, therefore, deny his application to quash. Mother filed her appeal within thirty days of the trial court’s issuance of the May 3, 2021 final order that amended the April 21, 2021 order. We also deny Father’s motion to dismiss. Although Mother’s Rule 1925(b) statement is lengthy and her brief fails to comply with our Rules of Appellate Proced ure, our review is not impeded. See Jacobs v. Jacobs , 884 A.2d 301, 305 (Pa. Super. 2005) (“This Court has held that the rules of appellate procedure are ‘mandatory, not directing’ and it is within our discretion to dismiss an appeal when the rules of app ellate procedure are violated. However, if the failure to comply with rules of appellate procedureJ - A29001 - 21

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does not impede review of the issues or prejudice the parties, we will address the merits of the appeal.”) (citation and some quotation marks omitted). Mor eover, it is the consensus of this merits panel that emphasizing the trial court’s reasoning underlying its determination may be more appropriate and helpful to Mother in the months and years ahead. Additionally, we recognize that in a prior appeal to thi s Court, Father’s motion to dismiss was granted. See D.P.S. v. H.H.N.P. , No. 1692 WDA 2016 (Pa. Super. filed Feb. 9, 2017) (order granting motion to dismiss appeal but denying request for counsel fees). We likewise deny Father’s request for counsel fees. W e now turn to the issues raised in Mother’s appeal and proceed to review the merits , which have been appropriately addressed by the trial court. The relevant scope and standard of review in custody matters are as follows: In reviewing a custody order , our scope is of the broadest type and our standard is abuse of discretion. We must accept findings of the trial court that are supported by competent evidence of record, as our role does not include making independent factual determinations. In additio n, with regard to issues of credibility and weight of the evidence, we must defer to the presiding trial judge who viewed and assessed the witnesses first - hand. However, we are not bound by the trial court’s deductions or inferences from its factual findings. Ultimately, the test is whether t he trial court’s conclusions are unreasonable as shown by the evidence of record. We may reject the conclusions of the trial court only if they involve an error of law, or are unreasonable in light of the sustainable findings of the trial court. V.B. v. J.E.B. , 55 A.3d 1193, 1197 (Pa. Super. 2012) (citations omitted). Furthermore, we note that:

The discretion that a trial court employs in custody matters should be acco rded the utmost respect, givenJ - A29001 - 21

- 4 - the special nature of the proceeding and the lasting impact the result will have on the lives of the parties concerned. Indeed, the knowledge gained by a trial court in observing witnesses in a custody proceeding cannot adeq uately be imparted to an appellate court by a printed record. Ketterer v. Seifert, 902 A.2d 533, 540 (Pa. Super. 2006) (quoting Jackson v. Beck, 858 A.2d 1250, 1254 (Pa. Super. 2004)). A.H. v. C.M. , 58 A.3d 823, 825 (Pa. Super. 2012). Moreover, “[w] hen a trial court orders a form of custody, the best interest of the child is paramount. ” S.W.D. v. S.A.R. , 96 A.3d 396, 400 (Pa. Super. 2014) (citation omitted). Mother raises the following issues for our review: FIRST: Whether the four contempt adjudications were sufficiently proven, and whether the individual or collective result of those contempt s could justify the [c]ou rt’s intention to “craft an order that makes it a little less opportune for instability and lack of continuity to occur.” SECOND: Whether the Burger King – Meadows Casino incident where Mother’s children were left in the care of an older sibling was sufficiently proven to be given custody - factor weight and whether the result of that incident was sufficient to justify the [c]ourt’s intention to “craft an order that makes it a little less opportune for instability and lack of continuity to occur.” THIRD: Whether alleged instability in Mother’s home environment, whether alleged instability in Mother’s psychology, whether Mother’s alleged parental alienation syndrome, whether Mother’s alleged “economic dishonesty [,”] and whether Mother’s alleged moral turpitude were sufficiently proven to be given custody - factor weight and whether the result of that incident was sufficient to justify the [c]ourt’s intent to “craft an order that makes it a little less opportune for instability and lack of continuity to occur.”J - A29001 - 21

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FOURTH: Whether it was improper for the [c]ourt to delegate to Father the ability t o modify/punish for contempt, without a judicial hearing. Mother’s brief at 9 - 10 (footnotes omitted ; capitalization in original ). In its opinion filed following the custody hearing, the trial court provide d a factual and procedural history of the cas e. See Trial Court Opinion (TCO), 7/7/ 2021 , at 1 - 2 . The opinion also referenced the court’s reading into the record its analysis of the custody factors set forth in 23 Pa.C.S. § 5328 . Id. at 2. This reading took place at a hearing on April 21, 2021, which was held remotely due to the pandemic. The court also noted that Mother was “removed from the remote hearing due to her failure to follow my admonishments and those of her lawyer to keep silent [.]” Id. at 2 n. 3 . The opinion also discussed the facts it relied on and its reasons for awarding Father sole legal custody and primary physical custody . Id. at 7 - 11. Essentially, Mother’s arguments are requesting that this Court re - find facts and re - weigh the evidence presented. However, our standard of review does not permit us to function in this manner. Rather, our standard of review requires that we “accept findings of the trial court that are supported by competent evidence of record, as our role does not include making independent factual determinations.” C.R.F., III v. S.E.F. , 45 A.3d 441, 443 (Pa. Super. 2012). Moreover, we “may reject the conclusions of the trial court only if they involve an error of law , or are unreasonable in light o f the sustainable findings of the trial court.” E.D. v. M.P. , 33 A.3d 73, 76 (Pa.J - A29001 - 21

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Super. 2011). We do not conclude that that is the situation here. The trial court’s findings are based on competent evidence contained in the record and its conclusions ar e not unreasonable. We have reviewed the certified record, the parties’ briefs, the applicable law, and the thorough, well - reasoned opinion authored by the Honorable Cathleen Bubash of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, dated July 7, 2021. We conclude that Judge Bubash’s opinion properly disposes of the issues presented by Mother in this appeal. Accordingly, we adopt the trial court’s opinion as our own and affirm the custody order on that basis. Order affirmed. Application to quash den ied. Application to dismiss denied. Request for counsel fees denied. Judgment Entered. Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary Date: 1/25/2022C ircu 1 a\� � !? 1 Wt2 0 2 2 0 9 : 1 0 A M

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. t h o u g h r f o u n d t h a t M o t h e r s p o ke to C h i l d d is p a ra g i n g l y o f Fa t h er . S h e l i kew i s e c l a i m s I m a d e a s p e ci fi c fi n d i n g o f M o t h e r' s m e n t a l i ll n e s s - a g a i n . I d i d n o t
. a l t h o u g h I d i d s p e c u l a t e t h a t M o t h e r n e e d s t h e ra p y to h e l p h e r m o d i fy h e r b e h a v i o rs . M o s t n o t a b l y , M o t h e r e rro n e o u s ly co n fl a t e s m y c u s to d y a n d c o n te m p t fi n d i n g s . S h e re p e a te d l y a s s e rts i n h e r I 9 2 S ( b ) S ta te m e n t t h a t I re d u c e d h e r c u s to d y t i m e a s " p u n i s h m e n t " f o r h e r co n t e m p t. T o t h e c o n t ra ry . I re d u c e d M o t h e r' s c u s to d y l i m e b e c a u s e m y a n a l ys i s o f t h e c u sto d y f a cto rs . w h e n a p p l i e d to t h e f a cts o f t h i s c a s e . l e d to t h e co n c l u s i o n t h a t re d u c i n g M o t h e r' s c u s to d y t i m e w a s i n C h i ld ' s b e s t i n t e re s t f o r s e v e ra l re a s o n s . M o t h e r' s L a c k o f C re d i b ili ty B e f o re b e g i n n i n g to a d d re s s M o t h e r' s a rg u m e n ts o n a p p ea l , I fi rst n o t e t h a t I d i d n o t fi n d a g re a t d e a l o f M o t h e r' s te s t i mo n y to b e c re d i b l e . As o n e e xa m p l e : M o t h e r i s a n a il t e c h n i ci a n b y t ra d e b u t te s t ifi e d s h e i s c u rre n tl y u n e m pl o y e d
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. h ow e v e r, te st i fi e d t h e y we n t m o re to t h e s a l o n t h a n o n c e . t h e y we re t h e re fo r h o u rs . a n d t h a t M o t h e r wo rke d a n d w a s pa i d f o r d o i n g m a n i c u re s a n d p e d i c u re s w h il e C h i l d f o l d e d tow e l s fo r w h i c h s h e wa s p a i d a d o ll a r (T R p . 1 7 6- 1 7 8 )
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te r t h e c h il d re n h a d b e e n t h e re fo r h o u rs a n d t h e s h o p w a s c l o s i n g / A l t h o u g h t h e re wa s d o c u m e n t a ry e v i d e n c e b y t h e N o rt h S t ra b a n e p o ke offi c e r t h a t M o t h e r h o d b e e n g a m b l i n g i n o c a s i n o d u ri n g l h e l i m e i n q u es t i o n (T R
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## to p u n i s h M o t h e r for c o n te m p t w i t h d e p ri v a t i o n o f c u sto d y l i m e ,
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' T h e ca ll er fro m B u rg e r K i n g i n d i ca te d t h a t M o t h e r h a d d o n e t h i s b e fo re ( T R
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. 11 4 ) 4 

# 2 1wh i c h i s m a n i f e s t l y i m p ro p e r a n d n o t i n t h e b e s t i n t e re s t o f t h e C h i l d
. " M o t h e r co n t i n u e s . ' ' o rd i n a ri ly , c u sto d y co n te m p t m a tt e rs i n A ll e g h e n y C o u n ty o re m a n a g e d b y S p e ci a l M o st e r H e a ri n g O ffi c e rs l o o vo i d t h i s c o n fli ct
. " T h e s e st a t e m e n ts 

### o r

e n o t o n l y w i t h o u t m e ri t
. t h e y o re e rro n e o u s a n d I fi n d i t ra t h e r s h o c k i n g t h a t o n ex p e ri e n c e d a tto rn e y d ra ft e d t h e m . C u sto d y co n te m p t m a tt e rs o re o fte n h a n d l e d b y M a s te rs i n A ll e g h e n y C o u n ty , 

### n o t to p re v e n t j u d g e s fro m ex p e ri e n ci n g w h a t M o t h e r a s s e rts i s a n " u n a v o i d a b l e " co n fl i ct
. b u t f

o r c a l e n d a r c o n t ro l p u r po s e s . W h e n . a s h e re , a m o d i fi c a t i o n a n d a m o t i o n fo r c o n te m p t i n c u s to d y a re p e n d i n g s i m u l ta n e o u s l y . t h e y o re h e a rd to g e t h e r . To d o o t h e rwi s e wo u l d b e a w a st e o f co u rt re s o u rc e s . T h e i m p li c a t i o n t h a t a s i lt i n g j u d g e c a n n o t h e a r two i s su e s a t o n e ti m e w i t h o u t b e i n g fu n d a m e n ta ll y u n f

a i r i s l u d i c ro u s . T h e re a re 6 7 c o u n t i e s i n P e n n sy l v a n i a , a re t h o s e w i t h o u t m a s t e r' s t ra m p l i n g o n p a re n t a l ri g h ts a s a m a tt e r o f c o u rs e ? T h e a rg u m e n t i s s p e c i o u s . M o t h e r t h e n a rg u e s t h a t " t h e C o u rt c a n n o t d e m o n st ra te h ow d e p ri v a t i o n o f c u s to d y t i m e wo u l d c u re t h e i s s u e s o f a ll e g e d co n t e m p t a n d t h a t t h e o l e g o t i o n s o f c o n t e m p t we re n o t " s u f fi c i e n t l y s e ri o u s o r s e v e re to j u s t i f y d e p ri v a t i o n o f c u s to d y t i m e . " B o t h o f t h e s e s e n t e n c e s a re t ru e b u t h a v e a s m u c h to d o wi t h t h i s c a s e a s t h e s e n t e n c e , " T h e s ky i s b l u e . " I d id n o t d e p ri v e M o t h e r o f c u s to d y t i m e a s a re m e d y fo r h e r co n te m p t. M o t h e r wa s f

o u n d i n c o n t e m p t f

o r n o t p a y i n g F a t h e r m o n e y s h e wa s co u rt o rd e re d to p a y , fo r c o ll i n g t h e po l i c e to a ss i s t w i t h c u s to d y ex c h a n g e s t h o u g h o rd e re d n o t to d o s o , f o r wi t h h o l d i n g C h i l d d u ri n g Fa t h e r' s Th a n ks g i v i n g c u s to dy t i m e , a n d f

o r re p e a te d ly v io l a ti n g t h e C o u rt Ord e re d e x c h a n g e l o c a t i o n . F o r t h e s e v i o l a t i o n s . I i m po s ed s a n ct i o n s a t P a ra g ra p h s 8- 1 1 o f m y O rd e r, a ll o f w h ic h w e re m o n e ta ry a n d n o n e o f w h i c h i n c l u d e d e pri v a t i o n of c u s to d y .

5 

# 2 8Ac co rd i n g l y , M o t h e r' s re p e a t e d a s s e rt i o n s t h a t I e rre d b y re d u ci n g h e r c u s to d y

t i m e a s p u n i s h m e n t fo r co n te m p t o re b e l i e d b y t h e v e ry O rd e r s h e a p p e a l s a n d s h o u l d b e d i s m i s s ed a s w i t h ou t m e ri t
. M o t h e r a rg u e s t h a t m y co n t e m p t fi n d i n g s w e re n o t s u p p o rte d b y t h e e v i d e n c e . Ag a in , t h i s i s u n fo u n d e d
. W i t h re g a rd to t h e J u l y 2 3 , 2 0 1 9
. O rd e r re q u i ri n g M o t h e r to re i m b u rs e F a t h e r f o r t h e $ 20 0
. 00 h e h o d to wi re h e r s o s h e a n d C h il d co u l d re t u rn fro m a Fl o ri d a 

### vo cofl o n . e M o t h e r i n t ro d u c e d a re c e i p t 

### for p a y m e n t p u r p o rte d l y s i g n e d b y F a t h e r . F a t h e r d e n i e d i i wa s h i s s i g n a t u re a n d I b e li e v e d F a t h e r, fi n d i n g M o t h e r' s a c co u n t l o b e o fa b ri c a t i o n a s s h e n e v e r ra i s e d th i s p u r p o rt e d re c e i p t a s 

### a d e f e ns e w h e n s h e h a d p re v i o u s o p po rt u n i ty to d o s o . (T R
. P 7 3 - 7 5 ) I a ls o f o u n d M o t h e r i n co n t e m p t f o r co n t i n u i n g to c a ll t h e p o l i c e fo r c u s to d y ex c h a n g e s , o tte r s h e wo s o rd e re d l o ce a s e d o i n g s o o n A p ri l 1 0 , 2 0 2 0
. F a t h e r te s t i fi e d t h a t o n M a y 2 9 , 2 0 2 0 , M o t h e r a rri v e d a t F a t h e r' s h o m e to to ke C h il d o n a d a y w h i c h w a s n o t h e r c u s to d y d a y . W h e n F a t h e r re fu s e d , M o t h e r c a ll e d t h e p o l i c e d e s p i te t h e O rd e r . (T R
. P
. 1 6 - 1 7 )
. M o t h e r d i d no t d e n y t h i s . A t h i rd co n te m p t fi n d i n g a r o s e fro m M o t h e r wi t h h o l d i n g t h e C h i l d fr o m F a t h e r o n h i s T h a n ks g i v i n g c u s to d y t i m e i n 2 0 2 0
. T h e 2 0 1 6 O rd e r p ro v i d e d M o t h er wi t h c u sto d y e v e ry T h a n ks g i v i n g D a y . Tw i c e i n t h e p a s t , F a t h e r a g re e d to l e t M o t h e r ke e p C h il d f

o r t h e e n t i re we e ke n d , b u t h e d i d n o t a g re e to d o s o wh e n M o t h e r a s ke d h i m l o i n 2 0 20
. M o t h e r ke p t h e r a n yway a n d l e f t o n a vo c a ti o n . (TR
. P
. 1 4 6 - 1 4 8 )
. I d i d n o t c re d i t M o t h er' s a s s e rt i o n t h a t s h e wa s co n fu s e d a n d f o u n d , i n ste a d t h a t s h e k n owi n g l y v i o l a te d t h e O rd e r.

• M o t h e r d i d no t g ive f a t he r t h e re q u i s l te n o t i ce fo r th i s va ca ti o n a n d t h e n p re s e n ted a m o t i o n to a n o t h e r j u d g e to g e t p e rm i s s i o n to g o . F a t h e r a rg u e d t h a t h e d i d n o t bel i e v e M o th e r h a d t h e m o n ey to g o . S h e was g i v e,i p e rm is s io n , to o k C h i ld to F l o r i d a , a n d t he n d i d no t h a ve t h e m on ey to ret u r n . F a th e r w i re d h e r $ 2 00
. 0 0 f or g a s a n d to ll s to g e t h o m e . ( T R
. P
. 2 2 - 2 8 ) 6 

# 2 9L a s tl y , d u e to t h e h o s ti l i ty be tw e e n t h e p a rt i e s - p ri m a ril y M o t h e r' s a n g ry

o u t b u rsts a l F a t h e r , t h e 2 0 1 6 O rd e r p ro v i d e d f o r ex c h a n g e s a t a p o l i c e st a t i o n . M o t h e r re p e a t e d l y re q u e s te d F a t h e r co m e l o a n e x c h a n g e e l s ew h e re . O f te n . wh e n h e d i d s o . s h e wo u l d st ill n o t h a v e C h i l d re a d y , o r wo u l d b e a t a n o t h e r l o c a t i o n , o r wo u l d o t h e rwi s e t h wa rt Fa t h e r c o m i n g i n to c u s to d y T h e re wa s n o cre d i b l e e x pl a n a t i o n fo r t h i s b e h a v i o r. a n d I t h e re f ore f o u n d M o t h er i n co n te m p t o f t h i s p ro v i s i o n . Ad d i t i o n a ll y , I p ro v i d e d i n P a ra g ra p h 3 c t h a t
. g o i n g f o rwa rd
. i f M o t h e r d i d n o t h a v e C h i l d re a d y f

o r e x c h a n g e s i n to F a t h e r' s c u sto d y , s h e wo u l d f o rfe i t s o m e o f h e r u p c o m i n g c u s to d y . M o t h e r co m p l a i n s t h a t I a c c o rd e d F a t h e r " t h e o p p o rt u n i ty l o s u m m a ri l y p u n i s h M o t h e r w i t h re m o v a l o f c u sto d y l i m e i f s h e pro s p e cti v e l y vi o l a t e s c u sto d y e xc h a n g e p ro v i s i o n s . " As M o t h e r h a s re g u l a rl y e n g a g e d i n s e n d i n g F a t h e r o n w i ld g o o s e c h a s e s l o re t ri e v e C h i l d w h i c h re s u l ts n o t j u s t i n a n n o ya n c e f o r F a t h e r b u t i s d e t ri m e n t a l to C h il d
. I j u s t i fi a b l y fa s h i o n e d t h i s c o n s e q u e n c e to d e te r fu rt h e r co n t e m p t w h i c h I a m i m p o s i n g , n o t Fa t h e r. A c co rd i n g l y , m y fi n d i n g s o f c o n t e m p t w e re s u p p o rt e d b y t h e e v i d e n c e a d d u c e d a t t ri a l a nd t h e s a n ct i o n s i m p o s e d w e re a p p ro p ri a t e . M o t h e r' s c o m p l a i n ts i n t h i s re g a rd s h o u l d b e d i s m i ss e d C u s to d y W i t h re g a rd to t h e re d u ct i o n i n h er c u s to d y ti m e , M o t h e r cl a i m s t h a t I re d u c e d h e r c u s to d y t i m e , n o t j u s t d u e l o h e r co n t e m p t. b u t t h a t I d i d s o d u e to " s p e c u l a ti o n s " re g a rd i n g M o t h e r' s " e c o n o m i c d i s h o n e sty w h i c h a re e n t i re l y u n s u p p o rt e d b y t h e re c o rd
. w h i c h o re e v i d e n c e o f j u d i ci a l h o s t ifi ty , a n d w h i c h a re s i m p l y n o t re m e d i e d b y s h o rte n i n g pa re n t i n g t i m e . " I d o s u s p e ct a c e rt a i n a m o u n t o f e co n o m i c d i s h o n e sty i n l i g h t o f M o t h e r' s cl a i m s t h a t s h e i s u n e m p l o y e d d e s p i te e v id e n c e t h a t s h e i s worki n g . B u i t h i s i s n o t w h a t l e d m e to re d u c e M o t h e r' s c u sto d y t i m e . I re d u c e d h e r c u s to d y l i m e 7 

# 3 0b e c a u s e m y a n a l ys i s o f t h e c u s to d y f a cto rs s o s t ro n g l y f

a v o re d F a t h e r a n d b e c a u s e M o t h e r n e g l e cts C h i l d i n a n u m b e r o f wa ys - i n cl u d i n g n o t pro v i d i n g h e r wi t h s u ffi c i e n t fo o d (T R
. P
. 4 7 )
. n o t a tt e n d i n g l o C h i l d ' s h yg i e n e (T R
. P
. 6 5 , 7 3 )
. n o t pro v i d i n g h e r wi t h a f e e l i n g o f be i n g c a re d fo r. l e a v i n g C h il d a n d h e r s i b l i n g s u n a tte n d e d i n h o te l p o o ls a n d o t h e r l o c a t i o n s w h il e s h e g a m b l e s , n o t a s s i s t i n g w i t h s c h o o l o r h o m ewo r k (T R
. P
. 8 ) , l i v i n g i n a h o m e w h i c h e v e n C h i l d fi n d s i s too u n ke m p t , a n d f

o r c a u s i n g co n t i n u e d d ra m a a n d h o s t i l i ty s o a s to d i s ru p t t h e f e e l i n g s o f s e c u r i ty C h i ld n e e d s . Af te r h e a ri n g t h e e vi d e n c e . I d e te r m i n e d t h a t t h e l e v e l o f st ri f e c a u s e d b y M o t h e r i s n e g a t i v e l y i m p a ct i n g C h il d a s s h e b e c o m e s m o re awa re o f i t
. B a s e d o n t h e te st i m o n y a n d e v i d e n c e b e f o re m e a n d t h e d e m e a n o r o f t h e p a rt i e s d u ri n g t ri a l , I f

o u n d M o t h e r to b e re s po n s i b l e fo r t h e p a rt i e s ' vo l a t i l e i n te ra ct i o n s . I n m y O p i n i o n a t 1 6 9 2 W D A 2 0 1 6 , I w ro t e :

"At t ri a l , d e s p i te b e i n g a d m o n i s h e d b y m e a n d h e r a ttorn e y . M o t h e r co utd n o t co n ta i n h e r o u t b u rsts a n d o ve rl y d ra m a ti c re a ct i o n s to te st i m o n y w it h w h i c h s h e d is a g re e d
. F a t h e r c re d i b l y te st ifi e d t h a t M o t h e r pu rp o s e l y a n d s p i te fu ll y m a d e exc h a n g e s d i f fi c u l t, c h a n g i n g l oc a t i o ns a n d li m e s . s o m e t i m e s f o r h o u rs , d e s p i te k nowi n g F a t h e r wa s a l re a d y i n t h e ca r. " I d o n o t fi n d I h a ! m u c h h a s c h a n g e d i n t h a t re g a rd
. T h a t s o rt o f h o stil i ty . a n d vo l a t i l e b e h a v io r a ff e cts c h i l d re n i n a n e g a t i v e wa y . C h i ld t e st i fi e d t h a t M o t h e r sta rts t h e fi g h ts . (T R
. p . 1 7 0 )
. M o t h e r i s m e a n (T R
. p 1 7 1 - 1 7 3 )
. a n d t h a t s h e fi n d s M o t h e r' s be h a v i o r e m b a rra s s i n g (T R
. p . 1 8 7 )
. B o t h F a t h er a n d C h i l d t e s t ifi e d t h a t M o t h e r d o e s n o t h e l p C h il d wi t h h o m e wo rk o r m a ke s u re s h e i s re a d y fo r s c h o o l ; F a t h e r d o e s . O n t h e W ed n e s d a y n i g h ts w h e n M o t h e r h a d C h i l d fo r h e r m i d -w e e k v i s i ta t i o n . s h e o fl e n d i d n o t f e e d C h il d d i n n e r , s h e c a u s e d t h e e x c h a n g e s to b e la t e a n d c h a o t i c . a n d d i d n o t m a ke s u re C h i l d ' s h o m e wo rk wa s d o n e . A ll o f t h i s re s u lt e d i n a la t e r b e d t i m e a t F a t h er' s h o u s e s i n c e , a ft e r g e ll i n g h o m e l a te . h e h o d l o fe e d C h i l d , b a t h e h e r. a n d m a ke s u re h e r h o m e wo r k wa s c o m p l e t e d
. C h il d w a s t h e n ti re d w h e n s e n t to 8 

# 3 1s c h o o l o n T h u rs d a y . I T R
. p . 9 - 1 3 )
. A c co rd i n g l y , I d i d n o t fi n d i t to b e i n C h il d ' s b e s t

i n te re s t to c o n t i n u e t h e W e d n e s d a y v i s i t a t i o n w i t h M o t h e r. As l o t h e re d u ct i o n i n t h e re m a i n d e r o f M o t h e r' s c u s to d y t i m e , I wa s p art i c u l a rly t ro u b l � d b y M o t h e r' s h a b i t u a l n e g l e c t I n a d d i t i o n l o t h e i n ci d e n t a t B u rg e r K i n g , C h i l d te st i fi e d t h a t , w h e n o n v a c a t i o n , M o t h e r s ta y e d i n t h e h o te l w h i l e C h i l d a n d h e r si b l i n g s we re o n t h e i r ow n a t t h e po o l (T R
. o . 1 7 3 - 1 7 5 ), t h a t t h e y st a y e d a l o n e i n c a s i n o h o te l ro o m s w h i le M o t h e r g a m b le d /TR
. p . 1 7 5 - 1 7 6 )
. D u ri n g M o t h e r' s s u m m e r c u sto d y we e k i n J u l y o f 2 0 1 9 w h e n t h e B u rg e r K i n g i n ci d e n t o c c u rred , c re d i b l e e v i d e n c e wa s p re s e n te d t h a t M o t h er wa s i n a c a s i n o g a m b l i n g fo u r d a ys o u t o f t h a t we e k (TR
. p . 4 0 - 4 1 ) . C h il d a l s o te s t i fi e d t h a t h e r M o t h e r' s h o m e wa s d i rty , t h a t t h e d o g s u ri n a te d a n d d e fe c a t ed t h ro u g h o u t t h e h o u s e a n d t h a t i f s m e ll e d b a d (T R
. p . 1 8 0 - 1 8 2 ) , a n d t h a t s h e wo u l d n o t wa n t h e r fri e n d s to c o m e o v e r b e c a u s e ii i s to o d i rty . (T R
. p . 1 8 3 )
. F a t h e r te s t i fi e d t h a t C h il d re t u rn e d fro m M o t h e rs u n ke m p t a n d n o t b a t h ed
. C h i ld te s t i fi e d t h a t s h e d oe s n ' t s h ow e r a t M o t h e r' s h o u s e b e c a u s e t h e s h ower i s to o d i rty a n d s h e d o e s n ' t b ru s h h er tee t h b e c a u s e h e r to o t h b ru s h i s d i rty . (T R
. 

### p 1 9 3 ) . F a t h e r te s t i fi e d t h a t P a t e rn a l G ra n d f a t h e r c o o ks g re a t m e a l s f o r t h e f a m i l y . C h i l d te s t i fi e d h e r M o t h e r d o e s n o t co o k a n d t h a t t h e y e a t M c D o n a l d ' s f o o d a t h e r M o t h e r' s h o u s e {T R
. p . 1 9 4 - 1 9 5 1 . W h e n a s ke d w h a t wo u l d m a ke t h i n g s b e tt e r a l h e r M o t h er' s , C h il d re s p o n d e d " JI s h e wa s n i c e r, a n d t h e h o u s e wa s c l e a n e r a n d s h e wo u l d g i v e m e m o re fo o d t h a t ' s g o o d
. " I T R
. p , 1 9 8 )
. W h e n a s ke d i f s h e fe ll s a fe i n e a c h pa re n t ' s h o m e , C h il d a n sw e re d i n t h e a ffi r m a t i v e . B u t s h e s a i d , a lt h o u g h s h e fe l t s a f e , s h e d i d n o t fe e l " t a ke n c a re o f " a t h e r M o t h e r' s . (T R
. p . 2 00 1 . I d i d n o t fi n d t h a t C h i l d wa s a d e q u a te l y ta ke n c a re o f a l h e r M o t h e r' s e i t h e r . W h il e I wo u l d n o t re m o v e M o t h e r fro m C h i l d ' s li fe e n t i re l y , a s t h e two lov e 9 

# 3 2e a c h o t h e r a n d C h i l d h a s a re l a t i o ns h i p w i t h h e r s i b l i n g s t h a t s h o u l d n o t b e

i g n o re d
. I f

o u nd i t wa s i n h e r b e s t i n t e re s t l o h a v e m o re l i m e o t h e r F a t h e r' s h o u s e w h e re s h e c a n te e l b o t h s a fe a n d ta ke n c a re o f b y a p are n t
. C u s to d y F a cto rs I a m re q u i re d to re v i ew t h e st a t u to ry f a cto rs e n u m e ra te d a t 2 3 P a . C
. S
. A. 5 3 2 8 a n d a p p l y t h e m to t h e fa cts o f t h e c a s e . O f t h o s e f a cto rs , m a n y of w h i c h g o l o t h e n e e d f

o r sta b ili ty i n a c h il d ' s li fe . I f o u n d a n u m b e r fa vore d F a t h e r. T h e n e e d fo r s ta b i l i ty a n d co n t i n u i ty i s o nl y o n e f a cto r a m o n g t h o s e o t 2 3 P a . C
. S
. A
. 

### § 5 3 2 8 ( 0 ) t h a t a c o u rt m u st c o n s i d e r w h e n m a k i n g a c u s to d y r u li n g . M o re o v e r , t h e a m o u n t o f w e i g h t t h a t a co u r l p l a c e s o n a n y o n e fa cto r i s a l m o st e n t i re l y d i s cre t i o n a ry . M. J

. M . v . M . L . G. , 63 A. 3 d 3 3 

### J. 3 3 9 { Pa . S u p e r . 2 0 1 3 )
. " It i s w i t h i n t h e t ri a l c o u rt' s p ur

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. v A . B . , 234 A. 3 d 7 6 6 , ( Pa . S u p e r .) ) 2 02 0 )
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. F a t h e r h a s d e m o n s t ra te d t h a t h e i s w i ll i n g to d o w h a t e v e r h e c o n l o ke e p p e a c e , e v e n w h e n M o t h e r' s b e h a vi o r h o s b e e n o u t ra g e o u s . I f

o u n d t h a t t h e st a b il i ty o f F a t h er' s l i fe a n d h i s c a re f o r C h il d m a ke s h i s t h e h o m e w h e re C h i l d c a n f e e l s a f e a n d c a re d fo r M o t h e r a rg u e s I h a ! I d i d n o t co n s i d e r t h e n e g a t i v e e f fe ct o f l i m i t i n g C h i l d ' s l i m e wi t h h e r s i b fi n g s . I d i d co n s i d e r t h a t ; I k n ow t h a t C h il d i s c l o s e w i t h h e r s i b li n g s . a n d I a m awa re t h a t C h il d w ill n o t s p e n d a s m u c h t i m e w it h t h e m u n d e r t h e c u rre n t O rd e r. As t h e y h a v e a cl o s e b o n d , I d o n o t e x p ect t h a t b o n d to b re a k
. T hi s wa s n o t a n O rd e r I e n te re d w i t h o u t co n s i d e ra t i o n o f a ll t h e f a cto rs a n d fa cto r 6 c o n c e rn i n g s i b l i n g s wa s co n si d e re d
. I s i m p l y g a v e m o re we i g h t to f a cto rs 1. 2
. 3 .4 , a n d 1 3 , a ll o f w h i c h m o re o f a n e ffe ct o n t h e st a b ili ty n e e d e d i n C h i l d ' s l i fe . A n d w h il e C h i l d d i d no t v e r b a l i z e a s p e ci fi c p re f e re n c e a s i s c o n t e m p l a t e d
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a cto r 7 , o t h e r t h a n t h a t s h e p re f erre d F a t h e r' s h o u s e fo r a ll h o l i d a ys , C h il d ' s te sti m o n y d e m o n s t ra t e d a p re fe re n c e f o r F a t h er' s c u sto d i a l t i m e . S t a te m e n ts R e g a rd i n g M e n ta l H e a lt h M o t h e r c l a i m s t h a t I " e n g a g e d i n s h o c k i n g s p e c u l a ti o n c o n c e rn i n g M o t h e r' s m e d i c a l a n d p sy c ho lo g i c a l sta t u s . " O n A p ri l 2 1 , I st a te d
. " M o m h a s b e e n d o i n g ! h e s o m e t h i n g o v e r a n d o v e r a g a i n ex p e ct i n g a d i ff e re n t re s u l t , e x p e cti n g s o m e re s u l t t h a t s h e f a n t a s i z e s a b o u t
. b u t s h e i s n o t g e lli n g i i a n d s h e d o e sn ' t s e e m l o u n d e rsta n d w h y . " (T R
. 4/2 1 p . 

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. a s I a n d o t h e r h o v e i n t h e p o s t
. t h a t M o t h e r s e e k t h e ra p y . Aft e r M o t h e r wa s re m o v e d fro m t h e re m o t e h e a r i n g f o r o u t b u rsts . I d i d s p e c u l a t e t h a t M o t h e r m a y h a v e a c o g n i ti v e o r p s y c h o l o g i c a l c o n d i t i o n w h i c h i s p re v e n t i n g h e r fro m c h a n g i n g h er b e h a v io r f o r t h e b e tte r b u t sta t e d t h a t I d o n o t k n ow w h a t t h e b a s i s o f t h a t i s . {T R
. 4/2 1 p . 1 8 )
. M o t h e r h a s b e e n i n s t ru cte d n u m e ro u s t i m e s s i n c e 2 0 1 3 to s e e k i n d i v i d u a l c o v n s e � n g to g a i n c o p i n g s k ill s a n d i m p ro v e h e r i n tera ct i o n s w i t h F a t h e r. I o f fe re d m y o p i n i o n s o n t h e m a tte r i n o n a tt e m p t to h e l p M o t h e r b y e n c o u ra g i n g h e r to g e t h e l p . E v e n i f t h i s c o u ld b e i n te r p re t e d a s o n o v e rre a c h
. i t wa s n o t a d e c i d i n g fa cto r i n m y c u s to d y d e te r m i n a t i o n . I t 

### is M o t h e r' s b e h a v i o r. a n d h ow i t a f f e cts h e r c h i l d , t h a t i n fl u e n c e d m y d e te rm i n a t io n , a lo n g wi t h m y w e i g h i n g o f t h e c u s to d y fa cto rs . Ev i d e n t i a ry S u p po rt L a s tl y , M o t h e r a rg u e s t h a t m y N n d i n g s a n d d e t e rm i n a t i o n o f t h e fa cts o re n o t s u p p o rte d b y t h e re c o rd
. l ri f a ct
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. M o t h e r' s ow n te s t im o n y . T h e te s t i m o n y a n d e v i d e n c e d e m o n s t ra te d t h a t M o t h e r l e ft C h i l d u n c a re d f

o r w h i le s h e g a m b l e d o r e n g a g e d i n o t h e r a ct iv i t i e s , e v e n w h e n s h e wa s o n v a c a t i o n awa y fro m h o m e wi t h h e r c hi l d re n . T h a t i n i ts e l f s u p po rts m y d e te r m i n a t i o n to re d u c e M o t h e r' s c u stod y l i m e . 11 

# 3 4T h e re wa s a d d it i o na l te st i m o n y w h i c h s u p p o rt e d a c h a n g e i n c u s to d y .

C h i l d te st i fi e d s h e d o e s n o t g e t e n o u g h l o e a t a t M o t h e r' s h o u s e a n d t h a t i i i s to o d i rty t h e re f

o r h e r to l a ke a s h ow e r o r b ru s h h e r t e e t h
. F a t h e r te s t i fi e d t h a t M o t h e r co n ti n u e s to s h o u t a n d s c re a m a l h i m o v e r p e rc e i v e d s ri g h ts . C h il d te s t i fi e d t h a t M o t h e r t e ll s h e r t h a t h e r F a t h er i s " a b a d d a d , " (T R
. o , 1 7 1 )
. M o re o v e r. M o t h e r d o e s n o t s e e m to re co g n i z e h e r ow n b a d b e h a v i o r. a s s e rt i n g t h a t i t i s n o t s h e wh o 

### is a ct i n g i n a p p ro p ri a t e l y b y l e a v i n g h e r c h il d re n u n a tt e n d e d o r p ro m i s i n g g ifts i f C h il d w i D i g n o re F a t h e r. I n s te a d s h e c l a i m s F a t h e r b ra i n wa s h e s C h i l d , o r o t h e rs h o p e l o h a r m h e r . C o n cl u si o n I n re a c h i n g m y d e c i s i o n . I fo u n d a m aj o ri ty o f t h e sta t u tory c u s to d y fa cto rs h ea v il y fa v o re d F a t h e r. I f o u n d t h a t C h il d n e e d s t h e st a b i l i ty a n d s a f e ty w h i c h F a t h e r o f

fe rs . w h i l e st ill m a i n t a i n i n g a re l a t i o n s h i p wi t h t h e M o t h e r s h e l o v e s . B e c a u s e I f

o u n d t h e e v id e n c e d e m o n st ra te d t h a t , d e s p i te l o v i n g C h il d , M o t h e r co u l d n o t a d e q u a te l y p a re n t h e r, 

### I f o u n d F a t h e r' s h o u s e h o l d p ro v i d ed t h e b e st e n v i ro n m e n t f

o r C h il d a n d t h a t a re d u ct i o n i n M o t h e r' s c u s to d y t i m e wa s wa rra n t e d
. M y d e ci s i o n wa s b a s e d o n t h e t e st i m o n y o f t h e p a rt i e s , t h e e v i d e n c e p re s e n t e d a n d my e v a l u a t i o n o f t h e pa rt i e s ' cre d i b ili ty . B e c a u s e my M a y 3 , 2 0 2 1 , O rd er i s b a s e d o n o n a p p ro p ri a t e a n d t h o ro u g h c o n s i d e ra t i o n o f t h e st a t u to ri ly m a n d a t e d f a ctors , i s s u p po rt e d t h e e v i d e n c e o f re co rd , a n d i s li r m l y I n C h il d ' s b e s t i n te re sts , i t s h o u l d b e a ffi r m e d
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