Case Name: Anita N. EBAUGH, Appellant, v. F. Christian EBAUGH, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1973-07-31
Citations: 282 So. 2d 14
Docket Number: No. 72-380
Parties: Anita N. EBAUGH, Appellant, v. F. Christian EBAUGH, Appellee.
Judges: CROSS and MAGER, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 282
Pages: 14–19

Head Matter:
Anita N. EBAUGH, Appellant, v. F. Christian EBAUGH, Appellee.
No. 72-380.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
July 31, 1973.
Rehearing Denied Sept. 10, 1973.
D. Arthur Yergey, of Yergey & Yergey, Orlando, for appellant.
John V. A. Holmes, of Lovett, Kreuter & Holmes, Orlando, for appellee.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
From time immemorial the controlling consideration in awarding custody has been, is, and hopefully will continue to be the welfare of the child. 10A Fla.Jur. Dissolution of Marriage, Sec. 88; Section 61.13(2), Florida Statutes, F.S.A. It is the best interests of the child and not the rights of the parents that are of paramount importance. Rudolph v. Rudolph, Fla.App.1962, 146 So.2d 397; see also Blue v. Blue, Fla.1953, 66 So.2d 228. Where the record reflects the existence of competent substantial evidence to support the chancellor's determination that the interests of the child would best be served by placing the custody of the child with one parent as opposed to the other, it is the duty of the appellant court to uphold such determination notwithstanding that the appellate court might have decided the issue of custody differently. Tagliarini v. Tagliarini, Fla.App.1968, 213 So.2d 10. The record in the case sub judice reflects that the chancellor's order is supported by competent substantial evidence and the appellant has failed to demonstrate that such order is clearly erroneous. Accordingly, the final judgment must be
Affirmed.
CROSS and MAGER, JJ., concur.
WALDEN, J., dissents, with opinion.