Katja Ute (Franz) Buchanan v. Steven James Larry Buchanan

Mother, a German citizen, married Father while he was stationed in Germany with the United States Army.  The two moved to the United States, had one child, and were divorced.  Approximately five years after being divorced, Mother sent Father a letter notifying him of her intention to relocate to Germany with the child.  Father responded with a letter expressing his opposition to the child’s relocation and subsequently filed a petition opposing relocation; the petition was filed outside the 30-day time period set forth in Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-108.  Mother moved to dismiss Father’s petition for failure to file it within 30 days of receipt of the notice of proposed relocation; the motion was denied, and after a hearing on Father’s petition, the court found that Mother’s motive for moving was vindictive and that she had no reasonable purpose in relocating.  Finding that the petition opposing Mother’s relocation should have been dismissed, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand the case for further proceedings.