ÿWPCK' ’{"ðmR±ÍÄ §ô œÆyTýØèòy­æÒ¢‹|ð„mzSâs„·§J˜K}f“€/âËV§1§½<4=Ü ¥.ÈyG¬êm`ws=14³í(/Îø…º”n fSîzƒ¶Õ¦…¿Y•hÓg†Ô|%µ'?¾ lMŒwRôÎnêlel¶Ô|þ‰™`®å î?û«¸—²{wòö!è²Ô¤iÁÒÀNoŸnóËò!e3@DÕí#Ñ-ÏH?‡ì^¯OIX?N®)½j).³ü ­ &˜x"Y’b Êzm³1Ÿ‘@3 ²6:Þ)RqÍñÜIl—C!X¼wÓIÚ9#énHÎü¹R(Øù< 1Oøþîì1_ÿæ b%⪫]sî”—²ÓÝí@Ö(ñìÖ锟xÏý˜·Q„Lí:û4q ¨%P+Z lÝ°˜{xt/¡C "&ßÏˈÚ"õhi'¡Ñõµý[ƒVzž¦ì#–ÂdJphœl…ÑXIu‚åæП¹ú2¨Ä]Ž­RІ~­ñ›8fí§*¶K/Sx=¦qêÎÎC@­½ÜÑ†Ê \ÃäôéÍ&Æg˜! V2âiÂwª™/ÊÎÜ"DßÏ[NÓö‹L1 :# ,U :7 %q 0úwU :qw@«4ëÿ× 0Då #) HL t”U:¦BXèU:@Tz#ÎXñI¸`X U:xײU:‰Xà B!8!U:8" AQr"ÆÃ" 0D‰# 0DÍ# 0D$$ D/U$U$ B„$ D3¡$¡$¡$¡$¡$¡$¡$¡$¡$¡$¡$¡$¡$¡$bÔ$Ô$ 0oÜ$˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ, øð AZ"Arial RegularX(ÒûÖ$¡¡Ñ7€ËMXXdðXXdð7ÑÑ  ÑÓÓÒ€°ÒÒÀ°ÒÓ  ÓÑTRY3Ø' LetterY3Ø' Letter 3Ø' Letter 3Ø' LetterTÑ,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular “•—œŸ D¡P¢[£Ó€­F&<€$3|x­ ÍÝ ƒ9‡|$ÝÓÓÒ€°ÒÒÀ°ÒÓ  ÓÔ€ôÔ˜ôXXÔÓÓà Ø àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝMs.€Donoho€has€two€other€children,€one€of€whom€is€in€her€legal€custody€and€the€other€of€whomÐ ,  Ðis€in€the€legal€custody€of€the€childððs€father.×Ã×× C ×€Ms.€Donoho,€however,€testified€that€she€cares€for€both€ofÏthese€children€a€majority€of€the€time.(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó Ý ƒ9/ê$ÝÓÓÒ€°ÒÒÀ°ÒÓ  Óà Ø àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝThis€was€the€beginning€of€a€procedural€debacle.€€The€petition€did€not€allegeÐ ,  Ðany€grounds€of€unfitness€or€dependency€and€neglect.€€The€juvenile€courtððs€order€didÏnot€make€any€finding€in€this€regard€and,€in€fact,€the€following€language€is€explicitlyÏcrossed„out€in€the€order:€ð ðIt€is€contrary€to€the€Childððs€welfare€to€remain€in€the€care,Ïcustody,€or€control€of€her€parent€guardian.ðð >Ý ƒ9ôc$ÝÓÓÒ€°ÒÒÀ°ÒÓ  ÓÔ€ô±ôXXÔÓÓà Ø àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝBiancaððs€father,€Avery€Askew,€also€filed€a€petition€to€set€aside€the€order.€€However,€he€is€notÐ ,  Ða€party€to€this€appeal.€€ jÝ ƒ9ôc$ÝÓÓÒ€°ÒÒÀ°ÒÓ  ÓÔ€ô±ôXXÔÓÓà Ø àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝMs.€Lewisððs€counsel€suggested€that€all€arrearages€had€not€been€paid€and€that€Ms.€DonohoÐ ,  Ðwould€only€pay€the€arrearages€immediately€prior€to€related€legal€proceedings., øð AZ"Arial Regular œÝ ƒ9/ê$ÝÓÓÒ€°ÒÒÀ°ÒÓ  Óà Ø àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝMs.€Donoho€has€two€other€children,€one€of€whom€is€in€her€legal€custody€andÐ ,  Ðthe€other€of€whom€is€in€the€legal€custody€of€the€childððs€father.×Ã×× C ×€Ms.€Donoho,€however,Ïtestified€that€she€cares€for€both€of€these€children€a€majority€of€the€time. NÝ ƒ9¢¡$ÝÓÓÒ€°ÒÒÀ°ÒÓ  ÓÓÓÔ‡ôÔÝôXXÔà Ø àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝAlthough€this€child€is€in€the€custody€of€her€father,€Ms.€Donoho€testified€that€she€actually€takesÐ ,  Ðcare€of€the€child€a€majority€of€the€time.€, øð AZ"Arial Regular JÝ ƒ9ôc$ÝÓÓÒ€°ÒÒÀ°ÒÓ  ÓÔ€ô±ôXXÔÓÓà Ø àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝThis€was€the€beginning€of€a€procedural€debacle.€€The€petition€did€not€allege€any€grounds€ofÐ ,  Ðunfitness€or€dependency€and€neglect.€€The€juvenile€courtððs€order€did€not€make€any€finding€in€thisÏregard€and,€in€fact,€the€following€language€is€explicitly€crossed„out€in€the€order:€ð ðIt€is€contrary€to€theÏChildððs€welfare€to€remain€in€the€care,€custody,€or€control€of€her€parent€guardian.ðð Ý ƒ9/ê$ÝÓÓÒ€°ÒÒÀ°ÒÓ  Óà Ø àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝThis€was€the€beginning€of€a€procedural€debacle.€€The€petition€did€not€allegeÐ ,  Ðany€grounds€of€unfitness€or€dependency€and€neglect.€€The€juvenile€courtððs€order€didÏnot€make€any€finding€in€this€regard€and,€in€fact,€the€following€language€is€explicitlyÏcrossed„out€in€the€order:€ð ðIt€is€contrary€to€the€Childððs€welfare€to€remain€in€the€care,Ïcustody,€or€control€of€her€parent€guardian.ðð NÝ ƒ9¢¡$ÝÓÓÒ€°ÒÒÀ°ÒÓ  ÓÓÓÔ‡ôÔÝôXXÔà Ø àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝAlthough€this€child€is€in€the€custody€of€her€father,€Ms.€Donoho€testified€that€she€actually€takesÐ ,  Ðcare€of€the€child€a€majority€of€the€time.€ Ý ƒ9/ê$ÝÓÓÒ€°ÒÒÀ°ÒÓ  Óà Ø àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝBiancaððs€father,€Avery€Askew,€also€filed€a€petition€to€set€aside€the€order.€Ð ,  ÐHowever,€he€is€not€a€party€to€this€appeal.€€ ®Ý ƒ9ðÆ$ÝÓÓÒ€°ÒÒÀ°ÒÓ  ÓÓÓà Ø àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝMs.€Donoho€has€two€other€children,€one€of€whom€is€in€her€legal€custody€andÐ ,  Ðthe€other€of€whom€is€in€the€legal€custody€of€the€childððs€father.×Ã×× C ×€Ms.€Donoho,€however,Ïtestified€that€she€cares€for€both€of€these€children€a€majority€of€the€time. NÝ ƒ9¢¡$ÝÓÓÒ€°ÒÒÀ°ÒÓ  ÓÓÓÔ‡ôÔÝôXXÔà Ø àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝAlthough€this€child€is€in€the€custody€of€her€father,€Ms.€Donoho€testified€that€she€actually€takesÐ ,  Ðcare€of€the€child€a€majority€of€the€time.€, øð AZ"Arial Regular ÍÝ ƒ9¼Ï$ÝÓÓÒ€°ÒÒÀ°ÒÓ  ÓÔ€ô¦ôXXÔÓÓà Ø àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝMs.€Donoho€has€two€other€children,€one€of€whom€is€in€her€legal€custody€and€the€other€ofÐ ,  Ðwhom€is€in€the€legal€custody€of€the€childððs€father.×Ã×× C ×€Ms.€Donoho,€however,€testified€that€she€cares€forÏboth€of€these€children€a€majority€of€the€time., øð AZ"Arial Regular NÝ ƒ9¢¡$ÝÓÓÒ€°ÒÒÀ°ÒÓ  ÓÓÓÔ‡ôÔÝôXXÔà Ø àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝAlthough€this€child€is€in€the€custody€of€her€father,€Ms.€Donoho€testified€that€she€actually€takesÐ ,  Ðcare€of€the€child€a€majority€of€the€time.€üÿP Pd öÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€XݱXXXÔÔ€çV XXݱÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€XݱX çVÔÐ  ÐÌMay€3,€1999ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó'÷ÿ dxd d(((('ÿÿdxd- ù-((2‡|$¤¤Ý ƒûÖ!ÝÑ7€{*XXdðdð7ÑÑ  ÑÓÓÒ€°ÒÒÀ°ÒÓ  ÓÑTRY$3Ø' Letter3Ø'3Ø' Letterÿ3Ø'TÑÝ  ÝÔ€ôÔ˜ôXXÔÓÓà Ø àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÝ ƒûÖ!ÝÑ7€{*XXdðdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÓÓÒ€°ÒÒÀ°ÒÓ  ÓÑTRY$3Ø' Letter3Ø'3Ø' Letterÿ3Ø'TÑÝ  ÝÑ, °ÑÑ` °ÑÑ€7ÑÔ‡XݱXXXÔÓÓÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ LegalY$3Ø' Letter AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' LetterTÑñ£ñ›ñ£ñÓ=€{*XÐXdÐd=ÓÑ  Ññ­ññ£ñßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@E»- ` 8ttxPó, ð  rßñ£ññ­ññ­ññ­ññ£ñ›ñ£ñà Ø àà@Ø Ø Ìàò òIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ,  Ðñ­ñœßt€ )>.*jxñÿ—` `€€@E©© ` 8ttxPá ð — tß›ñ­ñà@HH)ÌàAT€JACKSONó óˆÐ  æ ÐÌÌÌà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è àòòFOR€PUBLICATIONóóÐ °„ ÐÌIN€THE€MATTER€OF:à à àà 8 àà  à)à è àœò òFiled:€May€3,€1999ó ó›Ð |P Ðà Ø àBIANCA€ARNESHE€ASKEW,à  à)Ð h< Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)ÌDOROTHY€LEWIS,à à àœà 8 à›à  àà è à)à @ àFAYETTE€COUNTYÔ#†X{*XXXݱ#ÔÔ‡XݱXXX{*Ôà  # àÐ î  Ðà Ø àà 0 àœPetitioner/Appellee,›à 8 àà  à)à è àÐ Ô  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è àHon.€Jon€Kerry€BlackwoodÔ#†X{*XXXݱá#ÔÔ‡XݱXXX{*ÔÐ æº  Ðv.à Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à à€à 8 àà  à)à è àJudgeÐ Ì   Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è àÐ ²†  ÐJULIE€DONOHO,à ˆ àà à à€à 8 àà  à)à è àSupreme€CourtÐ ˜l Ðà Ø àRespondent/Appellant.à 8 àà  à)à è àNo.€02S01„9901„CV„00006Ð ~R Ðà Ø àòòÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌFOR€APPELLANTà ˆ àóóà à àà 8 àà  àà è àà @ àòòà ˜ àFOR€APPELLEEóóÐ z"N ÐMargaret€R.€Barr„Myersà à àà 8 àà  àà è àà @ àà ˜ àÔ#†X{*XXXݱ #ÔÔ‡XݱXXX{*ÔDavid€W.€Campà  # àÐ `#4 ÐMemphis,€TNà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è àà @ àà ˜ àJackson,€TN€Ð F$ ÐÔ‡„Ng„XXݱÔÌÌÌÌÌ̛̜ÌÔ#†XݱX„„Ngù #ÔÔ‡„Ng„XXݱÔà@VV(Ìàò òO€P€I€N€I€O€Nó óÔ#†XݱX„„NgE #ԈРü/Ð%& ÐÌTRIAL€COURT€ANDÌCOURT€OF€APPEALS€œREVERSED;ÌCASE€REMANDED€TO€TRIAL€COURT.›à  àà è àà @ àà ˜ àà ð àDROWOTA,€J.Ð  4æ)*9 ÐÓÓÔ#†X{*XXXݱ, #ÔÌà Ø àIn€this€child€custody€case€involving€Bianca€Arneshe€Askew,€now€age€eightÏyears€and€nine€months,€we€consider€the€competing€claims€between€the€childððs€naturalÏmother,€Julie€Donoho,€and€Dorothy€Lewis,€who€presently€has€physical€custody€of€theÏchild.€€The€lower€courts€found€that€a€prior€court€order€had€granted€custody€to€Ms.ÏLewis€and€that€Ms.€Donoho€had€failed€to€satisfy€her€burden€of€proving€that€custodyÏshould€be€restored€to€her.€€Because€we€find€that€Ms.€Donohoððs€constitutional€right€asÏa€parent€has€been€abridged,€due€to€the€absence€of€a€showing€of€unfitness€or€ofÏsubstantial€harm,€we€reverse€the€decisions€of€the€lower€courts.ÌÌÌà@ee!Ìàò òFACTS€&€PROCEDURAL€HISTORYó óˆÐ Ì  ÐÌà Ø àBianca€Arneshe€Askew€was€born€on€August€2,€1990.€€Biancaððs€mother€isÏRespondent/Appellant€Julie€Donoho€and€Biancaððs€father€is€Avery€Askew.€ÏPetitioner/Appellee€Dorothy€Lewis€became€involved€in€the€care€of€Bianca€during€theÏchildððs€early€years.€€Ms.€Lewis€is€the€cousin€of€Ms.€Donohoððs€uncleððs€former€wife€andÏbecame€acquainted€with€Ms.€Donoho€during€her€pregnancy€with€Bianca.€€AlthoughÏthe€details€are€not€clear€from€the€record,€Ms.€Donoho€admitted€that€she€was€ð ðgoingÏthrough€some€problemsðð€at€the€time€of€Biancaððs€birth,€including€employmentÏdifficulties€and€the€rearing€of€her€other€two€young€children.ñ“ññœññŸñ׃ ×ñŸññŸñ׃×ñŸññœññœñ׃×ñœññ“ññ“ñ׃×ñ“ñÝ ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€As€a€result,€BiancaÐ ¬/€%( Ðbegan€to€reside€with€Ms.€Lewis€at€some€point,€although€the€record€is€unclear.Ð Œ1`'* Їà Ø àThis€dispute€began€following€an€order€entered€by€the€œJuvenile›€œCourt€of€ShelbyÏCounty›€in€1991€awarding€custody€of€Bianca€to€Ms.€Donoho.€€In€February€of€1994,€Ms.ÏLewis,€a€resident€of€Fayette€County,€filed€a€petition€in€the€Juvenile€Court€of€FayetteÏCounty€seeking€custody€of€Bianca.€€As€grounds,€this€petition€simply€alleged€that€ð ð[t]heÏchild€has€been€with€Ms.€Lewis€since€Oct.€1991.ðð€€After€a€hearing€in€March€of€1994,Ïthe€juvenile€court€awarded€custody€of€Bianca€to€Ms.€Lewis€in€a€perfunctory€order.ñ’ññ•ñ׃×ñ•ññ•ñ׃×ñ•ññ’ññ’ñ׃ ,×ñ’ñÝ ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð d8  ÐÌà Ø àImmediately€thereafter,€Ms.€Donoho€filed€a€petition€for€custody€in€the€œJuvenile›ÏCourt€œof€Fayette€County€alleging›€that€she€had€not€been€provided€with€notice€of€theÏproceeding€and,€thus,€requesting€that€the€March€1994€order€be€set€aside.ñ—ñ׃ @×ñ—ññ—ñ׃,×ñ—ñÝ ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×РĘ ÐAlternatively,€Ms.€Donoho€asserted€that€a€change€of€circumstances€warranted€thatÏBianca€should€be€returned€to€her€custody.€€Following€a€hearing,€the€juvenile€courtÏfound€in€August€of€1994€that€Ms.€Donoho€did€not€receive€notice€of€Ms.€LewisððsÏpetition€until€the€date€of€the€hearing€when€she€received€a€telephone€call€from€theÏjuvenile€court€clerkððs€office.€€The€juvenile€court€proceeded€to€award€ð ðtemporaryÏcustodyðð€of€Bianca€to€Ms.€Lewis,€but€noted:ÌÓÓà8 Ø àÔ‡X^ÄXXX^ÄÔthe€Court€declines€to€grant€the€natural€parents€custody€of€the€minorÐ ¬'€  Ðchild€until€such€time€as€they€show€the€Court€that€they€are€able€to€careÏfor€the€minor€child;€that€the€Court€finds€that€the€interest€of€the€naturalÏparents€in€regaining€custody€of€their€child€is€superior€to€the€right€of€[Ms.ÏLewis]€and€that€the€Court€is€only€delaying€restoring€custody€to€theÏnatural€parents.€.€.€.€It€is,€therefore,€ordered,€adjudged€and€decreed€thatÏ.€.€.€the€Court€declines€to€grant€the€natural€parents€custody€of€the€minorÏâ âchild€until€such€time€as€they€show€the€Court€that€they€are€able€to€careÐ  .ô#' Ðfor€the€minor€child;€and€that€the€Court€is€hereby€delaying€restoration€ofÏcustody€to€the€natural€parents.€€€€Ô#†X^ÄXXX^Ät#ÔÐ ìØ À!Ø À! Ðâ âà Ø àÌÓÓThe€juvenile€court€proceeded€to€set€forth€a€visitation€and€child€support€schedule.€€TheÏorder€did€not€specify€the€conditions€that€the€natural€parents€would€need€to€satisfy€inÏorder€to€establish€their€ability€to€care€for€Bianca.€€Neither€party€appealed€this€order.ÌÌà Ø àIn€March€of€1996,€Ms.€Donoho€filed€a€petition€to€restore€custody,€but€theÏœJuvenile›€œCourt€of€Fayette€County›€entered€an€order€holding€that€it€would€not€entertainÏMs.€Donohoððs€action€due€to€her€failure€to€pay€child€support€as€required€by€the€AugustÏ1994€order.€€In€October€of€1996,€the€child€support€issue€apparently€resolved,€Ms.ÏDonoho€filed€a€renewed€petition€œin€the€juvenile€court€to›€restore€custodyœ€as€well€as€aÏcontempt€motion€against€Ms.€Lewis€for€her€alleged€refusal€to€allow€Ms.€Donoho€toÏvisit€with€Bianca.€€After€the€juvenile€court€entered€an€order€denying€her€petition,€Ms.ÏDonoho€appealed€to€the€Circuit€Court€of€Fayette€County.€€ÌÌà Ø àThe€trial€court€held€a€hearing€in€this€case€in€March€of€1997.€€Ms.€DonohoÏoffered€her€own€testimony€as€well€as€the€testimony€of€two€of€her€cousins€and€herÏpastor.€€This€testimony€basically€stated€that€Ms.€Donoho€has€turned€her€life€around:€Ïshe€is€gainfully€employed€and€has€developed€a€stable€home€in€which€she€has€helpedÏto€rear€her€other€two€children.€€Ms.€Donoho€testified€that€she€does€not€drink€or€smokeÏand€that€members€of€her€extended€family,€who€have€helped€to€rear€her€children,€liveÏnearby.€€When€questioned€by€Ms.€Lewisððs€counsel€concerning€why€she€hasÏneglected€to€adhere€to€the€court„ordered€visitation€schedule€with€Bianca,€Ms.€DonohoÏresponded€that€she€was€traumatized€by€Ms.€Lewisððs€alleged€harassment€during€theÏcourse€of€such€visitation.€€When€questioned€regarding€her€failure€to€adhere€to€regularÐ €5T+/ Ðcourt„ordered€child€support€payments,€Ms.€Donoho€maintained€that€she€had€paid€allÏarrearages.׃ ×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð  Ø ÐÌà Ø àFollowing€the€proof€presented€by€Ms.€Donoho,€Ms.€Lewis€moved€for€dismissal.€ÏThe€trial€court€granted€this€motion,€finding€that€Ms.€Donoho€had€ð ðfail[ed]€to€carry€herÏburden€of€proof€of€showing€ððchanged€circumstances.ðððð€Ms.€Donoho€appealed€to€theÏCourt€of€Appeals,€asserting€that€the€trial€court€did€not€apply€the€proper€test.€€Ms.ÏDonoho€contends€that€due€to€her€status€as€Biancaððs€parent€and€Ms.€Lewisððs€statusÏas€a€non„parent€and€due€to€Ms.€Donohoððs€recognized€fundamental€constitutionalÏparental€right€of€privacy,€the€burden€should€have€been€on€Ms.€Lewis€to€demonstrateÏa€threat€of€substantial€harm€to€Bianca€if€she€is€returned€to€the€custody€of€Ms.ÏDonoho.ÌÌà Ø àThe€Court€of€Appeals€on€September€23,€1998,€found€that€a€two„prong€testÏmust€be€utilized€in€a€modification€of€custody€dispute€in€which€a€natural€parent€seeksÏcustody€of€a€child€in€the€custody€of€a€non„parent.€€First,€the€non„custodial€parentÏmust€demonstrate€a€change€of€his€or€her€circumstances.€€Then,€the€non„custodialÏparent€bears€the€burden€of€proving€that€a€change€of€custody€would€not€result€inÏsubstantial€harm€to€the€child.€€Applying€this€test€to€the€facts,€the€majority€of€the€CourtÏof€Appeals€found€that€Ms.€Donoho€had€failed€to€satisfy€the€first€prong€byÏdemonstrating€that€a€change€of€circumstances€existed.€€Thus,€the€majority€affirmedÏthe€trial€courtððs€finding€with€regard€to€this€prong€and€reasoned€that€it€wasÏunnecessary€to€consider€the€second€prong.€€In€a€separate€concurrence,€Judge€LillardÐ ¼2(, Ðopined€that€Ms.€Donoho€had€proven€changed€circumstances,€but€found€that€Ms.ÏDonoho€had€failed€to€demonstrate€that€a€change€of€custody€would€not€result€inÏsubstantial€harm€to€Bianca.€€Ms.€Donoho€filed€an€application€for€permission€to€appealÏon€November€23,€1998.€€This€Court€granted€the€application€on€January€19,€1999,€andÏexpedited€the€briefing€schedule€and€set€this€cause€for€oral€argument€on€April€13,Ï1999.ÌÌÌà@dd)Ìàò òDISCUSSIONˆÐ ìÀ Ðà Ø àÌà Ø àó óThe€controversy€at€issue€presents€the€Court€with€another€opportunity€toÐ ¼ Ðconsider€the€delicate€interplay€involving€the€constitutional€right€of€a€parent€regardingÏcustody,€the€custodial€right€of€a€non„parent,€and›€the€welfare€of€a€young€child.€ÏFollowing€this€Courtððs€recognition€in€òòDavis€v.€Davisóó,€842€S.W.2d€588€(Tenn.€1992),Ð D" Ðthat€the€Tennessee€Constitution€guarantees€the€right€to€privacy,€a€progeny€of€recentÏcases€has€held€that€this€privacy€interest€includes€the€right€for€parents€to€care€for€theirÏchildren.€€In€òòHawk€v.€Hawkóó,€855€S.W.2d€573€(Tenn.€1993),€we€found€that:Ð Ì'   ÐÓÓà8 Ø àIn€light€of€this€right€to€privacy,€we€believe€that€when€no€substantialÏharm€threatenððs€a€childððs€welfare,€the€state€lacks€a€sufficientlyÏcompelling€justification€for€the€infringement€on€the€fundamental€right€ofÏparents€to€raise€their€children€as€they€see€fit.Ð Ø À!Ø À! ÐÌòòÓÓId.óó€at€577;€òòseeóó€òòalsoóó€òòSimmons€v.€Simmonsóó,€900€S.W.2d€682€(Tenn.€1995);€òòNale€v.Ð @.$' ÐRobertsonóó,€871€S.W.2d€674€(Tenn.€1994).Ð 0ì%) ÐÌà Ø àIn€a€recent€case,€òòAdoption€of€Female€Child€(Bond€v.€McKenzie)óó,€896€S.W.2dÐ È3œ)- Ð546€(Tenn.€1995)€(ð ðòòBondóóðð),€we€discussed€this€principle€in€the€context€of€a€disputeÐ  5t+/ Ðbetween€a€parent€and€a€non„parent.€€In€òòBondóó,€the€natural€mother€gave€birth€to€theÐ ,  Ðchild€in€1987.€€Soon€thereafter,€the€mother€and€father€divorced€and€the€mother€wasÏawarded€custody€of€the€child.€€Due€to€the€childððs€medical€condition,€the€mother€askedÏa€couple€to€temporarily€assist€her€in€caring€for€the€child,€who€was€eight€and€one„halfÏmonths€old.€€One€month€later,€the€couple€filed€a€petition€for€custody€of€the€child.€€TheÏmother€joined€in€the€petition,€mistakenly€believing€that€the€petition€was€simplyÏdesigned€to€allow€the€couple€to€authorize€medical€treatment€but€not€to€alter€legalÏcustody.€€Realizing€her€mistake€after€the€trial€court€entered€an€order€awardingÏcustody€to€the€couple,€the€mother€filed€a€petition€seeking€to€regain€custody€of€theÏchild.€€From€1988€until€the€case€was€resolved€by€this€Court€in€1995,€the€child€was€inÏthe€physical€custody€of€the€couple€for€virtually€the€entire€time€period.€€ÌÌà Ø àAfter€conducting€a€hearing€on€the€petition,€the€trial€court€found€that€the€motherÏð ðhas€not€sufficiently€prepared€herself€to€parent€this€child.ðð€€Nevertheless,€the€courtÏawarded€custody€to€the€mother€provided€that€she€receive€parental€training€andÏcounseling.€€òòId.óó€at€547.€€The€Court€of€Appeals€reversed,€finding€that€the€childððs€bestÐ Ô%¨ Ðinterest€was€best€served€by€remaining€in€the€custody€of€the€couple.€€Applying€casesÏsuch€as€òòHawkóó,€òòsupraóó,€and€òòNaleóó,€òòsupraóó,€we€reversed€the€decision€of€the€Court€ofÐ „)X" ÐAppeals,€stating€as€follows:ÌÓÓà8 Ø à[I]n€a€contest€between€a€parent€and€a€non„parent,€a€parent€cannot€beÏdeprived€of€the€custody€of€a€child€unless€there€has€been€a€finding,€afterÏnotice€required€by€due€process,€of€substantial€harm€to€the€child.€€OnlyÏthen€may€a€court€engage€in€a€general€ð ðbest€interest€of€the€childððÏevaluation€in€making€a€determination€of€custody.Ð Ø À!Ø À! Ðâ âÐ Ð1¤'+ ÐòòÓÓBondóó,€896€S.W.2d€at€548.€€Therefore,€òòBondóó€stands€for€the€proposition€that€a€naturalÐ ,  Ðparent€may€only€be€deprived€of€custody€of€a€child€upon€a€showing€of€substantial€harmÏto€the€child.Ìâ âÌà Ø àIn€the€present€case,€the€Court€of€Appeals€found€that€the€August€1994€order€ofÏthe€juvenile€court€contained€an€ð ð[i]mplicit€.€.€.€finding€that€Donoho€was€unable€to€careÏfor€Bianca€at€that€time€and€of€substantial€harm€to€Bianca€that€would€have€resulted€inÏawarding€custody€to€Donoho.ðð€€Noting€that€this€order€was€not€appealed,€the€Court€ofÏAppeals€stated€that€the€òòresóó€òòjudicataóó€effect€of€this€order€made€it€ð ðconclusive€asÐ ìÀ Ðbetween€Donoho€and€Lewis€absent€a€showing€by€Donoho€of€a€material€change€inÏcircumstances.ððÌÌà Ø àWe€cannot€agree.€€The€August€1994€order€contains€neither€an€explicit€norÏimplicit€finding€of€substantial€harm.€€Nothing€in€the€record€suggests€that€Ms.€DonohoÏis€an€unfit€parent€or€that€Bianca€is€a€dependent€and€neglected€child.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.Ð ü#Ð ÐCode€Ann.€ðð€37„1„129€(1996).€€In€fact,€an€explicit€and€implicit€reading€of€the€orderÏconveys€every€indication€that€the€juvenile€court€intended€to€return€Bianca€to€theÏcustody€of€her€natural€parents€in€the€near€future.€€When€granting€ð ðtemporary€custodyððÏto€Ms.€Lewis,€the€juvenile€court€stated€that€ð ðthe€interest€of€the€natural€parents€inÏregaining€custody€of€their€child€is€superior€to€the€right€of€[Ms.€Lewis]€and€that€theÏCourt€is€only€delaying€restoring€custody€to€the€natural€parents.ðð€€Nothing€in€the€recordÏalludes€to€Bianca€potentially€being€harmed€by€returning€to€the€custody€of€her€naturalÏparents.€€We€respectfully€disagree€that€the€juvenile€courtððs€requirement€that€custodyÏis€delayed€until€the€natural€parents€demonstrate€ð ðthat€they€are€able€to€care€for€theÐ ”4h*. Ðminor€childðð€indicates€that€the€juvenile€court€found€that€a€threat€of€substantial€harmÏexisted.€€The€magnitude€of€a€parentððs€constitutional€right€to€rear€and€have€custodyÏof€his€or€her€children€œwould€necessitate›€a€œclear›€finding€of€substantial€harm.€ÌÌà Ø àIn€addition,€we€are€also€troubled€by€the€Court€of€Appealsðð€analysis€of€the€òòresóóÐ Œ` Ðòòjudicataóó€effect€of€this€August€1994€order.€€The€order€conveys€no€suggestion€of€finalityÐ d8  Ðbut,€instead,€characterizes€the€custody€award€as€ð ðtemporary,ðð€stating€that€ð ðthe€CourtÏis€only€delaying€restoring€custody€to€the€natural€parents,ðð€and€emphasizing€that€theÏrights€of€the€natural€parents€are€superior€to€the€interest€of€Ms.€Lewis.€€We€wouldÏcharacterize€this€order€as€a€continuance€of€the€case€until€the€court€heard€more€proofÏfrom€Ms.€Donoho.€€Under€these€circumstances,€Ms.€Donoho€had€virtually€no€incentiveÏto€appeal€what€was€not€a€final€order,€since€the€juvenile€court€explicitly€indicated€thatÏBianca€would€soon€be€returned€to€the€custody€of€her€natural€parents.ÌÌà Ø àIt€appears€that€no€valid€initial€determination€was€ever€made€that€Ms.€DonohoððsÏcustody€of€Bianca€would€result€in€ð ðsubstantial€harmðð€to€the€child.€€Absent€such€aÏfinding,€we€conclude€that€the€deprivation€of€the€custody€of€her€child€has€resulted€inÏan€abridgment€of€Ms.€Donohoððs€fundamental€right€to€privacy.€€òòBondóó,€896€S.W.2d€atÐ „)X" Ð548;€òòNaleóó,€871€S.W.2d€at€680;€òòHawkóó,€855€S.W.2d€at€577.€€In€light€of€the€uniqueÐ \+0!$ Ðcircumstances€of€this€case,€we€believe€that€the€Court€of€Appeals€has€misappliedÏmodification€of€custody€principles€when€no€valid€initial€order€depriving€the€naturalÏmother€of€custody€existed.€€In€the€absence€of€such€a€valid€initial€order,€we€believeÏthat€it€would€be€unconstitutional€for€the€natural€mother€to€bear€the€burden€of€provingÏthe€absence€of€substantial€œharm.€€Because›€the€record€does€not€show€œthat›€a€findingÐ ”4h*. Ðœof€substantial€harm€was›€made€in€this€case,€constitutional€principles€compel€us€toÏreverse€the€decisions€of€the€lower€courts.€ÌÌÌà@..)Ìàò òCONCLUSIONˆÐ Œ` ÐÌà Ø àó óIn€this€procedurally€defective€case,€Ms.€Lewis,€a€non„parent,€never€pled€anyÐ \0  Ðgrounds€sufficient€to€warrant€custody€of€the€child€being€taken€away€from€her€naturalÏparents.€€Having€neglected€to€allege€that€Ms.€Donoho€was€an€unfit€parent,€thatÏBianca€was€a€dependent€and€neglected€child,€or€that€a€danger€of€substantial€harmÏto€Bianca€existed,€Ms.€Lewis€also€failed€to€prove€these€necessary€elements€beforeÏobtaining€custody€from€the€childððs€natural€mother.€€Moreover,€nothing€in€the€recordÏwould€support€such€a€finding.€€The€order€of€œthe›€Juvenile€œCourt€of€Fayette€County›Ïentered€August€1994,€the€subject€of€much€discussion€in€the€Court€of€AppealsððÏopinion,€was€in€fact€erroneous€if€it€is€to€be€interpreted€to€award€permanent€custodyÏof€Bianca€to€Ms.€Lewis.€€However,€we€do€not€so€interpret€that€order,€nor€do€weÏconstrue€it,€as€the€Court€of€Appeals€did,€to€show€a€finding€of€substantial€harm.€€In€theÏabsence€of€such€a€showing,€Ms.€Donoho€should€never€have€been€deprived€of€theÏcustody€of€her€child,€and€the€lower€courts€erred€by€requiring€her€to€carry€the€burdenÏof€proof.€ÌÌà Ø àThe€decisions€of€the€lower€courts€are€reversed.€€Physical€custody€of€BiancaÏAskew€shall€be€œreturned›€to€Ms.€Donoho€in€a€manner€least€disruptive€to€the€welfareÏof€the€œchild€by€June€1,€1999.€€In›€the€interest€of€the€child,€we€implore€the€parties€toÐ ´4ˆ*. Ðœcooperate.€€This€cause€is€remanded€to€the€trial€court€for€supervision€and€enforcementÏof€this€decision.›€€à ˆ àÐ  Ø ÐÌà Ø àCosts€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€Ms.€Lewis.ÌÌÌÔ‡X^ÄXXX^ÄÔà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àœ_____________________________________ñ ñÐ <  Ðñ ñ›ÓÓà  # àœñ¡ñÐ <  Ðà Ø àñ¡ñ›à 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àFrank€F.€Drowota,€III,Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àJusticeÌÓ²QÓÌÌÓÓœñ¢ñò òñ¢ñCONCUR:›ñ¢ñó óñ¢ñÐ °„ ÐÌAnderson,€C.J.ÌBirch,€Holder,€Barker,€J.J.Ô#†X^ÄXXX^ÄQ#Ô