Filed: May 26, 2015
Latest Update: Mar. 02, 2020
Summary: IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL FIRST DISTRICT, STATE OF FLORIDA ASHLEY WILLIAMS, NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING AND Appellant, DISPOSITION THEREOF IF FILED v. CASE NO. 1D14-3600 CHARLES HARRISON BURGESS, and WILLIAM HARRISON BURGESS, and ADAM HARRISON BURGESS, Appellees. _/ Opinion filed May 12, 2015. An appeal from the Circuit Court for Escambia County. W. Joel Boles, Judge. Ross A. Keene of Ross Keene Law, P.A., Pensacola, for Appellant. Mark K. McCulloch of Brownst
Summary: IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL FIRST DISTRICT, STATE OF FLORIDA ASHLEY WILLIAMS, NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING AND Appellant, DISPOSITION THEREOF IF FILED v. CASE NO. 1D14-3600 CHARLES HARRISON BURGESS, and WILLIAM HARRISON BURGESS, and ADAM HARRISON BURGESS, Appellees. _/ Opinion filed May 12, 2015. An appeal from the Circuit Court for Escambia County. W. Joel Boles, Judge. Ross A. Keene of Ross Keene Law, P.A., Pensacola, for Appellant. Mark K. McCulloch of Brownsto..
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IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
FIRST DISTRICT, STATE OF FLORIDA
ASHLEY WILLIAMS, NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO
FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING AND
Appellant, DISPOSITION THEREOF IF FILED
v. CASE NO. 1D14-3600
CHARLES HARRISON BURGESS,
and WILLIAM HARRISON
BURGESS, and ADAM
HARRISON BURGESS,
Appellees.
_____________________________/
Opinion filed May 12, 2015.
An appeal from the Circuit Court for Escambia County.
W. Joel Boles, Judge.
Ross A. Keene of Ross Keene Law, P.A., Pensacola, for Appellant.
Mark K. McCulloch of Brownstone, P.A., Winter Park, for Appellees.
PER CURIAM.
We review an order denying a motion to terminate a temporary custody
order originally entered under Chapter 751, Florida Statutes, by agreement of the
parties. The trial court denied the motion to terminate on grounds the petitioner
was not fit at this time to have custody. See § 751.05(6), Fla. Stat. (2013) (“At any
time, either or both of the child’s parents may petition the court to modify or
terminate the order granting temporary custody. The court shall terminate the order
upon a finding that the parent is a fit parent, or by consent of the parties. The court
may modify an order granting temporary custody if the parties consent or if
modification is in the best interest of the child.”).
The order under review finds that petitioner “has lived with and visited the
child throughout the child’s life” and “has had frequent and regular visitation and
communication with the child,” and does not purport to terminate parental rights.
In deference to the trial court’s role as finder of fact, we affirm, without prejudice
to further proceedings in the event of changed circumstances. See Steven Scott
Stephens, Florida Family Law § 8.7 (2014 ed.) (“Temporary orders, by contrast,
can be revisited at any time the circumstances warrant.”).
AFFIRMED.
BENTON and CLARK, JJ., CONCUR; MAKAR, J., SPECIALLY CONCURS
WITH OPINION.
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MAKAR, J., specially concurring.
Because the motion to terminate the temporary custody order was not agreed
upon by the parties, the trial court had to determine whether the movant-mother,
Ashley Williams, was fit. § 751.05(6), Fla. Stat. Because the record supports the
trial court’s overall finding that she is not at this time, despite some positive
findings as to her relationship with her child, affirmance is in order.
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