Court Opinion

ID: 9759125
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 00:06:28.294508+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:59.585691
License: Public Domain

HESTER, Judge,
concurring:
I concur in the result reached by the majority wherein custody of Tina McAnallen has been awarded to the appellant, her mother. The record indicates that disposition will best serve the interests of the child.
However, I do not agree with the reasoning of this Court as set forth in G. J. F. v. K. B. F., 284 Pa.Super. 139, 425 A.2d 459 (1981), and in Robert H. H. v. May L. H., 293 Pa.Super. 431, 439 A.2d 187 (1981), wherein it is pronounced that it is the effect of the nonmarital relationships of the mother upon the child and not the fact of the relationship itself which is crucial to a custody decision. The fallacy of that position is that the harmful effects upon young, female children, of their mother’s open, notorious, and numerous nonmarital relationships cannot possibly be evaluated until the child is in a position to emulate the conduct of her mother, normally in puberty, long after custody has been determined. The lower court judge, in the within appeal, was accurate in his observation that, “Like mother-like daughter.”
In addition, I would add to the remand the obligation of determining the amount of support to be paid by appellee to appellant for the support of Tina, plus the amount to be paid by appellee towards the arrearages.