Hughes v. Gentry

443 S.E.2d 448, 18 Va. App. 318, 10 Va. Law Rep. 1332, 1994 Va. App. LEXIS 258

• Court: Court of Appeals of Virginia
• Decided: May 3, 1994
• Docket: Record No. 2015-92-2
• Status: Published

Opinions

Opinion

KOONTZ, J.

Deborah K. Gentry Hughes (Hughes) appeals an order of the Circuit Court of Henrico County transferring custody of her son, Brandon Gentry (Brandon), to William W. Gentry (Gentry), Hughes’s former husband and Brandon’s natural father. Hughes was awarded custody of Brandon following the couple’s separation. Gentry petitioned the court for a change of custody after Hughes and her new husband indicated that they intended to relocate outside Virginia. The chancellor ruled that a change in circumstances warranting a review of custody had occurred and that the best interests of the child required a change of custody.

In this appeal, Hughes argues that the chancellor erred in finding a sufficient change of circumstances and that he further erred in determining that the best interests of the child warranted a change of custody. Hughes also appeals the denial of her post-hearing motion to reconsider based on additional evidence. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the chancellor’s rulings.

I.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Hughes and Gentry married in 1981 and divorced in 1989. The couple had one child, Brandon, and Gentry adopted Hughes’s other son, Maynard, during the marriage. After the couple separated, custody of both children was awarded to Hughes, who subsequently remarried. Two daughters were born during this subsequent marriage. Gentry requested and received from the court liberal visitation rights with both Brandon and Maynard. He has subsequently terminated his relationship with Maynard.

The record reflects that following the entry of the final decree of divorce, Hughes and Gentry engaged in an acrimonious and combative exchange of motions and petitions in the courts over matters of visitation, support and custody. In January 1992, Hughes informed Gentry by letter that she and her husband would be relocating out of state “in the near future.” Gentry then petitioned the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court of Hanover County (where Hughes then resided) for a change of custody. Following a hearing on the motion, a judge of that court ordered a change of custody. Hughes appealed the order of the juvenile court to the Circuit Court of Henrico County, the court of jurisdiction in the original divorce action.

In a de novo hearing, the chancellor heard testimony from the parties, various relatives, other lay witnesses and two expert witnesses. Gentry and his current wife testified that Hughes had interfered with Gentry’s visitation with Brandon. Hughes denied these allegations.

Barbara Witherow, LPC (Witherow), testified for Gentry. Witherow indicated that Brandon felt freer to express his emotions for both parents when he resided with his father. William Lordi, M.D. (Lordi), testified for Hughes. Lordi stated that the relocation would not be against Brandon’s best interests. Lordi felt that siblings should not be separated. The chancellor also received a report from the court’s social worker and heard arguments from the parties and Brandon’s guardian ad litem.

After receiving recommendations for visitation from the parties and the guardian ad litem, the chancellor by letter opinion awarded custody of Brandon, who had resided with his father following the juvenile court hearing, to Gentry. In response to the letter opinion, Hughes filed a motion to reconsider. An order reflecting the ruling of the letter opinion was entered on August 28, 1992. Hughes again moved the court to reconsider its ruling, alleging in a supporting memorandum and affidavit that she was now prepared to bring evidence before that court that Gentry had raped her following their separation. Gentry denied these allegations by affidavit. The chancellor, considering the evidence on the record, denied the motion to reconsider.

II.

CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANTING REVIEW OF CUSTODY

The trial court may “revise and alter such decree concerning the care, custody and maintenance of the children and make a new decree concerning the same, as the circumstances of the parents and the benefit of the children may require.” Code § 20-108. In determining whether a change in custody is warranted, the trial court applies a two-part test: (1) whether there has been a change of circumstances since the most recent custody award; and (2) whether such a change would be in the best interests of the child. Keel v. Keel, 225 Va. 606, 611, 303 S.E.2d 917, 921 (1983). On appeal, we review the evidence in the light most favorable to the prevailing party below. Peple v. Peple, 5 Va. App. 414, 422, 364 S.E.2d 232, 237 (1988). “The trial court’s decision, when based upon an ore tenus hearing, is entitled to great weight and will not be disturbed unléss plainly wrong or without evidence to support it.” Venable v. Venable, 2 Va. App. 178, 186, 342 S.E.2d 646, 651 (1986).

In acknowledging this standard of review, however, we also recognize that the parent seeking to obtain a transfer of custody bears the burden to show a change in circumstances following the most recent custody award. See Keel, 225 Va. at 611, 303 S.E.2d at 921; Turner v. Turner, 3 Va. App. 31, 34, 348 S.E.2d 21, 22 (1986). This rule advances the obvious benefits of providing stability in the life of the child whose custody is the subject of the conflict between the parents. Peple, 5 Va. App. at 421, 364 S.E.2d at 237.

Here, Hughes contends that the chancellor based his ruling on her impending departure from the state, and that this fact, in itself, does not constitute a change of circumstances warranting a review of custody. We disagree.

It is well settled law that a court may forbid a custodial parent from removing a child from the state without the court’s permission, Carpenter v. Carpenter, 220 Va. 299, 302, 257 S.E.2d 845, 847 (1979), or it may permit the child to be removed from the state. Gray v. Gray, 228 Va. 696, 698-99, 324 S.E.2d 677, 678 (1985) ; Simmons v. Simmons, 1 Va. App. 358, 364, 339 S.E.2d 198, 201 (1986). In making such a determination, the court determines whether the relocation would be in the child’s best interest. Scinaldi v. Scinaldi, 2 Va. App. 571, 573, 347 S.E.2d 149, 150 (1986) . The inescapable inference of Scinaldi is that whenever the evidence suggests, as it does here, that the relocation of the custodial parent may not be in the child’s best interests, the relocation of the custodial parent constitutes a material change of circumstances. See Wilson v. Wilson, 12 Va. App. 1251, 1255, 408 S.E.2d 576, 579 (1991).

Moreover, the record reflects that Hughes’s pending relocation was not the sole factor considered by the chancellor in his determination that a change of circumstances had occurred. During the closing argument, the chancellor engaged Gentry’s counsel in a brief dialogue concerning the change in circumstances requirement. From that discussion, it is clear that the chancellor considered not merely the fact of the relocation, but its effect on Brandon. The chancellor also noted that Gentry’s remarriage further supported finding a change in circumstances.

Accordingly, we find that the record, when viewed in the light most favorable to the party prevailing below, supports the chancellor’s determination that a change in circumstances had occurred sufficient to warrant further consideration and determination of whether a change of custody would be in the best interests of the child.

III.

DETERMINATION OF THE “BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD”

The second prong of the test found in Keel, the best interests of the child, is the greater concern of the two. Visikides v. Derr, 3 Va. App. 69, 71, 348 S.E.2d 40, 41 (1986). Hughes contends that the chancellor erred in determining that Brandon’s best interests would be served by a change of custody so that he might remain in Virginia with his father. Hughes’s principal argument is that Brandon’s best interests are not served by separation from his half-siblings.

In support of this argument, Hughes relies on Hepler v. Hepler where our Supreme Court said, “Where it is reasonably possible, brothers and sisters of tender years should be reared together, and have the full benefit of natural ties of affection and interest that such association develops.” 195 Va. 611, 623, 79 S.E.2d 652, 659 (1954). Hughes urges us to adopt a “compelling cause” test that would give paramount status to the effect of the separation of siblings on a determination of custody.

We agree that the effect of the separation of siblings must be and should be considered by a court during both the initial determination of custody and in subsequent determinations of change of custody. See Hepler, 195 Va. at 623, 79 S.E.2d at 659; Smith v. Pond, 5 Va. App. 161, 165, 360 S.E.2d 885, 887-88 (1987). Nonetheless, there is no support for the contention that this consideration is paramount to others.¹ In Doane v. Doane, 330 So. 2d 753 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1976), a case cited by Hughes, and in other cases using similar language, it is clear that a “compelling cause” is necessary to separate siblings only where it is not otherwise in the best interests of the individual child to be placed in separate custody. See Brown v. Brown, 409 So. 2d 1133, 1134 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1982) (“the principle of non-separation ‘is not absolute and is subject to a determination as to what custody arrangement would be best for the (individual) child.’ ” (citation omitted)); In re Marriage of Jones, 309 N.W.2d 457, 461 (Iowa 1981) (court ordinarily tries to keep siblings together, but will not do so if the best interests of the child dictate otherwise). This is the view this Court took in Smith, where a third party custody award was overturned because there was no showing that it was in the best interest of the child to be in the custody of the third party, rather than to remain with her parents and siblings. Smith, 5 Va. App. at 165, 360 S.E.2d at 887-88.

Having determined that the chancellor did not err in giving no special weight to the effect of separating Brandon from his half-siblings, there remains the question of whether the chancellor erred in his overall determination that a change of custody was in Brandon’s best interest. The record shows that each of the experts considered Brandon to be a well adjusted child with a natural affection for both Hughes and Gentry, as well as for their respective spouses. Nonetheless, whereas Lordi stated only that a relocation would not be contrary to Brandon’s best interests, Witherow stated unequivocally that Brandon was happier and better able to relate to both Hughes and Gentry when he resided with Gentry. We accord deference to the chancellor in weighing such testimony because he was in a better position to hear and observe the witnesses.

In addition, despite Hughes’s assurance that she would assist Gentry in defraying the cost of travel that would be required for visitation, the record suggests that she has in the past had difficulty abiding by the court-ordered visitation schedule. The chancellor was clearly of the opinion that both Hughes and Gentry were using Brandon as a pawn in their continuing conflict. In his letter opinion, the chancellor renewed his appeal to Hughes and Gentry to put aside their differences for Brandon’s sake.

Thus, the chancellor relied both on expert testimony and the past history of the parties in determining, in accord with the provisions of Code § 20-107.2, that Brandon’s best interests, notwithstanding the separation from his half-siblings, were served by a transfer of custody from Hughes to Gentry. There being ample evidence in the record to support that decision, we will not supplant the chancellor’s judgment with our own. See Amburn v. Amburn, 13 Va. App. 661, 664, 414 S.E.2d 847, 849 (1992).

IV.

MOTION TO RECONSIDER FOR ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE

Following the unfavorable result, Hughes sought to reopen the question of change of custody, asserting that she wished to present additional evidence showing that Gentry was an unfit parent.² We begin by noting that in matters of child custody, “finality [of the custody decision] is only one of the factors used in determining a child’s best interests. Since circumstances affecting a child’s best interests may change periodically, finality is not a paramount consideration.” Accomack County Dep’t of Social Servs. v. Muslimani, 12 Va. App. 220, 225, 403 S.E.2d 1, 3 (1991). In Muslimani, this Court rejected the assertion that a motion to reopen a custody determination for additional evidence should be treated the same as a motion for a new trial in light of after-discovered evidence. We found that the best interests of the child may outweigh the prejudice which results to the opposing party where the moving party has failed to act diligently in discovering evidence or, as in this case, has withheld evidence for personal or tactical reasons. Id.

The decision whether to grant or deny a rehearing is within the trial court’s sound judicial discretion. See Morris v. Morris, 3 Va. App. 303, 307, 349 S.E.2d 661, 663 (1986). Although the chancellor considered the motion on submitted documents only, he implicitly did so with the benefit of the credibility determinations made during the prior ore tenus hearing. Accordingly, the chancellor is owed deference, and we will consider the matter in that light.

Hughes’s allegations were unsubstantiated and were denied by Gentry point by point. Although Hughes asserted in her affidavit that she could corroborate her allegations, she failed to do so. Moreover, the motion did not allege the discovery of new evidence not known or accessible to Hughes before the former hearing and pointed out no error upon the face of the record. The burden is on the moving party to show a right to the relief sought. Holmes v. Holmes, 7 Va. App. 472, 482, 375 S.E.2d 387, 393 (1988). Accordingly, we cannot say that the chancellor abused his discretion in denying the motion.

For the foregoing reasons, the orders of the circuit court transferring custody of Brandon from Hughes to Gentry and denying the motion to reopen that matter are affirmed.

Affirmed.

Willis, J., concurred.

1 We note that while most states list factors to be considered in determining an award of custody similar to those found in Code § 20-107.2, no state specifically includes relationship with siblings among those factors. Rather, the effect of separation of siblings is a factor judicially inferred from the provisions of the statute. See, e.g., In re Marriage of Kurth, 438 N.W.2d 852, 854 (Iowa Ct. App. 1989) (referring to the “strong interest in keeping children of broken homes together”). By way of contrast, many states’ statutes list separation of siblings as a factor in determining foster care placement. See, e.g., Fla. Stat. Ann. § 39.45 (West 1993); N.M. Stat. Ann. § 32A-4-22 (Michie 1993).

2 Hughes also asserted in her motion that the failure to appoint a guardian ad litem for her son Maynard (Brandon’s half-brother and Gentry’s adoptive son) prejudiced his rights and required reopening of the matter. This claim is not argued on appeal, and, accordingly, we do not address its merits.