RENDERED: APRIL 11, 2025; 10:00 A.M. NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
Commonwealth of Kentucky Court of Appeals NO. 2024-CA-0576-MR
ZACHARY M. CAUDILL APPELLANT
APPEAL FROM GREENUP CIRCUIT COURT v. FAMILY COURT DIVISION HONORABLE JEFFREY L. PRESTON, JUDGE ACTION NO. 17-CI-00083
SHANIA ANNA NEACE APPELLEE
OPINION REVERSING AND REMANDING
** ** ** ** **
BEFORE: THOMPSON, CHIEF JUDGE; KAREM AND TAYLOR, JUDGES.
THOMPSON, CHIEF JUDGE: Zachary M. Caudill (“Appellant”) appeals from an
order of the Greenup Circuit Court, Family Division granting the motion of Shania
Anna Neace (“Appellee”) for unsupervised visitation of the parties’ child in
Appellee’s home. Appellant argues that the circuit court erred in failing to utilize
the “best interests of the child” standard in its ruling. After careful review, we
conclude that the circuit court did not utilize the correct standard in adjudicating Appellee’s motion to modify visitation. Accordingly, we reverse the order on
appeal and remand the matter to the Greenup Circuit Court, Family Division.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
A decree of dissolution was rendered on August 2, 2017, which
dissolved the marriage of Appellant and Appellee. The decree addressed the
custody and timesharing of the parties’ child (hereinafter “Child 1”),1 and
designated Appellant as the primary residential custodian. Appellee was granted
unsupervised visitation, as long as she refrained from the use of alcohol and
cooperated with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Cabinet for Health and Family
Services (“the Cabinet”).
Thereafter, Appellee gave birth to a child (“Child 2”) with Charlie
Heineman (“Heineman”). When Appellant learned that Child 2 allegedly tested
positive for methamphetamine, he filed a motion to modify and suspend
Appellee’s visitation with Child 1. The Whitley Circuit Court, Family Division
granted Appellant’s motion, and rendered an order on October 20, 2021,
suspending Appellee’s visitation with Child 1.
On November 8, 2022, Appellee moved to set aside the October 20,
2021, order, and requested visitation. The circuit court denied the motion to set
1 Though the record contains Child 1’s name, we will refer to him as Child 1 due to the subject matter of these proceedings.
-2- aside and scheduled a hearing on visitation. Prior to the hearing, an agreed order
was entered granting Appellee visitation with Child 1 every other Sunday for 3
hours in a public place, with visitation increasing to every Sunday after 30 days. It
also stated that either party could request a review of the timesharing arrangement.
Per the agreed order, Appellee was required to submit to hair follicle drug
screening.
On July 18, 2023, the parties entered into another agreed order. It
increased Appellee’s visitation with Child 1 to five hours every Sunday, to be
conducted at the Greenup city park or a McDonald’s restaurant, depending on the
weather. This visitation was to be supervised by Appellant’s mother. The order
also provided for Appellee’s visitation with Child 2 every Sunday, to be supervised
by Heineman’s mother.2
On November 3, 2023, Appellee moved to modify the visitation
arrangement as to Child 1, and/or to grant unsupervised visitation. In support of
the motion, Appellee argued that visitation for five hours in a McDonald’s
restaurant, or even the public park, was difficult because the children became
bored. She also asserted that it was difficult for her to bond with the children in
2 Heineman and Appellee were parties to a separate civil action regarding her visitation of Child 2. Though that action was not consolidated with the instant action, Heineman’s action was heard in part concurrently with the instant action, because Appellee had visitation with Appellant’s child (Child 1) and Heineman’s child (Child 2) at the same time. Heineman is not a party to the instant appeal.
-3- either of those locations. Appellant responded that the motion did not allege any
factual basis that modification would serve the best interest of Child 1.
On March 5, 2024, the family court conducted a visitation hearing
where it heard testimony from Appellee, both grandmothers, and a social worker.
Appellee testified that she has another child (“Child 3”) with Ronald Tussey
(“Tussey”), and that Appellant, Child 3, and Tussey reside together without
restriction. She stated that she successfully complied with the various court orders,
has done everything asked of her, and inquired as to what else she could do to have
supervision lifted. Heineman’s mother testified that she would be concerned about
unsupervised visits, given Appellee’s history of drug use. The social worker stated
that Tussey had refused her request to take a drug screen and used foul language
with a raised voice which intimidated her.
After considering the testimony, the family court rendered an order on
March 21, 2024, granting Appellee unsupervised visitation in her home. As a
condition of the visitation, Tussey was not to be present in the home and Appellee
was required to have clean drug screens and not relapse. On March 25, 2024,
Appellant filed a motion to alter, amend, or vacate the March 21, 2024, order.
Heineman filed a similar motion as to Child 2, arguing that harm might occur to
Child 2 if unsupervised visits were allowed to occur in Appellee’s home. Both
motions were denied, and this appeal followed.
-4- STANDARD OF REVIEW
An appellate court will only reverse a trial court’s determinations as to visitation if they constitute a manifest abuse of discretion or were clearly erroneous in light of the facts and circumstances of the case. Whether the proper law was applied to the facts is reviewed de novo. The test is not whether we would have decided the issue differently, but whether the findings of the trial court were clearly erroneous or an abuse of discretion. The test for abuse of discretion is whether the trial judge’s decision was arbitrary, unreasonable, unfair, or unsupported by sound legal principles.
Hudson v. Cole, 463 S.W.3d 346, 350 (Ky. App. 2015) (internal quotation marks
and citations omitted).
ARGUMENTS AND ANALYSIS
Appellant argues that the Greenup Circuit Court, Family Division
committed reversible error in granting Appellee’s motion for unsupervised
visitation of the parties’ child in Appellee’s home. He first asserts that the circuit
court erred in failing to use the best interests of the child standard in adjudicating
Appellee’s motion for a change of visitation. He directs our attention to Kentucky
Revised Statutes (“KRS”) 403.320(3), which states that,
[t]he court may modify an order granting or denying visitation rights whenever modification would serve the best interests of the child; but the court shall not restrict a parent’s visitation rights unless it finds that the visitation would endanger seriously the child’s physical, mental, moral, or emotional health.
-5- As to the matter before us, Appellant argues that the Greenup Circuit
Court, Family Division improperly used the seriously endangered language in
granting Appellee’s motion to modify visitation, rather than the correct best
interests of the child standard. Appellant asserts that this is clear error entitling
him to an opinion reversing and remanding the order on appeal.
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RENDERED: APRIL 11, 2025; 10:00 A.M. NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
Commonwealth of Kentucky Court of Appeals NO. 2024-CA-0576-MR
ZACHARY M. CAUDILL APPELLANT
APPEAL FROM GREENUP CIRCUIT COURT v. FAMILY COURT DIVISION HONORABLE JEFFREY L. PRESTON, JUDGE ACTION NO. 17-CI-00083
SHANIA ANNA NEACE APPELLEE
OPINION REVERSING AND REMANDING
** ** ** ** **
BEFORE: THOMPSON, CHIEF JUDGE; KAREM AND TAYLOR, JUDGES.
THOMPSON, CHIEF JUDGE: Zachary M. Caudill (“Appellant”) appeals from an
order of the Greenup Circuit Court, Family Division granting the motion of Shania
Anna Neace (“Appellee”) for unsupervised visitation of the parties’ child in
Appellee’s home. Appellant argues that the circuit court erred in failing to utilize
the “best interests of the child” standard in its ruling. After careful review, we
conclude that the circuit court did not utilize the correct standard in adjudicating Appellee’s motion to modify visitation. Accordingly, we reverse the order on
appeal and remand the matter to the Greenup Circuit Court, Family Division.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
A decree of dissolution was rendered on August 2, 2017, which
dissolved the marriage of Appellant and Appellee. The decree addressed the
custody and timesharing of the parties’ child (hereinafter “Child 1”),1 and
designated Appellant as the primary residential custodian. Appellee was granted
unsupervised visitation, as long as she refrained from the use of alcohol and
cooperated with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Cabinet for Health and Family
Services (“the Cabinet”).
Thereafter, Appellee gave birth to a child (“Child 2”) with Charlie
Heineman (“Heineman”). When Appellant learned that Child 2 allegedly tested
positive for methamphetamine, he filed a motion to modify and suspend
Appellee’s visitation with Child 1. The Whitley Circuit Court, Family Division
granted Appellant’s motion, and rendered an order on October 20, 2021,
suspending Appellee’s visitation with Child 1.
On November 8, 2022, Appellee moved to set aside the October 20,
2021, order, and requested visitation. The circuit court denied the motion to set
1 Though the record contains Child 1’s name, we will refer to him as Child 1 due to the subject matter of these proceedings.
-2- aside and scheduled a hearing on visitation. Prior to the hearing, an agreed order
was entered granting Appellee visitation with Child 1 every other Sunday for 3
hours in a public place, with visitation increasing to every Sunday after 30 days. It
also stated that either party could request a review of the timesharing arrangement.
Per the agreed order, Appellee was required to submit to hair follicle drug
screening.
On July 18, 2023, the parties entered into another agreed order. It
increased Appellee’s visitation with Child 1 to five hours every Sunday, to be
conducted at the Greenup city park or a McDonald’s restaurant, depending on the
weather. This visitation was to be supervised by Appellant’s mother. The order
also provided for Appellee’s visitation with Child 2 every Sunday, to be supervised
by Heineman’s mother.2
On November 3, 2023, Appellee moved to modify the visitation
arrangement as to Child 1, and/or to grant unsupervised visitation. In support of
the motion, Appellee argued that visitation for five hours in a McDonald’s
restaurant, or even the public park, was difficult because the children became
bored. She also asserted that it was difficult for her to bond with the children in
2 Heineman and Appellee were parties to a separate civil action regarding her visitation of Child 2. Though that action was not consolidated with the instant action, Heineman’s action was heard in part concurrently with the instant action, because Appellee had visitation with Appellant’s child (Child 1) and Heineman’s child (Child 2) at the same time. Heineman is not a party to the instant appeal.
-3- either of those locations. Appellant responded that the motion did not allege any
factual basis that modification would serve the best interest of Child 1.
On March 5, 2024, the family court conducted a visitation hearing
where it heard testimony from Appellee, both grandmothers, and a social worker.
Appellee testified that she has another child (“Child 3”) with Ronald Tussey
(“Tussey”), and that Appellant, Child 3, and Tussey reside together without
restriction. She stated that she successfully complied with the various court orders,
has done everything asked of her, and inquired as to what else she could do to have
supervision lifted. Heineman’s mother testified that she would be concerned about
unsupervised visits, given Appellee’s history of drug use. The social worker stated
that Tussey had refused her request to take a drug screen and used foul language
with a raised voice which intimidated her.
After considering the testimony, the family court rendered an order on
March 21, 2024, granting Appellee unsupervised visitation in her home. As a
condition of the visitation, Tussey was not to be present in the home and Appellee
was required to have clean drug screens and not relapse. On March 25, 2024,
Appellant filed a motion to alter, amend, or vacate the March 21, 2024, order.
Heineman filed a similar motion as to Child 2, arguing that harm might occur to
Child 2 if unsupervised visits were allowed to occur in Appellee’s home. Both
motions were denied, and this appeal followed.
-4- STANDARD OF REVIEW
An appellate court will only reverse a trial court’s determinations as to visitation if they constitute a manifest abuse of discretion or were clearly erroneous in light of the facts and circumstances of the case. Whether the proper law was applied to the facts is reviewed de novo. The test is not whether we would have decided the issue differently, but whether the findings of the trial court were clearly erroneous or an abuse of discretion. The test for abuse of discretion is whether the trial judge’s decision was arbitrary, unreasonable, unfair, or unsupported by sound legal principles.
Hudson v. Cole, 463 S.W.3d 346, 350 (Ky. App. 2015) (internal quotation marks
and citations omitted).
ARGUMENTS AND ANALYSIS
Appellant argues that the Greenup Circuit Court, Family Division
committed reversible error in granting Appellee’s motion for unsupervised
visitation of the parties’ child in Appellee’s home. He first asserts that the circuit
court erred in failing to use the best interests of the child standard in adjudicating
Appellee’s motion for a change of visitation. He directs our attention to Kentucky
Revised Statutes (“KRS”) 403.320(3), which states that,
[t]he court may modify an order granting or denying visitation rights whenever modification would serve the best interests of the child; but the court shall not restrict a parent’s visitation rights unless it finds that the visitation would endanger seriously the child’s physical, mental, moral, or emotional health.
-5- As to the matter before us, Appellant argues that the Greenup Circuit
Court, Family Division improperly used the seriously endangered language in
granting Appellee’s motion to modify visitation, rather than the correct best
interests of the child standard. Appellant asserts that this is clear error entitling
him to an opinion reversing and remanding the order on appeal.
KRS 403.320(3) does not require that the circuit court expressly use
the phrased “best interests of the child” in its order granting or denying a motion to
modify visitation. Similarly, our research has revealed no such requirement in our
case law. While it would be preferable for the family court to use the express
statutory language to make clear that the correct standard was used, we believe that
the elements of KRS 403.320(3) may be satisfied as to modification when the court
makes findings demonstrating that modification is in the best interests of the child.
In the matter before us, the Greenup Circuit Court, Family Division
stated that,
[t]he Court must be convinced by clear and convincing evidence that the children would be in serious danger if the supervised visitation was lifted. It appears to the Court that the Respondent [Appellee] has been doing what the Court has asked her to do. There is no evidence of current drug usage. The Respondent currently has an eight-month-old child, which the Cabinet has seen fit to allow her to take care of without supervision.
The family court did not utilize the correct standard to modify
visitation, to wit, whether modification was in the best interests of Child 1.
-6- Further, the findings it made – 1) Appellee complying with court orders, 2) no
evidence of drug usage, and 3) her custody of Child 3 without supervision – cannot
reasonably be construed as a finding that modification is in Child 1’s best interest.
Since the circuit court did not expressly utilize the best interests of the child
standard, and did not make findings upon which we can reasonably conclude that
modification is in Child 1’s best interests, we must reverse the order of the circuit
court on this issue.
Appellant’s second argument is that a change in visitation is not in the
best interests of Child 1. In light of our conclusion that the circuit court did not use
the correct standard below, this argument is moot.
CONCLUSION
Having examined de novo whether the Greenup Circuit Court, Family
Division applied the correct law to the facts, Hudson, supra, and upon concluding
that the family court did not apply the best interests standard nor otherwise make
findings that modification was in Child 1’s best interests, we reverse the order on
appeal and remand the matter to the Greenup Circuit Court, Family Division for
reconsideration using the best interests standard.
ALL CONCUR.
-7- BRIEF FOR APPELLANT: BRIEF FOR APPELLEE:
Whitley Hill Bailey Jeffrey D. Hensley Grayson, Kentucky Russell, Kentucky
-8-