MATHIAS, J.
Joan L., the paternal grandmother of J.V. (“Grandmother”), filed a Petition to Establish De Facto Custodian and Motion for Custody of J.V in Grant Superior Court. Dana V., J.V.’s mother (“Mother”), objected to the petition. The trial court granted Grandmother’s petition and awarded custody of J.V. to Grandmother. Mother appeals and argues that the trial court erred when it granted Grandmother’s petition. Concluding that the trial court failed to make the requisite findings that awarding custody of J.V. to Grandmother was in J.V.’s best interests, we remand for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
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. . . [W]hile this evidence supports the trial court’s determination that Grandmother is J.V.’s “de facto custodian,” the trial court was also required to consider whether awarding custody of J.V. to Grandmother is in J.V.’s best interests. In its order awarding custody of J.V. to Grandmother, the trial court failed to make this determination. Although there is evidence in the record suggesting that awarding custody of J.V. to Grandmother is in J.V.’s best interests, we remand this case to the trial court with instructions to enter the findings required to support its custody determination. Such findings are particularly important in this case given the significant burden a third party must overcome to rebut the presumption that the natural parent should have custody of his or her child. See B.H., 770 N.E.2d at 287 (“A generalized finding that a placement other than with the natural parent is in a child’s best interests, however, will not be adequate to support such determination, and detailed and specific findings are required.”)
Remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
RILEY, J., and KIRSCH, J., concur.