{
  "id": 8550555,
  "name": "IN RE: AMY HOPE MOORE, a Minor",
  "name_abbreviation": "In re Moore",
  "decision_date": "1970-05-27",
  "docket_number": "No. 702DC267",
  "first_page": "251",
  "last_page": "255",
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    "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.",
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    "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals"
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    "name_long": "North Carolina",
    "name": "N.C."
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    {
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  "analysis": {
    "cardinality": 428,
    "char_count": 8461,
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T18:36:14.673474+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
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  "casebody": {
    "judges": [
      "BROCK and Hedrick:, JJ., concur."
    ],
    "parties": [
      "IN RE: AMY HOPE MOORE, a Minor"
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "BRITT, J.\nPetitioner contends that the trial court erred in signing the order appealed from, arguing that its error was in \u201cfailing to act in the best interests\u201d of the minor and in refusing to place the minor with her two sisters in the home of petitioner. We think the trial court erred but for reasons other than those argued.\nThe following legal principles regarding child custody have been well established in this jurisdiction for many years:\n1. The welfare of the child in controversies involving custody is the polar star by which the courts must be guided in awarding custody. Chriscoe v. Chriscoe, 268 N.C. 554, 151 S.E. 2d 33 (1966).\n2. While the welfare of a child is always to be treated as the paramount consideration, the courts recognize that wide discretionary power is necessarily vested in the trial courts in reaching decisions in particular cases. Swicegood v. Swicegood, 270 N.C. 278, 154 S.E. 2d 324 (1967).\n3. The decision to award custody of a child is vested in the discretion of the trial judge who has the opportunity to see the parties in person and to hear the witnesses, and his decision ought not be upset on appeal absent a clear showing of abuse of discretion. In re Custody of Pitts, 2 N.C. App. 211, 162 S.E. 2d 524 (1968).\n4. The findings of the trial court in regard to the custody of a child are conclusive when supported by competent evidence. Swicegood v. Swicegood, supra.\n5. When the trial court fails to find facts so that the appellate court can determine that the order is adequately supported by competent evidence and the welfare of the child subserved, then the order entered thereon must be vacated and the case remanded for detailed findings of fact. Crosby v. Crosby, 272 N.C. 235, 158 S.E. 2d 77 (1967).\nThe petition in the case before us was filed 15 December 1969, therefore, was subject to Chapter 1153 of the 1967 Session Laws (G.S. 50-13.1, et seq.) which became effective 1 October 1967. But, this enactment by the General Assembly did not alter either of the principles above stated. In re Custody of Pitts, supra; Greer v. Greer, 5 N.C. App. 160, 167 S.E. 2d 782 (1969). The institution of the present proceeding invoked the jurisdiction of the District Court of Beaufort County to inquire into the custody of Amy Hope Moore, to determine what custodial arrangement would best serve her welfare, to make findings of fact based on competent evidence with respect thereto, and enter an order awarding her custody to such \u201cperson, agency, organization or institution as will, in the opinion of the judge, best promote the interest and welfare of the child.\u201d G.S. 50-13.2(a). The order appealed from found no facts; it merely concluded that petitioner\u2019s evidence \u201cwould not support the relief prayed for and that in the absence of further evidence that the request of petitioner for custody of Amy Hope Moore should be denied and the same is herewith denied and the custody of the child, Amy Hope Moore, is confirmed in her maternal grandparents, Oscar and Mary Woolard.\u201d\nFor the reasons stated, the order appealed from is vacated and this cause is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. We observe that in the former trial all evidence was presented by affidavits; upon a retrial the judge and counsel would be well advised to consider what was said by this Court in the case of In re Custody of Griffin, 6 N.C. App. 375, 170 S.E. 2d 84 (1969).\nError and remanded.\nBROCK and Hedrick:, JJ., concur.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "BRITT, J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Frazier T. Woolard for -petitioner appellant.",
      "Wilkinson & Vosburgh by John A. Wilkinson for respondent ap-pellee."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "IN RE: AMY HOPE MOORE, a Minor\nNo. 702DC267\n(Filed 27 May 1970)\n1. Divorce and Alimony \u00a7 24; Infants \u00a7 9\u2014 child custody \u2014 discretion of court\nWhile the welfare of the child is the paramount consideration in determining child custody, wide discretion is necessarily vested in the trial judge who has the opportunity to see the parties and hear the witnesses, and his decision ought not to be upset on appeal, absent a clear showing of abuse of discretion.\n2. Divorce and Alimony \u00a7 24; Infants \u00a7 9\u2014 child custody order \u2014 necessity for findings of fact\nWhile findings of the trial court in regard to the custody of a child are conclusive when supported by competent evidence, custody order must be vacated and the case remanded for detailed findings of fact when the trial court fails to find facts so that the appellate court can determine that the order is supported by competent evidence and the welfare of the child subserved.\n3. Divorce and Alimony \u00a7 24; Infants \u00a7 9\u2014 child custody order \u2014 failure to find facts\nOrder entered by the court in this child custody proceeding instituted by the child\u2019s paternal aunt must be vacated and the cause remanded for detailed findings of fact, where the trial court found no facts but merely concluded that petitioner\u2019s evidence would not support the relief prayed for and \u201cconfirmed\u201d the child\u2019s custody in her maternal grandparents.\nAppeal by petitioner from Ward, District Judge, 29 December 1969 Session, Beaufort District Court.\nThis is a habeas corpus proceeding instituted by the filing of a petition alleging substantially as follows: Petitioner, Mrs. Sue Riggs, is a resident of Durham County, North Carolina, and the paternal aunt of Amy Hope Moore (Amy), three years old. Respondent is a resident of Beaufort County, North Carolina, and is Amy\u2019s maternal grandmother. Amy is one of three children (all girls) born to the marriage of Sam Nick Moore and JoAnn Woolard; the said mother died in March 1968 from gunshot wounds and the said father is serving a prison sentence for her murder. In September 1968 in a superior court proceeding involving custody of the two older children, Cowper, J., granted petitioner full and complete, custody and control of those two children; Amy was not included when the superior court proceeding was instituted but Judge Cowper set forth in his order that it would be in the best interest of all three of the children to live together but that Amy\u2019s custody was not before him. Since September 1968, the two older children have lived with petitioner and her husband in their home near Durham and Amy has resided with her maternal grandparents in Beaufort County. Amy is being reared separately from her two sisters and it would be in her best interest to live in petitioner\u2019s home and be reared with her sisters. Although petitioner has asked respondent to permit Amy to \u201ccome and live with her sisters,\u201d respondent refused. There is considerable animosity between the families of the parents of the children and it would be best that neither of the three reside in Beaufort County. The growth of strong ties between the sisters compels they should all live in the same home and petitioner is well qualified to assume the additional responsibility of Amy\u2019s custody and prays that she be granted full custody of Amy.\nThe district court entered an order commanding respondent to bring Amy before the court \u201cto the end that the court may inquire as to the custody of Amy Hope Moore and make such orders as may be suitable and proper.\u201d\nRespondent filed answer containing the following pertinent allegations (summarized): Amy\u2019s father was twice convicted of first-degree murder of her mother. Although petitioner was granted custody of the two older children, the petitioner has proven unfit to have custody of either of the children and not only should petitioner not be granted custody of Amy but the custody of the two older children should be transferred to respondent as soon as possible. Animosity exists between the families of Amy\u2019s parents and respondent has tried to improve the relationship but petitioner\u2019s family has refused to cooperate and continues to criticize and verbally abuse respondent\u2019s family. Respondent has been a second mother to the three children from the time of their birth and she is qualified by character and resources to provide a suitable home not only for Amy but for her sisters as well. Respondent prayed (1) that petitioner\u2019s request that she be awarded Amy\u2019s custody be denied, (2) that respondent be allowed to retain Amy\u2019s custody, and (3) that the custody of the other two children be transferred from petitioner to respondent.\nFollowing a hearing, the trial court entered an order denying petitioner the relief prayed for and \u201cconfirmed\u201d Amy\u2019s custody in her maternal grandparents, Oscar and Mary Woolard. Petitioner appealed from the order.\nFrazier T. Woolard for -petitioner appellant.\nWilkinson & Vosburgh by John A. Wilkinson for respondent ap-pellee."
  },
  "file_name": "0251-01",
  "first_page_order": 275,
  "last_page_order": 279
}
