Townes v. Manyfield

883 So. 2d 93, 2004 Miss. LEXIS 1200, 2004 WL 2187612
CourtMississippi Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 30, 2004
DocketNo. 2003-CA-01944-SCT
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 883 So. 2d 93 (Townes v. Manyfield) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Mississippi Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Townes v. Manyfield, 883 So. 2d 93, 2004 Miss. LEXIS 1200, 2004 WL 2187612 (Mich. 2004).

Opinion

DICKINSON, Justice,

for the Court.

¶ 1. This is a case involving the visitation rights of grandparents. This Court recognizes grandparent visitation. However, this case is being remanded back for a hearing on grandparent visitation in which the Martin factors, Martin v. Coop, 693 So.2d 912, 916 (Miss.1997), are to be applied and findings are to be made on the record supporting the visitation granted.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

¶ 2. On May 31, 2002, Dennis Earl Townes (“Townes”) filed a Petition for Writ of Assistance with the Chancery Court of the Second Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, alleging that B.L. Manyfield and Nay Ruth Manyfield (the “Manyfields”) wrongfully and unlawfully took custody and possession of Dennis’ minor children and refused to return the children to him.

¶ 3. On June 12, 2002, the Manyfields filed a Petition for Custody of Minor Children or in the Alternative, for Grandparent Visitation.

¶ 4. On July 3, 2002, the Youth Court Division of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi entered a Temporary Custody Order awarding temporary custody of the minor children to the Manyfields.

¶ 5. On July 22, 2002, the parties filed an Agreed Order of Temporary Visitation, granting Dennis temporary visitation with his children. Dennis was awarded visitation every other week beginning Sunday evenings at 6:00 p.m. through the following Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m.

¶ 6. On July 30, 2002, Dennis filed a Counter-Complaint for Custody of Minor Children.

¶ 7. On October 16, 2002, a hearing was conducted and the Opinion of the Court was filed on November 20, 2002. Subsequently, on July 30, 2003, an Order was entered awarding Dennis custody of the minor children and granting Manyfield visitation with the minor children. The Order provided that following visitation provision:

Every first and third weekend of each month beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and ending at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, beginning Friday, November 29, 2002, unless said weekend should fall on Christmas or Easter weekend, and in that instance the children will spend the holiday in the home of their father, Dennis Townes. This Court orders that Dennis Townes shall transport the children to the Manyfield’s house for the visits on the first weekend of each month and shall return to pick up the children at the conclusion of said visit. That on the [95]*95third weekend of each month, the parties or their designees shall meet at the truck stop near Interstate 55 exit at Durant, Mississippi at the beginning and conclusion of the visitation for the exchange of the children.

¶ 8. It is from this Order that Dennis appeals.

FACTS

¶ 9. On December 5, 1987, Dennis Earl Townes (“Dennis”) and Melva Manyfield (“Melva”) were married. Four minor children were born to the marriage, namely, Dennis E. Townes, II, born January 22, 1988; Cami M. Townes, born February 24, 1989; Amber Nicole Townes, Born June 21,1991; and Christopher A. Townes, born June 28,1992.

¶ 10. When Dennis and Melva divorced in 1996, Melva was awarded physical custody of the children. Melva and the four minor children resided with Melva’s parents, B.L. and Nay Ruth Manyfield, from 1994 until on or about January 2000.

¶ 11. On May 7, 2002, Melva perished in a house fire. Prevented by the Many-fields from getting his children, Dennis filed a Petition for Writ of Assistance to obtain the control and care of his minor children.

¶ 12. At trial, Dennis testified that between 1994 and 1997, he saw the children about three times and had not seen them at all since 1997. Nevertheless, in awarding custody to Dennis, the trial court stated: “As between [Dennis] and the Many-fields, [Dennis] is entitled to the benefit of the legal presumption that, in the efforts he now professes to be willing to make to rear his children and to provide for them, their best interest is served by reposing custody in him as their sole surviving natural parent.”

¶ 13. Visitation was granted to the Ma-nyfields. Dennis lives in Coffeeville, Mississippi. (Yalobusha County), and Mrs. Manyfield lives in Edwards, Mississippi (Hinds County). B.L. Manyfield is now deceased.

¶ 14. Subsequent to the order awarding custody to Dennis, the parties entered into an agreed order in which Dennis relinquished custody of the oldest child, Dennis II, to Mrs. Manyfield.

¶ 15. Dennis appeals, raising the issue of whether the conditions of visitation granted by the chancellor to Mrs. Many-field were excessive.

ANALYSIS

¶ 16. In Mississippi, grandparent visitation is addressed by statute:

Whenever a court of this state enters a decree or order awarding custody of a minor child to one (1) of the parents of the child or terminating the parental rights of one (1) of the parents of a minor child, or whenever one (1) of the parents of a minor child dies, either parent of the child’s parents who was not awarded custody or whose parental rights have been terminated or who has died may petition the court in which the decree or order was rendered or, in the case of the death of a parent, petition the chancery court in the county in which the child resides, and seek visitation rights with such child.

Miss.Code Ann. § 93-16-3(1) (Rev.1994).

¶ 17. This Court has set forth ten factors to be considered when determining visitation by grandparents:

1. The amount of disruption that extensive visitation will have on the child’s life. This includes disruption of school activities, summer activities, as well as any disruption that might take place between the [96]*96natural parent and the child as a result of the child being away from home for extensive lengths of time.
2. The suitability of the grandparents’ home with respect to the amount of supervision received by the child.
3. The age of the child.
4. The age, and physical and mental health of the grandparents.
5. The emotional ties between the grandparents and the grandchild.
6. The moral fitness of the grandparents.
7. The distance of the grandparents’ home from the child’s home.
8. Any undermining of the parent’s general discipline of the child.
9. Employment of the grandparents and the responsibilities associated with that employment.
10.The willingness of the grandparents to accept that the rearing of the child is the responsibility of the parent, and that the parent’s manner of child rearing is not to be interfered with by the grandparents.

Martin v. Coop, 693 So.2d 912, 916 (Miss.1997). These ten factors have become known in our cases as “the Martin factors.”

¶ 18. Dennis contends that the trial court’s failure to address the Martin factors warrants a reversal and remand of the case. This Court has held that “making findings of fact under the Martin factors is an integral part of a determination of what is in the best interests of a child.” T.T.W. v. C.C.,

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

Related

Joseph Adam McDonald v. Casi Pruwitt
Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2025
Bradley C. Poole v. Nina Renee Poole
Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2023
Stanley R. Bolivar v. Joyce Waltman
194 So. 3d 889 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2016)
Dalphanie Lofton v. Ruby N. Lofton
176 So. 3d 1184 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2015)
Arrington v. Thrash
122 So. 3d 144 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2013)
Smith v. Wilson
90 So. 3d 51 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 2012)
Bolivar v. Waltman
85 So. 3d 335 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2012)
Conerly v. Davis
46 So. 3d 858 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2010)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
883 So. 2d 93, 2004 Miss. LEXIS 1200, 2004 WL 2187612, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/townes-v-manyfield-miss-2004.