Court Opinion

ID: 4209307
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-10-05 13:06:46.627124+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:41:01.418287
License: Public Domain

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
                                     FIRST DISTRICT, STATE OF FLORIDA

HAILEY A. NEVILLE,                   NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO
MOTHER                               FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING AND
                                     DISPOSITION THEREOF IF FILED
      Appellant,
                                     CASE NO. 1D16-3158
v.

RYAN A. MCKIBBEN,
FATHER

      Appellee.

_____________________________/

Opinion filed October 5, 2017.

An appeal from the Circuit Court for Okaloosa County.
John "Jay" Gontarek, Judge.

Clark H. Henderson of Campbell & Henderson, PLLC, Shalimar, for Appellant.

E. Jane Brehany, Pensacola, for Appellee.

PER CURIAM.

      Hailey A. Neville, the Mother, challenges the final judgment: 1) awarding

ultimate decision-making authority regarding the minor child to Ryan A. McKibben,

the Father; 2) establishing a 50/50 timesharing schedule; 3) changing the minor
child’s legal surname to that of McKibben; 4) ordering use of McKibben’s address

for school designation purposes; and 5) for failure to address a request for

reimbursement of half of past medical and childcare expenses. As grounds, Neville

argues the trial court abused its discretion as the final judgment is not supported by

competent, substantial evidence, nor does it satisfy the statutory requirements for

custody determinations under section 61.13, Florida Statutes (2015). We agree in

part and reverse to the extent provided below.

                        Ultimate Decision-Making Authority

      We first address the trial court’s award of ultimate decision-making authority

to McKibben “in all matters pertaining to the child.”              Neville argues this

determination is not supported by competent, substantial evidence and contravenes

the statutory goal of shared parental responsibility. We agree.

      Trial courts must order shared parental responsibility unless the court finds it

would be detrimental to the child. § 61.13(2)(c)2., Fla. Stat. (2015). Shared parental

responsibility “contemplates that the parties will mutually confer on major decisions

(e.g., medical, religious, educational) affecting the child’s welfare and will reach

agreement.” Smith v. Smith, 971 So. 2d 191, 195 (Fla. 1st DCA 2007). If it is in a

child’s best interest, the court may award ultimate decision-making authority over

specific aspects of the child's welfare to just one parent. § 61.13(2)(c)2.a., Fla. Stat.

(2015). However, “a blanket, nonspecific award of ‘ultimate responsibility’ is

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contrary to the statutory concept of shared parental responsibility.” Wheeler v.

Wheeler, 501 So. 2d 729, 729 (Fla. 1st DCA 1987); see also Fazzaro v. Fazzaro, 110

So. 3d 49, 51 (Fla. 2d DCA 2013).

      In support of its blanket award of ultimate decision-making authority to

McKibben, the trial court characterized a number of Neville’s parenting choices as

dangerous and contrary to normal medical care. Specifically, the trial court

questioned Neville’s decisions regarding the child’s immunization schedule,

chiropractic care, Neville’s co-sleeping with the child, the duration of breastfeeding,

and the use of amber bead necklaces for teething pain. While the trial court’s

concerns were sincerely held, no competent, substantial evidence was introduced to

support the trial court’s findings that Neville’s parenting decisions were dangerous

or contrary to normal medical care.

                     Time Sharing & Address for School Designation

      There is no abuse of discretion where reasonable persons could differ as to the

trial court’s ruling. Canakaris v. Canakaris, 382 So. 2d 1197, 1203 (Fla. 1980).

Additionally, there is no statutory requirement that a trial court engage in a

discussion as to each of the factors of section 61.13, Florida Statutes. Miller v.

Miller, 842 So. 2d 168, 169 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003); Adair v. Adair, 720 So. 2d 316,

317 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998). However, the trial court must find, at a minimum, that its

custody determination is in the best interests of the child. Clark v. Clark, 825 So. 2d

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1016, 1017 (Fla. 1st DCA 2002). Although the final judgment did not include the

magic words “best interests of the child,” a plain reading confirms the trial court

tracked the factors of section 61.13 in its determination of timesharing and the

address for school designation. As competent, substantial evidence exists to support

the trial court’s award of 50/50 timesharing and school address designation, it must

be affirmed on appeal.

                                  Legal Surname

      The standard of review regarding a change in a child’s surname is abuse of

discretion. Airsman v. Airsman, 179 So. 3d 342, 343 (Fla. 2d DCA 2015). A name

change is proper “only where the record affirmatively shows that such change is

required for the welfare of the minor.” Collinsworth v. O’Connell, 508 So. 2d 744,

747 (Fla. 1st DCA 1987) (quoting Lazow v. Lazow, 147 So. 2d 12, 13 (Fla. 3d DCA

1962)). If only conclusory assertions are provided in the record, “the issue should

ordinarily be resolved against the party having the burden of proof, the proponent of

change.” Collinsworth, 508 So. 2d at 747; Bardin v. State, Dep’t of Revenue, 720

So. 2d 609, 610 (Fla. 1st DCA 1998). A name change may not be based solely on a

finding of paternity. Hutcheson v. Taylor, 43 So. 3d 921, 922 (Fla. 1st DCA 2010)

(citing Bardin, 720 So. 2d at 612).

      The only evidence presented by McKibben in support of a change in the legal

surname of the child was his own testimony, which was self-serving. McKibben

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requests the name change solely to “carry on” his family name. At the hearing,

Neville confirmed her desire that the minor child maintain the legal name listed on

his birth certificate, her last name, as she has been the primary caregiver since his

birth. The trial court changed the minor child’s name, finding, “[T]he ultimate

decision authority regarding medical, educational, and health related needs and

extracurricular activities and daycare/after-school care for the child shall be with the

Petitioner [McKibben]. For this reason it would be more convenient for [McKibben]

and the child’s last name to be the same.” However, claims of convenience are not

sufficient to support a name change. Airsman, 179 So. 3d at 345.

      Accordingly, we reverse this aspect of the final judgment and remand with

directions for the trial court to enter an order restoring the child’s surname to that of

Neville.

                     Reimbursement of Daycare and Medical Expenses

      The last issue raised by Neville is whether the trial court erred in failing to

address reimbursement for daycare and uncovered medical and dental expenses. We

answer this question in the affirmative and remand for further proceedings.

      In the final judgment, the trial court addressed child support arrearages, but

not daycare or uncovered medical and dental expenses. The temporary order entered

on December 11, 2015, required all reasonable medical, dental, optical and

orthodontic expenses of the minor child not covered under insurance, to be equally

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paid by the parties, as well as daycare expenses. The trial court failed to address

Neville’s claims of unpaid medical and daycare expenses raised in her Motion for

Contempt, which arose from the temporary order.          This issue was ripe for

adjudication because “once a court enters a final judgment, temporary support orders

are no longer enforceable unless a claim for arrearages is addressed in the final

judgment or the court reserves jurisdiction to consider the claim.” Conte v. Conte,

858 So. 2d 1165, 1166 (Fla. 2d DCA 2003). In ruling on this matter, this Court is

not commenting on the strength of the evidence submitted, but only with respect to

whether the matter was resolved as part of the final judgment issued by the trial

court. We find it was not; therefore, the matter is reversed and remanded for

reconsideration of the issues.

      AFFIRMED in part, REVERSED in part, and REMANDED with

instructions.

ROWE, RAY, and M.K. THOMAS, JJ., CONCUR.

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