Opinion ID: 1780026
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Whether the chancellor erred in awarding temporary physical custody of Elizabeth to Harris.

Text: ¶ 34. The Fosters argue the chancellor erred in awarding temporary physical custody of Elizabeth to Harris without making an on-the-record finding pursuant to the Albright factors. Albright v. Albright, 437 So.2d 1003, 1004-05 (Miss. 1983). They also claim Harris failed to address this issue in his brief and, thus, concedes that the chancellor committed reversible error. The Fosters are incorrect as to both assertions. ¶ 35. In his Opinion, the chancellor addressed the natural parent presumption, a bedrock principle of Mississippi family law. When deciding a custody dispute between a natural parent and a third party, the chancellor must employ the natural parent presumption. [I]t is presumed that the best interests of the child will be preserved by it remaining with its parents or parent. In order to overcome this presumption there must be a clear showing that the parent has (1) abandoned the child, or (2) the conduct of the parent is so immoral {as} to be detrimental to the child, or (3) the parent is unfit mentally or otherwise to have the custody of his or her child. McKee v. Flynt, 630 So.2d 44, 47 (Miss.1993); Carter v. Taylor, 611 So.2d 874, 876 (Miss.1992); Rodgers v. Rodgers, 274 So.2d 671, 672 (Miss.1973). Absent clear proof of one of the above circumstances, the natural parent is entitled to custody of his or her child. McKee, 630 So.2d at 47 (citing Rutland v. Pridgen, 493 So.2d 952, 954 (Miss. 1986)). Grant v. Martin, 757 So.2d 264, 265 (Miss. 2000) (emphasis added). ¶ 36. Pursuant to these well-established guidelines, the Fosters were required to show by clear and convincing evidence that Harris abandoned Elizabeth, engaged in immoral conduct detrimental to Elizabeth, or was mentally or otherwise unfit to have custody of Elizabeth. The chancellor determined that the Fosters failed to present sufficient evidence on any of these grounds. Absent clear and convincing proof of any of those circumstances, the natural parent is entitled to custody of his or her child. McKee, 630 So.2d at 47 (emphasis added). Harris did not abandon this argument, but repeatedly emphasized it in his brief. ¶ 37. Given the presumption which bound Chancellor Watts, and binds this Court, a finding of abandonment or unfitness is necessary to award custody to a third party against a natural parent and must be done before any analysis using the Albright factors to determine the best interests of the child. M.A.G., 859 So.2d at 1004. Because the Fosters never satisfied the first requirement, we affirm the chancellor's award of temporary physical custody of Elizabeth to Harris.