WPCk% 7oϓe32Kð}K÷ȬlhP2 sv9=:ס2w. ^?R?d\fHT"^QRe/1I5f'qKAWZ j#b\4 1Tҿp(>HBlbu !C0HsOD ^,9p')2D X/%:w-6t`XDڐqI%B9"֐uVIP`pjfRlUwG߁:ȋHN?\,83պG< kc'P;P-w1'YW)x6E?ӧ-&g*yP Ftv(jE `ܻ~R~OUï*ev[BCmzӍo$kMDoU,YfA(JOצK gG(qz*<=bt)\1:ۖ mA4K1R -刃x Xb %\^ b 0nU)NwD4H\ zk m # U N   k 1U>N5>7uE 0D\UNqb` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` 0h h h h BS!S! 0p! D3" D-G" 0Kt"t" AS"# 0# 0D|$ A$yo1-s (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regular,-a3|x C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptUHP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 6,,,,0(hH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5\  `&Times New Roman Adelspergerpretermits  RVv$      4  M  _Motheralsoarguesthatthetrialcourtabuseditsdiscretioninfailingtograntatimelyhearingonthetemporary  restrainingorder.TherestrainingorderwasissuedinFebruary2001,andthehearingontheproprietyofthatorderdid t nottakeplaceuntilsevenmonthslateratthehearingontheunderlyingmeritsofthecase.Becausetheoutcomeofthe 8 underlyingcasewasresolvedinfavorofFather,thefailuretograntanearlierhearingontheproprietyoftherestraining L orderwasharmless.Atrialcourt,however,shouldtakecarenottodelayaparentschallengetoatemporaryrestraining  order,particularlywhentheorderbreaksthecontinuityofachildsplacement.(#$  0    RVv$      1  M  _TherecordisunclearastothecircumstancessurroundingMothersrequestforFathertogoretrieveAustin  and_Ashleigh_ԀfromLouisiana.Mothersappellatebrief,however,statesthatsheandherownadoptivemother were t embroiledinapersonalconflictthatneitherthoughtthechildrenshouldbeexposedto.(9 Z6Times New Roman Regular  RVv$      2  M  _MotherdoesnotallegethatthefactorsreliedonbyFatherwerethosethatcouldhavebeenanticipatedatthe  timeoftheoriginalcustodyaward. SeeHoalcraft ,19S.W.3dat828(findingthatamaterialchangeincircumstances t includesconditionsthatcouldnotbeanticipatedatthetimeoftheoriginalorder).  RVv$      3  M  _Thatstatuteprovidesthatcustodydeterminationsmustbebasedonthebestinterestofthechildandshould  takeintoaccountthefollowingfactors: t 8  (1)Thelove,affectionandemotionaltiesexistingbetweentheparentsandthechild;L   8  (2)Thedispositionoftheparentstoprovidethechildwithfood,clothing,medicalcare,educationand  othernecessarycareandthedegreetowhichaparenthasbeentheprimarycaregiver;H      \  8  (3)Theimportanceofcontinuityinthechildslifeandthelengthoftimethechildhaslivedinastable,  satisfactoryenvironment...;t   8  (4)Thestabilityofthefamilyunitoftheparents;L   8  (5)Thementalandphysicalhealthoftheparents;   8  (6)Thehome,schoolandcommunityrecordofthechild; \   8  (7)Thereasonablepreferenceofthechildiftwelve(12)yearsofageorolder....;     8  (8)Evidenceofphysicaloremotionalabusetothechild,totheparentortoanyotherperson...; l    8  (9)Thecharacterandbehaviorofanyotherpersonwhoresidesinorfrequentsthehomeofaparent   andsuchpersonsinteractionswiththechild;andh    8  (10)Eachparentspastandpotentialforfutureperformanceofparentingresponsibilities,including @  thewillingnessandabilityofeachoftheparentstofacilitateandencourageacloseandcontinuing   parentchildrelationshipbetweenthechildandtheotherparent,consistentwiththebestinterestofthe x  child.<   Tenn.CodeAnn.366106(a)(1)(a)(10).  - -(|G2Vv$ !.8UdXXd8         0  M d(|3A$ !.8UdXXd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3A$ !.8UdXXd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8Udd8     _  U8JXXdd8  @ UINTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @kk$ATNASHVILLE#U #Ԉ &   July10,2002Session L XJXU #UXXJ#TRACYRENEEMORRISv.ROBERTANDREWMORRISXJXU  J @@ AnAppealfromtheCircuitCourtforDavidsonCounty  J @@No.97D3134MurielRobinson,Judge  6 @@*AV) ` dE<` A   @@TTNo.M200102275_COA_ԄR3CVFiledSeptember17,_2002_   AV) ` dE<|` A }     Thiscaseinvolvesapetitiontochangecustody.TheparentsweredivorcedinJuly1998.By x  agreement,custodyofthepartiestwominorchildrenwasawardedtothemother.InFebruary2001, d whilethechildrenwerestayingwiththefatheratthemothersrequest,hefiledapetitiontomodify P custodytomakehimthepermanentcustodialparent.Inhispetition,thefatherallegedamaterial < changeincircumstances,inthatthemotherhaddifficultykeepingajob,maintainingahome,and (x takingcareofthechildren.Thetrialcourtgrantedthefatherspetition.Themothernowappeals. d Weaffirm,findingthatthetrialcourtdidnoterrinfindingamaterialchangeincircumstancesand P didnotabuseitsdiscretioninchangingcustodytothefather.#UXXJn#XJXU <  Tenn.R.App.P.3;JudgmentoftheCircuitCourtisAffirmed     #UXJu#XJX.UHollyKirbyLillard,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichW.FrankCrawford,P.J.,  W.S.,andAlanE.Highers,J.,joined.  DavidA.Collins,Nashville,Tennessee,fortheappellant,TracyReneeMorris. ` RosemaryE.Phillips,Goodlettsville,Tennessee,fortheappellee,RobertAndrewMorris. 8!    OPINION #UXXJE #XJXU #`" #UXXJ4 #  XJXU   Plaintiff/AppelleeRobertAndrewMorris( Father)andDefendant/AppellantTracyRenee $8 $ Morris(  XJXXXJMother)weredivorcedinJuly1998afterfiveyearsofmarriage.Atthetimeofthe %$!% divorce,byconsentoftheparties,Motherwasawardedcustodyoftheirtwochildren,AustinChase &"& Morris,bornOctober12,1994,andAshleighJadeMorris,bornJuly8,1996.  Soonafterthedivorce '"'  wasfinal,MotherandthechildrenmovedfromNashvilletoLouisiana.InOctober1998,Mother (#(9 askedFathertocometoLouisianatogetthechildrenandtakethembackwithhimtoNashville. #  1         WhenhereturnedtoNashvillewiththechildren,Fatherenrolledtheminaprivateschool.In  February1999,MothermovedbacktoNashville,andthechildrenthenresumedlivingwithher.  DuringthetimeinwhichthechildrenlivedwithFather,he continuedtopaychildsupport,school t tuition,andotherexpensesofbothMotherandthechildren. `   InthetimeperiodfromJuly1998toAugust2001,thedateofthehearingbelow,Motherheld 8  sevenjobs.InJanuary2001,Motherbeganafiveweektrainingperiodatanearbyhospitalto $ t becomeapatientcaretechnician.SheagainaskedFathertolet AustinandAshleightolivewithhim  ` duringthistrainingperiod.Fatheragreedandtooktemporarycustodyofthechildren.OnJanuary  L  31,2001,duringthetimeinwhichAustinandAshleigh werelivingwithFather,Mothersapartment  8  leasewasscheduledtoexpire#XJXX XJT # XJXXXJ.OnJanuary29,2001,Mothersignedaleasewithanotherapartment (  complexandarrangedtomoveinduringthelatterpartofFebruary2001.Duringtheinterimperiod,   Motherlivedwithafriend.ThechildrencontinuedtolivewithFather.     OnFebruary9,2001,whileAustinandAshleigh wereinFatherscustodyandMotherwas   livingwithherfriend,Fatherfiledapetitionforchangeofcustodyandsoughtatemporary t restrainingorderagainstMothertoenjoinherfromremovingthechildrenfromhispossession. In ` hispetition,FatherallegedthatMother lostherapartmentandhasnoplacetolive,hasstoredher L things,andiscurrentlylivingwithfriends.FatherassertedthatMotherhadheldsevenjobsfrom 8 thetimeoftheirdivorceuntilher January2001enrollmentinthepatienttechnicianclass.Father $t claimedthatMotherhadbroughtAustinandAshleigh toschoollatethirteentimeswhiletheywere ` inhercustody, thatthechildrenwerenotpreparedatschool,andthattheywerenotgettingenough L sleeporfood.Forthosereasons,Fatheraskedthetrialcourttochangecustodyofthechildrenand 8 makehimtheprimarycustodian.OnFebruary12,2001,thetrialcourtgrantedFathersrequestfor $ atemporaryrestrainingorderagainstMotherpendingfurtherordersfromthecourt.Motherfiled  ananswertothepetition,andonMarch30,2001,filedamotiontodissolvetherestrainingorder.  OnApril19,2001,thetrialcourtdeniedMothersmotiontodissolve.    AhearingonFatherspetitionforchangeofcustodywasheldonAugust20,2001.On p December20,2001,thetrialcourtenteredanordergrantingFatherspetition.Thecourtreasoned: \  8  Neitherpartyisunfittohavecustodyoftheminorchildren.TheCourtdoesfind, 4"  however,thatthecriteriaiswhichparentisthemoreappropriate.TheCourtfinds  #p! thattheFatheristhemoreappropriateparent.Thechildrendidnotthrivewiththe  $\" Mother.TheMothercannothandlethechildren.Shedoesnotgetthemtoschoolon $H # time.Shedoesnotgetthemtherewiththethingstheyneedorwiththeirbreakfast. %4!$ ItisinthechildrensbestinteresttobeplacedinthecustodyoftheirFather.& "%   ЇOnthatbasis,thetrialcourtgrantedtheFatherspetition,naminghimprimarycustodianand  grantingMothervisitation.Fromthisorder,Mothernowappeals.    Wereviewthetrialcourts#XJXX XJ#XJXXXJԀdecisiondenovoupontherecord,andthetrialcourtsfindings t offactwillbepresumedcorrectunlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise. Hassv. ` Knighton ,676S.W.2d554,555(Tenn.1984).#XJXXXJ# XJXXXJThetrialcourtsconclusionsoflawareaffordedno L  suchpresumption. Ganzevoortv.Russell ,949S.W.2d293,296(Tenn.1997).Thetrialcourthas 8  broaddiscretionindecidingchildcustodyissues,becausesuch decisionsarefactuallydrivenand $ t requirethecarefulconsiderationofnumerousfactors. Bahv.Bah ,668S.W.2d663,666(Tenn.  ` Ct.App.1983); seealsoEldridgev.Eldridge ,42S.W.3d82,85(Tenn.2001).Thetrialjudgehas  L  theopportunitytoobservethedemeanorofthewitnessesandtomakecredibilitydeterminations.  8   Bah ,668S.W.2dat666.Thetrialcourtscustodydeterminationisreversedonlyuponashowing $  thatthetrialcourthasabuseditsdiscretion. SeeSuttlesv.Suttles ,748S.W.2d427,429(Tenn.   1988); Gaskillv.Gaskill ,936S.W.2d82,85(Tenn.Ct.App.1996).     UnderTennesseelaw,theoriginaldecreeofcustody maynotbemodifiedunlessamaterial   changeofcircumstanceshasoccurredsuchthatthechildswelfarerequiresamodificationofthe p custodydecree. Bunkerv.Finks ,No.E200101496R3CV,2002Tenn.App.LEXIS336,at*20 \ (Tenn.Ct.App.May8,2002)(citing Hoalcraftv.Smithson ,19S.W.2d822,828(Tenn.Ct.App. H 1999)).Amaterialchangeincircumstancesisanychange affectingthewelfareofthechild 4 includingnewfactsorchangedconditionswhichcouldnotbeanticipatedbytheformerdecree. #  2      #XJXX XJ # XJXXXJԀ  p  Roachv.Bourisaw ,No.M200002651COAR3CV,2001Tenn.App.LEXIS756,at*14(Tenn.  \ Ct.App.Oct.10,2001)(citing Daltonv.Dalton , 858S.W.2d324,326(Tenn.Ct.App.1993)). #XJXX XJ(#XJXXXJThe H changemustbeinthechildscircumstances,nottheparentscircumstances,andit mustaffectthe 4 childswellbeinginamaterialway. Hoalcraft ,19S.W.3dat829(citing Daileyv.Dailey ,635   S.W.2d391,393(Tenn.Ct.App.1981))(emphasisadded).#XJXXXJ)# XJXXXJ Ifthetrialcourtfindsthattherehas   beenamaterialchangeincircumstances,itwillthenconsiderthepetitiontomodifyusingthebest  interestsstandard. Hoalcraft ,19S.W.3dat828.Thechildrensbestinterest isthepolestar,the  alphaandomega. Bah ,668S.W.2dat666(emphasisinoriginal).Weighingthebestinterestsof  thechildinvolvesconsiderationofseveralfactors,includingthoseenumeratedinTennesseeCode l Annotated366106. #  3      ׀ SeeHoalcraft ,19S.W.2dat829.#XJXX XJ}+# XJXXXJ Thetrialcourtmustrecognizea strong X  presumptioninfavorofcontinuityofplacement. Id. (quoting Placenciav.Placencia ,3S.W.3d  497497,503(Tenn.Ct.App.1999)).      Inthisappeal,MotherarguesthatFathersproofdidnotdemonstrateachangein t circumstancesufficienttowarrantachangeincustody.Shearguesthattheallegationsofchanged ` circumstancesinthiscasearenotassevereasinthosecasesinwhichachangeofcustodyhasbeen L  foundtobeappropriate.  Rather,Motherlikensthiscaseto Woodardv.Woodard ,783S.W.2d188 8  (Tenn.Ct.App.1989).In Woodard ,thepartiesagreedatthetimeoftheirdivorcetojointcustody $ t oftheirminorchildren. Woodard ,783S.W.2dat189.Later,thefathersoughttomodifytheagreed  ` uponcustodyarrangementbyfilinga petitiontoreformcontract,becausehehadbecome  L  dissatisfiedwiththewaytheoriginaldecreewasbeingappliedbytheparties. Thetrialcourtgranted  8  hispetition,butmadenofindingthatachangeincircumstanceshadoccurred. Id. Thetrialcourts $  decisiontomodifywasreversedonappeal,becausethefatherhadnotshownthatamaterialchange   incircumstancesexistedorthatthebestinterestsofthechildrenwouldbeservedbymakingthe   proposedchangeincustody. Id. at190.#XJXX XJ.# XJXXXJԀ     However, Woodard #XJXX XJ5# XJXXXJԀisclearlydistinguishable.In Woodard ,thefatherdidnotevenallege p thatachangeincircumstanceshadoccurred.Intheinstantcase,Fathersubmittedthetestimonyof \ twoofthechildrensteachers.Austins teachertestifiedthathe wasmorepreparedandhadthe H thingsheneededforschoolwhenhewaslivingwithFather.Shestatedthatwhenhewaslivingwith 4 Father,Austin was alotmoresettledandwasbetterabletofocusonhiswork.Shenotedthat  p Fatherattendedschoolparties andcorrespondedwiththeteacherregardingAustins statusatschool.   Ashleighsdaycaredirectorsimilarlytestifiedthat,whileAshleigh livedwithMother,sheattimes  arrivedatdaycarewithouthavinghadbreakfast.Thedaycaredirectorrecalledaninstanceinwhich  MotherhaddroppedoffAshleigh intheparkinglotwithoutmakingcertainthatshegottoher t classroom.ThedirectorassertedthatAshleigh seemsmuchmoreadjustedand ismuchmorealert d andhappywhenlivingwithFather. T    MothertestifiedattrialregardingFathersallegations.Sheadmittedthat Fatherhadatall , | timessincethedivorcevoluntarilypaidforhercarinsuranceuntilFebruary2001,andthathehad  h paidotherbillsonherbehalfwhensheneededhelp.Sheacknowledgedthatshehadheldsevenjobs  T  sinceherreturntoTennesseein1999.Sheexplainedthatshehadbroughtthechildrenlatetoschool  @  numeroustimesbecause theyrekids.Theywanttostayinbed.Theyrunaroundtheapartment. ,  Theywanttowatchcartoons.Theysitthereslowlyandeattheirbreakfast.Theywanttoplay....   Imsureweveprobablyoverslept.Whenaskedwhyontwooccasionsthechildrenarrivedat   schooloutofuniform,MotherrespondedthatshewasnottoldbyFatherortheschoolthatthedays   inquestionwereuniformdays.#XJXX XJ)6# XJXXXJ   Ѐ  Afterhearingtheproof,thetrialcourtfoundthat,afterthedivorce,thechildrendidnotthrive d withMotherastheydidwithFather.Thecourtstatedthat [t]heMothercannothandlethechildren. P Shedoesnotgetthemtoschoolontime.Shedoesnotgetthemtherewiththethingstheyneedor < withtheirbreakfast.#XJXX XJ?# XJXXXJThetrialcourtconcludedthatitwas inthebestinterestofthesechildrenthat (x theyremainwith[Father],evidencedbythefactthat[Mother]canthandlethechildren.Itsvery d importanttogetthosechildrentoschoolontime.Shesmadesomebaddecisions,theyrenot P horribledecisions,buttheyrenotappropriatedecisionsthataparentwouldmake.#XJXX XJA# XJXXXJ <   Fromourreviewoftherecord,wefindthattheevidencedoesnotpreponderateagainstthe  trialcourtsfindingofamaterialchangeincircumstancessufficienttowarrantchangingcustodyof  thechildrenfromMothertoFather.Inaddition,theevidencedoesnotpreponderateagainstthetrial  courtsfindingthathavingFatherasthechildrensprimarycustodianisintheirbestinterest.  Overall,wecannotconcludethatthetrialcourtabuseditsdiscretioningrantingFatherspetition. t #XJXX XJC# XJXXXJAccordingly,weaffirmthedecisionofthetrialcourt.Thisholdingpretermitstheotherissuesraised `  inthisappeal. #  4      ׀ L!  $L #   Thedecisionofthetrialcourtisaffirmed.Costsaretobetaxedtoappellant,TracyRenee  Morris,andhersurety,forwhichexecutionmayissue,ifnecessary.#XJXX XJGF# XJXXXJ    #XJXX XJXH#    `     h     ___________________________________ $ t    `     h     HOLLYKIRBYLILLARD,JUDGE