J.W. and S.W. v. C.B. (Appeal from Coffee Juvenile Court: JU-06-361.07)

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REL: 9/10/10 Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o formal r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance s h e e t s o f Southern R e p o r t e r . R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e R e p o r t e r o f D e c i s i o n s , Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r A v e n u e , M o n t g o m e r y , A l a b a m a 3 6 1 0 4 - 3 7 4 1 ((334) 2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f a n y t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may b e made b e f o r e t h e o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n Southern R e p o r t e r . ALABAMA COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS SPECIAL TERM, 2010 2090397 J.W. and S.W. v. C.B. 2090398 L.W. v. C.B. Appeals from C o f f e e J u v e n i l e Court (JU-06-361.07) 2090397/2090398 BRYAN, J u d g e . J.W. ("the p a t e r n a l g r a n d f a t h e r " ) and S.W. grandmother") (hereinafter collectively p a t e r n a l grandparents") and L.W. ("the p a t e r n a l r e f e r r e d t o as " t h e ("the f a t h e r " ) appeal from a judgment of the C o f f e e J u v e n i l e C o u r t t h a t m o d i f i e d F.C.W. ("the child"). Procedural On July finding child 21, 2008, to the paternal grandfather") and History the j u v e n i l e court, awarded o f dependency, (hereinafter custody of legal joint grandparents J.B. collectively ("the referred and pursuant custody S.B. ("the maternal to as to a of the maternal grandmother") "the g r a n d p a r e n t s " ) . P h y s i c a l c u s t o d y o f t h e c h i l d was maternal awarded t o t h e p a t e r n a l g r a n d p a r e n t s . The p a r t i e s s u b s e q u e n t l y s u b m i t t e d an a g r e e d - u p o n v i s i t a t i o n s c h e d u l e t h a t awarded t h e m a t e r n a l g r a n d p a r e n t s v i s i t a t i o n w i t h t h e c h i l d a n d a w a r d e d C.B. ("the mother") times agreed and t h e f a t h e r upon by visitation the mother and with the c h i l d the father and the grandparents. A separate p r o v i s i o n i n the v i s i t a t i o n at paternal agreement a w a r d e d t h e m o t h e r v i s i t a t i o n w i t h t h e c h i l d so l o n g as i t was s u p e r v i s e d by e i t h e r the m a t e r n a l grandparents o r the p a t e r n a l 2 2090397/2090398 grandparents, exercising requested depending custody of visitation. on which set of the child at the The p r o v i s i o n t h a t s t a t e d : "The visitation her the On the was mother included a p a t e r n a l and m a t e r n a l g r a n d p a r e n t s for [the toward that time agreement acknowledge t h a t the u l t i m a t e g o a l reunited with [the grandparents m o t h e r and c h i l d ] i s to f a t h e r ] and will see work end." June 9, 2009, t h e m o t h e r f i l e d a " m o t i o n f o r hearing" s e e k i n g t o be r e u n i t e d w i t h t h e c h i l d . The m o t h e r a l l e g e d t h a t she had had c o m p l e t e d a d r u g - r e h a b i l i t a t i o n p r o g r a m and obtained entered an employment. order of the juvenile court w o u l d be child t r e a t e d as because the a petition child's she subsequently t h a t s t a t e d t h a t t h e m o t h e r ' s June 9, motion f o r hearing custody The that to 2009, modify dependency and c u s t o d y had b e e n f i n a l l y a d j u d i c a t e d p u r s u a n t t o t h e J u l y 2008 judgment. The on the m o t h e r ' s c u s t o d y - m o d i f i c a t i o n p e t i t i o n on A u g u s t 31, 2009, and entered 29, j u v e n i l e c o u r t c o n d u c t e d an o r e t e n u s h e a r i n g a judgment m o d i f y i n g c u s t o d y o f t h e c h i l d on December 2009. I n t h a t j u d g m e n t , t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t c o n c l u d e d t h a t the proper c u s t o d y - m o d i f i c a t i o n 3 s t a n d a r d t o be a p p l i e d was the 2090397/2090398 s t a n d a r d s e t f o r t h i n Ex p a r t e McLendon, 455 So. 2d 863 ( A l a . 1 9 8 4 ) . B a s e d on t h a t c o n c l u s i o n , t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t f o u n d t h a t the mother had demonstrated c i r c u m s t a n c e s had that occurred since a material the e n t r y developed paternal and between grandparents the maternal communication grandparents and b e t w e e n t h e p a t e r n a l also found that and the grandparents the mother, t o the d e t r i m e n t of the c h i l d . court in o f t h e J u l y 2008 j u d g m e n t i n t h a t an i r r e t r i e v a b l e b r e a k d o w n i n had change The t h e p o s i t i v e good b r o u g h t juvenile about by a change i n c u s t o d y w o u l d more t h a n o f f s e t t h e d i s r u p t i o n c a u s e d by the change m o t h e r was i n custody. awarded s u p e r v i s e d and t h e f a t h e r was a new vacate motions, trial the grandparents pursuant findings, child grandparents to Rule juvenile court's filed 59, A l a . R. judgment. r e q u e s t e d a h e a r i n g on t h e e v i d e n c e was the the child, child, support. or, i n the a l t e r n a t i v e , to a l t e r , a l l e g e d t h a t t h e j u d g m e n t was that those v i s i t a t i o n with o r d e r e d t o pay f a t h e r and t h e p a t e r n a l postjudgment for to a w a r d e d l e g a l and p h y s i c a l c u s t o d y o f t h e t h e f a t h e r was The Pursuant their The motion, separate Civ. P., amend, o r paternal and they not s u p p o r t e d by the e v i d e n c e , insufficient 4 to support the judgment, 2090397/2090398 and t h a t n e w l y d i s c o v e r e d e v i d e n c e e x i s t e d t h a t i n d i c a t e d t h a t f a l s e or m i s l e a d i n g t e s t i m o n y had been g i v e n a t the ore tenus h e a r i n g t h a t was d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d t o t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t s o f t h e child. The father, i n h i s postjudgment motion, challenged c e r t a i n p r o v i s i o n s o f h i s v i s i t a t i o n a w a r d . The j u v e n i l e c o u r t denied the paternal grandparents' postjudgment motions, father separate notices court filed and c o n s o l i d a t e d the and the p a t e r n a l the grandparents of appeal to t h i s appeals filed father's by the and court. father and the This the p a t e r n a l g r a n d p a r e n t s ex mero motu. Issues On a p p e a l , b o t h t h e f a t h e r and t h e p a t e r n a l grandparents c h a l l e n g e t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t ' s f i n d i n g t h a t t h e m o t h e r met her c u s t o d y - m o d i f i c a t i o n b u r d e n p u r s u a n t t o Ex p a r t e McLendon. The paternal failure grandparents to conduct also challenge the juvenile a h e a r i n g on t h e i r p o s t j u d g m e n t court's motion i n v i o l a t i o n o f R u l e 5 9 ( g ) , A l a . R. C i v . P. Facts The three c h i l d was years born o l d at the i n November 2006, and time of the ore she was tenus almost hearing. The c h i l d h a d l i v e d i n t h e p a t e r n a l g r a n d p a r e n t s ' home, a t t i m e s 5 2090397/2090398 with the mother, s i n c e she was approximately s i x weeks o l d . The m o t h e r , who was 35 y e a r s o l d a t t h e t i m e o f t h e o r e t e n u s h e a r i n g , l i v e d i n M e t a i r i e , L o u i s i a n a . The m o t h e r s t a t e d that she h a d v o l u n t a r i l y s o u g h t s u b s t a n c e - a b u s e t r e a t m e n t w i t h t h e F a m i l y House substance-abuse program a f t e r J u l y 2008 j u d g m e n t . The F a m i l y House required the mother to l i v e the e n t r y of the substance-abuse program i n an o n s i t e facility, and t h e m o t h e r p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h a t p r o g r a m f r o m J u l y 31, 2008, until F e b r u a r y 2009. The m o t h e r moved i n t o a two-bedroom townhouse in a February 2009 in what she described as quiet n e i g h b o r h o o d . The m o t h e r ' s r e n t was s u b s i d i z e d so t h a t she h a d t o p a y o n l y 3 0 % o f t h e m o n t h l y r e n t due. The m o t h e r w o r k e d as a s e c r e t a r y a t a r e a l - e s t a t e company 30 h o u r s e a c h week, and she e a r n e d a p p r o x i m a t e l y $10.50 The mother had three an h o u r . children: a 14-year-old son, the c h i l d , and an 8 - m o n t h - o l d d a u g h t e r . The m o t h e r h a d j o i n t c u s t o d y o f h e r o l d e s t c h i l d , who m o t h e r ' s home i n M e t a i r i e . legal l i v e d 15 m i l e s away f r o m t h e A c c o r d i n g t o t h e m o t h e r , she h a d v i s i t a t i o n w i t h h e r o l d e s t c h i l d e v e r y o t h e r weekend "whole summer." The m o t h e r gave b i r t h to her t h i r d and t h e child in November 2008 w h i l e she was p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n t h e F a m i l y House 6 2090397/2090398 substance-abuse cared program. f o r her youngest participating child could youngest with the mother, even w h i l e rehabilitation. c h i l d but that the p a t e r n a l the exchanges the c e r t a i n t h a t t h e f a t h e r was a s k e d t o see h e r y o u n g e s t brought to since b i r t h , i n substance-abuse s t a t e d t h a t she was her youngest According child child see h e r y o u n g e s t child. so that had she was mother the f a t h e r of had not mother s t a t e d t h a t The with The she grandmother she her during visitation the p a t e r n a l grandparents child. The m o t h e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t , as o f A u g u s t 2009, she h a d n o t used i l l e g a l d r u g s i n 14 months. The m o t h e r a d m i t t e d t h a t had p a r t i c i p a t e d i n a d r u g - r e h a b i l i t a t i o n program that she had continued completed t h a t program. t o use The illegal drugs mother s t a t e d that i n 2004 and after she she Family support system House, her i n M e t a i r i e , i n c l u d i n g the s t a f f caseworker from a m o t h e r , h e r f a t h e r , and h e r s t e p p a r e n t s . was not s e l f - s u f f i c i e n t housing program, She a d m i t t e d t h a t at the time of the ore tenus had believed t h a t she h a d c o n t r o l o v e r h e r d r u g a d d i c t i o n and t h a t she a strong she had at her she hearing and t h a t she s t i l l n e e d e d p e o p l e " t o k e e p h e r i n l i n e " so t h a t she could get to a p o i n t where she was 7 self-sufficient. The 2090397/2090398 mother stated Narcotics that she attended Alcoholics Anonymous and Anonymous m e e t i n g s a n d p a r t i c i p a t e d i n s u b s t a n c e - abuse a f t e r c a r e . Even though rehabilitation the program mother in had February completed 2009, a the drugpaternal g r a n d m o t h e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t she d i d n o t t h i n k t h a t t h e m o t h e r was r e a d y t o r e c e i v e c u s t o d y o f t h e c h i l d because t h e mother had c o m p l e t e d a d r u g - r e h a b i l i t a t i o n program i n 2004 a n d was a r r e s t e d on d r u g - r e l a t e d c h a r g e s 13 months l a t e r . The p a t e r n a l grandmother stated demonstrate t h a t that t h e mother needed she was n o t g o i n g t o r e l a p s e more time to i n t o drug use because o f t h e mother's h i s t o r y o f making e f f o r t s t o improve h e r s i t u a t i o n a n d t h e n " b a c k s l i d i n g . " The p a t e r n a l would not s t a t e a s p e c i f i c have grandmother p e r i o d o f how l o n g t h e m o t h e r w o u l d t o m a i n t a i n h e r independence from drugs b e f o r e she was s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h e mother c o u l d a d e q u a t e l y care f o r t h e c h i l d , but t h e p a t e r n a l g r a n d m o t h e r s t a t e d t h a t she w a n t e d t h e c h i l d t o r e t u r n t o t h e m o t h e r ' s o r t h e f a t h e r ' s c u s t o d y once i t was safe f o r the c h i l d . The p a t e r n a l g r a n d m o t h e r a d m i t t e d t h a t t h e m o t h e r h a d an e i g h t - m o n t h - o l d c h i l d t h a t l i v e d w i t h t h e m o t h e r a n d was c a r e d 8 2090397/2090398 for by the m o t h e r and that she had not taken any steps to remove t h e m o t h e r ' s y o u n g e s t c h i l d f r o m t h e m o t h e r ' s c u s t o d y . The p a t e r n a l grandmother d i s p u t e d the mother's c l a i m s t h a t she had n o t t r i e d t o see t h e m o t h e r ' s y o u n g e s t c h i l d . A c c o r d i n g to the p a t e r n a l g r a n d m o t h e r , she had made an e f f o r t to f i n d where t h e m o t h e r had g i v e n b i r t h t o h e r y o u n g e s t c h i l d so she could maternal call the mother grandparents want t o s p e a k t o h e r . The she had filed information find out when she motions from the where t h e hospital her that stated with response. According lived and the maternal and to v i s i t she got admitted did not that the 2009, had the spoke t o the mother mother's regularly. 9 i n an where t h e response think to child little asked her tell and stayed paternal where the paternal lived paternal with r e l e a s e d from j a i l address to or very had who not that effort h e r a d d r e s s . The father, p a t e r n a l g r a n d p a r e n t s a f t e r he was August the requesting t h e m o t h e r . The no g r a n d p a r e n t s b e c a u s e t h e f a t h e r had grandmother but mother d i d court grandparents t o t h e m o t h e r , no one she the juvenile mother l i v e d that room, that p a t e r n a l grandmother t e s t i f i e d went t o L o u i s i a n a grandmother she her told had in out that the the in early father 2090397/2090398 The m o t h e r a n d t h e m a t e r n a l g r a n d p a r e n t s s t i p u l a t e d the p a t e r n a l the c h i l d grandparents h a d done admitted that consistent mother an e x c e l l e n t j o b r a i s i n g a n d t h a t t h e y h a d no i s s u e s p a t e r n a l g r a n d p a r e n t s were r a i s i n g the paternal caregivers stated that with the c h i l d she t h e way t h a t t h e t h e c h i l d . The m o t h e r a l s o grandparents that that would had been had ever like the only k n o w n . The f o r the paternal g r a n d p a r e n t s t o c o n t i n u e t o s e e t h e c h i l d i f s h e were a w a r d e d custody because i t would relationship with The mother everything hurt the paternal stated possible that the c h i l d to cut o f f her grandparents. she t h o u g h t t o get custody that s h e h a d done of the c h i l d b a c k . The m o t h e r a d m i t t e d t h a t i t w o u l d be an a d j u s t m e n t f o r t h e c h i l d to move into h e r home and o n l y have visitation with the p a t e r n a l g r a n d p a r e n t s , b u t t h e mother t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e c h i l d did came n o t have d i f f i c u l t y to visit. The a d j u s t i n g t o h e r home when t h e c h i l d child had visited t h e mother f o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y 12 weeks b e t w e e n September 2008 a n d t h e t i m e o f t h e o r e t e n u s h e a r i n g . The m o t h e r a d m i t t e d t h a t provided any grandparents, support f o r the b u t she s t a t e d that 10 child to her family she h a d n o t the paternal had p r o v i d e d 2090397/2090398 clothing f o r the c h i l d . The mother paternal stated that grandparents she t r i e d n o t t o speak w i t h t h e a t a l l because i t made h e r e x t r e m e l y uncomfortable. According the child t o the mother, s u p e r v i s e d v i s i t s at the paternal t e n s e and she a v o i d e d g r a n d p a r e n t s ' home were that situation with extremely s o a s n o t t o harm t h e c h i l d . The m o t h e r a d m i t t e d t h a t t h e o n l y c o m m u n i c a t i o n s h e h a d w i t h t h e p a t e r n a l g r a n d p a r e n t s was a t v i s i t a t i o n e x c h a n g e s a n d t h a t she d i d n o t c a l l t h e p a t e r n a l g r a n d p a r e n t s w h i l e t h e y had custody o f t h e c h i l d . The m o t h e r grandparents contributed hated thought h e r , and she said that that t o h e r i n a b i l i t y t o communicate the paternal that with feeling t h e m . The p a t e r n a l g r a n d m o t h e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t s h e l i k e d t h e m o t h e r . The m o t h e r s t a t e d t h a t s h e h a d t r i e d t o be t h e " b i g g e r p e r s o n " by sending the paternal grandparents p i c t u r e s of the c h i l d she was e x e r c i s i n g v i s i t a t i o n w i t h the child visitation the c h i l d t o speak t o t h e p a t e r n a l periods. According while and by a l l o w i n g grandparents t o t h e mother, during her the paternal grandparents d i d not telephone h e r . The m a t e r n a l g r a n d f a t h e r t e s t i f i e d that, at the child's d e p e n d e n c y p r o c e e d i n g i n J u l y 2008, he t o l d t h e j u v e n i l e 11 court 2090397/2090398 t h a t t h e m o t h e r s h o u l d n o t have c u s t o d y o f t h e c h i l d . B u t , he testified, after monitoring the mother's rehabilitation c l o s e l y , he was c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e m o t h e r s h o u l d have c u s t o d y of the c h i l d returned to h e r . According to the maternal g r a n d f a t h e r , t h e mother i s a good mother t o h e r youngest c h i l d and he w o u l d n o t h e s i t a t e t o n o t i f y t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t i f he saw s o m e t h i n g about a b o u t t h e m o t h e r t h a t c a u s e d h i m t o be c o n c e r n e d the welfare of the c h i l d . The maternal grandfather t e s t i f i e d t h a t he b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e c h i l d w o u l d e a s i l y a d j u s t to living adjustment the with the mother because there was never an period f o r the c h i l d during v i s i t a t i o n periods with mother. Standard o f Review "On a p p e l l a t e r e v i e w o f c u s t o d y m a t t e r s , t h i s c o u r t is l i m i t e d when t h e e v i d e n c e was p r e s e n t e d o r e t e n u s , and, i n such c i r c u m s t a n c e s , a t r i a l c o u r t ' s d e t e r m i n a t i o n w i l l n o t be d i s t u r b e d ' a b s e n t an abuse of d i s c r e t i o n o r where i t i s shown t o be p l a i n l y a n d p a l p a b l y w r o n g . ' A l e x a n d e r v . A l e x a n d e r , 625 So. 2d 433, 434 ( A l a . C i v . App. 1993) ( c i t i n g B e n t o n v . B e n t o n , [520 So. 2d 534 ( A l a . C i v . App. 1 9 8 8 ) ] ) . As the Alabama Supreme Court highlighted i n [Ex parte]Patronas, [693 So. 2d 473 ( A l a . 1997)], '"[T]he t r i a l c o u r t i s i n t h e b e t t e r p o s i t i o n t o c o n s i d e r a l l o f t h e e v i d e n c e , as w e l l as t h e many i n f e r e n c e s t h a t may be drawn f r o m t h a t e v i d e n c e , a n d t o d e c i d e t h e i s s u e o f c u s t o d y . " ' P a t r o n a s , 693 So. 2d a t 474 ( q u o t i n g Ex p a r t e B r y o w s k y , 676 So. 2d 1322, 1326 ( A l a . 1 9 9 6 ) ) . Thus, a p p e l l a t e r e v i e w o f 12 2090397/2090398 a j u d g m e n t m o d i f y i n g c u s t o d y when t h e e v i d e n c e was presented ore tenus i s limited to determining w h e t h e r t h e r e was s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e t o s u p p o r t t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s j u d g m e n t . See P a t r o n a s , 693 So. 2d a t 475 ." Cheek v. D y e s s , 1 So. 3d 1025, 1029 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2007). Discussion We will paternal address the grandparents concluding that the burden set f o r t h argument made by that the m o t h e r had i n Ex p a r t e juvenile court properly standard applied to the c h i l d . See M.B. v. S.B., juvenile met the McLendon, The f a t h e r and court erred the by custody-modification supra. 1 concluded t h a t the mother's request [Ms. the McLendon f o r custody of 2080464, A u g u s t 7, 2009] the So. I n W.T.M. v. S.P., 802 So. 2d 1091 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2001) ( C r a w l e y , J . , w i t h one j u d g e c o n c u r r i n g and t h r e e judges c o n c u r r i n g i n the r e s u l t ) , a p l u r a l i t y of t h i s c o u r t concluded t h a t a f a t h e r who was n o t a p a r t y t o a c u s t o d y d e t e r m i n a t i o n f o l l o w i n g a d e p e n d e n c y a d j u d i c a t i o n had s t a n d i n g t o a p p e a l t h e c u s t o d y award i n l i g h t of the f a c t t h a t the f a t h e r r e t a i n e d " r e s i d u a l p a r e n t a l r i g h t s and r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s " t o t h e c h i l d . See § 1 2 - 1 5 - 1 0 2 ( 2 3 ) , A l a . Code 1975. A l t h o u g h t h e f a t h e r i n t h i s c a s e d i d n o t have c u s t o d y o f t h e c h i l d b e f o r e t h e e n t r y of the December 2009 c u s t o d y - m o d i f i c a t i o n judgment, and a l t h o u g h he d i d n o t r e q u e s t , n o r was he a w a r d e d , c u s t o d y o f t h e c h i l d p u r s u a n t t o t h e December 2009 j u d g m e n t , we b e l i e v e t h a t t h e f a t h e r ' s r e s i d u a l p a r e n t a l r i g h t s , i n s o f a r as he was a w a r d e d v i s i t a t i o n w i t h t h e c h i l d and o r d e r e d t o pay child s u p p o r t f o r t h e c h i l d , c o n f e r l e g a l s t a n d i n g on t h e f a t h e r so t h a t t h i s c o u r t may c o n s i d e r h i s a p p e a l of the award of custody. 1 13 2090397/2090398 3d ___ (Ala. Civ. m o d i f i c a t i o n burden, seeking App. 2009). the Pursuant m o t h e r , as a change o f c u s t o d y , was the to that custody- noncustodial required to parent demonstrate "'(1) " t h a t ... she i s a f i t c u s t o d i a n " ; (2) " t h a t m a t e r i a l changes w h i c h a f f e c t the c h i l d ' s w e l f a r e have o c c u r r e d " ; and (3) " t h a t t h e p o s i t i v e g o o d b r o u g h t a b o u t by t h e change i n c u s t o d y w i l l more than o f f s e t the d i s r u p t i v e e f f e c t of u p r o o t i n g the c h i l d . " K u n k e l v. K u n k e l , 547 So. 2d 555, 560 ( A l a . C i v . App. 1989) ( c i t i n g , among o t h e r c a s e s , Ex p a r t e McLendon, 455 So. 2d 863, 865-66 (Ala. 1984) (setting f o r t h three factors a noncustodial parent must d e m o n s t r a t e i n o r d e r t o m o d i f y c u s t o d y ) ) . ' " A.W. v. K.L.W., 27 So. 3d 558, ( q u o t i n g M c C o r m i c k v. E t h r i d g e , App. 560 (Ala. Civ. 15 So. 3d 524, App. 527 2009) (Ala. Civ. 2008)). A review o f t h e r e c o r d r e v e a l s t h a t t h e r e was evidence to support the j u v e n i l e c o u r t ' s i m p l i c i t f i n d i n g t h a t the mother was f i t t o c a r e f o r t h e c h i l d . The m o t h e r had cared f o r her evidence i n d i c a t e d that eight-month-old daughter for the that c h i l d ' s e n t i r e l i f e and t h a t n e i t h e r t h e m a t e r n a l g r a n d p a r e n t s nor the paternal grandparents thought i t necessary, for the w e l f a r e o f t h a t c h i l d , t o s e e k t o remove h e r f r o m t h e m o t h e r ' s c u s t o d y . The 14 months and m o t h e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t she had b e e n d r u g - f r e e t h a t she had obtained a s t a b l e home and employment, and t h e m a t e r n a l g r a n d f a t h e r 14 for stable t e s t i f i e d t h a t he saw 2090397/2090398 no r e a s o n why the mother c o u l d not care f o r the c h i l d . R e g a r d i n g t h e s e c o n d p r o n g o f t h e McLendon s t a n d a r d , t h i s c o u r t has h e l d : "In order t o prove a material change of c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e n o n c u s t o d i a l p a r e n t must p r e s e n t s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t i n g (1) t h a t t h e r e has been a change i n t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s e x i s t i n g a t t h e time o f t h e o r i g i n a l c u s t o d y judgment o r t h a t f a c t s have been r e v e a l e d t h a t were unknown a t t h e t i m e o f t h a t j u d g m e n t , see S t e p h e n s v. S t e p h e n s , 47 A l a . App. 396, 399, 255 So. 2d 338, 340-41 ( C i v . App. 1 9 7 1 ) , and (2) t h a t t h e change i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s i s s u c h as t o a f f e c t t h e w e l f a r e and b e s t i n t e r e s t s o f t h e c h i l d . F o r d v. F o r d , 293 A l a . 743, 310 So. 2d 234 ( 1 9 7 5 ) . The n o n c u s t o d i a l p a r e n t does n o t have t o p r o v e t h a t t h e change i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s h a s a d v e r s e l y a f f e c t e d t h e w e l f a r e o f t h e c h i l d , b u t he o r she may s a t i s f y t h e f i r s t e l e m e n t o f t h e McLendon t e s t b y p r o v i n g t h a t t h e change i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s m a t e r i a l l y promotes the b e s t i n t e r e s t s of the c h i l d . I d . " C.D.K.S. v. K.W.K., [Ms. 2071115, December 3d ___ , ___ Insofar ( A l a . C i v . App. as the mother 18, 2009] So. 2009). was required to prove that a m a t e r i a l change i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s h a d o c c u r r e d s i n c e t h e e n t r y of the July mother's modifying 2008 judgment, rehabilitation custody S.L.L. v. L.S., i t i s well alone of the c h i l d i s not proper that 2, 2010] So. 3d ( c i t i n g Ex p a r t e McLendon, 15 the basis for i n f a v o r of the mother. [Ms. 2090133, A p r i l ( A l a . C i v . App. 2010) a settled See , 455 So. 2090397/2090398 2d a t 866) ("[A]lthough the mother's r e h a b i l i t a t i o n p o s i t i v e p a t h on w h i c h she a p p e a r s rehabilitation alone is an c u s t o d y . " ) . The juvenile court, and the t o be i s commendable, s u c h improper basis in i t s final for regaining judgment, found t h a t a m a t e r i a l change i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s h a d o c c u r r e d s i n c e t h e entry of the July 2008 judgment breakdown i n communication because an irretrievable had o c c u r r e d between the paternal g r a n d p a r e n t s and t h e m o t h e r and t h e m a t e r n a l g r a n d p a r e n t s . juvenile court communication affect on modifying mother's The evidence also between the child. custody of found the that the p a r t i e s was Thus, the the child deterioration having juvenile d i d not a in detrimental court's rely The judgment s o l e l y on the self-improvement. paternal to grandparents support deterioration in the juvenile communication argue that court's between there was no finding that the the paternal g r a n d p a r e n t s and t h e m o t h e r and t h e m a t e r n a l g r a n d p a r e n t s was h a v i n g a d e t r i m e n t a l a f f e c t on t h e c h i l d , and t h e y c i t e S.L.L. v. L.S., supra, to support l a c k of communication their argument t h a t any between the p a r t i e s i s not a alleged material change i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s u f f i c i e n t t o s u p p o r t m o d i f i c a t i o n 16 of 2090397/2090398 custody. I n S.L.L. v . L.S., t h i s modifying custody of a c h i l d court reversed a judgment from t h e f a t h e r t o t h e mother, and we c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e m o t h e r ' s a l l e g a t i o n s t h a t t h e f a t h e r f a i l e d t o cooperate w i t h t h e mother by communicating about t h e c h i l d was n o t s u f f i c i e n t with her to support a m o d i f i c a t i o n o f c u s t o d y . ___ So. 3d a t ___ . The e v i d e n c e i n t h i s the paternal relationship grandparents and communication case i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e mother and that did there not was have a an general amicable lack of between t h e p a t e r n a l g r a n d p a r e n t s and t h e mother and t h e m a t e r n a l g r a n d p a r e n t s . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , parties involved in have sharing custody communicating the child communicate with would more circumstances of a child one a n o t h e r , benefit warrant m o d i f i c a t i o n we particular parties cannot case communication that were able to conclude that the rise to a level that o f c u s t o d y . Our r e v i e w o f t h e e v i d e n c e r e v e a l s t h a t t h e m o t h e r was p a r t i a l l y r e s p o n s i b l e of difficulty a n d , a l t h o u g h we a g r e e i f the effectively, of t h i s often between herself and f o r any l a c k the paternal g r a n d p a r e n t s . A l t h o u g h t h e r e was e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t i n g t h a t t h e m o t h e r h a d made some e f f o r t t o communicate w i t h 17 the paternal 2090397/2090398 grandparents mother a l s o while she testified had visitation that she tried that she paternal grandparents and paternal grandparents even to with not did speak child, the t o speak w i t h the not the to the telephone the child. e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t e d t h a t the mother had s t a t e d t o the Other paternal g r a n d p a r e n t s t h a t she d i d n o t want t o s p e a k t o them. I n l i g h t of u n d i s p u t e d e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t i n g t h a t the mother to the breakdown paternal i n communication g r a n d p a r e n t s , we judgment insofar as i t circumstances s u f f i c i e n t Accordingly, sufficient to cannot between found to modify the herself and a f f i r m the j u v e n i l e a material juvenile the court's change in custody. because the evidence support contributed i n the court's m a t e r i a l change i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s h a d o c c u r r e d record finding i s not that since the a entry o f t h e J u l y 2008 j u d g m e n t , we must r e v e r s e t h e j u d g m e n t o f t h e juvenile court insofar from the p a t e r n a l t o t h e m o t h e r . The as i t modified grandparents custody of the and t h e m a t e r n a l grandparents c a s e i s remanded t o t h e t r i a l i n s t r u c t i o n s to enter an o r d e r child consistent with this court with opinion. 2 B e c a u s e we have c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e j u d g m e n t o f t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t i s due t o be r e v e r s e d , we p r e t e r m i t d i s c u s s i o n of the remaining i s s u e i n the p a t e r n a l grandparents' appeal 2 18 2090397/2090398 APPEAL NO. 20 90397 REVERSED AND REMANDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS. APPEAL NO. 20 90398 -- REVERSED AND REMANDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS. P i t t m a n , Thomas, a n d Moore, J J . , c o n c u r . Thompson, P . J . , c o n c u r s i n t h e r e s u l t , without writing. r e g a r d i n g t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t ' s f a i l u r e t o c o n d u c t a h e a r i n g on t h e i r postjudgment motion. 19

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