Opinion ID: 1669471
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Substantial Change Test in Statutory and Common Law

Text: The trial court determines the initial custody of children in dissolution of marriage proceedings pursuant to the guidelines set forth in section 61.13, which require all matters related to the custody of a minor to be determined in accordance with the best interest of the child. § 61.13(2)(b)(1), Fla. Stat. (2003). Section 61.13(2)(c) grants continuing jurisdiction to the circuit court to modify the custody order but does not state the conditions necessary for modification. We therefore look to case law for guidance on how to make this determination. Several district courts of appeal have provided slight variations of the substantial change test. The substantial change test has been described as both a two-part and a three-part test. For example, in Voorhies v. Voorhies, 705 So.2d 1064, 1065 (Fla. 1st DCA 1998), the First District stated that the party seeking a modification carries the extraordinary burden of proving (1) a substantial and material change in circumstances, and (2) that the best interests of the child will be promoted by such modification. This is essentially the test applied in Cooper. The Second and Third Districts have added to the substantial change test an implicit finding of detriment by the trial court. The arguments advanced for requiring evidence of detriment have been couched as promoting the stability of the child, Perez v. Perez, 767 So.2d 513, 517 (Fla. 3d DCA 2000), and preventing micromanagement of the child's custody by the trial court, Gibbs v. Gibbs, 686 So.2d 639, 645 (Fla. 2d DCA 1996). [10] Also, the finding of detriment has apparently been used to increase the magnitude of the burden required to overcome the res judicata effect of the previous decree. See, e.g., Metcalfe v. Metcalfe, 655 So.2d 1251, 1253 (Fla. 3d DCA 1995) ([E]vidence tended to show that there has been a substantial and material change of circumstances ... of such a magnitude that it would be detrimental for the children to remain in the custody of the husband....). [11] The arguments favoring a finding of detriment fail to recognize adequately the purpose of the best interest of the child prong of the substantial change test, which when properly applied ensures the stability of custody-related awards because of the res judicata effect of the original decree. Moreover, the detriment requirement conflicts with section 61.13(3), which enumerates the factors affecting the welfare and best interest of the child, which the trial court is to consider in proceedings dealing with shared parental responsibility and primary residence. We agree with Judge Cope's special concurrence in Perez in which he opined: The detriment-to-the-child standard obviously conflicts with Florida's shared parenting law.... Moreover, it appears to turn the best interests standard on its head. One clearly could demonstrate that a change of custody would promote the child's best interest, thereby helping the child, while not having evidence that the current situation would be detrimental to the child. Perez, 767 So.2d at 521 (quoting The Florida Bar, Florida Dissolution of Marriage § 11.92 (5th ed.1998)). Requiring proof of detriment is inconsistent with this Court's prior holdings and is not an element of the substantial change test necessary to modify a child custody award.