ÿWPC& yt¦Š7h:Ù„4™aót*ó:^T ;44€zue,cíì| ÂÑmß$¢`§MY$’Æ‘UœêÕM3’Pß\X¢ Ï’>OÉ/ï¢â4)L»L©\€‘^ˇg\0éºÂ .z Éý1kU#÷¨ÄÁ(5y þHjšùÐvë¿=cAGªÕzí­eì‡y®Û"úÜÐì„’]då,¯Û«ÒbÎ"D×_õ¸¢ÒÀßÛ»2]1Óûÿs§å€q‘ÓÙÆâ—zWJMüexú¾…ÑŸ‹:â?¤mÎÎ<ùñžÚßÂñ›:ÂeàJŽ—&áé[ˆ-Ir“ùq[Š  küëG´ñˆÖïÑÆ¿{e“Tw¼­ *9²‰¯¼Â–¸ E Rç<‹¯¦§¯ÐãÛþì߀¼Å€Jóï¬ä®bæûŠårWN/‘HnØ@`ÖN·À~¨6'$ž8ÜóÁXÓs>ðFÓ­NÓ„æ±Ë‘ §Ž3Ôe;n×@ÕÁøMÈR÷2’ȨÚ(N¸rÁ!ÿe„åSÆõùmV‰r-Šðr^8ŒØrˆHTìÅÓHê¤SL»ºXèÜÔÚöô‡÷ã) /l‡hP£¤/uá¨#€Ý³b %\^ b 0ˆnUNöwD4H\ zkÒå· m¹ #ÉÐ 1™ ÆÊ ÆÆVÆ 0DâN&(à7Eb 0ë!!!! B   0¤) D5Í D- 0K// ASzÆÍ 0¤“ 0D7 A«{»Mo\1Þ (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman RegularÖƒF1ê:i¢×+003|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.wptÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜\\IB01S08\KNOXCLERK4ÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0 'Ý ƒRʦ$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôçeò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€This€was€Fatherððs€second€attempt€to€seek€primary€custody€of€the€children.€€His€first€attempt€was€denied€by€theÐ ° ÐTrial€Court€on€December€22,€1998.€Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó Ý ƒRʦ$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôçeò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€Mother€appealed€the€December€Order€to€this€Court,€but€we€dismissed€her€appeal€because€there€was€no€finalÐ ° Ðjudgment. PAIGEMULKEYWexler P.J.Gilly R.B.LoudonKendrickShoemakeBadenhopet]hereKutty- ù-(|G2ʦ$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€]µ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôçeò»»Ô d(|3ÿ‡$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€]µ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3ÿ‡$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€]µ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€]µ»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼]µ»»»ÔÑ8€™XXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡î[Ô]µÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@WW$ìàAT€KNOXVILLEÔ#†¼]µ»îî[Ô #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓAssigned€on€Briefs€August€18,€2004€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡X™X»¼]µÔÌò òÔ#†¼]µ»XX™#ÔREBECCA€PAIGE€MULKEY€(HURD)€v.€Ð úJ ÐBRADLEY€WARREN€MULKEYÔ‡X™X»¼]µÔó óÐ  ^ ÐÌÔ#†¼]µ»XX™–#ÔÔ€X™X»¼]µÔà@@½½ìàò òAppeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Hawkins€CountyÐ  ^ Ðà@@øøìàNo.€7576€€€€€€Ben€K.€Wexler,€JudgeÐ ú J ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<½` AßÐ ¾  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€E2004„00590„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€FILED€OCTOBER€28,€Ô_Ô2004Ô_ÔÐ ¹  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<` Aßó óÐ ‘á  ÐÓ  ÓÌÌRebecca€Paige€Mulkey€(ð ðMotherðð)€and€Bradley€Warren€Mulkey€(ð ðFatherðð)€were€divorced€in€1996.€Ð xÈ ÐThe€parties€agreed€that€Mother€would€be€the€primary€residential€parent€of€their€two€minor€daughtersÐ d´ Ðwith€Father€having€reasonable€visitation€rights.€€Several€years€later€and€after€Mother€had€remarried,Ð P  ÐFather€filed€a€Petition€for€Change€of€Custody€claiming€the€older€child€had€been€physically€abusedÐ <Œ Ðby€her€step„father.€€The€Trial€Court€temporarily€transferred€custody€of€the€children€to€Father€andÐ (x Ðindicated€this€arrangement€would€be€reviewed€periodically.€€After€the€older€child€recanted€herÐ d Ðallegations€of€physical€abuse,€the€Trial€Court€ordered€that€she€be€examined€by€a€psychiatrist.€€AnÐ P Ðexamination€was€undertaken€and€the€psychiatrist€concluded€there€was€no€evidence€of€abuse€ð ðof€anyÐ ì< Ðkind.ðð€€The€Trial€Court€later€entered€a€judgment€and€held€that€its€previous€temporary€decision€toÐ Ø( Ðdesignate€Father€as€the€primary€residential€parent€was€to€be€the€final€determination.€€Mother€appealsÐ Ä Ðclaiming€the€Trial€Court€erred€when€it€transferred€custody€of€the€children€to€Father€because€FatherÐ ° Ðfailed€to€prove€there€had€been€a€material€change€in€circumstance.€€We€agree€and€reverse€the€judgmentÐ œì Ðof€the€Trial€Court.Ð ˆØ ÐÌÌò òà@µ µ ìàTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€theˆÐ L"œ! Ðà@  ìàCircuit€à@@« « ìàCourt€Reversed;€Case€RemandedˆÐ 8#ˆ" Ðòòó óÌÌD.€Michael€Ô_ÔSwineyÔ_Ô,€J.,€óódelivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€whichòòóó€òòSharon€G.€Lee,€J.,€óójoined.€Ð ü%L!% ÐòòHerschel€P.€Franks,€P.J.,óó€filed€a€separate€concurring€opinion.Ð è&8"& ÐÌÌStephen€L.€Gilly,€Kingsport,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellant€Rebecca€Paige€Mulkey€(Hurd).Ð ¬)ü$) ÐÌÌR.B.€Baird,€III,€Rogersville,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellee€Bradley€Warren€Mulkey.Ð  p,À',ý ÐÔ_Ôà@66'ìàò òOPINIONˆÐ ° ÐÌÌà@ÛÛ%ìàòòBackgroundó óóóˆÐ tÄ ÐÌà  àà ` àMother€was€granted€a€divorce€from€Father€in€May€of€1996€based€upon€FatherððsÐ L œ Ðinappropriate€marital€conduct.€€The€parties€have€two€minor€daughters€who€were€one€and€three€yearsÐ 8 ˆ Ðold€at€the€time€of€the€divorce.€€The€parties€entered€into€a€Marital€Dissolution€Agreement€whichÐ $ t Ðprovided€that€they€were€to€have€joint€legal€custody€of€the€children,€with€Mother€being€the€primaryÐ  ` Ðresidential€parent€and€Father€having€reasonable€visitation€rights.€€The€Marital€Dissolution€AgreementÐ ü L  Ðwas€ð ðratified€and€approvedðð€by€the€Trial€Court.Ð è 8  Ðà  àà ` àÌà  àà ` àIn€March€of€2001€and€after€Mother€had€remarried,€Father€filed€a€Petition€for€ChangeÐ À  Ðof€Custody.׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€In€this€Petition,€Father€claimed€that€the€partiesðð€daughters€had€made€allegations€ofÐ ¬ü  Ðphysical€abuse€concerning€Mother€and€their€step„father.€€According€to€Father,€these€allegations€wereÐ ˜è  Ðbeing€investigated€by€the€Department€of€Childrenððs€Services.€€Father€claimed€there€had€been€aÐ „Ô  Ðmaterial€change€of€circumstances€and€that€it€was€in€the€best€interests€of€the€children€for€him€to€beÐ pÀ Ðdesignated€their€primary€residential€parent.€€Mother€filed€an€answer€to€the€Petition€denying€theÐ \¬ Ðpertinent€allegations€contained€therein.Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àà ` àAfter€a€hearing€on€the€Petition€for€Change€of€Custody,€the€Trial€Court€entered€anÐ  p Ðorder€concluding€that€the€children€should€stay€with€Mother€until€the€end€of€the€school€year,€at€whichÐ  \ Ðtime€the€primary€residence€was€ð ðto€be€changed€to€the€Father€for€the€summer€months.ðð€€Mother€wasÐ øH Ðgranted€standard€visitation€rights€during€the€summer€months€and€was€ordered€to€pay€child€support.€Ð ä4 ÐThe€Trial€Court€stated€that€the€custody€arrangement€would€be€reviewed€further€in€September€orÐ Ð  ÐOctober€of€2002.€Ð ¼  ÐÌà  àà ` àIt€was€the€partiesðð€older€child€who€made€the€allegations€of€physical€abuse.€€This€childÐ ”ä Ðlater€completely€recanted€these€allegations.€€As€a€result€of€these€inconsistencies,€in€July€of€2002€theÐ €Ð ÐTrial€Court€ordered€the€older€child€to€be€examined€by€a€psychiatrist.€€The€older€child€thereafter€wasÐ l¼ Ðexamined€by€Dr.€Kutty€in€Kingsport€and€his€report€was€filed€with€the€Trial€Court.€€This€report€states,Ð X ¨ Ðin€part,€as€follows:Ð D!” ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[The€child€has]€made€it€clear€that€she€wants€to€stay€with€her€father€atÐ #l! Ðthis€point€ð8ð€[However,€she]€feels€guilty€about€her€decision€to€liveÐ $X" Ðwith€her€father.€€She€is€angry€at€herself€and€has€made€statements€toÐ ô$D # Ðthe€effect€she€hates€herself€and€wishes€she€was€never€born.€€She€feelsÐ à%0!$ Ðbad€that€she€has€caused€a€lot€of€trouble€to€her€mother.€€She€wrote€aÐ Ì&"% Ðletter€to€her€mother€and€[step„father]€expressing€her€regrets€about€herÐ ¸'#& Ðbehavior.€€She€has€reaffirmed€her€love€for€both€of€them.ð8ðФ(ô#'` x` x Їà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àBased€upon€my€evaluation€ð8ð€she€does€not€suffer€from€anyÐ ° Ðmajor€psychiatric€disorders.€€She€seems€to€be€anxious€and€veryÐ œì Ðsensitive€to€stressful€events€and€has€a€tendency€to€worry€some.€€ThisÐ ˆØ Ðhas€become€worse€as€a€result€of€the€ongoing€conflicts€between€herÐ tÄ Ðparents.€€From€my€examination€it€does€not€appear€that€she€has€beenÐ `° Ðsubjected€to€abuse€of€any€kind.ð8ð€€She€has€exploited€the€conflict€thatÐ L œ Ðis€existing€between€her€parents€to€her€advantage€by€escaping€from€oneÐ 8 ˆ Ðenvironment€to€another.€€This€is€not€unlike€what€one€sees€in€nuclearÐ $ t Ðfamilies€when€a€child€plays€one€parent€against€the€other.ð8ð€€It€is€myÐ  ` Ðrecommendation€that€given€the€above€family€dynamics€that€we€allowÐ ü L  Ðthe€present€living€arrangement€to€continue.ð8ð€[The€oldest€child€andÐ è 8  ÐMother]€need€to€spend€more€time€and€enter€into€counseling€to€helpÐ Ô$  Ðthem€improve€their€relationship€and€for€[the€child]€to€overcome€herÐ À  Ðanxieties€and€fears.ð8ðЬü ` x` x ÐÌWhile€the€above€report€focuses€on€the€older€child,€Dr.€Kutty€apparently€evaluated€both€children€onÐ „Ô  Ðmore€than€one€occasion.€€While€other€reports€were€prepared€by€Dr.€Kutty,€they€have€not€beenÐ pÀ Ðincluded€in€the€record€on€appeal.€€Ð \¬ ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€next€hearing€was€held€in€October€of€2002€and€the€Trial€Court€entered€its€OrderÐ 4„ Ðin€December.€€The€Trial€Court€was€provided€with€a€copy€of€Dr.€Kuttyððs€report€at€this€hearing.€Ð  p ÐAlthough€Father€again€was€designated€as€the€primary€residential€parent,€the€Trial€Court€ð ðdoubledððÐ  \ ÐMotherððs€visitation€with€the€younger€child.€€Motherððs€visitation€with€the€older€child€was€set€at€threeÐ øH Ðdays€every€other€week.€€The€Trial€Court€reserved€the€matter€of€child€support€at€that€time.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ä4 ÐÌà  àà ` àAlthough€there€were€several€hearings€where€the€Trial€Court€heard€from€one€or€moreÐ ¼  Ðwitnesses,€the€only€transcript€in€the€record€containing€testimony€is€from€a€hearing€held€on€NovemberÐ ¨ø Ð24,€2003.€€At€this€hearing,€Mother€testified€that€she€currently€was€employed€by€the€State€ofÐ ”ä ÐTennessee€and€worked€as€a€case€manager€for€delinquent,€abused,€and€neglected€children.€€MotherÐ €Ð Ðtestified€that€whenever€she€sees€her€children€outside€of€her€regular€visitation€such€as€at€a€groceryÐ l¼ Ðstore€or€the€like,€Father€does€not€allow€the€children€to€speak€to€her.€€€Mother€claimed€that€when€sheÐ X ¨ Ðattempts€to€call€the€children,€she€either€gets€a€busy€signal,€there€is€no€answer,€or€she€is€told€by€FatherÐ D!” Ðthat€she€cannot€speak€to€them.€€According€to€Mother,€when€the€children€arrive€for€her€visitation,€theirÐ 0"€  Ðpersonal€hygiene€ð ðis€horrible.ðð€€Mother€also€claimed€that€when€Father€has€the€children,€he€forbidsÐ #l! Ðthem€from€having€any€contact€with€any€of€Motherððs€family€members.Ð $X" ÐÌà  àà ` àMotherððs€current€husband,€Mike€Hurd€(ð ðHurdðð),€also€was€called€as€a€witness.€€HurdÐ à%0!$ Ðdenied€ever€physically€abusing€or€yelling€at€the€children.€€Hurd€testified€to€the€activities€in€which€he,Ð Ì&"% ÐMother,€and€the€children€engage€in€on€the€weekends€when€Mother€has€visitation.€€Ð ¸'#& ÐÐ ¤(ô#' Ðà  àà ` àNot€surprisingly,€Father€denied€ever€making€any€attempts€to€prevent€Mother€fromÐ ° Ðtalking€to€the€children€or€otherwise€interfering€with€her€exercise€of€visitation.€€Father€testified€to€hisÐ œì Ðversion€of€the€events€detailed€by€Mother€regarding€a€few€episodes€where€Father€allegedly€preventedÐ ˆØ ÐMother€from€seeing€one€or€both€of€the€children.€€Father€testified€the€children€are€bathed€on€a€regularÐ tÄ Ðbasis€and€denied€Motherððs€claim€that€the€children€had€poor€personal€hygiene.€Ð `° ÐÌà  àà ` àAfter€the€testimony€of€the€witnesses€was€completed,€the€Trial€Court€talked€to€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðchildren€òòin€cameraóó.€€The€partiesðð€attorneys€were€present,€but€the€court€reporter€was€not.€€This€CourtÐ $ t Ðhas€not€been€provided€with€a€transcript€of€the€òòin€cameraóó€testimony€and€neither€party€has€furnishedÐ  ` Ða€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€24(c)€statement€of€the€evidence€summarizing€the€òòin€cameraóó€testimony€of€theÐ ü L  Ðchildren.€Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àà ` àAfter€the€November€2003€hearing,€the€Trial€Court€entered€an€Order€which€maintainedÐ À  Ðthe€then€existing€custody€arrangement.€€More€specifically,€Father€was€designated€as€the€primaryÐ ¬ü  Ðresidential€parent€and€Mother€was€given€visitation€rights€consistent€with€what€had€been€set€forthÐ ˜è  Ðpreviously.€€As€to€each€of€the€hearings€prior€to€the€November€2003€hearing,€we€can€only€concludeÐ „Ô  Ðthat€the€Trial€Court€intended€for€its€decision€to€change€custody€to€be€temporary€in€nature€since€itÐ pÀ Ðindicated€further€reviews€would€take€place€at€various€points€in€the€future.€€However,€after€theÐ \¬ ÐNovember€hearing€the€Trial€Court€stated€in€its€order€that€its€decision€was€a€ð ðfinal€determinationðð€andÐ H˜ Ðthe€custody€decision€would€not€be€reviewed€in€the€future€ð ðabsent€a€request€by€either€party€and€aÐ 4„ Ðshowing€of€a€substantial€material€change€in€circumstances.ðð€Ð  p ÐÌà  àà ` àMother€appeals,€claiming€the€Trial€Court€erred€when€it€changed€custody€byÐ øH Ðdesignating€Father€as€the€primary€residential€parent€absent€a€finding€that€there€had€been€a€materialÐ ä4 Ðchange€in€circumstances€and€that€the€change€in€custody€was€in€the€best€interests€of€the€children.Ð Ð  ÐÌÌà@))%ìàò òòòDiscussionó óóóˆÐ ”ä ÐÌÌà  àà ` àThe€factual€findings€of€the€Trial€Court€are€accorded€a€presumption€of€correctness,€andÐ X ¨ Ðwe€will€not€overturn€those€factual€findings€unless€the€evidence€preponderates€against€them.€€òòSeeóóÐ D!” ÐTenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(d);€òòBogan€v.€Boganóó,€60€S.W.3d€721,€727€(Tenn.€2001).€€With€respect€to€legalÐ 0"€  Ðissues,€our€review€is€conducted€ð ðunder€a€pure€òòde€novoóó€standard€of€review,€according€no€deferenceÐ #l! Ðto€the€conclusions€of€law€made€by€the€lower€courts.ðð€€òòSouthern€Constructors,€Inc.€v.€Loudon€CountyÐ $X" ÐBd.€Of€Educ.óó,€58€S.W.3d€706,€710€(Tenn.€2001).Ð ô$D # ÐÌà  àà ` àWe€first€address€the€Trial€Court's€implicit€conclusion€that€there€was€a€material€changeÐ Ì&"% Ðin€circumstances€which€would€warrant€a€change€in€custody€to€Father.€€In€òòKendrick€v.€Shoemakeóó,€90Ð ¸'#& ÐS.W.3d€566€(Tenn.€2002),€our€Supreme€Court€set€forth€the€appropriate€standard€to€be€applied€whenÐ ¤(ô#' Ðmaking€such€a€custody€determination.€Specifically,€the€Court€stated:Ð )à$( Ðâ âÐ |*Ì%) Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àThe€principal€issue€in€this€case€concerns€the€proper€standardÐ ° Ðâ âto€be€applied€to€a€petition€to€modify€custody€from€one€parent€to€theÐ œì Ðother€parent.€€This€issue€is€largely€resolved€by€our€recent€decision€inòòÐ ˆØ ÐBlair€v.€Badenhopeóó,€77€S.W.3d€137€(Tenn.€2002).€€òòBlairóó€involved€aÐ tÄ Ðcustody€dispute€between€a€parent€and€a€non-parent.€€We€concludedÐ `° Ðthat€once€a€valid€order€of€custody€has€been€issued,€subsequentÐ L œ Ðcustody€modification€proceedings€should€apply€the€"standard€typicallyÐ 8 ˆ Ðapplied€in€parent-vs-parent€modification€cases:€€that€a€material€changeÐ $ t Ðin€circumstances€has€occurred,€which€makes€a€change€in€custody€inÐ  ` Ðthe€child's€best€interests."€òò€Id.óó€at€148.€€As€explained€in€òòBlairóó,€theÐ ü L  Ð"threshold€issue"€is€whether€a€material€change€in€circumstances€hasÐ è 8  Ðoccurred€after€the€initial€custody€determination.€€òòIdóó.€at€150.€€WhileÐ Ô$  Ð"[t]here€are€no€hard€and€fast€rules€for€determining€when€a€child'sÐ À  Ðcircumstances€have€changed€sufficiently€to€warrant€a€change€of€his€orÐ ¬ü  Ðher€custody,"€the€following€factors€have€formed€a€sound€basis€forÐ ˜è  Ðdetermining€whether€a€material€change€in€circumstances€hasÐ „Ô  Ðoccurred:€€the€change€"has€occurred€after€the€entry€of€the€order€soughtÐ pÀ Ðto€be€modified,"€the€change€"is€not€one€that€was€known€or€reasonablyÐ \¬ Ðanticipated€when€the€order€was€entered,"€and€the€change€"is€one€thatÐ H˜ Ðaffects€the€child's€well-being€in€a€meaningful€way."€òòIdóó.€(citationsÐ 4„ Ðomitted).€€We€note€that€a€parent's€change€in€circumstances€may€be€aÐ  p Ðmaterial€change€in€circumstances€for€the€purposes€of€modifyingÐ  \ Ðcustody€if€such€a€change€affects€the€child's€well-being.ÐøH` x` x ЀÌòòKendrickóó,€90€S.W.3d€at€570€(footnotes€omitted).€€If€a€material€change€in€circumstances€has€beenÐ Ð  Ðfound,€then€a€trial€court€next€must€determine€whether€custody€modification€is€in€the€child's€bestÐ ¼  Ðinterests€utilizing€the€factors€set€forth€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„6„106.€€òòIdóó.€€Ð ¨ø ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€the€present€case,€Fatherððs€claim€that€there€had€been€a€material€change€inÐ €Ð Ðcircumstances€centered€around€the€older€childððs€allegation€of€physical€abuse€by€Mother€and€the€step„Ð l¼ Ðfather.€€These€allegations,€however,€later€were€recanted.€€While€Father€indicated€in€his€Petition€toÐ X ¨ ÐChange€Custody€that€the€allegations€were€being€investigated€by€the€Department€of€ChildrenððsÐ D!” ÐServices,€there€is€nothing€in€the€record€to€indicate€that€the€Department€found€anything€to€substantiateÐ 0"€  Ðthe€allegations,€assuming€Father€is€correct€that€such€an€investigation€was€undertaken.€€Other€thanÐ #l! Ðmere€allegations€and€denials€contained€in€pleadings,€the€only€proof€in€the€record€regarding€whetherÐ $X" Ðthere€was€any€physical€abuse€is€Hurdððs€testimony€where€he€denied€engaging€in€any€abusive€behavior,Ð ô$D # Ðand€Dr.€Kuttyððs€report€which€states€ð ðit€does€not€appear€that€[the€child]€has€been€subjected€to€abuseÐ à%0!$ Ðof€any€kind.ðð€€Based€on€the€record€before€this€Court,€we€conclude€that€the€allegations€of€physicalÐ Ì&"% Ðabuse€simply€were€unfounded.€€While€the€existence€of€physical€abuse€unquestionably€could,€andÐ ¸'#& Ðlikely€would,€constitute€a€material€change€in€circumstances€for€purposes€of€changing€custody,Ð ¤(ô#' Ðaltogether€unfounded€allegations€most€certainly€cannot.€Ð )à$( Ðâ âÐ |*Ì%) Ðà  àà ` àThe€only€other€factor€which€Father€claims€supports€a€change€in€custody€is€theÐ ° Ðâ âpreference€of€one€or€both€of€the€children€to€live€with€Father.€€Since€we€do€not€have€theòò€in€cameraóóÐ œì Ðtestimony€of€the€children,€we€cannot€assume€that€the€children€actually€expressed€a€preference€forÐ ˆØ Ðliving€with€Father.€€But€even€if€we€could,€a€childððs€stated€preference€to€live€with€one€parent€over€theÐ tÄ Ðother,€standing€alone,€cannot€constitute€a€material€change€in€circumstances€as€a€matter€of€law.€€òòIfóóÐ `° Ðthere€has€been€a€showing€of€a€material€change€in€circumstances,€then€the€stated€preference€of€a€childÐ L œ Ðis€one€of€the€statutory€factors€which€can€be€considered€by€a€trial€court€when€determining€what€is€inÐ 8 ˆ Ðthe€best€interest€of€the€child.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„6„106€sets€forth€various€factors€for€a€trial€courtÐ $ t Ðto€consider€when€determining€what€is€in€the€best€interest€of€a€child,€including€the€ð ðreasonableÐ  ` Ðpreference€of€the€child€if€twelve€(12)€years€of€age€or€older.€€The€court€may€hear€the€preference€of€aÐ ü L  Ðyounger€child€upon€request.€€The€preferences€of€older€children€should€normally€be€given€greaterÐ è 8  Ðweight€than€those€of€younger€children.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„6„106(a)(7).€€However,€in€casesÐ Ô$  Ðinvolving€a€change€in€custody€as€opposed€to€an€initial€custody€determination,€a€trial€court€does€notÐ À  Ðreach€the€best€interest€analysis€until€and€unless€there€is€first€a€finding€that€there€has€been€a€materialÐ ¬ü  Ðchange€in€circumstances.€€òòKendrick,€supraóó.€€That€is€not€to€say€that€the€reasons€underlying€a€childððsÐ ˜è  Ðstated€preference€cannot€affect€the€decision€on€whether€there€has€been€a€material€change€ofÐ „Ô  Ðcircumstances.€€By€way€of€example€only,€if€a€child€desires€to€live€with€one€parent€because€the€otherÐ pÀ Ðparent€is€habitually€intoxicated€and€abusive,€then€the€underlying€facts€surrounding€òòwhyóó€the€child€hasÐ \¬ Ðexpressed€such€a€preference€clearly€are€relevant.€€Returning€to€the€present€case,€the€reasons€why€theÐ H˜ Ðchildren€want€to€live€with€Father,€if€they€do,€are€not€contained€in€the€record.€€We€cannot€and€will€notÐ 4„ Ðassume€that€these€unknown€reasons€are€legally€sufficient€to€constitute€a€material€change€inÐ  p Ðcircumstances.€€Absent€a€material€change€in€circumstances,€we€do€not€reach€the€statutory€factors€toÐ  \ Ðbe€used€in€making€the€best€interest€analysis,€including€the€stated€preference€of€the€children.€€Ð øH ÐÌà  àà ` àWe€have€thoroughly€reviewed€the€record€in€this€case€and€conclude€that€the€Trial€CourtÐ Ð  Ðerred€when€it€implicitly€held€that€there€was€a€material€change€in€circumstances€affecting€the€wellÐ ¼  Ðbeing€of€these€children.€€The€Judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€designating€Father€as€the€primaryÐ ¨ø Ðresidential€parent€is€reversed.€€On€remand,€the€Trial€Court€is€instructed€to€determine€and€facilitateÐ ”ä Ðan€expeditious€transfer€of€custody€back€to€Mother€in€such€a€way€as€to€minimize€the€impact€on€theÐ €Ð Ðchildren.€€The€Trial€Court€further€is€instructed€to€establish€appropriate€visitation€rights€for€Father€asÐ l¼ Ðwell€as€Fatherððs€child€support€obligation.€€The€one€thing€that€is€perfectly€clear€to€this€Court€is€thatÐ X ¨ Ðthe€complete€inability€of€her€parents€to€get€along€has€had€a€significant€negative€impact€on€their€olderÐ D!” Ðdaughter.€€Unfortunately,€neither€the€Trial€Court€nor€this€Court€has€the€power€to€order€these€parentsÐ 0"€  Ðto€grow€up.€€Nevertheless,€we€strongly€encourage€the€Trial€Court€on€remand€to€be€as€detailed€asÐ #l! Ðpossible€when€addressing€how€the€parties€are€to€act€toward€each€other€when€their€children€are€presentÐ $X" Ðand€on€matters€involving€the€care€and€well€being€of€these€two€innocent€girls€who€unnecessarily€haveÐ ô$D # Ðbeen€caught€in€the€middle€of€their€parentsðð€battles.Ð à%0!$ Ðâ âÐ Ì&"% ÐÔ& ü Ôâ âà@  %ìàò òòòConclusionó óóóˆÐ ° ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€Judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€is€reversed,€and€this€cause€is€remanded€to€the€TrialÐ ˆØ ÐCourt€for€further€proceedings€consistent€with€this€Opinion.€€Costs€on€appeal€are€assessed€against€theÐ tÄ ÐAppellee€Bradley€Warren€Mulkey.€€Ð `° ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________Ð Ô$  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àD.€MICHAEL€SWINEY,€JUDGEÔ'ü °¼YÔ