Court Opinion

ID: 4254886
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-03-15 15:10:04.817992+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:53:55.461744
License: Public Domain

FIFTH DIVISION
                              MCFADDEN, P. J.,
                           BRANCH and BETHEL, JJ.

                   NOTICE: Motions for reconsideration must be
                   physically received in our clerk’s office within ten
                   days of the date of decision to be deemed timely filed.
                               http://www.gaappeals.us/rules

                                                                     March 1, 2018

In the Court of Appeals of Georgia
 A17A1747. IN THE INTEREST OF K. M., a child.

      BRANCH, Judge.

      The mother of K. M., a minor child, appeals from an order of the Camden

County Juvenile Court denying the mother’s petition to terminate the temporary

guardianship of K. M. held by K. M.’s maternal grandparents. The mother contends

that the trial court applied the wrong evidentiary standard to determine whether the

guardianship should be terminated and that under the correct evidentiary standard, the

evidence does not support the court’s judgment. We agree with the mother and

therefore reverse the order of the juvenile court and remand the case for further

proceedings consistent with this opinion.

      The relevant facts are largely undisputed and show that K. M. was born in

January 2011. Although K. M.’s parents have never been married to each other, the
father has legitimated the child. Immediately after his birth, K. M. and his mother

moved in with the mother’s parents where they both remained until the mother moved

out in October 2011. In September 2011, K. M.’s grandparents filed a petition in

Camden County probate court seeking temporary guardianship of the child. The

petition stated that the guardianship was needed because neither parent was

financially stable, and each of K. M.’s parents consented to both the temporary

guardianship and the appointment of the maternal grandparents as the temporary

guardians. The probate court granted the petition the same day it was filed.

      In March 2016, the mother filed a petition in Camden County Probate Court

seeking to terminate her parents’ temporary guardianship of K. M. After the

grandparents filed an objection to the petition, the case was transferred to the juvenile

court. The juvenile court heard evidence in the matter in June and September 2016

and appointed a guardian ad litem to represent K. M. The evidence presented at the

hearing showed that during the initial years of K. M.’s life, the mother went through

a period of instability where she lived in a number of different rental properties and

worked a number of different jobs. Even during this period, however, the mother

maintained contact with K. M. and was present in his life.

                                           2
      In April 2014, the mother married K. M.’s stepfather, who serves as a

submariner in the U.S. Navy. At the time of the hearing, the couple had lived for two

years in a three-bedroom townhouse, where K. M. had his own bedroom. At some

point after her marriage, and at least one year prior to the June 2016 hearing, the

mother began caring for K. M. and the mother’s nine-year-old brother two days a

week. One day a week the mother would also care for the mother’s foster brother in

addition to the other two children. For at least an entire year before the hearing, the

mother had taken K. M. and the mother’s brother and foster brother to their weekly

speech therapy sessions, and the grandparents had allowed K. M. (and sometimes

their other children) to spend the night with the mother and her husband once or twice

a month.1 Additionally, the mother’s unrefuted testimony showed that in the year

before the hearing, she picked up K. M. from school as many as four days a week and

saw him as many as six days a week. The mother knew all of the child’s teachers and

      1
         After the mother filed the petition to terminate the guardianship, the
grandparents discontinued overnight visits and cut back significantly on the amount
of time the mother was allowed to spend with K. M.

                                          3
physicians and she could also identify the child’s medical issues and how to treat

them.2

         Although the mother did not pay child support for K. M., she did provide

financial assistance to the guardians. Specifically, the mother and her husband gave

her parents money, paid for K. M.’s speech therapy, and regularly paid for food and

clothing for the child. Additionally, the mother provided the grandparents with the

child support K. M.’s father paid to her. The mother had worked full-time until

approximately nine months before the hearing. Because her work schedule changed

from week to week, however, the mother quit her job to ensure she was available to

get K. M. from school at least two days a week, thereby increasing her time with him

and decreasing his time in day care. Although the mother was not currently employed

outside the home, she testified that she and her husband could provide for K. M. and

that doing so would not strain their resources.

         Neither the mother nor her husband has a history of drug or alcohol use and the

evidence showed that they did not drink and did not keep alcohol in their home.

         2
         The medical issues included K. M.’s speech delays, occasional asthma, and
difficulties having bowel movements. The speech delays are treated with speech
therapy, the asthma is treated with an inhaler on an as-needed basis, and the intestinal
issues are treated by providing the child with a daily fiber supplement.

                                            4
Although the mother does smoke, she does so only outside and never around K. M.

because of his issues with asthma.

      The mother presented the testimony of a local police officer who described

herself as the mother’s “best friend.” The friend lived less than two blocks from the

mother and was in the mother’s home frequently. According to the friend, the home

was always clean and was an appropriate place for a child to live. The friend had

observed the mother with K. M. on numerous occasions, noting that when the mother

was with K. M. she usually had her youngest brother and sometimes her parents’

foster child. According to the friend, K. M. appeared to love his mother, the mother

took good care of K. M. and the other children when they were with her, and she had

witnessed the mother giving K. M. his required medications. The friend had seen the

mother engaging in activities with the children on a regular basis, including cooking,

crafts, playing outside, and watching television.

      A second friend of the mother offered similar testimony, saying that for

approximately two years she had seen K. M. with his mother at least twice a week;

that the mother frequently cared for her youngest brother while she was caring for K.

M.; that the mother took good care of the children; and that the home was kept clean.

                                          5
      K. M.’s biological father testified that he supported termination of the

guardianship and the return of custody to the mother, with the father having

visitation.3 The father indicated that at the time he and the mother consented to the

guardianship, the understanding between the parties was that the guardianship would

not be permanent, explaining, “[t]he whole point of the guardianship was due to our

financial [in]stabilities. We’re both in a better position [now] where we can handle

our responsibilities.”

      The grandmother testified that she believed the guardianship should be

continued because it was in the best interest of K. M. To support her position, the

grandmother pointed to the facts that K. M. had a close bond with his grandparents

and their youngest son; the grandparents lived on approximately three acres of land

that provided K. M. with space to play, while the mother’s home did not have a

substantial yard; the grandparents had a number of animals on their property and K.

M. experienced joy and satisfaction caring for the animals; K. M. was especially close

      3
        The father acknowledged that, at the request of the maternal grandparents, he
had previously signed a statement saying that he opposed termination of the
guardianship. The father explained that he wrote that statement based solely on
information provided him by the grandparents and before he had spoken with K. M.’s
mother. After speaking with the mother and learning the details about her living and
financial situation, the father was of the opinion that custody should be returned to
the mother.

                                          6
to his dog and his horse, both of which lived on the property; that K. M. had become

withdrawn after the mother filed her petition to terminate the guardianship; and that

at the suggestion of K. M.’s pediatrician, the grandparents had begun taking K. M.

to a therapist.4

       Although the grandmother acknowledged that over the course of K. M.’s life,

the mother had “grown up” significantly, she also indicated that she had concerns

about the stability of the mother’s marriage. In support of their claims of potential

marital instability, the grandparents introduced evidence showing that approximately

18 months before the hearing, in January 2015, the mother and her husband had an

argument, during which the mother kicked the husband. Although some limited

physical contact occurred during the argument, police were not called and no incident

report was filed. According to the mother and her husband, it was the only major

argument the couple had ever had; it did not occur in front of K. M.; and the couple

had learned from the experience. The husband described the argument as “a newly

[married] thing,” while the mother testified that the argument “was stupid” and “made

       4
       No evidence was introduced as to any diagnosis, findings, or
recommendations made by the therapist.

                                         7
us realize a lot of things,” and that “we talk better now and we communicate better

now.”

        The court-appointed guardian ad litem (“GAL”) filed a written report based on

his review of the record and his interviews with the parties. The GAL expressed his

belief that if the guardianship was terminated immediately there was a “possible

threat” of emotional or physical harm to K. M. that would be “more than just the

emotional toll that comes from a change in living arrangements.” In support of this

conclusion, the GAL cited the strong psychological bond K. M. had with his

grandparents and their youngest son; the “sporadic” contact between K. M. and his

mother “until recently”; and K. M.’s unique medical needs that [his grandparents] are

well able to handle while [the mother] is still learning.”

        The GAL further noted that “it remains to be seen whether . . . there would be

probable cause of likely abuse, neglect, or abandonment of the child if the

guardianship were terminated.” (Emphasis supplied.) The GAL also expressed

concern that the mother’s stability depended in large part on her marriage. He opined

that in the absence of the marriage, there was probable cause to believe that K. M.

would be at risk of abuse, neglect, or abandonment in the custody of the mother. The

GAL stated that “there has not been enough time to know whether the [mother’s]

                                           8
relationship with [her husband] is a true lasting one or just another fling like she has

had in the past.”

      The GAL acknowledged that all parties (including the grandparents) agreed

that “at some point” custody of K. M. needed to be returned to the mother. The GAL

therefore recommended a continuation of the guardianship for some period of time,

while the case moved forward as a dependency proceeding, with the court retaining

jurisdiction and formulating a permanency plan to transition K. M. to his mother’s

custody.5 See OCGA § 15-11-100 et seq.

      When giving his oral report to the court on the final day of the hearing, the

GAL expressed the same opinions set forth in his written report. And during his oral

report, the GAL stated that the guardianship would have to be terminated in the

absence of “a showing of probable cause of possible abandonment, neglect, or abuse”

      5
         The GAL’s recommendation with respect to the case continuing as a
dependency proceeding reflects the mandate of OCGA § 15-11-14 (c) (2), which
provides that if a court determines “[t]hat is in the best interests of a child that the
temporary guardianship be continued over the parent’s objection,” then the “case
shall proceed as a dependency matter pursuant to the provisions of Article 3 of [the
Juvenile Code].” (Emphasis supplied.) Although the court below continued the
guardianship over the objections of both K. M.’s parents, there is nothing in the order
to show that the court applied OCGA § 15-11-14 (c) (2)’s requirement that the case
proceed as a dependency matter.

                                           9
of K. M. in his mother’s custody. The court responded that “probable cause is a very

weak standard . . . [i]t’s almost at the bottom of the scale.”

      Following the hearing, the juvenile court entered a one-page order that

contained no findings of fact or conclusions of law. Instead, the order summarily

denied the mother’s petition, stating that “[t]he Court determined pursuant to OCGA

§ 15-11-14 (b) (1) that it is in the best interest of the child” to continue the temporary

guardianship. The mother now appeals from that order.

      1. Although the juvenile court’s order does not articulate the evidentiary

standard it applied to determine the best interests of K. M., the record reflects the

court’s belief that it could continue the guardianship if “probable cause” existed to

believe that K. M. would suffer harm if custody were returned to the mother. The

mother contends that “probable cause of harm” represents the wrong standard for

determining the best interest of the child under OCGA § 15-11-14. The plain and

unambiguous statutory language at issue shows that the mother is correct.

      The mother filed her petition to terminate the guardianship under OCGA § 29-

2-8, which provides, in relevant part:

      Either natural guardian of the minor may at any time petition the court
      to terminate a temporary guardianship; provided, however, that notice

                                           10
     of such petition shall be provided to the temporary guardian. If no
     objection to the termination is filed by the temporary guardian within ten
     days of the notice, the court shall order the termination of the temporary
     guardianship. If the temporary guardian objects to the termination of the
     temporary guardianship within ten days of the notice, the court shall
     have the option to hear the objection or transfer the records relating to
     the temporary guardianship to the juvenile court, which shall determine,
     after notice and hearing, whether a continuation or termination of the
     temporary guardianship is in the best interest of the minor.

OCGA § 29-2-8 (b). (Emphasis supplied.)

     Following transfer of the case to the juvenile court, the petition proceeded

under OCGA § 15-11-14, which provides:

     (a) The court shall hold a hearing within 30 days of receipt of a case
     transferred from the probate court pursuant to . . . Subsection (b) of
     Code Section 29-2-8.
     (b) After notice and hearing, the court may make one of the following
     orders:
     (1) That the temporary guardianship be established or continued if the
     court determines that the temporary guardianship is in the best interests
     of a child. The order shall thereafter be subject to modification only as
     provided in Code Section 15-11-32; or
     (2) That the temporary guardianship be terminated if the court
     determines it is in the best interests of a child. A child shall be returned
     to his or her parent unless the court determines that there is probable

                                         11
      cause to believe that he or she will be abused, neglected, or abandoned
      in the custody of his or her parent.
      (c) A case shall proceed as a dependency matter pursuant to the
      provisions of Article 3 of this chapter if, after notice and hearing, the
      court determines:
      (1) That it is in the best interests of a child that the temporary
      guardianship not be established or that the temporary guardianship be
      terminated but there is probable cause to believe that he or she will be
      abused, neglected, or abandoned if returned to his or her parent; or
      (2) That it is in the best interests of a child that the temporary
      guardianship be continued over the parent’s objection.

OCGA § 15-11-14 (emphasis supplied).

      Although we have not been called upon previously to interpret OCGA § 15-11-

14, the unambiguous language of that statute makes clear that a juvenile court

deciding a petition to terminate a temporary guardianship must engage in a two-step

analysis. First, the court must determine whether termination or continuation of the

guardianship is in the best interest of the child. Second, if the court finds that

termination is in the best interest of the child, custody must be returned to the child’s

parent unless the juvenile court finds “probable cause to believe” that the child “will

be abused, neglected, or abandoned” while in parental custody. OCGA § 15-11-14

(b) (2). If, however, the juvenile court continues a temporary guardianship over the

                                           12
objection of the parents, the court is required to retain jurisdiction and have the case

“proceed as a dependency matter pursuant to” OCGA §15-11-100 et seq. See OCGA

§ 15-11-14 (c) (2).

      Here, instead of applying the “the clear and convincing evidence” standard to

determine the best interest of the child, the juvenile court erroneously applied the

“probable cause” standard (which is to be used in determining whether a child whose

guardianship has been terminated should be returned to his parent’s custody). And as

shown below, in the context of a custody dispute between a child’s natural parents

and third parties, the “best interest of the child” standard requires a showing of more

than probable cause. Furthermore, the burden of satisfying this stringent standard

rests on the third party who is seeking to obtain or maintain custody of the child.

      In Boddie v. Daniels, 288 Ga. 143 (702 SE2d 172) (2010), a mother seeking

to terminate a third party’s temporary guardianship of her child challenged the

constitutionality of the best interest of the child standard set forth in OCGA §29-2-8

                                          13
(b).6 The mother’s challenge relied on the fact that under both the United States and

Georgia Constitutions, parents have a right “to the care and custody of their children.”

Clark v. Wade, 273 Ga. 587, 596 (IV) (544 SE2d 99) (2001) (plurality opinion). “This

right to the custody and control of one’s child is a fiercely guarded right that should

be infringed upon only under the most compelling circumstances.” Id. at 596-597

(IV) (punctuation and footnote omitted). See also Troxel v. Granville, 530 U. S. 57,

65 (II) (120 SCt 2054, 147 LE2d 49) (2000) (plurality opinion) (the constitutional

right of parents to “the care, custody, and control of their children is perhaps the

oldest of the fundamental liberty interests recognized by this Court”) (punctuation

omitted); In the Interest of M. F., 298 Ga. 138, 145 (780 SE2d 291) (2015) (“there

can scarcely be imagined a more fundamental and fiercely guarded right than the right

of a natural parent” to guide “the care, custody, and management of their children”)

(citations and punctuation omitted). Accordingly, whenever a third party challenges

      6
        At the time Boddie was decided, there existed no provision in the juvenile
code addressing termination of a temporary guardianship, and the juvenile court
decided those cases under the best interest of the child standard found in OCGA § 29-
2-8. In 2014, however, Georgia’s new juvenile code became effective, including
OCGA § 15-11-14, which sets forth the procedure and standard for deciding a
petition to terminate a temporary guardianship transferred to the juvenile court under
OCGA § 29-2-8. As explained more fully below, we find that “the best interest of the
child” standard included in OCGA § 15-11-14 is the same as “the best interest of the
child” standard found in OCGA § 29-2-8.

                                          14
a natural parent’s right to custody of his or her child, that party must overcome three

constitutionally based presumptions in favor of parental custody: “(1) the parent is

a fit person entitled to custody, (2) a fit parent acts in the best interest of his or her

child, and (3) the child’s best interest is to be in the custody of a parent.” Clark, 273

Ga. at 593 (II). See also Troxel, 530 U. S. at 68 (II) (noting the constitutional

presumption that “fit parents act in the best interests of their children”); Brawner v.

Miller, 334 Ga. App. 214, 216 (1) (778 SE2d 839) (2015).

      The mother in Boddie argued that because the best interest of the child standard

did not require an affirmative showing of parental unfitness, it violated her

constitutional right to control the upbringing of her child. The trial court disagreed

and denied the mother’s petition, finding “by a preponderance of the evidence that the

best interests of the child [would] be served by continuing the temporary

guardianship.” 288 Ga. at 144. The Supreme Court of Georgia reversed, finding that

the juvenile court had applied both the wrong evidentiary standard and the wrong

                                           15
legal standard. Relying on its prior plurality opinion in Clark,7 the Court found that

the best interest of the child standard would not violate the Constitution provided it

was construed narrowly. Thus, the Court held that the best interest of the child

standard

      as found in OCGA § 29-2-8 (b) must be interpreted to mean that the
      third party must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the child
      will suffer physical or emotional harm if custody were awarded to the
      biological parent by terminating the temporary guardianship. Once this

      7
        Clark addressed the constitutionality of the best interest of the child standard
found in OCGA § 19-7-1 (b.1), which applies in custody actions between a natural
parent and the child’s grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt, uncle, great aunt, great
uncle, sibling, or adoptive parent. The statute provides that in such cases,

      parental power may be lost by the parent, parents, or any other person
      if the court hearing the issue of custody, in the exercise of its sound
      discretion and taking into consideration all the circumstances of the
      case, determines that an award of custody to such third party is for the
      best interest of the child or children and will best promote their welfare
      and happiness. There shall be a rebuttable presumption [in favor of
      parental custody], but this presumption may be overcome by a showing
      that an award of custody to such third party is in the best interest of the
      child or children. The sole issue for determination in any such case shall
      be what is in the best interest of the child or children.

OCGA § 19-7-1 (b.1).

                                          16
      showing is made, the third party must then show that continuation of the
      temporary guardianship will best promote the child’s welfare and
      happiness.

Boddie, 288 Ga. at 146 (punctuation omitted; emphasis supplied), quoting Clark, 273

Ga. at 599 (V).

      Harm in this context is defined as “either physical harm or significant, long-

term emotional harm; [it does] not mean merely social or economic disadvantages.”

Boddie, 288 Ga. at 146 (citation and punctuation omitted). See also Clark, 273 Ga.

at 598 (IV) (holding that evidence showing that a child will suffer some emotional

distress does not meet the “rigorous harm” standard and noting “that the death of a

parent, divorce, or change in home and school will often be difficult for a child, but

some level of stress and discomfort may be warranted when the goal is reunification

of the child with the parent”); Floyd v. Gibson, 337 Ga. App. 474, 478 (788 SE2d 84)

(2016) (the rigorous harm standard “requires a showing by the third-party that a child

will suffer physical or emotional harm if custody were awarded to the biological

parent, not that harm ‘may’ result”) (punctuation omitted, emphasis in original). And

in determining whether the child will suffer actual harm, a trial court must consider

                                         17
the factors set forth by the Georgia Supreme Court in Clark. See Boddie, 288 Ga. at

146. Those factors are

      (1) who are the past and present caretakers of the child; (2) with whom
      has the child formed psychological bonds and how strong are those
      bonds; (3) have the competing parties evidenced interest in, and contact
      with, the child over time; and (4) does the child have unique medical or
      psychological needs that one party is better able to meet.

Clark, 273 Ga. at 598-599 (IV) (footnotes omitted).

      We find that the best-interest-of-the-child standard articulated in Clark and

Boddie applies to cases decided under OCGA § 15-11-14. The same constitutional

concerns that led the Supreme Court of Georgia to interpret narrowly the best-

interest-of-the-child standard found in both OCGA § 29-2-8 and OCGA § 19-7-1

(b.1) also exist with respect to petitions decided under OCGA § 15-11-14.

Accordingly, we find that in deciding a petition to terminate the temporary

guardianship pursuant to this statute, a juvenile court must determine whether there

is clear and convincing evidence that termination would cause the child either

“physical harm or significant, long-term emotional harm.” Boddie, 288 Ga. at 146

(citation and punctuation omitted). And in making this determination, the court must

bear in mind that the burden of coming forward with clear and convincing evidence

                                        18
is on the party opposing the termination. Id. Thus, the juvenile court in this case erred

when it applied the “probable cause of harm” standard to determine whether

termination was in the best interest of K. M. Id. (noting that the best interest of the

child standard must be applied “so as to ensure that the temporary guardianship will

be continued only when a real threat of harm would result from termination”)

(citation and punctuation omitted).

      2. The mother contends that when the correct legal standard is applied, the

grandparents failed to show by clear and convincing evidence that it was in the best

interest of K. M. to continue the temporary guardianship. We agree that the current

record contains no clear and convincing evidence that termination of the guardianship

would cause K. M. physical or long-term emotional harm.8 See Clarke v. Cotton, 207

      8
          To the extent that the juvenile court was basing its decision on the
conclusions of the guardian ad litem, we note that most of those conclusions were
unsupported by the available evidence. Specifically, the GAL’s statement that “until
recently” contact between K. M. and his mother had been “sporadic” ignores the fact
that for approximately two years before the GAL filed his report, the mother regularly
cared for the child at least two days a week. It also fails to acknowledge the fact that
the grandparents had admittedly limited the mother’s contact with K. M. Nor does the
record support the GAL’s conclusion that K. M. has “unique medical needs that [his
grandparents] are well able to handle while [the mother] is still learning.” Assuming
that speech delays, occasional asthma, and difficulty with bowel movements could
be considered “unique medical conditions,” all the evidence of record, including the
testimony of the grandmother, shows not only that the mother knows how to treat
these issues, but that she has successfully treated the child in the past. Finally, the

                                           19
Ga. App. 883, 884 (429 SE2d 291) (1993) (under Georgia law,”’clear and convincing

evidence’ is ‘an intermediate standard of proof’ . . . which is greater than the

preponderance of the evidence standard ordinarily employed in civil proceedings, but

less than the reasonable doubt standard applicable in criminal proceedings”), quoting

Santosky v. Kramer, 455 U. S. 745, 756 (II) (102 SCt 1388, 71 LEd2d 599) (1982).

See also In the Interest of J. V. J., 329 Ga. App. 421, 428 (765 SE2d 389) (2014)

(“the juvenile court’s preference that [custody of a child] remain with [someone other

than her natural parents] is wholly without consequence, [where] the court lack[s]

clear and convincing evidence” to support that decision).

      We recognize, however, that it has been over a year since the juvenile court

heard this case. Accordingly, if the grandparents continue to oppose the termination

on remand, we leave it for the juvenile court to consider any additional, more recent

evidence that may be available regarding the best interest of K. M., with that

GAL’s observation that “there has not been enough time to know whether the
[mother’s] relationship with [her husband] is a true lasting one or just another fling
like she has had in the past,” borders on the nonsensical. At the time the GAL drew
this conclusion, the mother had been married for over two and a half years. By any
standard, a relationship of that duration cannot be classified as a romantic “fling.”

                                         20
consideration to include the factors set forth by the Supreme Court in Clark.9 And we

emphasize that to continue the guardianship, the grandparents must come forward

with clear and convincing evidence that termination will cause K. M. “physical harm

or significant, long-term emotional harm.” Boddie, 288 Ga. at 146 (emphasis

supplied). See also Floyd, 337 Ga. App. at 478 (a showing that physical or long-term

emotional harm might result is insufficient to meet the best interest of the child

standard). If the grandparents meet this initial evidentiary burden, they would then

need to show that “continuation of the . . . guardianship will best promote [K. M.’s]

welfare and happiness.” Boddie, 288 Ga. at 146 (citation and punctuation omitted).

      Finally, should the juvenile court again deny the mother’s petition, it shall enter

an order sufficient to provide this Court with an adequate basis for review.

Additionally, if the juvenile court continues the guardianship over the objection of

either parent, the case shall proceed as a dependency matter pursuant to Article 3 of

the Juvenile Code. See OCGA § 15-11-14 (c) (2).

      9
        In considering those factors, the juvenile court must also consider to what
extent the mother’s contact with and opportunity to parent K. M. have been limited
by the grandparents.

                                          21
      For the reasons set forth above, the order of the juvenile court denying the

mother’s petition to terminate the temporary guardianship of K. M. is reversed. The

case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

      Judgment reversed and case remanded with direction. McFadden, P. J., and

Bethel, J., concur.

                                        22