Court Opinion

ID: 9386475
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-04-12 16:06:45.914919+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:18:06.509320
License: Public Domain

J-A06009-23

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    MARIA BECKMAN                              :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                       Appellant               :
                                               :
                                               :
                v.                             :
                                               :
                                               :
    MARTY YANNARELLA                           :   No. 1149 WDA 2022

               Appeal from the Order Entered September 6, 2022
       In the Court of Common Pleas of Lawrence County Civil Division at
                             No(s): 11060 of 2010

BEFORE:      OLSON, J., NICHOLS, J., and PELLEGRINI, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY OLSON, J.:                             FILED: April 12, 2023

        Appellant, Maria Beckman, (“Mother”) appeals from the September 6,

2022 order entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Lawrence County that,

inter alia, granted Marty Yannarella (“Father”) primary physical custody during

the academic school year for their minor child, M.Y., born July 2007, (“the

Child”) and granted Father’s petition to relocate. We affirm.

        The trial court summarized the factual history as follows:

        [Mother and Father] are the natural parents of [the Child.] Since
        January 17, 2013, [Mother and Father] shared [] legal and
        physical custody of [the Child] on a week on, week off schedule
        with exchanges every Friday at 5:00 p.m. [Father’s] residence in
        Shenango Township, [Lawrence County, Pennsylvania] was listed
        as the primary residence [for the Child] so the [C]hild could
        continue attending [school in] the Shenango Area School[
        District]. The holidays were divided among the parties as agreed
        upon as has been the past custom. [The Child] is fifteen years of
____________________________________________

*   Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
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       age and has attended the Shenango Area School District schools
       [] his [ entire academic life.1]

       Toward the end of May[] 2021, [Father] was laid off from his
       [employment] in Apollo, [Armstrong2] County, Pennsylvania. As
       of the end of May 2021, [Father] was permanently laid off from
       [his employment. Father,] as of September 2021, has been
       employed at the New Kensington Municipal Sanitary Authority,
       earning approximately the same amount as he [] previously
       earned, with benefits.

       In February 2022, [Father] and his wife purchased a [house] in
       New Kensington[, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania,] and sold
       [Father's house] in Shenango Township, Lawrence County.
       [Father] and his wife continued to rent [Father's] Shenango
       [Township house] from the new owners until [] May 18, 2022. On
       May 18, 2022, [Father] moved with his wife, their three children[,
       and the Child], who is the subject of this custody matter, during
       [Father's physical] custody time.

       On June 6, 2022, [Father] filed a petition to relocate from
       Shenango Township, Lawrence County, to New Kensington,
       [Westmoreland County. Father’s New Kensington residence] is
       approximately [a] one[-]hour [drive] from Shenango Township.

       [Mother] is employed in the New Castle [Area] School District[3]
       and lives in the City of New Castle, Lawrence County,
       Pennsylvania. [Father] no longer lives in the Shenango Area
       School District. [Mother] has been looking to buy a [house] in the

____________________________________________

1Shenango Area School District is located in the southern portion of Lawrence
County, Pennsylvania, and services families residing in Shenango Township
and       South        New          Castle        Borough.               See
https://www.shenangoschools.org/district/about-us/ (last visited 3/27/23).

2 The trial court identified Apollo as a borough located in Butler County,
Pennsylvania. Apollo is, in fact, located in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.

3  The New Castle Area School District is located in Lawrence County,
Pennsylvania, and services families residing in the City of New Castle and
Taylor Township. See https://www.ncasd.com/GeneralInformation.aspx (last
visited 3/27/23).

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       Shenango Area School District but has, [as of the August 29,
       2022] hearing, been unsuccessful.

       Because neither parent lives in the Shenango Area School District,
       the [C]hild must either attend the Kiski Area School District, where
       [Father] resides[,4] or the New Castle [Area] School District,
       where [Mother] resides, unless one [parent pays, or both parents
       pay,] tuition [to] the Shenango Area School District, which is
       somewhere between $12,000.00 and $14,000.00 per year. At the
       time of the [August 2022] hearing, neither parent [] made any
       payment [of,] or arranged to make payment of[,] tuition to the
       Shenango Area School District.

Trial Court Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order of Court, 9/6/22,

at ¶¶1-11 (paragraph formatting modified, extraneous capitalization omitted).

On September 6, 2022, the trial court entered an order granting Father’s

petition to relocate. Id. at 7. The trial court also entered a custody order

granting Father’s request to modify custody. Pursuant to the September 6,

2022 custody order, Mother and Father continued to share legal and physical

custody of the Child but Father was granted physical custody of the Child

____________________________________________

4 The Kiski Area School District provides educational services to families
residing in, inter alia, Allegheny Township, Pennsylvania.               See
https://www.kiskiarea.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=771273&type=d
&pREC_ID=1172514 (last visited 3/27/23). Father’s mailing address is New
Kensington, Pennsylvania, but the physical location of Father’s residence is
Allegheny Township, Pennsylvania. Therefore, Father’s residence is located in
the Kiski Area School District.

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during the academic school year so that the Child could attend school in the

Kiski Area School District.5 Id. at 11-15. This appeal followed.6

       Mother raises the following issues for our review:

       1.     Did the trial court err by granting Father’s request for
              relocation?

       2.     Did the trial court err in basing its decision upon Mother’s
              failure to either find a [house] in Shenango Township, or
              make arrangements to pay tuition [to] the Shenango Area
              School[ District]?

       3.     Did the trial court err [as a matter of] law in failing to
              consider evidence presented by Father that discredited
              Father[’s] and [the] Child’s testimony?

       4.     Did the trial court err in failing to consider its findings
              opposing Father’s requested relocation based upon similar
              circumstances in May [] 2021?

       5.     Did the trial court err in failing [] to consider Father’s
              contemptuous conduct in Father’s unlawful disobedience
              with a then-existing custody order[?]

____________________________________________

5 Mother was granted physical custody of the Child the second and fourth
weekends of each month during the academic school year from Friday at
5:00 p.m. to Sunday at 6:00 p.m., as well as three uninterrupted weeks in
both June and July and the first two weeks of August of each year. Trial Court
Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order of Court, 9/6/22, at 12-13. A
holiday schedule designated each parent as having physical custody during
certain holidays with the holiday schedule superseding the general physical
custody schedule. Id. at 13.

6 Mother filed a concise statement of errors complained of on appeal, pursuant
to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(2)(i), along with her notice of appeal on September 30,
2022. The trial court filed a Rule 1925(a) opinion on October 3, 2022, relying
on its September 6, 2022 Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order of
Court.

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       6.     Did the trial court err in elevating the Child’s preference over
              the other factors of 23 Pa.C.S.[A.] § 5337(h) which weighed
              in favor of denying Father’s request for relocation?

Mother’s Brief at 2-3 (extraneous capitalization omitted).

       In sum, Mother’s issues challenge the trial court’s order granting

Father’s petition to relocate and modify physical custody for the Child.7 Our

scope and standard of review of such custody determinations are well-settled.

____________________________________________

7 Father’s petition to relocate and modify custody did not set forth a proposed
modification of custody. See generally Father’s Petition to Relocate and
Modify Custody, 6/6/22. In Father’s notice of relocation, however, Father set
forth a proposed modification of custody as follows:

       At the start of the school year, Father would have custody of [the
       Child] Monday through Friday. Mother would have the second,
       third, fourth, and fifth weekends of each month from Friday after
       school until Sunday evening. During the summer, Mother would
       have custody from Monday afternoon until Friday morning each
       week. Father would then have every Friday morning until Monday
       afternoon. Vacation and holiday schedules would remain the
       same.

Father’s Notice of Relocation, 5/11/22, at unnumbered page 3.

In his petition to relocate and modify custody, Father avers that he filed his
notice of relocation with the trial court on April 28, 2022. Father’s Petition to
Relocate and Modify Custody, 6/6/22, at ¶5. Father’s notice of relocation does
not appear, however, as part of the trial court docket. This lack of filing is of
no consequence, however, because pursuant to Section 5337(c), “[t]he party
seeking to relocate does not make an initial filing with the trial court, but
rather sends by certified mail to every other party with custody rights a notice
in accordance with Section 5337(c).” E.D. v. M.P., 33 A.3d 73, 79 (Pa. Super.
2011).

Mother asserts that she received Father’s notice of relocation on May 11, 2022.
Mother’s Petition to Dismiss Father’s Notice of Proposed Relocation, 5/31/22,

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          Our scope [of review] is of the broadest type and our
          standard [of review] is abuse of discretion. This Court must
          accept findings of the trial court that are supported by
          competent evidence of record, as our role does not include
          making independent factual determinations. In addition,
          with regard to issues of credibility and weight of the
          evidence, this Court must defer to the trial [court that]
          presided over the proceedings and[,] thus[,] viewed the
          witnesses [firsthand]. However, we are not bound by the
          trial court's deductions or inferences from its factual
          findings. Ultimately, the test is whether the trial court's
          conclusions are unreasonable as shown by the evidence of
          record. We may reject the conclusions of the trial court only
          if they involve an error of law, or are unreasonable in light
          of the sustainable findings of the trial court.

       E.D. v. M.P., 33 A.3d 73, 76 (Pa. Super. 2011) (citation omitted).
       With any child custody case, this Court has long stated that the
       paramount concern is the best interests of the child. Landis v.
       Landis, 869 A.2d 1003, 1011 (Pa. Super. 2005). This standard
       requires a case-by-case assessment of all [] the factors that may
       legitimately affect the “physical, intellectual, moral[,] and spiritual
       well-being” of the child. Id. When a custody dispute involves a
       request by a party to relocate, we have explained, “there is no
       black[-]letter formula that easily resolves relocation disputes[.
       R]ather, custody disputes are delicate issues that must be handled
       on a case-by-case basis.” Baldwin v. Baldwin, 710 A.2d 610,
       614 (Pa. Super. 1998).

____________________________________________

at ¶4. A copy of Father’s notice of relocation is attached as an exhibit to
Mother’s petition to dismiss Father’s notice of proposed relocation. Id. at
Exhibit A. A certificate of service attached to Father’s notice of relocation
states that Mother was served with the notice of relocation via certified mail
on May 4, 2022. Id. At the relocation and custody hearing, Father agreed
that the notice of relocation was served on Mother “sometime in early May”
2022. N.T., 8/29/22, at 22. As Father does not dispute Mother’s assertion
that she received his notice of relocation on May 11, 2022, and absent further
proof of the date on which the certified mailing was delivered, we deem the
notice of relocation as having been provided to Mother on May 11, 2022. See
23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5337(c)(2) (requiring a notice of relocation to be given to the
non-relocating party, as discussed infra, by certified mail, return receipt
requested).

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C.M.K. v. K.E.M., 45 A.3d 417, 421 (Pa. Super. 2012) (original brackets

omitted).

       Pursuant to Section 5337 of the Child Custody Act, 23 Pa.C.S.A.

§§ 5321-5340, a parent with custody rights to a child may not relocate unless

“every individual who has custody rights to the child consents to the proposed

relocation” or “the [trial] court approves the proposed relocation.”        23

Pa.C.S.A. § 5337(b)(1) and (2). In other words, a parent seeking to relocate

(“the relocating parent”) cannot unilaterally relocate.8

       The relocating parent must provide notice of the proposed relocation,

along with other certain information (see 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5337(c)(3)), to other

individuals with custody rights to the child (collectively, “the non-relocating

parent”) no later than 60 days prior to the date of the proposed relocation or

10 days after the date the relocating parent knows of the relocation if the

relocating parent “did not know and could not reasonably have known of the

relocation in sufficient time to comply with the 60-day notice[,] and it is not

reasonably possible to delay the date of relocation so as to comply with the

60-day notice.” 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5337(c). The non-relocating parent “may file

with the [trial] court an objection to the proposed relocation and seek a

____________________________________________

8 The term “relocation” is defined as “[a] change in a residence of the child
which significantly impairs the ability of a non[-]relocating party to exercise
custodial rights.” 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5322(a).

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temporary or permanent order to prevent the relocation.”9            23 Pa.C.S.A.

§ 5337(d).      If the non-relocating party “objects to either relocation or

modification of the custody order, a hearing shall be held as provided in

[Section 5337(g)(1)].”         23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5337(d).    Any objection by the

non-relocating parent must be in the form of a counter-affidavit that

substantially complies with Section 5337(d). Id.

       “If a counter-affidavit regarding relocation is filed with the [trial] court

which indicates the non[-]relocating party objects either to the proposed

relocation or to the modification of the custody order consistent with the

proposal for revised custody schedule, the [trial] court shall modify the

existing custody order only after holding a hearing to establish the terms and

conditions of the order pursuant to the relocation indicating the rights, if any,

of the non[-]relocating [parent].” 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5337(f). The expedited full

hearing on the proposed relocation must be held before the relocation

occurs.10 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5337(g)(1) (emphasis added).

       Section 5337(h) sets forth ten factors that a trial court must consider,

“giving weighted consideration to those factors which affect the safety of the
____________________________________________

9 Upon receipt of Father’s notice of relocation on May 11, 2022, Mother did
not seek a temporary or permanent order preventing Father from relocating.
Instead, on May 31, 2022, Mother filed a petition to dismiss Father’s notice of
proposed relocation, averring that Father already relocated and requesting
inter alia, that the Child be returned to Lawrence County. Mother’s Petition to
Dismiss Father’s Notice of Proposed Relocation, 5/31/22, at ¶6, ¶14.

10 Only upon the finding of exigent circumstances, may a trial court approve
a relocation pending an expedited full hearing. 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5337(g)(3).

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child[,]” in determining whether to grant, or deny, a petition for proposed

relocation. 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5337(h). Those factors are as follows:

      (1) The nature, quality, extent of involvement[,] and duration of
      the child's relationship with the party proposing to relocate and
      with the non[-]relocating party, siblings[,] and other significant
      persons in the child's life.

      (2) The age, developmental stage, needs of the child[,] and the
      likely impact the relocation will have on the child's physical,
      educational[,] and emotional development, taking into
      consideration any special needs of the child.

      (3) The feasibility of preserving the relationship between the
      non[-]relocating party and the child through suitable custody
      arrangements,     considering   the   logistics  and   financial
      circumstances of the parties.

      (4) The child's preference, taking into consideration the age and
      maturity of the child.

      (5) Whether there is an established pattern of conduct of either
      party to promote or thwart the relationship of the child and the
      other party.

      (6) Whether the relocation will enhance the general quality of life
      for the party seeking the relocation, including, but not limited to,
      financial or emotional benefit or educational opportunity.

      (7) Whether the relocation will enhance the general quality of life
      for the child, including, but not limited to, financial or emotional
      benefit or educational opportunity.

      (8) The reasons and motivation of each party for seeking or
      opposing the relocation.

      (9) The present and past abuse committed by a party or member
      of the party's household and whether there is a continued risk of
      harm to the child or an abused party.

      (10) Any other factor affecting the best interest of the child.

23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5337(h)(1-10). “Section 5337(h) mandates that the trial court

shall consider all of the factors listed therein, giving weighted consideration to

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those factors affecting the safety of the child.” E.D., 33 A.3d at 81 (emphasis

omitted). “The party proposing the relocation has the burden of establishing

that the relocation will serve the best interest of the child as shown under the

factors set forth in” Section 5337(h). 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5337(i)(1). “Each party

has the burden of establishing the integrity of that party's motives in either

seeking the relocation or seeking to prevent the relocation.”     23 Pa.C.S.A.

§ 5337(i)(2).

      Pursuant to Section 5337(j),

      [the trial] court may consider a failure to provide reasonable
      notice of a proposed relocation as:

         (1) a factor in making a determination regarding the
         relocation;

         (2) a factor in determining whether custody rights should be
         modified;

         (3) a basis for ordering the return of the child to the
         non[-]relocating [parent] if the relocation has occurred
         without reasonable notice;

         (4) sufficient cause to order the [relocating parent] to pay
         reasonable expenses and counsel fees incurred by the
         [non-relocating parent] objecting to the relocation; and

         (5) a ground for contempt and the imposition of sanctions
         against the [relocating parent].

23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5337(j). Finally, “[i]f a party relocates with the child prior to

[an expedited full] hearing, the [trial] court shall not confer any presumption

in favor of the relocation.” 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5337(l).

      When the non-relocating party objects to both the relocation, as well as

the proposed modification of custody in a counter-affidavit, the trial court, in

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addition to considering the ten factors enumerated in Section 5337(h), must

also consider the sixteen custody factors set forth in Section 5328(a) before

granting relocation and modifying an existing custody order.       A.M.S. v.

M.R.C., 70 A.3d 830, 836 (Pa. Super. 2013). Those factors are as follows:

     (1) Which party is more likely to encourage and permit frequent
     and continuing contact between the child and another party.

     (2) The present and past abuse committed by a party or member
     of the party's household, whether there is a continued risk of harm
     to the child or an abused party[,] and which party can better
     provide adequate physical safeguards and supervision of the child.

     (2.1) The information set forth in [23 Pa.C.S.A. § ]5329.1(a)
     (relating to consideration of child abuse and involvement with
     protective services).

     (3) The parental duties performed by each party on behalf of the
     child.

     (4) The need for stability and continuity in the child's education,
     family life[,] and community life.

     (5) The availability of extended family.

     (6) The child's sibling relationships.

     (7) The well-reasoned preference of the child, based on the child's
     maturity and judgment.

     (8) The attempts of a parent to turn the child against the other
     parent, except in cases of domestic violence where reasonable
     safety measures are necessary to protect the child from harm.

     (9) Which party is more likely to maintain a loving, stable,
     consistent[,] and nurturing relationship with the child adequate
     for the child's emotional needs.

     (10) Which party is more likely to attend to the daily physical,
     emotional, developmental, educational[,] and special needs of the
     child.

     (11) The proximity of the residences of the parties.

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      (12) Each party's availability to care for the child or ability to make
      appropriate child-care arrangements.

      (13) The level of conflict between the parties and the willingness
      and ability of the parties to cooperate with one another. A party's
      effort to protect a child from abuse by another party is not
      evidence of unwillingness or inability to cooperate with that party.

      (14) The history of drug or alcohol abuse of a party or member of
      a party's household.

      (15) The mental and physical condition of a party or member of a
      party's household.

      (16) Any other relevant factor.

23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5328(a)(1-16).

      Here, Mother asserts that the trial court’s order granting relocation and

modification of custody was not in the best interest of the Child but, rather,

was a “reward” to Father “for having contrived a scenario that successfully

bootstrapped his long-held desire to relocate.”       Mother’s Brief at 14.     In

granting Father’s petition to relocate and modify custody, Mother contends,

the trial court “gave a favorable presumption to Father’s [relocation] that

occurred before notice [of relocation was provided.]” Id. Mother argues that

the trial court erred in finding that “the overriding factor [in its decision was]

that neither party now lives in the Shenango Area School District and the

[Child] cannot attend the Shenango Area [School District s]chools.” Id. at

12. Mother asserts that the trial court, in so finding, ignored “the option of

denying Father’s request to relocate[] and requiring him to move back to the

Shenango Area School District.” Id. at 8. Mother argues that the trial court

“affirmatively found that the move to [the Kiski Area School District] would

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improve the Child’s life only because the [t]rial [c]ourt had come to the

incorrect underlying conclusion that remaining in the Shenango Area [School

District] was an impossibility.” Id. at 13 (emphasis omitted).

       Mother further asserts that the trial court, in considering the Child’s

preference to relocate with Father to the Kiski Area School District (see 23

Pa.C.S.A. § 5337(h)(4)), erred in finding that the Child, “a little over a year

later,” appreciated the impact the relocation would have “on his relationship

with his friends in the Shenango Area School District or his extended paternal

and maternal families living in the New Castle, Lawrence County area.”11

Mother’s Brief at 14-17.         Mother argues that the trial court “improperly

considered that [the Child] had begun running with the Kiski Area

cross[-]country team and made friends with members of the team” when the

trial court considered the Child’s preference to relocate and found that the

Child appreciated and understood the impact relocation would have on his

relationship with Mother and his extended family.         Id. at 17, 19.    Mother

____________________________________________

11  Mother asserts that the trial court, in its May 11, 2021 order denying
Father’s previous petition to relocate and modify custody, found that the
Child’s preference to relocate with Father to the Kiski Area School District was
“not realistic, especially in light of the many athletic activities that the [C]hild
wants to continue to be involved in.” Mother’s Brief at 15, citing Trial Court
Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order of Court, 5/11/21, at 5.
Mother argues that the trial court appropriately found the Child’s preference
to relocate to be unrealistic in May 2021, and now erred in finding the Child’s
preference to relocate to be reasonable and well-balanced in August 2022, a
little over a year later. This argument sounds in a challenge to the credibility
of the Child’s testimony regarding his preference and, as stated supra, we
defer to the trial court’s credibility determinations.

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contends that “[b]ut for Father’s violation of the [t]rial [c]ourt’s prior [o]rder,

and his relocation prior to obtaining permission from the [t]rial [c]ourt, the

Child would have remained involved in the Shenango [Area] School District’s

cross-country team.” Id.

      We begin our review of Mother’s challenge to the trial court order

granting Father’s relocation request and modifying physical custody by

examining the procedural posture of events that preceded the August 2022

hearing.     As discussed supra, Mother acknowledged that she received

notification of Father’s proposed relocation on May 11, 2022. Mother’s Petition

to Dismiss Father’s Notice of Proposed Relocation, 5/31/22, at ¶4; see also

N.T., 8/29/22, at 84 (acknowledging that she (Mother) received notice of the

proposed relocation on May 11, 2022, when the notice arrived in the mail).

Father relocated on May 18, 2022, seven days after providing Mother notice

of the proposed relocation. Trial Court Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law,

and Order of Court, 9/6/22, at ¶8; see also N.T., 8/29/22, at 46 (stating that,

the relocation occurred on May 18, 2022). On May 23, 2022, Mother filed a

counter-affidavit regarding relocation in which Mother objected to the

relocation   and   the    proposed    modification    of   custody.      Mother’s

Counter-Affidavit Regarding Relocation, 5/23/22. Mother filed a petition to

dismiss Father’s notice of proposed relocation on May 31, 2022.          Mother’s

Petition to Dismiss Father’s Notice of Proposed Relocation, 5/31/22. Father

filed his petition to relocate and modify custody on June 6, 2022. Father’s

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Petition to Relocate and Modify Custody, 6/6/22. An expedited full hearing on

the matter was conducted on August 29, 2022.

      Based upon a review of this procedural posture, Father clearly violated

the notice requirements of Section 5337(c) by failing to provide Mother the

requisite notice of the proposed relocation.      See 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5337(c).

Father never established that he did not know, and that he could not have

reasonably known, of relocation in sufficient time to comply with the Section

5337(c) 60-day notice requirement.      Nor did Father establish that he was

incapable of delaying relocation so as to comply with Section 5337(c).

Moreover, contrary to the detailed procedural requirements set forth in

Section 5337, Father relocated prior to the expedited full hearing without

Mother’s consent or the trial court’s approval.

      We emphatically do not condone Father’s actions and his failure to

adhere to the procedural requirements of Section 5337. Nevertheless, the

relief that Mother seeks – to require Father to relocate back to Shenango

Township – asks this Court to “un-ring the bell” and rewind history in a series

of events, i.e. Father’s relocation and the Child’s attendance at a Kiski Area

School District school for almost a full academic year, and such a request

presents an impossibility for this Court. E.B., 209 A.3d at 466 (stating that,

as part of its review of custody matters, an appellate court cannot “un-ring

the bell” and rewind the history of a child’s life as if it never happened); see

also 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5337(j) (setting forth the potential consequences to the

relocating parent for failing to provide reasonable notice of a proposed

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relocation, including using the failure to provide reasonable notice as grounds

for contempt); 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5337(l) (setting forth the consequence to the

relocating parent for relocating prior to the expedited full hearing).12

       Although courts cannot unwind a child’s history, this does not mean that

Father’s actions in the case sub judice are without consequences. Section

5337(j) prescribes that the trial court may consider a failure to provide

reasonable notice of a proposed relocation as a factor in whether to grant, or

deny, relocation and, if granted, whether to modify custody rights; a basis for

returning the child to the non-relocating parent; or a ground for ordering the

relocating parent to pay the non-relocating parent’s reasonable expenses and

counsel fees incurred as part of the relocation matter or to hold the relocating

parent in contempt and impose sanctions.13 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5337(j). In the

instant matter, the trial court, in reaching its decision to grant Father’s

relocation petition, did consider Father’s action of relocating before receiving

either Mother’s consent or trial court approval. Trial Court Findings of Fact,

Conclusions of Law, and Order of Court, 9/6/22, at ¶13 (stating, Father

“relocated to New Kensington . . . despite not having approval from [the trial

____________________________________________

12 Additionally, pursuant to Section 5339, “a [trial] court may award
reasonable interim or final counsel fees, costs[,] and expenses to a party if
the [trial] court finds that the conduct of another party was obdurate,
vexatious, repetitive[,] or in bad faith.” 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5339.

13Although certainly an option, Mother did not pursue a motion for contempt
against Father in the case sub judice.

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court] to relocate), ¶18 (stating, the trial court “is troubled by the fact that

[Father] relocated before receiving permission to relocate”).

      Regarding the consequence to Father of relocating prior to the August

2022 expedited full hearing and before entry of the trial court’s order granting

him permission to relocate, Section 5337(l) provides that “[i]f a party

relocates with the child prior to [an expedited full] hearing, the [trial] court

shall not confer any presumption in favor of the relocation.”      23 Pa.C.S.A.

§ 5337(l). Contrary to Mother’s assertion that the trial court “gave a favorable

presumption to Father’s move,” we find no record support for this assertion.

When considering the Section 5337(h) factors, the trial court, in fact, viewed

Father’s relocation as having a negative effect on whether to grant relocation.

For example, in considering the impact the proposed relocation would have on

the Child’s physical, educational, and emotional development (Section

5337(h)(2)), the trial court weighed the relocation as having a negative

impact when it found that the Child would be a one-hour drive away from

Mother and his extended family and this distance would impact Mother’s and

the extended family’s ability to interact with the Child and attend the Child’s

activities, such as cross-country and track events. Trial Court Finding of Facts,

Conclusions of Law, and Order of Court, 9/6/22, at 3-4. As discussed infra,

the trial court adequately discussed the Section 5337(h) factors before

granting Father’s request to relocate and, as such, it is beyond the purview of

this Court to re-evaluate and re-weigh the factors in an attempt to reach a

different result. A.V. v. S.T., 87 A.3d 818, 820 (Pa. Super. 2014) (stating,

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“The parties cannot dictate the amount of weight the trial court places on

evidence. Rather, the paramount concern of the trial court is the best interest

of the child.      Appellate interference is unwarranted if the trial court's

consideration of the best interest of the child was careful and thorough, and

we are unable to find any abuse of discretion.”).

       Although Mother challenges the trial court order granting Father’s

relocation petition generally, Mother narrows her appeal to two specific

aspects of the ten Section 5337(h) factors. Specifically, Mother challenges

the trial court’s consideration of, and weight assigned to, the Child’s

preferences pursuant to Section 5337(h)(4), and the “other factors” affecting

the best interest of the Child pursuant to Section 5337(h)(10), namely that

neither parent now lives in the Shenango Area School District.

       Overall, the trial court, in granting Father’s relocation petition and

modifying physical custody to accommodate the relocation, adequately

weighed the Section 5337(h) factors related to relocation and the Section

5328(a) factors concerning modification of custody.14 Trial Court Findings of
____________________________________________

14 We note that in Paragraph 17 of its September 6, 2022 Findings of Fact,
Conclusions of Law, and Order of Court, the trial court set forth that it
considered the Section 5337(h)(6) factor – whether relocation would enhance
the general quality of life of the relocating parent. Trial Court Findings of Fact,
Conclusions of Law, and Order of Court, 9/6/22, at ¶17. A review of this
paragraph, however, demonstrates that the trial court’s analysis primarily
concerns consideration of the Section 5337(h)(7) factor – whether relocation
would enhance the general quality of life of the child. Id. (stating, “[a]s long
as [the Child] is attending in person school in the Kiski Area [School District
s]chools, the move does enhance the [C]hild’s life”).

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Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order of Court, 9/6/22, at 2-10. In considering

the Child’s preference, the trial court found that

____________________________________________

Regarding the Section 5337(h)(6) factor – enhancement of the relocating
parent’s life – the trial court found that prior to relocating, Father owned two
houses, one in Shenango Township and one in Allegheny Township (New
Kensington). Id. at ¶7. After selling his house in Shenango Township, Father
continued to rent that house until relocating, at which time Father, the Child,
and Father’s family (Father’s wife and three additional children) relocated to
their house in the New Kensington area. Id. This house was a one-hour drive
from Shenango Township. Father’s new job was also located in the New
Kensington area. Id. at 6. Thus, a reasonable inference, based upon the trial
court’s findings and considerations, is that Father’s life was enhanced
economically by owning only one house after relocating versus owning two
houses or owning one house and renting one house, and that Father benefited
from living closer to his current place of employment and by spending less
time driving.     See Meyer-Liedtke v. Liedtke, 762 A.2d 1111, 1114
(Pa. Super. 2000) (noting that, “[i]t is beyond belief [] that any parent would
petition to relocate their children if said relocation would not contribute to the
personal happiness and emotional well-being of the petitioning parent”). This
inference is supported by Father’s testimony at the August 2022 hearing
wherein Father stated,

       I had to leave the house [in Shenango Township] by [5:00 a.m.
       for work], so [I had to wake up] at 4:30 [a.m.] . . . With the
       hour drive, I wouldn’t be [home] in time to help [with the children]
       or attend [their] activities. I was always having to go to bed or a
       lot of times by the time I would get home . . . the kids would, you
       know, be in bed or [I would] miss dinner with the family. . . . I
       actually fell asleep one day on the way home and crashed [my
       vehicle because of] exhaustion, [being] tired. . . . [When I had
       to travel from Shenango Township to the New Kensington area for
       work,] I was spending about $90[.00] every third day [on gas].

N.T., 8/29/22, at 17. Therefore, we deem the trial court’s analysis of the
Section 5337(h)(6) factor adequate and supported by the record. Moreover,
Mother did not specifically challenge the trial court’s consideration of this
factor on appeal, as discussed supra.

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      Because neither parent lives in Shenango Township and neither
      parent has made arrangements to pay tuition to the Shenango
      Area School District, [the Child] can no longer attend Shenango
      Area School District schools. Neither the [C]hild, [Mother, nor
      Father] expressed any desire to have the [C]hild attend school in
      the New Castle Area School District. [The Child] expressed a
      strong desire to move to New Kensington and to attend the Kiski
      Area [School District s]chools. He is an A/B student, mature for
      his age, and firm in his desire. He explained that he has a close
      relationship with his three half siblings and that he has a
      [step-uncle] his age who already attends the Kiski Area schools.
      He also explained that he has been running with the Kiski Area
      cross[-]country team during his week on[,] week off time at his
      Father's home and has made friends with the members of the Kiski
      Area cross[-]country team.       The reasons for his expressed
      preference are reasonable and demonstrate that he [] considered
      the positives and the negatives involved in such a move.

Trial Court Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order of Court, 9/6/22,

at ¶15. In considering “other factors” that affected the best interest of the

Child pursuant to Section 5337(h)(10), the trial court found that,

      The overriding factor is that neither party now lives in the
      Shenango Area School District and the [C]hild cannot attend the
      Shenango Area [s]chools. The [trial c]ourt realizes that tuition
      could be paid that would allow the [C]hild to continue in the
      Shenango Area School District for the next three years, but,
      neither party has made arrangements to pay tuition and the
      [C]hild can now not attend [school in] the Shenango Area School[
      District]. The [C]hild [is eligible, based upon Mother’s residence
      or Father’s residence to] either attend the New Castle [Area]
      School District, which neither party wants him to do, or attend the
      Kiski Area School District, where the [C]hild is comfortable. In
      addition, the [C]hild is now fifteen years of age and a good student
      with sound reasoning for his desire to attend [school in] the Kiski
      Area School District.

Id. at ¶20.

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      In reviewing the record, we are ever-mindful that, “while a child's

preference is not controlling, the preference does constitute an important

factor that must be carefully considered in determining the child's best

interests.” E.C.S. v. M.C.S., 256 A.3d 449, 455 (Pa. Super. 2021) (original

quotation marks and citation omitted). As with all child-custody matters, the

objective of the trial court is to ascertain, and base its decision on, the best

interests of the child. Courts “must be mindful of the dynamism of the process

of growth and maturity of children, as well as the circumstances of their

parents' lives, where the only constant is change. These are factors which

may require continuing review of the best interest of the child, and demand a

degree of flexibility such as would allow the [trial] court the discretion to make

necessary changes when the best interest of the child require such.” Karis v.

Karis, 544 A.2d 1328, 1331-1332 (Pa. 1988).

      Here, the Child testified that he enjoyed the extra-curricular activities of

cross-country and track, and participated in cross-country training in the Kiski

Area School District over the summer. N.T., 8/29/22, at 64. The Child also

stated that he has friends in his Kiski Area School District school and in his

Father’s neighborhood, including his step-uncle who is the same age as the

Child and attends the same school. Id. The Child expressed a desire to attend

school in   the   Kiski Area School      District “because    [the   Kiski   Area]

cross[-]country and track program[s are] a lot better[.]” Id. at 65. The Child

further explained that, “I’ve already seen improvements in myself[ and] I’m

better at running and almost all of the friends I talk to now live in [the Kiski

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Area School District].” Id. The Child also stated that the Kiski Area School

District offered more academic classes than the Shenango Area School District

because it was a larger school system, and that the Child thought the Kiski

Area School District presented more opportunities for him, academically. Id.

The Child understood that if enrolled in the Kiski Area School District he would

need to reside with Father during the week and stated that he could maintain

his relationship with Mother by seeing her on the weekends, during free time,

and on holidays, as well as at sport events and by spending more time with

her in the summer. Id. at 65-67. We concur with the trial court, and the

record supports, that the Child’s preferences are to attend school in the Kiski

Area School District, and we discern no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s

assessment of the Child’s preference as being favorable to granting

relocation.15

       We further concur with the trial court, and the record supports, that the

other factor affecting the Child’s best interests is that, at the time of the

____________________________________________

15To the extent Mother asserts that the trial court erred in finding the Child’s
testimony to be credible and his rationale for wanting to attend school in the
Kiski Area School District to be reasonable and well-thought out, we find this
assertion unsupported by the record. We defer to the trial court’s credibility
assessment, and the trial court’s conclusion that the Child’s rationale is
reasonable and well-thought out is supported by the record wherein the Child
explained that the Kiski Area School District offered him additional academic
opportunities and the ability to improve in his performance in extra-curricular
activities while still maintaining a healthy relationship with Mother. See E.B.,
209 A.3d at 467 (stating that, an assessment of the best interest of the child
must be based upon the evidence and testimony offered at the present
hearing).

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August 2022 hearing, the Child’s options for attending school were to attend

school in either the New Castle Area School District or the Kiski Area School

District. Neither parent expressed a desire for the Child to attend school in

the New Castle Area School District, and the Child had no prior exposure to,

or participation in, the academic and sports programs in the New Castle Area

School District. The Child stated that the Kiski Area School District was larger

and presented additional academic opportunities for him, and the sports

programs in the Kiski Area School District allowed him to improve his athletic

performance. As of the August 2022 hearing, the Child’s attendance in the

Shenango Area School District was not an option because neither parent lived

in the school district and did not pay the tuition so the Child could attend the

Shenango Area School District.16

____________________________________________

16 Mother asserts that the trial court erred in failing to consider the additional
options of requiring Father to relocate back to Shenango Township or pay the
tuition for the Child to attend school in the Shenango Area School District.
Mother’s Brief at 16. The best interests of the Child, however, do not support
the Child’s enrollment in the Shenango Area School District. As discussed
supra, the Child prefers attending school in the Kiski Area School District, has
friends in that school district, and can excel academically, as well as in sports,
in the Kiski Area School District. We cannot “un-ring” Father’s relocation nor
can the Child’s life wait while Mother continues to search for a residence in the
Shenango Area School District. See Karis, 544 A.2d at 1332 (stating,
“[b]ecause we cannot undo the past we must be more careful of the present,
all to soon in the life of a child, to be the past”). Moreover, while Mother
asserts that Father should have been ordered to pay tuition in the Shenango
Area School District, we find this request to be outside the purview of a
relocation and modification of custody action.

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      In sum, we reiterate that we do not condone Father’s contemptuous

actions of failing to provide Mother requisite notice of the proposed relocation

and for relocating prior the expedited full hearing on the matter. Nonetheless,

the trial court considered the ten factors of Section 5337(h) in granting the

Father’s relocation petition and considered the sixteen factors of Section

5328(a) in modifying custody. Based upon the record before us, we do not

discern an abuse of discretion or error of law in the trial court’s decisions.

Consequently, we affirm the trial court order granting relocation and modifying

custody.

      Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 4/12/2023

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