A.A.R. v. E.H.

CourtSuperior Court of Pennsylvania
DecidedFebruary 6, 2020
Docket1518 MDA 2019
StatusUnpublished

This text of A.A.R. v. E.H. (A.A.R. v. E.H.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Superior Court of Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
A.A.R. v. E.H., (Pa. Ct. App. 2020).

Opinion

J-S02025-20

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

A.A.R. : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF : PENNSYLVANIA Appellant : : v. : : E.H. : : Appellee : No. 1518 MDA 2019

Appeal from the Order Entered August 23, 2019 In the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County Civil Division at No(s): 15382-2010

BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., KING, J., and MUSMANNO, J.

MEMORANDUM BY KING, J.: FILED: FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Appellant, A.A.R. (“Mother”), appeals from the order entered in the

Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas, which denied her petitions for

modification of custody and relocation, and awarded primary physical custody

of E.V.H. (born in January 2009) (“Child”) to Appellee, E.H. (“Father”). Due

to a change in circumstances during the pendency of this appeal, we vacate

and remand for further proceedings.

The relevant facts and procedural history of this case are as follows.

Mother and Father were never married but were in a romantic relationship

from 2006 to 2010. In January of 2009, Child was born. At all times relevant

to these proceedings, Father resided with (and still resides with) his parents

(“Paternal Grandparents”). Father has a history of seizures and other physical

ailments, so Paternal Grandparents are very involved in Child’s caretaking. J-S02025-20

Additionally, Mother has a daughter from a previous relationship (“Half-

Sister”), who Father raised with Mother when Mother and Father were

together.

On November 10, 2010, Mother filed a custody complaint. The court

entered a custody order on December 20, 2010, awarding the parties shared

legal custody, and Father primary physical custody of Child, subject to

Mother’s periods of partial physical custody, pending a custody hearing. On

January 26, 2011, the parties stipulated to shared legal and physical custody

of Child on a 50/50 basis. Mother filed a petition to modify custody on March

30, 2011. On June 17, 2011, the court entered an order, by agreement of the

parties, continuing the custody arrangement set forth in the January 26, 2011

order, with minor modifications. In 2017, Mother moved to Allentown to live

with her fiancé. At that time, the parties agreed Father would have primary

physical custody of Child, subject to Mother’s periods of partial physical

custody every weekend from Friday through Sunday, except during the

summer when the parties would share physical custody evenly.

On April 19, 2018, Mother filed the current petition to modify custody,

seeking primary physical custody of Child. The court subsequently appointed

a guardian ad litem (“GAL”) for Child. By agreement of the parties, the court

entered an order on September 13, 2018, for Father to have primary physical

custody of Child, subject to Mother’s periods of partial physical custody,

pending a custody hearing. On September 20, 2018, Mother filed a notice of

-2- J-S02025-20

proposed relocation to Allentown, where Mother and Half-Sister1 were living

with Mother’s fiancé. Mother filed an amended notice of proposed relocation

on October 18, 2018. The next day, Father filed a counter-affidavit opposing

relocation.

The court held a custody/relocation hearing on August 16, 2019. The

court heard testimony from Mother, Mother’s fiancé, Half-Sister, Father,

Paternal Grandparents, and the GAL. The witnesses testified, inter alia, as

follows. Mother testified that she initially agreed to let Father have primary

physical custody of Child after her move to Allentown because Child was

getting good grades, had friends at his school, and seemed happy and healthy.

While in Father’s primary physical custody, however, Mother alleged Child

gained significant weight and was diagnosed with obesity and pre-diabetes.

Mother said she learned Child played videogames most of the day during

Father’s custodial time and ate too much “fast food.” Mother also testified

that Paternal Grandparents had been providing for the majority of Child’s care

and Father was not actively participating in Child’s daily routines. (N.T.

Hearing, 8/16/19, at 6-38; 110-115; R.R. at 27a-35a; 53a-55a). Mother’s

fiancé said he has a good relationship with Child and explained that Child has

more rules to follow in his and Mother’s home. (Id. at 39-44; R.R. at 36a-

____________________________________________

1 Due to Father’s and Paternal Grandparents’ close relationship with Half- Sister, Father has also enjoyed some custodial time with Half-Sister during the course of these proceedings. Half-Sister is not the subject of this appeal.

-3- J-S02025-20

37a). Half-Sister agreed that Child eats a lot of “fast food” and plays video

games frequently during Father’s custodial time. Half-Sister also complained

about Father’s smoking in the house. (Id. at 46-58; R.R. at 37a-40a).

Father disputed Mother’s contention that Paternal Grandparents provide

most of Child’s care during his custodial periods. Father conceded that Child

loves to play video games but denied that Child plays video games most of

the day. Rather, Father indicated Child also loves to swim and play outside.

Father admitted Child was eating too much “fast food” but said that he and

Paternal Grandparents were working on Child’s nutrition, and Child had

already lost some weight. Father explained his parents provide transportation

for Child because Father is unable to drive. Father highlighted Child’s excellent

grades in school. Father said he no longer smokes in the house. (Id. at 59-

87; R.R. at 41a-48a). Paternal Grandparents echoed Father’s remarks that

their family was working on Child’s nutrition. Paternal Grandparents said

Father is present during mealtimes and actively participates in caring for Child.

Paternal Grandparents emphasized that Child is happy in their home. (Id. at

88-110; R.R. at 48a-53a).

The GAL testified that Child spends a lot of time playing video games at

Father’s and Paternal Grandparents’ home. The GAL said Father admitted that

his parents provide 75% of Child’s care because of Father’s physical ailments.2

2 Father denied making this statement.

-4- J-S02025-20

The GAL opined that Father is “too removed” from Child’s day-to-day care.

The GAL stated Child’s preference to live with Father and Paternal

Grandparents, and explained that Child did not want to leave his current

school and friends in Father’s community. The GAL further noted that Child

appeared to have “practiced” before his interview, as Child voluntarily offered

statements to the GAL, which were favorable to Father and Paternal

Grandparents, without the GAL’s questioning on those topics. (Id. at 116-

158; R.R. at 55a-65a).

On August 23, 2019, the court denied Mother’s modification and

relocation petitions.3 Specifically, the court ordered the parties to continue

the custody arrangement of Father having primary physical custody of Child,

subject to Mother’s periods of partial physical custody every weekend, except

during the summers when the parties would split physical custody. After

analyzing the relevant custody factors, the court explained its custody decision

as follows:

Although Mother and Father adequately care for [Child] during their respective periods of custody, Father has assumed the role of primary caretaker of [Child] for the past two years and [Child] is thriving physically, intellectually, spiritually and morally.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Bovard v. Baker
775 A.2d 835 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2001)
In Re: J.A., Appeal of: D.A.
107 A.3d 799 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2015)
S.M. v. J.M.
811 A.2d 621 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2002)
R.M.G. v. F.M.G.
986 A.2d 1234 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2009)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
A.A.R. v. E.H., Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/aar-v-eh-pasuperct-2020.