M.D.K. v. V.M. and M.M

Per Curiam This case involves a custody dispute of a minor child between nonparents and a parent. On May 13, 1993, V.M. and M.M. (maternal grandparents) filed a petition in the Cleburne County Circuit Court, seeking temporary
custody of K.M.K., the minor daughter of M.D.K. (mother). That same day, the trial court entered an ex parte order granting
the maternal grandparents temporary custody. On June 10, 1993, the mother filed a petition for custody of the minor child.
Following an ore tenus proceeding on the mother's petition, the trial court entered a judgment on November 24, 1993, finding
that "the actions taken by the natural mother . . . since the birth of [her] child [are] tantamount to a voluntary relinquishment
of custody to [the maternal grandparents], and further acted to effectively transfer the care, custody and control of [her]
daughter to the [maternal grandparents]." The trial court, among other things, awarded custody of the minor child to the maternal
grandparents and ordered the mother to pay child support and to obtain health insurance for the minor child.