Court Opinion

ID: 3153458
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-11-10 16:03:52.545924+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:57:39.877892
License: Public Domain

Nov 10 2015, 10:17 am

      ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                    ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
      R. Patrick Magrath                                        Andrea L. Ciobanu
      Alcorn Sage Schwartz & Magrath, LLP                       Alex Beeman
      Madison, Indiana                                          Ciobanu Law, P.C.
                                                                Indianapolis, Indiana

                                                 IN THE
          COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

      In the Matter of the                                      November 10, 2015
      Guardianship of B.W.;                                     Court of Appeals Case No.
                                                                40A01-1501-GU-27
      E.W.,
                                                                Appeal from the Jennings Circuit
      Appellant-Respondent,                                     Court
              v.                                                The Honorable Jon W. Webster,
                                                                Judge
      L.G.,                                                     Trial Court Cause No.
                                                                40C01-0910-GU-45
      Appellee-Petitioner

      Robb, Judge.

                                Case Summary and Issue
[1]   C.F. (“Grandmother”) filed a petition for guardianship over B.W., which the

      trial court granted. E.W. (“Mother”) consented to the guardianship. Four-and-

      a-half years later, L.G. (“Great Aunt”) filed a petition requesting she be

      appointed guardian over B.W. Soon after, Grandmother filed a petition to

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 40A01-1501-GU-27 | November 10, 2015            Page 1 of 15
      terminate her guardianship over B.W. Grandmother’s petition stated the

      guardianship was no longer necessary because Mother was now “capable of

      and is caring for the minor child.” Appellant’s Appendix at 16. The trial court

      scheduled a hearing for both petitions on December 4, 2014.

[2]   During the hearing on December 4, 2014, the trial court granted Grandmother’s

      petition to terminate guardianship but took Great Aunt’s petition under

      advisement. The trial court subsequently awarded Great Aunt custody of B.W.

      Mother appeals the trial court’s order, raising two issues for our review, one of

      which we find dispositive: whether the trial court’s findings establish Great

      Aunt has rebutted the presumption that B.W.’s interests would be best served

      by placement with her natural parent. Concluding the findings fail to support

      the trial court’s judgment that Great Aunt has overcome the presumption in

      favor of Mother by clear and convincing evidence, we reverse and remand with

      instructions.

                            Facts and Procedural History
[3]   Mother gave birth to B.W. on September 19, 2009. B.W. tested positive for

      methadone at birth. As a result, the Indiana Department of Child Services

      (“DCS”) placed B.W. with Grandmother and initiated Child in Need of

      Services (“CHINS”) proceedings. Thereafter, at the suggestion of DCS,

      Grandmother filed a petition for guardianship over B.W. Mother consented to

      the guardianship; due to her substance abuse, Mother was unable to care for

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      B.W. at that time. DCS dismissed the CHINS petition after the trial court

      appointed Grandmother guardian over B.W on January 19, 2010.

[4]   From approximately September 2009 to May 2010, B.W. lived with

      Grandmother. Great Aunt and Great Aunt’s mother (“Great Grandmother”)1

      also lived with Grandmother during this time. Great Aunt cared for both Great

      Grandmother and B.W. while Grandmother was at work.

[5]   In May 2010, B.W., Great Aunt, and Great Grandmother moved out of

      Grandmother’s house and into Great Grandmother’s newly constructed house.

      Grandmother agreed B.W. should live with Great Aunt. Unlike Great Aunt,

      Grandmother worked during the day, and Grandmother did not want to place

      B.W. in daycare at such a young age. In addition, Grandmother was then

      going through a divorce and believed Great Aunt’s house would be “the best

      stable place for [B.W.].” Transcript at 93.

[6]   From May 2010 to May 2014, B.W. lived primarily with Great Aunt, and

      Mother visited B.W. only ten to fifteen times. Mother continued to struggle

      with substance abuse. In 2012, Mother was convicted of operating a vehicle

      while intoxicated, and Mother admits she used hydrocodone and

      methamphetamine from 2012 to 2013. Mother agrees Great Aunt “took good

      1
          Great Grandmother is also Grandmother’s mother.

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      care of B.W., loved B.W. very much[,] and formed a bond with B.W.” during

      this period. Appellant’s Brief at 9.

[7]   In mid-2013, Mother stopped using drugs when she became pregnant with her

      second child, K.W. Mother moved in with Grandmother, and the child was

      born in April 2014 without drugs in her system. Around this time, Mother

      attempted to have more contact with B.W., but Great Aunt would not allow

      Mother to see B.W. According to Grandmother, “[Great Aunt] was trying to

      . . . keep [Mother] and [B.W.] apart. She wasn’t allowing [Mother] to be

      around [B.W.],” even after Mother had been “clean for a number of months.”

      Tr. at 95-96. Great Aunt told Grandmother, “I’m [B.W.]’s mother. I’m not

      going to allow anybody else to raise her.” Id. at 97.

[8]   In May 2014, following a visit with Great Grandmother in the hospital,

      Grandmother suggested she take B.W. for the night. Great Aunt said, “Okay,

      bring her back tomorrow,” but Grandmother stated she would not be bringing

      B.W. back. Id. at 23-24. From May 2014 to September 2014, Mother, B.W.,

      and K.W. lived with Grandmother, and Grandmother observed Mother caring

      for B.W. and K.W. In addition, Mother completed certified nurse aide

      (“CNA”) training and began working as a CNA, a job that requires Mother to

      submit to random drug screening.

[9]   Nevertheless, Great Aunt filed a petition in June 2014 requesting she be

      appointed guardian over B.W. In July 2014, Grandmother filed a petition to

      terminate her guardianship over B.W. Grandmother’s petition stated the

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 40A01-1501-GU-27 | November 10, 2015   Page 4 of 15
       guardianship was no longer necessary because Mother was now “capable of

       and is caring for the minor child.” Appellant’s App. at 16. The trial court

       scheduled a hearing for both petitions on December 4, 2014.

[10]   In the months leading up to the hearing, Mother moved in with her boyfriend.

       Mother took B.W. and K.W. with her, but maintained contact between B.W.

       and Great Aunt. During the hearing on December 4, 2014, the trial court

       granted Grandmother’s petition to terminate guardianship but took Great

       Aunt’s petition under advisement after hearing testimony from six witnesses,

       including Mother, Grandmother, and Great Aunt. Mother acknowledged the

       bond between Great Aunt and B.W. and stated she wants Great Aunt to

       continue to have a relationship with B.W. But Mother also stated she believes

       Great Aunt’s role “should be as a great aunt.” Tr. at 65. Mother testified she

       wants to have a mother-daughter relationship with B.W. Id. at 54 (“My intent

       is to have the relationship that I’m supposed to have with my daughter . . . .”).

[11]   At the time of the hearing, Mother had been working as a CNA for five

       months, had a place to live, had no criminal charges pending, and had passed

       the last random drug screen administered by her employer in September 2014.

       Great Aunt admitted she had little to no firsthand knowledge of what was

       “going on” in Mother’s life. Id. at 44. Grandmother testified to Mother’s

       sobriety and the other lifestyle changes Mother had made since becoming

       pregnant with K.W.:

               Q        Okay in the state that [Mother] was in at certain times
                        because of her drug addiction, were there times that you

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 40A01-1501-GU-27 | November 10, 2015   Page 5 of 15
                 would not have allowed her around your granddaughter?

        A        Yes there were times that I would not have allowed it.

        Q        Let me ask you this. If [Mother] was using drugs and on
                 drugs, would you let [B.W.] be around her?

        A        No.

        Q        Now, I want to move forward. [Mother] testified that she
                 has been clean for a year. Based upon your observations,
                 do you believe that to be true?

        A        I do.

        Q        Have you seen your daughter over the years when she was
                 using drugs?

        A        Yes I have.

        Q        And over the past 12 months, does she appear to be sober
                 to you?

        A        Yes she does.

        Q        What kind of changes have you seen since, say, two years
                 ago to now in your daughter?

        A        Complete. She doesn’t do drugs. She works. She studies,
                 you know, for her CNA. She takes care of [K.W.] and
                 [B.W.]. She’s their mom. . . . I would have never allowed
                 that before.

        Q        Okay if you thought [B.W.] was in any danger of being in
                 [Mother]’s care, would you have allowed that to happen?

        A        No.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 40A01-1501-GU-27 | November 10, 2015   Page 6 of 15
                  Q        Would you have maintained your guardianship?

                  A        Yes I would.

       Id. at 94-95.

[12]   In an order dated December 29, 2014, the trial court awarded Great Aunt

       custody of B.W. The order included the following findings of fact:

                  2. [B.W.] was born September 19, 2009. She is five (5), now
                  living with [Mother] and her boyfriend in Seymour, Indiana.

                  3. While this case arises in the context of guardianship, it is, in
                  reality, a third party custody dispute with the heightened burden
                  of proof on [Great Aunt]. The higher courts of this state
                  recognize this situation as well.[2]

       2
           Indiana Code section 29-3-5-3(a) provides the standard for appointment of a guardian:

                [I]f it is alleged and the court finds that:
                    (1) the individual for whom the guardian is sought is an incapacitated person or a minor; and
                    (2) the appointment of a guardian is necessary as a means of providing care and supervision
                        of the physical person or property of the incapacitated person or minor;
                the court shall appoint a guardian under this chapter.
       By contrast, the trial court determines custody “in accordance with the best interests of the child.” Ind.
       Code § 31-17-2-8. In determining the child’s best interests, the trial court considers “all relevant
       factors,” including the following:
                (1) The age and sex of the child.
                (2) The wishes of the child’s parent or parents.
                (3) The wishes of the child, with more consideration given to the child’s wishes if the child is at
                    least fourteen (14) years of age.
                (4) The interaction and interrelationship of the child with:
                  (A) the child’s parent or parents;
                  (B) the child’s siblings; and
                  (C) any other person who may significantly affect the child’s best interests.
                (5) The child’s adjustment to the child’s:
                  (A) home;
                  (B) school; and
                  (C) community.
                (6) The mental and physical health of all individuals involved.
                (7) Evidence of a pattern of domestic or family violence by either parent.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 40A01-1501-GU-27 | November 10, 2015                             Page 7 of 15
         4. . . . [Great Aunt] is a devout Catholic, who had [B.W.]
         baptized Catholic with [Mother]’s and [Grandmother]’s consent.
         While [Mother] has no problem with [B.W.] being Catholic,
         [Mother] is not actively involved in any religious faith.

         5. When [B.W.] was born, in 2009, she, [Great Aunt], . . . and
         [Great Grandmother] were living with [Grandmother] in
         [Grandmother]’s home, until [Great Grandmother] got her new
         home completed. Around May, 2010, [Great Aunt], [B.W.], and
         [Great Grandmother] all moved out of [Grandmother]’s home
         and into [Great Grandmother]’s new home.

         6. From this point, [B.W.] lived with [Great Aunt] exclusively
         until May, 2014, when [Grandmother] took her and refused to
         return her for reasons still unclear to [Great Aunt]. In other
         words, from birth until May, 2014, [Great Aunt] and [B.W.]
         lived together and [Great Aunt] was her maternal figure. [Great
         Aunt] was her de facto custodian.

         7. [Great Aunt] has not had gainful employment outside the
         home since 2009. She cared for [Great Grandmother] and [Great
         Grandmother] supported [Great Aunt] financially. [Great Aunt’s
         husband] is now the bread winner in the family.

         8. [Mother] is now twenty-six (26) years of age, employed as a
         C.N.A. at The Waters of Scottsburg nursing home. She has held
         that position since July, 2014. She had last worked in 2010.
         [Mother] has a young female child, [K.W.], who is six (6)
         months of age. [K.W.] lives with [Mother]. [Great Aunt] and

      (8) Evidence that the child has been cared for by a de facto custodian . . . .

Id. In In re Guardianship of L.L., 745 N.E.2d 222, 227 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001), trans. denied, we recognized
that when “a guardianship proceeding . . . is, in essence, a child custody proceeding that raises
important concerns about parental rights and the ‘best interests’ of children,” we generally apply “a
more detailed test than might arguably be required by the plain language of the [guardianship] statute.”

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 40A01-1501-GU-27 | November 10, 2015                         Page 8 of 15
           [K.W.] have had contact. [Mother] does not know who [K.W.]’s
           father is claiming she was conceived while she was high.

           9. [Mother] and [Great Aunt] have had little contact with one
           another in 2014.

           10. From May, 2010, until May, 2014, [Mother] saw [B.W.] “10
           to 15” times, but never overnight.

           11. The original guardianship was the end result of a C.H.I.N.S.
           proceeding . . . after [B.W.] was born with methamphetamine in
           her system that resulted in health issues from the start.[3]
           [Mother] continued to struggle with drugs even after [B.W.]’s
           birth. [Mother] says she has been clean for about one (1) year.
           [B.W.] was placed with [Great Aunt] by [Grandmother] shortly
           after the guardianship was opened on January 19, 2010.

           12. [Mother] admits there is a close bond between [B.W.] and
           [Great Aunt], but that severing that relationship will not harm
           [B.W.].[4] During the time [B.W.] was with [Great Aunt],
           [Mother] provided no financial support nor did she provide for
           any of [B.W.]’s medical or dental needs.

           13. [Mother] admits methamphetamine use from 2012 to 2013.

           14. In 2012, [Mother] was convicted of Driving Under the
           Influence. [Mother] indicated the birth of [K.W.] was
           motivation enough to come clean and end her polysubstance
           abuse.

           15. [Mother] is working day shift earning Eleven and no/100

3
    B.W. tested positive for methadone at birth, not methamphetamine. Tr. at 53.
4
 Mother testified she did not believe the change in custody would be harmful to B.W. because, “[B.W.]
knows that [Great Aunt] still loves her and [Great Aunt] cares tremendously for her.” Tr. at 55.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 40A01-1501-GU-27 | November 10, 2015                    Page 9 of 15
               Dollars ($11.00) per hour. She has no valid driver’s license. She
               is a high school graduate.

               16. [B.W.] ended up with [Great Aunt] in the first place around
               May, 2010, because [Grandmother] was working days and going
               through a divorce. [Grandmother] and [Great Aunt] agreed
               [B.W.] would live with [Great Aunt]. Apparently, all of this
               done with [Mother]’s knowledge and tacit approval and
               acquiescence.

       Appellant’s App. at 19-21.

[13]   Based on these findings of fact, the trial court concluded, “[B.W.] has formed a

       strong emotional bond with [Great Aunt] and to sever that bond after four and

       one-half (4 ½) years of allowing it to form is not in [B.W.]’s best interest.” Id. at

       23. Mother now appeals the trial court’s order awarding Great Aunt custody of

       B.W.

                                  Discussion and Decision
                                       I. Standard of Review
[14]   “We review custody modifications for abuse of discretion with a preference for

       granting latitude and deference to our trial judges in family law matters.” K.I.

       ex rel. J.I. v. J.H., 903 N.E.2d 453, 457 (Ind. 2009) (citation and internal

       quotation marks omitted). “But to the extent a ruling is based on an error of

       law or is not supported by the evidence, it is reversible, and the trial court has

       no discretion to reach the wrong result.” MacLafferty v. MacLafferty, 829 N.E.2d

       938, 941 (Ind. 2005).

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 40A01-1501-GU-27 | November 10, 2015   Page 10 of 15
[15]   In addition, the trial judge in this case entered findings of fact and conclusions

       thereon pursuant to Indiana Trial Rule 52(A). In reviewing findings and

       conclusions made pursuant to Rule 52, we first determine whether the evidence

       supports the findings and then whether findings support the judgment. K.I., 903

       N.E.2d at 457.

               In deference to the trial court’s proximity to the issues, we disturb
               the judgment only where there is no evidence supporting the
               findings or the findings fail to support the judgment. We do not
               reweigh the evidence, but consider only the evidence favorable to
               the trial court’s judgment. Those appealing the trial court’s
               judgment must establish that the findings are clearly erroneous.
               Findings are clearly erroneous when a review of the record leaves
               us firmly convinced that a mistake has been made. We do not
               defer to conclusions of law, however, and evaluate them de novo.

       Smith v. Smith, 938 N.E.2d 857, 860 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010) (citations omitted).

                              II. Natural Parent Presumption
[16]   In a custody dispute between a natural parent and a third party, there is a strong

       presumption in all cases that the natural parent should have custody of his or

       her child. In re L.L., 745 N.E.2d at 230 (holding “de facto custodian” status

       does not remove the presumption in favor of natural parents obtaining or

       retaining custody of their children). “[B]efore placing a child in the custody of a

       person other than the natural parent, a trial court must be satisfied by clear and

       convincing evidence that the best interests of the child require such a

       placement.” In re Guardianship of B.H., 770 N.E.2d 283, 287 (Ind. 2002). The

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 40A01-1501-GU-27 | November 10, 2015   Page 11 of 15
       trial court must be convinced that placement with a third party “represents a

       substantial and significant advantage to the child.” Id.

[17]   The issue is not merely the “fault” of a natural parent; “[r]ather, it is whether

       the important and strong presumption that a child’s interests are best served by

       placement with the natural parent is clearly and convincingly overcome by

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

       served by placement with another person.” Id. Evidence sufficient to rebut the

       presumption may, but need not necessarily, include the parent’s present

       unfitness, long acquiescence, or past abandonment of the child “such that the

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

       them would seriously mar and endanger the future happiness of the child.” In

       re L.L., 745 N.E.2d at 227, 230-31.

[18]   Moreover, “detailed and specific findings are required.” In re B.H., 770 N.E.2d

       at 287. A generalized finding that placement with a third party is in the child’s

       best interests is insufficient to overcome the presumption in favor of the natural

       parent. Id. And if a decision to place custody of a child in a third party, rather

       than a parent, is based solely upon the child’s “best interests,” as opposed to a

       finding of parental unfitness, abandonment, or other wrongdoing, “such

       interests should be specifically delineated, as well as be compelling and in the

       real and permanent interests of the child.” In re L.L., 745 N.E.2d at 231

       (citation, emphasis, and internal quotation marks omitted).

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 40A01-1501-GU-27 | November 10, 2015   Page 12 of 15
[19]   Applying this standard to the present case, we cannot conclude the trial court’s

       findings support the judgment awarding Great Aunt custody of B.W. The

       findings are simply inadequate to rebut the presumption in favor of B.W.’s

       natural parent. First, the findings do not specifically state why placement with

       Great Aunt is necessary or how B.W.’s best interests will be “substantially and

       significantly” served by placement with Great Aunt. In re B.H., 770 N.E.2d at

       287.

[20]   Second, none of the trial court’s findings suggest Mother is presently unfit.5

       Although Mother has had difficulties with substance abuse in the past, the trial

       court found, “Mother says she has been clean for about one (1) year,” and

       nothing in the findings contradict this statement. Appellant’s App. at 21. The

       trial court also found Mother has a place to live, is employed as a CNA, and

       has been caring for K.W. without intervention by family members or the DCS.

       It was Great Aunt’s burden to prove Mother’s unfitness at the time of the

       hearing, not at some time in the past.

[21]   Finally, while it is undisputed “[B.W.] has formed a strong emotional bond

       with [Great Aunt],” id. at 23, this generalized finding is insufficient to overcome

       the presumption in favor of Mother. Furthermore, the evidence simply does

       5
         The relevance of several of the trial court’s findings is not entirely clear. For instance, the fact that
       “[Mother] and [Great Aunt] have had little contact with one another in 2014,” seems, at best, only minimally
       relevant to the best interests of B.W. Appellant’s App at 21. Likewise, that “[Great Aunt] is a devout
       Catholic,” while “[M]other is not actively involved in any religious faith,” does not speak to Mother’s
       parental fitness. Id. at 20. And finally, the fact that “[Mother] does not know who [K.W.]’s father is,” is not,
       in any proper sense, probative of Mother’s fitness with regard to B.W. Id.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 40A01-1501-GU-27 | November 10, 2015                        Page 13 of 15
       not support the trial court’s finding that this “strong emotional bond” will be

       “severed” by allowing Mother to retain custody. Id. Mother wants Great Aunt

       to continue to have a relationship with B.W. Although the character of Great

       Aunt’s relationship with B.W. will undoubtedly change, this fact alone does not

       mean their bond will be severed. To sever means “to end (a relationship,

       connection, etc.) completely.” Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary,

       http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sever (last visited Oct. 28,

       2015). But even if the bond would be severed, the trial court’s finding that

       Great Aunt has been a “maternal figure,” Appellant’s App. at 20, does not

       specifically demonstrate that severing the bond between Great Aunt and B.W.

       would “seriously mar and endanger the future happiness of [B.W.]” In re L.L.,

       745 N.E.2d at 230-31.

[22]   We do not wish to minimize Great Aunt’s relationship with B.W., but we

       cannot conclude Great Aunt has rebutted the presumption in favor of Mother.

       Mother consented to guardianship by Grandmother in 2009 because Mother

       recognized she was then unable to care for B.W. In the past year, however,

       Mother has taken steps to better herself and create a stable environment for her

       children, and Grandmother agrees Mother is ready to take responsibility for

       B.W. As we stated in In re Guardianship of L.L.,

               For the sake of children, society should encourage parents who
               are experiencing difficulties raising them to take advantage of an
               available “safety net,” such as a grandparent who is willing to
               accept temporary custody of a child. It would discourage such
               action by parents in difficult straits and discourage efforts to

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 40A01-1501-GU-27 | November 10, 2015   Page 14 of 15
               “reform” or better their life situation if their chances of later
               reuniting with their children were reduced.

       Id.

                                               Conclusion
[23]   In a custody dispute between a natural parent and a third party, we recognize a

       strong presumption that a child’s best interests will be served by placement with

       his or her natural parent. In the present case, the trial court’s findings fail to

       support the judgment that Great Aunt has clearly and convincingly overcome

       the presumption in favor of Mother. We therefore reverse and remand, with

       instructions to vacate the order awarding Great Aunt custody of B.W.

[24]   Reversed and remanded.

       Vaidik, C.J., and Pyle, J., concur.

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