Court Opinion

ID: 9568375
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:03:00.034166+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:24:41.764407
License: Public Domain

Clark, Judge,
dissenting.
1. We have here a situation where counsel recognized their appeal did not require a transcript of evidence because it involved only a single legal question *395not previously passed on by our appellate courts. The sole problem presented for decision is succinctly stated in appellant’s brief in these words: "While other objections were made to the petition at the trial court level, the single question presented on this appeal is whether or not the judge had the authority to grant the required name change requested by the two children when their mother was completely barred from bringing such a petition by virtue of the divorce settlement agreement.” (Appellant’s brief, p. 9). In order to obtain a definitive decision limited to this legal point the attorneys made a joint stipulation of fact which they stated was "for the purposes of appeal and in conformity with Code § 6-805 (i).” That section permits this to be done "In lieu of sending up a transcript of record.” It is a practice which should be encouraged. This agreement satisfied the codal requirements that it show "how the questions arose and were decided in the trial court, together with a sufficient statement of facts to enable the appellate court to pass upon the questions presented therein.”
As pointed out by my brother, Judge Evans, the stipulation does not detail the evidence presented below and therefore does not contain a showing of facts that the name change would be for the best interest and welfare of the children. Nevertheless, the order in each case contains a recital that it was entered" . . . after having heard evidence from all interested parties” and contains a specific finding of fact reciting evidentiary details. The order in each instance concludes that "It will be to the best interest and welfare of the petitioner. ” The objection filed by the father presented this question of welfare of his children along with his contention that such proposed name change was in violation of the divorce decree. It is clearly evident from the record as well as the order that the court based its ruling upon the evidence presented concerning the children’s best interest.
2. There are other reasons which make it incumbent upon this court to decide the legal question. The General Assembly directed that the Appellate Practice Act "shall be liberally construed so as to bring about a decision on the merits of every case appealed, and to avoid dismissal of any case or refusal to consider any *396points raised therein...” Code Ann. § 6-905 (Ga. L. 1965, pp. 18,40). (Emphasis supplied.) This legislative directive was recognized by our court in Continental Cas. Co. v. Stephenson, 114 Ga. App. 555, 556 (152 SE2d 5). Furthermore, we said in Gleaton Appliance Co. v. Brown-Wright Hotel Supply Corp., 117 Ga. App. 57 (2) (159 SE2d 500) that in the absence of a transcript of evidence and when none is to be filed, "this court will presume there was sufficient evidence before the trial judge to authorize his findings.” Finally, it is the policy of this court of appeals to pass upon all questions of law that are properly raised which do not require consideration of evidence. Hill v. General Rediscount Corp., 116 Ga. App. 459, 464 (157 SE2d 888); Cline v. Lever Bros. Co., 124 Ga. App. 22 (1) (183 SE2d 63). This conforms to the policy of our Supreme Court as stated in Hiscock v. Hiscock, 227 Ga. 329 (1a) (180 SE2d 730).
3. Is a minor child barred from petitioning for a change in name by virtue of a separation settlement agreement between the parents which was incorporated into the divorce decree?
It is a well-established principle that a mother and father may enter into a valid and enforceable contract settling as between themselves all issues involved in a divorce proceeding. The extent to which such an agreement is enforceable is illustrated by Steffner v. Steffner, 228 Ga. 189 (184 SE2d 575) where it was ruled that a waiver by the parties of their right to modification or change of a permanent alimony judgment prevented a husband from seeking a reduction.
We also recognize as urged by appellant that even after such settlement agreement is incorporated into a final decree that its meaning and effect is to be determined according to the usual rules for construction of a contract including the cardinal rule of ascertaining the intent of the parties. Brown v. Farkas, 195 Ga. 653 (2) (25 SE2d 411); Holland v. Holland, 221 Ga. 418 (144 SE2d 753). These decisions make it clear that the mother here could not have sought such change of name because she had by her agreement foreclosed any right to do so.
But the parties by their agreement, even by incorporation thereof into a decree, cannot bar the rights *397of their children where their welfare is concerned. Thus in Barbee v. Barbee, 201 Ga. 763, 769 (41 SE2d 126) our Supreme Court said that "Parties, in contemplation of a divorce, may enter into a valid separation agreement, which would be binding as between them, and would regulate their rights and obligations inter sese; but when the welfare of children is concerned, the parents can not by contract so bind themselves as to foreclose the court from an inquiry as to what that welfare requires.” (Emphasis supplied.)
The fact that a change of name necessitates consideration of welfare aspects is stated in Johnson v. Coggins, 124 Ga. App. 603 (184 SE2d 696). That case points out that even though there are no statutory standards for guidance of the trial judge handling a petition for change of name that the court should act "in accord with the established standards for determining custody of minor children.” There, of course, paramount consideration is given to the best interest, welfare and happiness of the children.
4. In their brief appellant’s able attorneys have eloquently argued in behalf of the father that "pride in one’s name and desire to perpetuate it through succeeding generations is certainly not an unusual — indeed, a common aspiration.” In Fulghum v. Paul, 229 Ga. 463 (192 SE2d 376) the Supreme Court concluded that "[N]o one has a property right in another’s name including the parent of a minor child.” The court also pointed out that the trial court necessarily takes into consideration the interest which a parent has in continuance of the parental surname when "acting upon the proposed name change and in carrying out its duty of acting in the best interests of the child as parens patriae.” We are satisfied the trial judge here gave full consideration to this emotional item of proper paternal patronymic pride.
5. Appellants also point out that if the mother dies the prima facie right of custody would automatically inure to the father. Rawdin v. Conner, 210 Ga. 508, 509 (81 SE2d 461) and citations therein. Such future possibility does not warrant the trial judge to depart from primary concern as to the welfare of the children as they *398presently exist. This is particularly true because the rights of a surviving parent are subject to the discretionary power of habeas corpus courts under Code §§ 50-121 and 74-106 looking to the child’s interest and welfare. Perkins v. Courson, 219 Ga. 611 (135 SE2d 388).
6. The petitions here were originally filed by the minors in their own names. Subsequently, each petition was amended to proceed through a next friend (not their mother). This was proper procedure as ruled in Cook v. English, 85 Ga. App. 739 (70 SE2d 86).
7. Since one of the petitioners is fifteen years of age, it is of interest to note that Georgia has by statute given minors certain rights upon reaching the age of fourteen years. Among these are selection of guardian (Code § 49-105), the right to make a will (Code § 113-203), in adoption cases for such minor’s consent to be a requisite (Code Ann. § 74-403), and minor parents to be permitted to consent to adoption of their child (Code Ann. § 74-408).1
Further illustration of our public policy is in their right to select the parent with whom such child desires to live unless the parent so selected is determined not to be a fit and proper person (Code Ann. § 74-107). When passing upon this provision contained in the Act of 1962 (Ga. L. 1962, pp. 713,715) now codified as a part of section 74-107, the Supreme Court in Adams v. Adams, 219 Ga. 633, 634 (135 SE2d 428) commented that "It is not a new or novel concept that a minor child fourteen years of age may well be capable of making a wise selection.” With such legislative declaration of rights in these important areas, it is appropriate to hold that minors possess the right to apply for a change of name, subject, however, to the determination by the courts representing the state as parens patriae to make the determination dependent upon the child’s best interest, welfare, and happiness.
8. The judgments in both appeals should be affirmed.
*399I am authorized to state that Chief Judge Bell concurs in this dissent.

 In Ehrhart v. Brooks, 231 Ga. 272 (201 SE2d 464) the Supreme Court ruled that §§ 74-403 and 74-408 were binding upon minor parents and not unconstitutional as violative of due process of the rights of such minors.