Court Opinion

ID: 2727838
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-08 21:24:11.739914+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:42:50.922925
License: Public Domain

Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this
 Memorandum Decision shall not be
 regarded as precedent or cited before any
 court except for the purpose of establishing
                                                            Mar 11 2013, 10:02 am
 the defense of res judicata, collateral
 estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:                            ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEES:

JOHN P. BRINSON                                    KELLY A. LONNBERG
Evansville, Indiana                                TRISHA S. DUDLO
                                                   Bamberger, Foreman, Oswald and Hahn, LLP
                                                   Evansville, Indiana

                               IN THE
                     COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

IN RE THE GUARDIANSHIP OF J.M.:                    )
                                                   )
CHRISTINA M. MARTIN (KIBALKO),                     )
                                                   )
       Appellant-Petitioner,                       )
                                                   )
               vs.                                 )      No. 82A04-1205-GU-272
                                                   )
WILLIAM P. HITCH and GEORGIA L. HITCH,             )
                                                   )
       Appellees-Respondents.                      )

                APPEAL FROM THE VANDERBURGH SUPERIOR COURT
                         The Honorable Brett J. Niemeier, Judge
                      The Honorable Renee A. Ferguson, Magistrate
                            Cause No. 82D07-0511-GU-190

                                         March 11, 2013

                MEMORANDUM DECISION - NOT FOR PUBLICATION

CRONE, Judge
                                      Case Summary

       Christina M. Martin n/k/a Christina M. Kibalko (“Mother”) appeals the trial court’s

denial of her petition to terminate William and Georgia Hitch’s (“the Guardians”)

guardianship over Mother’s biological son, J.M. On appeal, Mother contends that the trial

court clearly erred when it denied her petition to terminate the guardianship and further that

the trial court abused its discretion when it ordered her to reimburse the Guardians for $1000

paid to the guardian ad litem (“the GAL”). Concluding that the trial court’s order denying

Mother’s petition is not clearly erroneous but finding an abuse of discretion regarding the

court’s order for Mother to reimburse the Guardians for the GAL fee, we affirm in part,

reverse in part, and remand.

                               Facts and Procedural History

       The facts most favorable to the trial court’s judgment indicate that Mother had a very

tumultuous childhood which included time spent in foster care due to her parents’ instability.

Mother moved out on her own at age seventeen and became pregnant at the age of eighteen.

J.M. was born on October 17, 2003. Mother met the Guardians at St. Matthew’s Church in

Evansville shortly before J.M. was born. After J.M.’s birth, the Guardians offered assistance

to Mother as childcare providers. When J.M. was six months old, he began staying overnight

with the Guardians once or twice per week. Soon thereafter, he began spending three or four

overnights per week at the Guardian’s home.          The Guardians often helped Mother

financially. At one point, Mother resided in the Guardians’ home for three or four months.

Even when Mother was living in the home, the Guardians provided the exclusive care for

                                              2
J.M. The Guardians also took J.M. on trips with them. Mother gave the Guardians her

power of attorney and signed an authorization for the Guardians to become health care

representatives for J.M.

       On November 4, 2005, the Guardians filed a petition to establish a guardianship over

J.M., who was just shy of two years old at the time. On that same date, Mother filed her

consent to the guardianship. The trial court appointed a GAL to represent J.M.’s interests.

The GAL tendered a report approving the establishment of the guardianship. In the report,

the GAL noted that Mother “is seeking a military career and unable to care for [J.M.] at this

time.” Appellant’s App. at 27. The report also noted that J.M. needed a stable and nurturing

environment and that the Guardians were willing and able to continue to provide that

environment for him. The GAL recommended that Mother “show that she is able to provide

a stable residence and employment for six months prior to regaining custody.” Id. at 28.

During an evidentiary hearing held on the petition to establish guardianship, Mother testified,

“I’m doing this to better myself, and I’m trying to join the Military, and that I want this to be

a temporary thing until I’m, you know, a little more established.” Id. at 142. Mother

volunteered to pay thirty dollars per week toward J.M.’s care when and if she was able to

obtain full-time work or if she was able to join the military. The trial court entered a detailed

order granting the guardianship on December 7, 2005. The trial court’s order granting the

guardianship gave no specific reason for the establishment of the guardianship other than

Mother’s consent and that it was in the best interests of J.M.

                                               3
       Mother enlisted in the Indiana Army National Guard on January 3, 2006. She left for

basic training in March 2006 and returned in October 2006. She resided in Evansville

following her training but continued to drill with the National Guard one weekend per month

and two or three weeks during the summer. During this time, Mother spent approximately

four or five days per month with J.M. She would either meet with J.M. during lunch or

would spend a two-day weekend with him. Mother made no attempt to take care of J.M. full-

time during the year and one half that she resided in Evansville after her basic training.

       Mother was placed on active duty on April 15, 2008, and, in July 2008, Mother

deployed to Iraq. She returned to the United States in November or December 2008. Since

her return, Mother has seen J.M. no more than every other weekend. Also since her return,

Mother has shown significant instability in her employment. Mother got married in October

2009 to a Russian immigrant whom she met online. Mother moved with her husband to

Nashville, Tennessee on May 1, 2010. Mother gave birth to her second child on July 2, 2010.

       Since her return from Iraq, Mother has been involved in veteran’s counseling at times

and has been diagnosed with, among other things, cannabis dependence disorder, anxiety

disorder, depressive disorder, and borderline personality disorder. On the other hand, J.M.

has, by all accounts, been thriving in the Guardians’ care. He refers to the Guardians as

“Mom” and “Dad.” Tr. at 230. J.M. was recently diagnosed with attention deficit disorder

and Asperger’s syndrome, a classified disorder on the autism spectrum. J.M.’s diagnosis

makes him less easily adaptable to change and makes him more challenging to raise than an

                                              4
average child of the same age. Although he has had a history of behavior problems, he has

been doing well with the help of medication and therapy.

       Mother filed a petition to terminate the guardianship on February 18, 2011. The trial

court again appointed a GAL to represent J.M.’s interests. During the pendency of the

petition to terminate, Mother was granted supervised visitation with J.M. Mother has been

late for many of her supervised visits with J.M. and has left many visits early. Out of

approximately eighteen supervised visits with J.M., Mother’s husband has only attended one

lunch visit with J.M. Mother has reported to counselors that her husband has not bonded

with J.M. and that he does not wish for J.M. to live with him. Additionally, Mother’s

husband is currently seeking new employment in Texas and Florida.

       On April 8, 2011, Mother filed a motion for summary judgment. The Guardians filed

their response in opposition to summary judgment, and an evidentiary hearing was held on

May 20, 2011. The trial court denied Mother’s motion for summary judgment on that date.

Thereafter, on August 12 and October 28, 2011, and January 17, 2012, the trial court

conducted evidentiary hearings on Mother’s petition to terminate guardianship. As of

January 17, 2012, Mother was $1889.64 behind in her child support obligation. On March

26, 2012, the trial court entered its findings of fact, conclusions thereon, and order denying

the petition to terminate. The trial court also ordered Mother to reimburse the Guardians

$1000 for the payment of GAL fees. Mother filed a motion to correct error which was

denied by the trial court on April 30, 2012. This appeal followed.

                                              5
                                        Discussion and Decision

                               I. Petition to Terminate Guardianship

        Mother appeals the trial court’s denial of her petition to terminate guardianship. At

Mother’s request, the trial court entered findings of fact and conclusions thereon pursuant to

Indiana Trial Rule 52.1 Our standard of review in this regard is well settled. We employ a

two-tiered standard of review; we first determine whether the evidence supports the findings,

and then consider whether the findings support the judgment. In re Guardianship of L.L.,

745 N.E.2d 222, 227 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001), trans. denied. The trial court’s findings and

judgment will not be set aside unless they are clearly erroneous. Id. A judgment is clearly

erroneous when it is unsupported by the conclusions drawn, and conclusions are clearly

erroneous when they are not supported by findings of fact. Id. A judgment is also clearly

erroneous when the trial court has applied the wrong legal standard to properly found facts.

Menard, Inc. v. Dage-MTI, Inc., 726 N.E.2d 1206, 1210 (Ind. 2000). In reviewing the order

being appealed, we will neither reweigh the evidence nor assess witness credibility. In re

M.B. and P.B., 666 N.E.2d 73, 76 (Ind. Ct. App. 1996), trans. denied. Rather, we will

consider only the evidence that supports the trial court’s judgment together with all

reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom. Id.

        1
          Mother implies that the trial court’s findings of fact and conclusions thereon are less credible because
they were adopted almost verbatim from the Guardians’ proposed findings and conclusions. A court’s findings
of fact and conclusions thereon are not weakened merely because they were adopted verbatim. Ind. Tri-City
Plaza Bowl, Inc. v. Glueck’s Estate, 422 N.E.2d 670, 674 (Ind. Ct. App. 1981). The trial court is responsible
for their correctness and, contrary to Mother’s implication, wholesale adoption of one party’s proposed
findings is not prohibited, uncommon, or improper. See Hardebeck v. Hardebeck, 917 N.E.2d 694, 699 (Ind.
Ct. App. 2009).

                                                        6
                                      A. Automatic Termination

        Mother first argues that the trial court clearly erred when it refused to automatically

terminate the guardianship pursuant to Indiana Code Section 31-17-2-21.3, which provides:2

               (a) A court may not consider a parent’s absence or relocation due to
        active duty service as a factor in determining custody or permanently
        modifying a child custody order.

               (b) If a court temporarily modifies a custody order due to a parent’s
        active duty service, the order temporarily modifying the custody order
        terminates automatically not later than ten (10) days after the date the parent
        notifies the temporary custodian in writing that the parent has returned from
        active duty service. This subsection does not prevent a court from modifying a
        child custody order as provided under this article after a parent returns from
        active duty service.

“Active duty” means full-time service in the armed forces of the United States (as defined in

Indiana Code Section 5-9-4-3) or the National Guard (as defined in Indiana Code Section 5-

9-4-3) for a period that exceeds thirty consecutive days in a calendar year. Ind. Code § 31-9-

2-0.8; In re Paternity of C.S., 964 N.E.2d 879, 884 n.3 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012), trans. denied.

Indiana Code Section 5-9-4-3 provides that “armed forces of the United States” means the

“active or reserve components” of the army and other listed military organizations. Indiana

Code Section 5-9-4-4 provides that “national guard” means the Indiana Army National Guard

or the Indiana Air National Guard.

        2
         In its final judgment, the trial court referenced only the inapplicability of the automatic termination
provision of Indiana Code Section 31-14-13-6.3 rather than the inapplicability of an identical automatic
termination provision in Indiana Code Section 31-17-2-21.3. We believe that Article 17 regarding
modification of child custody orders is more applicable than Article 14 regarding modification of child custody
following establishment of paternity. Accordingly, we refer to only that article.

                                                       7
       Contrary to Mother’s argument, the original petition for guardianship here was not

granted “due to [Mother’s] active duty service.” See Ind. Code § 31-17-2-21.3. Although

Mother may have been contemplating military service at the time she consented to the

guardianship as noted in the GAL report, she had not enlisted with the Indiana Army

National Guard on the date the guardianship was established. Moreover, Mother’s consent to

the guardianship does not mention active duty service, and nowhere in the order granting the

guardianship did the trial court reference active duty service as the reason for establishment

of the guardianship.

       In denying Mother’s motion for summary judgment, the trial court specifically

concluded as follows:

       The statute is very clear to use the language “active duty service”, and it uses
       that phrase throughout the statute. And this Court finds that this guardianship
       was not done in anticipation of active duty service where we have an active
       duty military member who had orders to deploy, as many times throughout our
       involvement overseas this Court has seen. This was a parent who stated the
       wish to improve [her] position in life by applying to the military, hopefully
       getting into the military. The mother had not been admitted to military service
       at this point…I don’t find that the guardianship was per se based upon that
       service. And as I’ve stated before, the statute is very clear that this is
       anticipation of someone being deployed on active duty, and that was not
       Mother’s situation when the guardianship was granted. She was not active
       duty, she was not being deployed, and so therefore that moots any triggering of
       any termination after ten days that she returned.

Appellant’s App. at 21-22. The trial court similarly noted in its final judgment that the

statutory automatic termination provision of a temporary custody order entered due to a

parent’s active duty service was not applicable under the facts presented here. The court

found the present case more akin to a “dispute between a parent and a non-parent over the

                                              8
parent’s ability to care for the child” and not a situation “where an otherwise fit parent

temporarily transfers custody due to military deployment.                      [Mother’s] five[-]year

acquiescence to the Guardians is not a short term transfer during deployment.” Id. at 16.

        The evidence supports the trial court’s finding that Mother was not on active duty

service at the time the guardianship was granted.3 Accordingly, Mother is not entitled to the

automatic termination of guardianship provided by Indiana Code Section 31-17-2-21.3.

                            B. Clear and Convincing Evidence

        Indiana Code Section 29-3-12-1(c)(4) provides that a trial court may terminate any

guardianship whenever the guardianship is no longer necessary. As with all changes of child

custody, the party seeking a change of custody must persuade the trial court that (1)

modification is in the best interests of the child; and (2) there is a substantial change in one or

more factors the court may consider. In re K.I., 903 N.E.2d 453, 460 (Ind. 2009) (citing Ind.

Code § 31-14-13-6). However, it is well settled that these are modest requirements when the

party seeking to modify custody is the natural parent of a child who is in the custody of a

third party. Id. The natural parent “comes to the table with ‘a strong presumption that a

child’s interests are best served by placement with the natural parent.’” Id. (quoting In re

Guardianship of B.H., 770 N.E.2d 283, 287 (Ind. 2002)). Hence, the first statutory

requirement is met from the outset and, as a practical matter, showing a substantial change in

        3
          Mother makes much of the trial court’s use of the word “deployment.” Although we agree with
Mother that actual deployment is not required pursuant to the statute, the language clearly states that the
guardianship must be established due to active duty service. The evidence is undisputed that Mother was not
on active duty service at the time the guardianship was established.

                                                    9
one or more of the factors the court may consider “is no burden at all” or at the very least

“minimal.” Id.

        Once the natural parent meets this minimal burden, the third party must prove by clear

and convincing evidence “that the child’s best interests are substantially and significantly

served by placement with another person.” Id. (quoting B.H., 770 N.E.2d at 287). This

prong can be satisfied by proving, by clear and convincing evidence, unfitness on the part of

the parent, long acquiescence in the third party’s custody, or voluntary relinquishment such

that the affections of the child and the third party have become so interwoven that to sever

them would seriously mar and endanger the future happiness of the child. B.H., 770 N.E.2d

at 286. The trial court, however, is not limited to these three considerations when

determining whether the presumption in favor of the natural parent has been overcome. K.I.,

903 N.E.2d at 459. If the third party carries the clear and convincing burden, then custody

remains in the third party. Id. at 461.4 We review the trial court’s determination regarding

custody modifications for an abuse of discretion with a preference for giving latitude and

deference to our trial judges in family law matters. Id. at 457.

        The parties here appear to concede that Mother met her minimal burden and, thus, we

turn to the Guardians’ clear and convincing burden. We begin by noting the original reasons

for J.M.’s placement with the Guardians. The evidence indicates that Mother had a history of

        4
           The K.I. court specifically rejected a “burden-shifting regime” that would place the third party and
the parent on a level playing field, noting that “Indiana courts have long held that ‘[e]ven when a parent
initiates an action to reobtain custody of a child that has been in the custody of another, the burden of proof
does not shift to the parent…[r]ather, the burden of proof is always on the third party.’” Id. (quoting In re
Guardianship of J.K., 862 N.E.2d 686, 692 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007) (citations omitted)).

                                                      10
financial, housing, employment, and emotional instability. At the time the guardianship was

established, Mother desired to transfer her parental responsibilities – financial, emotional,

and physical – to the Guardians. Long before the guardianship was established, the

Guardians provided almost the exclusive financial, emotional, and physical care for J.M.

Although there is evidence to indicate that Mother has currently grown more stable in some

areas of her life, other areas of her life, including her emotional and mental health, have

grown less stable and raise serious and legitimate concerns regarding her fitness to parent

J.M. More importantly, in determining the best interests of the child, we look beyond

whether the original grounds for granting the guardianship still exist. See Roydes v. Cappy,

762 N.E.2d 1268, 1274 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002).

        We agree with the trial court that the Guardians have provided ample evidence that

Mother has long acquiesced in their custody of J.M. and has voluntary relinquished the lion’s

share of her parental responsibilities such that the affections of J.M. and the Guardians have

become so interwoven that to sever them would seriously mar and endanger the future

happiness of J.M. Aside from Mother’s very brief military deployment, Mother has been

available to be actively involved in J.M.’s life. Nevertheless, the record indicates that, for

more than five years, she has failed to contribute significantly to the emotional, financial,5 or

physical well-being of J.M. Mother failed to significantly involve herself in J.M.’s life while

she lived in Evansville. Now, she has voluntarily moved to Tennessee with her husband and,

        5
         At the time of the final hearing, Mother was $1889.64 in arrears from her modest $30-per-week child
support payments.

                                                    11
as a result, her ability to spend time with and to emotionally bond with J.M. has diminished

even more so. Mother has been inconsistent in maintaining a visitation schedule with J.M.,

arriving late for scheduled parenting time or leaving early from such parenting time.

Moreover, there is troubling evidence in the record to indicate that, despite his serious

diagnosis, Mother does not believe that J.M. has Asperger’s syndrome. Mother has not

sought to learn about J.M.’s diagnosis or to be involved in his treatment for that disorder.

        The long acquiescence of J.M. in the Guardians’ custody has cultivated a strong bond

and deep mutual affection between J.M. and the Guardians. J.M. refers to the Guardians as

“Mom” and “Dad.” Tr. at 230. J.M. has become accustomed to the stable and predictable

environment that, as indicated by specialists, a child diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome

requires. It is clear from the evidence that, at this time, Mother has neither the ability nor the

inclination to provide for J.M.’s specialized care or needs. The record supports the trial

court’s conclusion that J.M.’s best interests are substantially and significantly served by his

current placement with the Guardians.6 Despite Mother’s urging, this Court is prohibited

from reweighing the evidence. See B.H.., 770 N.E.2d at 288. The trial court’s decision to

deny the petition to terminate guardianship was not clearly erroneous.

                                                II. GAL fees

        Next, Mother challenges the trial court’s order that she reimburse the Guardians $1000

for GAL fees. Indiana Code Section 29-3-2-3(a) provides that “the court shall appoint a

        6
         Because we conclude that the Guardians have met their burden to prove by clear and convincing
evidence that J.M.’s best interests are substantially and significantly served by placement with them, we need
not address their arguments regarding their “de facto custodian” status or J.M.’s best interests in that context.

                                                       12
guardian ad litem to represent the interests of the alleged incapacitated person or minor if the

court determines that the alleged incapacitated person or minor is not represented or is not

adequately represented by counsel.” We have held that in cases where the appointment of a

guardian ad litem is within the court’s power, the court may also order payment of the

guardian ad litem’s fees. Danner v. Danner, 573 N.E.2d 934, 938 (Ind. Ct. App. 1991),

clarified on reh’g, trans. denied (2002). All findings and orders of the trial court in

guardianship proceedings are reviewed for an abuse of discretion. In re Guardianship of

V.S.D., 660 N.E.2d 1064, 1066 (Ind. Ct. App. 1996). We will find an abuse of discretion

only when the decision of the trial court is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and

circumstances before the court, or if the court has misinterpreted the law. Id.

       Neither party here disputes the trial court’s appointment of the GAL or the court’s

power to order the parties to pay GAL fees in this guardianship proceeding. Instead, the

parties disagree as to how the trial court apportioned the fees. The record indicates that, at

the time of the final hearing, the Guardians had paid approximately $1000 toward GAL fees

and that Mother had paid $800 toward GAL fees. During the hearing, the Guardians

complained to the court that they had paid too much toward the GAL fees and also that they

did not think the GAL should be entitled to any additional fees.7 In addition to denying

Mother’s petition to terminate the guardianship, the trial court ordered that Mother reimburse

the Guardians $1000 for the GAL fees.

       7
         Although additional GAL fees remained outstanding at the time of the hearing, the trial court
concluded that the GAL had been fully and appropriately compensated and is entitled to no additional
payment. We do not disturb that ruling.

                                                 13
       The Guardians concede that it is common for the parties to “equally divide” the GAL

fees. Appellees’ Br. at 32. The Guardians state that the trial court’s order for Mother to

reimburse them “merely equalizes” the cost of the GAL fees. Id. However, the trial court’s

order here does not equalize the payment of the GAL fees as requested by the Guardians.

Instead, the trial court’s order results in Mother paying 100% of the fees.

       While it would be within the trial court’s discretion to order one party to pay all of the

GAL fees, there is no evidence in the record to support the trial court’s decision to apportion

all of the fees to Mother in this case. It appears that the trial court may have inadvertently

apportioned all of the GAL fees to Mother rather than dividing those fees equally between

the parties as requested and contemplated by the Guardians. Accordingly, we conclude that

the trial court abused its discretion when it ordered Mother to reimburse the Guardians $1000

for GAL fees. We reverse that order and remand to the trial court with instructions for the

trial court to divide the GAL fees equally.

       Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.

MATHIAS, J., and KIRSCH, J., concur.

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