Elizabeth Anne Sykes v. Chad Steven Sykes ( 2021 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
August 17, 2021 Session
ELIZABETH ANNE SYKES v. CHAD STEVEN SYKES
Appeal from the Chancery Court for Williamson County
No. 47608W Joseph A. Woodruff, Judge
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No. M2020-00261-COA-R3-CV
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This appeal arises from a divorce proceeding filed by Wife in Tennessee. Husband
objected to the trial court’s divorce jurisdiction and any custody determination concerning
the parties’ minor children. Ultimately, the trial court found that it had jurisdiction over
the parties’ divorce, as well as any custody determinations. In connection with granting
the parties a divorce, the trial court awarded Wife an equalizing distribution of the marital
assets and attorney’s fees. The trial court also found Husband to be in contempt due to his
alleged violation of the statutory restraining order set out in Tennessee Code Annotated
section 36-4-106(d) and his failure to return one of the parties’ minor children to Wife’s
custody following summer visitation. Husband now appeals numerous aspects of the trial
court’s findings. Upon our review of the record before us, we affirm in part and reverse in
part.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Chancery Court
Affirmed in Part, Reversed in Part, and Remanded
ARNOLD B. GOLDIN, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which J. STEVEN STAFFORD,
P.J., W.S., and CARMA DENNIS MCGEE, J., joined.
Benjamin Lewis, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, for the appellant, Chad Steven Sykes.
Jacob T. Thorington, Franklin, Tennessee, for the appellee, Elizabeth Anne Sykes.
OPINION
BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Chad Sykes (“Husband”) and Elizabeth Sykes (“Wife”) were married in 2014 in
Williamson County, Tennessee. Shortly after their marriage, the parties relocated to
Missouri where they purchased a home and had two children. In May of 2018, after
Husband became unemployed, the parties returned to Williamson County to live with
Wife’s parents.1
Wife filed for divorce on August 23, 2018, and Husband was personally served with
a summons and copy of the complaint in Williamson County on the same date. As part of
her divorce complaint, Wife alleged irreconcilable differences and, in the alternative,
inappropriate marital conduct and that “the complaints she has against Husband occurred
in Tennessee since the parties relocated to the state in May, 2018, up to and including that
Husband separated from Wife in August, 2018.” Specifically, Wife alleged that Husband
was overly controlling of her to the extent that he argued with her over her choice of and
cost of her attire, hid food from her, and was controlling of the parties’ finances. Wife also
requested that the trial court approve her parenting plan and name her the primary
residential parent, award Husband “reasonable parenting time,” and require that he pay
child support. Attached to Wife’s complaint for divorce was a form order purporting to be
a statutory restraining order in compliance with Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-4-
106(d) but which did not accurately follow in all respects the language of the statute. 2 In
response to Wife’s filing, Husband filed a motion to dismiss the divorce complaint for lack
of jurisdiction. Specifically, Husband contended that, at the time of her filing, Wife had
not been a Tennessee resident for at least six months and that, because the acts complained
of in Wife’s complaint did not occur in Tennessee, there was no basis for the trial court to
exercise jurisdiction. Husband also argued that the trial court did not have jurisdiction over
custody issues regarding the parties’ minor children because Tennessee was not the home
state of the children.3
A hearing on Husband’s motion to dismiss was initially held on September 27, 2018,
but it was continued to October 26, 2018, to allow the parties to submit supporting
affidavits. Wife submitted various affidavits from herself and her parents, as well as
documentation, evidencing the parties’ move to Tennessee. After the hearing on
Husband’s motion resumed, the court issued its findings in a detailed and thorough order
dated November 15, 2018. Therein, the trial court found jurisdiction to be proper over the
parties’ divorce, as well as over matters involving custody of the parties’ minor children.
Notably, the trial court found Husband’s testimony to be inconsistent and not credible
concerning his contention that “he never subjectively intended to change his domicile to
Tennessee.” Indeed, the trial court stated in its findings that it “place[d] very little weight
on Husband’s testimony and [did] not credit his testimony over the countervailing evidence
1
In his reply brief, Husband contends that he neither resided in nor intended to reside in Tennessee.
However, as we will discuss in more detail later, we conclude that Husband’s statements are without merit
due to credibility findings by the trial court and evidence contained in the record.
2
As alluded to here and discussed later in this Opinion, the form order’s failure to accurately
include the statutory language is of consequence in this appeal.
3
Husband also filed a complaint for divorce in Missouri after Wife filed her complaint in
Tennessee. At some point during the pendency of the proceedings below, the Missouri complaint was
dismissed.
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offered by Wife’s various Affidavits filed in connection with the hearing on the pending
Motion.”
Following the trial court’s order on Husband’s motion to dismiss, Husband filed an
answer to the complaint. On April 3, 2019, Wife filed a motion for temporary support and
for a temporary parenting plan, to which she attached a statement of income and expenses,
a child support worksheet, and a proposed parenting plan. During the pendency of the
divorce, when Husband was still represented by legal counsel, the trial court entered
various agreed orders concerning holiday travel arrangements for the parties’ children.
By an order entered on May 1, 2019, the trial court permitted Husband’s counsel to
withdraw. Husband proceeded pro se for the remainder of the divorce proceedings. After
his counsel’s withdrawal, the parties reached an oral agreement for Husband to have his
older son with him in Missouri for the entire summer and, according to Wife, to return the
child in August prior to the start of school in Williamson County. During this time, the
parties also participated in mediation, which was unsuccessful. Wife subsequently filed a
motion to set the case for trial, which was scheduled to be heard on August 22, 2019.
On August 15, 2019, Wife filed an ex parte request for a temporary restraining order
to enjoin Husband from enrolling the older child in school in Missouri, as well as a motion
requiring Husband to return the child to Tennessee. In her filing, Wife stated that Husband
had communicated to her that he did not intend to return the child to Tennessee and that he
was instead going to enroll him in school in Missouri. In an order entered August 16, 2019,
the trial court granted Wife’s ex parte temporary restraining order and ordered Husband to
appear in court with the child for a hearing on August 22, 2019.
A hearing was held on August 22, 2019. Husband was present for the hearing, but
the minor child was not. Husband told the trial court that he had no knowledge of its
August 16th order. Ultimately, the trial court found that Husband did in fact receive service
of the trial court’s order on August 16, 2019, via email, which required him to appear before
the court with the child in Tennessee. It also found that Husband willfully violated the
statutory restraining order set out in Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-4-106(d). Due
to Husband’s failure to appear before the trial court with the child and his purported
violation of the statutory restraining order, the trial court found him to be in civil contempt.
As a result, the trial court ordered Husband to be incarcerated until the child was returned
to Williamson County and “presented to the Magistrate at the Sheriff’s Office.” Upon
return of the child to Wife, the trial court held that Husband’s contempt would be purged.
The divorce case was tried by the court, and in a subsequent preliminary order
following the trial, the trial court declared the parties divorced and provided a detailed and
thorough analysis on its findings to date. It also adopted Wife’s parenting plan and ordered
Husband to pay Wife child support. Further, it awarded Wife a judgment in the amount of
$12,479.00, representing child support arrearage of $2,535.00 and attorney’s fees.
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Thereafter, the trial court entered its “Memorandum and Order.” In this order, the trial
court incorporated its findings of fact and conclusions from its prior preliminary order and
further awarded Wife an equalizing distribution of the marital estate. Husband thereafter
filed a notice of appeal.
ISSUES PRESENTED
Husband raises six separate issues on appeal for our review, which are slightly
restated as follows:
1. Whether the trial court erred in determining that the Williamson County
Chancery Court had jurisdiction over the parties’ divorce.
2. Whether the trial court erred in determining that the Williamson County
Chancery Court had jurisdiction over the child custody determination of the
parties’ minor children.
3. Whether the trial court erred in finding Husband in contempt for violation of the
statutory restraining order and the trial court’s August 16, 2019 order.
4. Whether the trial court erred in making its equitable distribution of marital assets
and debts.
5. Whether the trial court erred in awarding attorney’s fees to Wife as alimony in
solido without applying the factors relevant to an award of alimony, including,
but not limited to, Husband’s ability to pay.
6. Whether the trial court erred in failing to provide Husband an opportunity to
question or challenge the attorney’s fees of Wife’s counsel.
In turn, Wife raises only a single additional issue on appeal, restated as follows:
1. Whether Wife is entitled to her attorney’s fees on appeal.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
When reviewing a trial court’s findings of fact, the appropriate standard of review
is de novo with a presumption of correctness, unless the preponderance of the evidence is
otherwise. Tenn. R. App. P. 13(d); Robertson v. Robertson, 76 S.W.3d 337, 342 (Tenn.
2002). A trial court’s conclusions of law, however, are reviewed de novo with no
presumption of correctness. Ramsay v. Custer, 387 S.W.3d 566, 567 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2012)
(citing State ex rel. Pope v. U.S. Fire Ins. Co., 145 S.W.3d 529, 533 (Tenn. 2004)).
DISCUSSION
Whether the Trial Court Had Jurisdiction Over the Parties’ Divorce
Husband’s first issue on appeal concerns whether the trial court erred in finding that
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it had jurisdiction over the parties’ divorce. Specifically, he contends that it is Missouri,
rather than Tennessee, that has jurisdiction.
Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-4-104(a) states:
A divorce may be granted for any of the causes referenced in § 36-4-101 if
the acts complained of were committed while the plaintiff was a bona fide
resident of this state or if the acts complained of were committed out of this
state and the plaintiff resided out of the state at the time, if the plaintiff or the
defendant has resided in this state six (6) months next preceding the filing of
the complaint.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-4-104(a).
Here, it is clear from the record that neither Husband nor Wife resided in Tennessee
for six months preceding the filing of Wife’s complaint for divorce. Therefore, in order
for a Tennessee court to exercise jurisdiction, there must be a finding that “the acts
complained of were committed while the plaintiff was a bona fide resident of this state.”
Id.; see also Wilken v. Wilken, No. W2012-00989-COA-R3-CV, 2012 WL 6727197, at *5
(Tenn. Ct. App. Dec. 27, 2012) (“The first portion of the statute authorizes the trial court
to exercise jurisdiction over the case ‘if the acts complained of were committed while the
plaintiff was a bona fide resident of [Tennessee.]’”). Section 36-4-104(a) “makes
Tennessee residency by at least one of the parties a condition precedent to a court having
jurisdiction to grant a divorce.” Conley v. Conley, 181 S.W.3d 692, 696 (Tenn. Ct. App.
2005) (emphasis added). Our courts have previously interpreted “residence” as used in
section 36-4-104(a) to be synonymous with that of “domicile.” Id. (citing Brown v. Brown,
261 S.W. 959 (Tenn. 1924); Wiseman v. Wiseman, 393 S.W.2d 892, 895 (Tenn. 1965);
Barnett v. Barnett, No. 01A01-9605-CH-00228, 1998 WL 787043, at *3 (Tenn. Ct. App.
Nov. 13, 1998)). “Domicile” has been defined by the Tennessee Supreme Court as:
[T]he place where a person has his principal home and place of enjoyment
of his fortunes; which he does not expect to leave, except for a purpose; from
which when absent, he seems to himself a wayfarer; to which when he
returns, he ceases to travel.
Wiseman, 393 S.W.2d at 894. In order for an individual to create a domicile in Tennessee,
that person must “not only intend to establish a personal home in this state but must also
act consistently with this intention.” Conley, 181 S.W.3d at 696 (citing Greene v. Greene,
309 S.W.2d 403, 411 (Tenn. 1957)). “[T]he person must also have no present intention or
expectation of changing his or her residence to some other state.” Id. (citing Tate v. Collins,
622 F. Supp. 1409, 1412 (W.D. Tenn. 1985)). When making a determination as to
domicile, a court considers an individual’s declarations and conduct, as well as “all other
relevant facts and circumstances.” Id. (citing Wiseman, 393 S.W.2d at 895).
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The trial court found that “[w]hile Wife and the minor children have not resided in
Tennessee for six months preceding the filing of the Complaint for Divorce, the Court finds
that the acts complained of regarding the Divorce occurred within this state while Wife and
Husband were bona fide residents of Tennessee, and therefore, jurisdiction over the
Complaint for Divorce is proper.” Specifically, it found that “Wife and Children relocated
to Tennessee on May 3, 2018[,] and Husband moved to Tennessee after preparing the
former marital residence to be sold.” It also noted Husband’s testimony that he “joined in
the move with Wife to Tennessee in order ‘to work on the marriage’ for ‘as long as it
took.’”4 Additionally, the trial court found facts present to support a finding that the acts
amounting to inappropriate marital conduct alleged in Wife’s divorce complaint occurred
“while both parties resided in Tennessee.”
In his brief, Husband contends that the acts complained of in Wife’s complaint for
divorce “could not have occurred in Tennessee because he never moved his residence to
Tennessee.” As to this argument, we first note that it appears to assume that Husband’s
residency may obviate the trial court’s jurisdiction over the divorce matter. However, this
is an incorrect interpretation of the statute. It matters not whether Husband himself “moved
his residence to Tennessee.”5 Rather, the statute, in relevant part, states that “a divorce
may be granted for any of the causes referenced in § 36-4-101 if the acts complained of
were committed while the plaintiff was a bona fide resident of this state.” Tenn. Code
Ann. § 36-4-104(a) (emphasis added). As we perceive it, Husband’s residence is
technically irrelevant to this statutory question. Rather, the pertinent inquiry is whether
Wife was a bona fide resident of this state when the acts complained of in her divorce
complaint were committed. Indeed, acts giving rise to a divorce may occur in Tennessee
while one of the parties is not a bona fide resident pursuant to the statute. See Barnett,
1998 WL 787043, at *2–4 (finding jurisdiction to be proper where the wife was a Florida
resident, but the husband was a bona fide Tennessee resident and the act complained of in
the divorce action occurred in Tennessee). Based on the record before us, we find that the
4
To further support its findings, the trial court cited numerous facts evincing Wife’s residence in
Tennessee, which included that Wife had obtained a Tennessee driver’s license, that Wife had registered
her vehicle in Tennessee, that Wife had found Tennessee employment, and that the children were enrolled
in daycare in Williamson County, Tennessee. Ultimately, the trial court found that “Wife’s principal home
is now in Tennessee, and she no longer has any connection in Missouri. Wife was a bona fide resident when
she filed her divorce action.” The trial court also found that Husband “failed to show continued residence
in Missouri,” that he “changed his license and vehicle registration to Tennessee,” and that he “also sought
employment in Tennessee” prior to Wife’s filing for divorce.
5
Regarding Husband’s testimony as to the start of the marital problems and his residency, the trial
court found him to not be credible. “Where the trial court’s factual conclusions rest on the evaluation of a
witness’s credibility, we will not re-evaluate that assessment of witness credibility absent clear and
convincing evidence to the contrary.” Sircy v. Metro. Gov’t of Nashville & Davidson Cty., 182 S.W.3d 815,
818 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005) (citing Wells v. Tenn. Bd. of Regents, 9 S.W.3d 779, 783 (Tenn. 1999)). Here,
we find no indication of such clear and convincing evidence such as to disturb the trial court’s assessment
as to Husband’s credibility.
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trial court properly found that Wife was a bona fide resident of Tennessee when the acts
complained of in her divorce complaint, as previously discussed herein, occurred in
Tennessee. Therefore, the trial court properly exercised jurisdiction over the parties’
divorce pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-4-104(a).
Whether the Trial Court Had Jurisdiction Over the Custody of the Parties’ Minor
Children
Husband’s second issue on appeal concerns whether the trial court properly
exercised jurisdiction over the parties’ minor children such as to make a custody
determination.
Before making a determination concerning child custody, a trial court must exercise
proper jurisdiction. Promulgated in 1997, the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and
Enforcement Act (“UCCJEA”) “establishes standards for the initial entry of child custody
determinations that will be entitled to full faith and credit in all fifty states as a matter of
federal law, specifies the circumstances under which a state court can modify another
state’s child custody determination, and provides expedited procedures for the enforcement
of both initial and modified child custody determinations.” State v. McKinnon, 206 S.W.3d
532, 544 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006).
Here, the trial court found jurisdiction to be proper under Tennessee’s codified
version of the UCCJEA. As a general proposition, the statutory scheme initially provides
as follows as it pertains to a state’s jurisdictional authority to oversee child custody matters:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in § 36-6-219, a court of this state has
jurisdiction to make an initial child custody determination only if:
(1) This state is the home state of the child on the date of the
commencement of the proceeding, or was the home state of the
child within six (6) months before the commencement of the
proceeding and the child is absent from this state but a parent or
person acting as a parent continues to live in this state[.]
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-216(a)(1). In its holding, the trial court conceded that Tennessee
was not the home state of the children, and it also found that Missouri was not the home
state of the children pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-6-205(7). Section
36-6-205(7) provides, in pertinent part, that the “home state” is “the state in which a child
lived with a parent or a person acting as a parent for at least six (6) consecutive months
immediately before the commencement of a child custody proceeding.” Tenn. Code Ann.
§ 36-6-205(7) (emphasis added). The trial court further noted that neither Wife nor
Husband had a residence in Missouri at the time of the filing of the divorce action, while
also holding that “no state qualifies” for “home state” jurisdiction under Tennessee Code
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Annotated section 36-6-216(a)(1).
In light of the above findings and conclusions, the trial court noted that Tennessee
Code Annotated section 36-6-216(a)(2) provided an “alternate avenue” of jurisdiction.
Section 36-6-216(a)(2) provides that a Tennessee court may have jurisdiction if:
A court of another state does not have jurisdiction under subdivision (a)(1),
or a court of the home state of the child has declined to exercise jurisdiction
on the ground that this state is the more appropriate forum under §§ 36-6-
221 or 36-6-222, and:
(A) The child and the child’s parents, or the child and at least one (1)
parent or a person acting as a parent, have a significant connection with this
state other than mere physical presence; and
(B) Substantial evidence is available in this state concerning the child’s
care, protection, training, and personal relationships.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-216(a)(2) (emphasis added). We conclude that the trial court’s
recognition of this alternate avenue of jurisdiction was not in error. Indeed, while neither
Tennessee, nor any state, qualified to exercise jurisdiction under Tennessee Code
Annotated section 36-6-216(a)(1), we agree, as discussed below, that the record supports a
finding of both a significant connection with Tennessee, as well as substantial evidence
concerning the children’s “care, protection, training, and personal relationships,” under
section 36-6-216(a)(2).
First, section 36-6-216(a)(2)(A) requires that the children and at least one parent
have a significant connection with Tennessee, other than a “mere physical presence.” Here,
the record makes clear that Husband6 and Wife, along with the children, relocated to
Tennessee in May of 2018. Wife and both sets of grandparents reside in Tennessee. Wife
is employed in Tennessee, has obtained a Tennessee driver’s license, and has also
registered her car in Tennessee. Husband, despite his contentions, previously resided in
Tennessee7 and, among other things, rented a storage unit in Tennessee to store his
belongings. As such, the trial court found that there existed a significant connection
between the children, their parents, and Tennessee. We agree.
6
Despite Husband’s contention that he never resided in Tennessee, nor intended to, the trial court
found Husband’s testimony concerning his intentions and residence not credible. Moreover, we also note
that there is no transcript of the hearing on Husband’s motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction in the
appellate record. As such, “we must assume that the record, had it been preserved, would have contained
sufficient evidence to support the trial court’s factual findings.” Williams v. Williams, 286 S.W.3d 290, 297
(Tenn. Ct. App. 2008) (quoting Sherrod v. Wix, 849 S.W.2d 780, 783 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1993)).
7
As noted earlier, the trial court found that neither Wife nor Husband had a residence in Missouri
at the time the divorce action was filed. Husband was personally served with process in Williamson County.
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Second, section 36-6-216(a)(2)(B) requires that there be “substantial evidence”
available in Tennessee concerning the children’s “care, protection, training, and personal
relationships.” We also find this prong satisfied by the proof available in the record. We
again note that Wife and both sets of grandparents reside in Tennessee and that both
children began attending daycare in Tennessee. Indeed, in its order finding jurisdiction
appropriate, the trial court noted that there existed in Tennessee, “substantial evidence from
Wife’s employer, both sets of grandparents, and the teachers and daycare workers who care
for the children concerning the children’s care, protection[,] training, personal
relationships, and like factors weighing upon the comparative fitness of the parties to be
awarded custody.” Accordingly, we conclude that there is “substantial evidence,” as
required by the statute, concerning the “care, protection, training, and personal
relationships” of the children and that the trial court properly exercised jurisdiction over
the parties’ children for purposes of determining custody. Although Tennessee was not the
children’s “home state,” section 36-6-216(a)(2) permits Tennessee jurisdiction under the
facts found by the trial court in this case. As such, we affirm the trial court on this issue.
Whether the Trial Court Erred in Finding Husband in Civil Contempt
Husband’s next issue on appeal concerns whether, at the hearing on August 22,
2019, the trial court erred in finding him in civil contempt.
Husband and Wife came to an agreement in May 2019, pursuant to which Husband
was permitted to have one of the parties’ minor children with him in Missouri beginning
on May 30th until the beginning of school in Williamson County in August. 8 Husband
subsequently notified Wife that he was not going to return the child, as agreed, and was, in
fact, going to enroll the child in school in Missouri. On August 15, 2019, Wife filed an
“Ex Parte Request for Temporary Restraining Order, To Set Motion on August 22, 2019,
and To Order Father to Bring Child to Tennessee on August 22, 2019” (hereinafter referred
to as “Ex Parte Request”). She also filed a separate motion titled “Motion to Return Child
to Tennessee and to Mother’s Care” (hereinafter referred to as “Motion to Return Child”).
On August 16, 2019, the trial court entered an order stating that Husband “is enjoined and
restrained from enrolling the minor child in any school in Liberty Missouri.” It further
ordered that Wife’s Motion to Return Child was to be heard on August 22, 2019.
Additionally, the trial court ordered Husband to return the parties’ minor child to Tennessee
and to appear, with the child, in court on that date.
At the hearing on August 22, 2019, Husband appeared without the parties’ minor
child. Husband told the court he was unaware of the trial court’s August 16th order
8
The record contains no transcript of the hearing from which the court made this finding in its order
of August 23, 2019. Therefore, “we must assume that the record, had it been preserved, would have
contained sufficient evidence to support the trial court’s factual findings.” Williams, 286 S.W.3d at 297(quoting Sherrod, 849 S.W.2d at 783).
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requiring him to appear with the child in court. Instead, he contended, he was appearing
for Wife’s previously filed motion that was set for a hearing after the parties’ failed
mediation.9 However, the trial court concluded that Husband had received proper service
of the order. Specifically, it found that Wife’s counsel had emailed him a copy of the trial
court’s order on the same date of filing. Ultimately, the trial court found Husband in
contempt on two different bases. First, the trial court found Husband in contempt for his
alleged violation of the statutory restraining order outlined in Tennessee Code Annotated
section 36-4-106. Second, the trial court found Husband in contempt for his failure to bring
the child before the court as previously ordered. Now on appeal, Husband argues that the
trial court improperly found him in contempt on both bases. We will address each matter
separately.
First, we address the trial court’s finding that Husband was in contempt for his
failure to bring the parties’ minor child before the court in accordance with the August 16th
order. Husband contends he had no notice of this order and, thus, it was improper for the
trial court to hold him in contempt on this basis. Specifically, Husband takes issue with
the trial court’s finding that he received proper service of its order via email pursuant to
Rule 5 of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure.
Although the trial court was not inaccurate in recognizing that email is an available
method of service under Rule 5, Rule 5.02 specifically provides that service sent via email
may be effectuated “on any attorney.” Tenn. R. Civ. P. 5.02(2)(a) (emphasis added). Here,
Husband was without counsel at the time of email, and the attempted service was on him
directly as a pro se individual, not on an “attorney.” Because Rule 5.02(2)(a) specifically
provides that email service is proper “on any attorney,” id. (emphasis added), and Rule 5
does not provide that email service is permitted otherwise, the trial court’s reliance on Rule
5 was in error. Service on Husband by email was not proper, and the trial court erred in
finding him in contempt with respect to the August 16th order.
Next, we address Husband’s contention that the trial court erred when it found that
he “willfully failed to return the child to Tennessee and that his refusal is a willful violation
of the statutory restraining order in T.C.A. § 36-4-106.” The court’s order reflects that its
contempt analysis on this subject was in reference to the specific statutory language
codified at Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-4-106(d)(5), a provision which contains
an injunction generally “restraining both parties from relocating any children of the parties
outside the state, or more than fifty (50) miles from the marital home, without the
permission of the other party or an order of the court.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-4-106(d)(5).
Had the form order attached to Wife’s complaint accurately included this statutory
language, it would have been proper for the trial court to find Husband in contempt of it.
9
During the summer, the parties had participated in mediation, which was unsuccessful. After the
mediation failed, Wife filed a motion to set the case for trial. That motion was scheduled to be heard on
August 22, 2019.
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Indeed, the trial court found that the parties had an agreement for Husband to have the child
with him for the summer until the beginning of school but that Husband violated that
agreement by willfully failing to return the child to Wife’s custody. The problem that exists
here, however, is that the statutory restraining order language contained in Tennessee Code
Annotated section 36-4-106(d)(5) was not included in the form order attached to Wife’s
complaint. The language actually contained in the form order attached to Wife’s complaint
provided for an injunction which restrained parents from relocating children “without
permission of the Court or by consent order,” language which is in effect more restrictive
than that required by the statute.10
The failure to accurately include the statutory provision the trial court found
Husband to be in contempt of is not without consequence. Indeed, because the provision
included in section 36-4-106(d)(5) was not attached to the complaint, it was not in effect
against Husband. The statute is clear on this issue, as it provides that the statutory
injunctions become an order of the court upon “fulfillment of the requirements” of
subsection (d), which includes the requirement that the “provisions of these injunctions
shall be attached to the summons and the complaint.” See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-4-
106(d)(6) (emphasis added).11 Because the statutory provision relied upon by the trial court
was not included in the form order attached to the complaint, it was not in effect as an order
against Husband, and Husband could therefore not be held in contempt of it.12
In light of the foregoing analysis, we conclude that the trial court erred in holding
Husband in contempt for violating its August 16th order which had directed that he appear
with the minor child before the trial court. We further conclude that the trial court erred in
holding Husband in contempt for violating Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-4-
106(d). We, therefore, reverse the trial court’s findings of contempt.
10
Although not at issue in the present matter, we note that the form statutory restraining order also
contained similar more restrictive language in two other provisions contrary to the actual statutory language
required by section 36-4-106(d).
11
The statute is clear that the provisions of the injunctions in Tennessee Code Annotated section
36-4-106(d) “shall be” attached to the complaint. Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-4-106(d). Parties are not
precluded, however, from “applying to the court for further temporary orders, an expanded temporary
injunction, or modification or revocation of th[e] temporary injunction.” Id.
12
Somewhat confusingly, we observe that the trial court also made findings suggesting that the
parties’ agreement “had no protection from the statutory restraining order” because it was never reduced to
writing or entered by the court. Based on our reading of the statutory language in Tennessee Code
Annotated section 36-4-106(d)(5), the provision invoked by the trial court, there is no requirement that the
parties must reduce their agreement to writing or that the court formally sanction the relocation. The terms
of the statutory restraining order that is to be attached to the complaint allow for relocation with “permission
of the other party.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-4-106(d)(5). It is of course possible that the court’s specific
conclusions on this matter, including the purported need for a writing, were divined not from the actual text
of the referenced statute, but were instead a product of resorting to the more restrictive language of the
court’s form attached to the complaint. Assuming this is the case, we note again that certain of the
injunctive provisions attached to the complaint did not accurately follow the statutory text as required by
Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-4-106(d).
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Whether the Trial Court Erred in Making an Equitable Distribution of the Parties’
Marital Assets
Husband’s next issue on appeal concerns whether the trial court erred in making an
equitable distribution of the parties’ marital assets after the parties had previously agreed
upon a division of property prior to trial.
“The trial court has broad discretion in fashioning an equitable distribution of
marital property, and an appellate court will defer to the trial court’s distribution unless it
is inconsistent with the statutory factors or lacks proper evidentiary support.” Trezevant v.
Trezevant, 568 S.W.3d 595, 607 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2018) (citing Baggett v. Baggett, 422
S.W.3d 537, 543 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2013)).
In the present case, the parties came to an agreement prior to trial concerning the
division of the net proceeds realized from the sale of their Missouri residence as well as
certain tangible personal property. However, during trial, Wife contended there was an
inequity in the distribution to be received by the parties. Specifically, Wife contended that
the vehicle Husband received in the divorce allowed him to leave the marriage with more
equity. As a result, Wife requested that the trial court grant an “equalizing distribution” in
order to correct the disparity. Husband and Wife contested the value of Husband’s vehicle,
with Husband arguing that the vehicle was worth about $26,000.00 and Wife arguing that
it was worth about $33,338.00. In its order, the trial court accepted Husband’s value of the
vehicle but noted that there was a disparity in Husband’s favor in the amount of $11,814.00
in the parties’ respective shares of the marital estate.13 In determining the amount of the
disparity, the trial court considered the amount of debt Husband still had on the vehicle. In
order to rectify this disparity, the trial court found that Wife was entitled to receive an
“equalizing distribution” from Husband in the amount of $5,900.00.
On appeal, Husband argues that the trial court erred in granting Wife an “equalizing
distribution.” Specifically, he asserts that the trial court failed to consider the value of
Wife’s collection of glass marble, which was marital property she received in the divorce.
Husband contends that the value of Wife’s marble collection is such that it would have
obviated the need for the “equalizing distribution,” as he claims that Wife’s collection is
worth between “$25,000 and $30,000.”
Based upon our review of the record on appeal, we do not find there to be sufficient
evidence to conclude that the trial court’s grant of the equalizing distribution is reversible
error. While Husband insists that Wife’s collection of glass marble is worth between
$25,000.00 and $30,000.00, we find that the proof in the record is uncertain. “The value
13
In this same order, the trial court also found that the value of Wife’s vehicle, deemed to be her
separate property, was offset by the value of Husband’s separately owned gun collection and his hunting
and fishing gear.
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of marital property is determined by considering all relevant evidence regarding value and
the burden is on the parties to produce competent evidence of value.” Powell v. Powell,
124 S.W.3d 100, 104 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2003) (citing Wallace v. Wallace, 733 S.W.2d 102,
107 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1987)). Here, the only information available as to the value of Wife’s
collection of glass marble is her testimony, which is admittedly tenuous at best. Wife
herself is unsure as to whether her own valuation of the collection is accurate and the
collection has never been appraised. Moreover, Wife testified that she still owes several
thousands of dollars in credit card debt, of which some is attributable to the marble
collection. Husband, on the other hand, presented no evidence concerning the value of the
collection.
As supported by this Court’s discussion in Powell, the trial court was well within its
discretion to determine the value of Wife’s collection by considering all the relevant
evidence regarding the value. Here, it appears that the trial court, in considering Wife’s
uncertain testimony and the lack of additional evidence, as well as the significant debt
obligations Wife appeared to have with respect to any purported value, opted to not find
the collection valuable such as to affect its determination of awarding Wife an equalizing
distribution. Based upon our review of the record on appeal, we find no error on part of
the trial court.
Whether the Trial Court Erred in Awarding Wife Attorney’s Fees as Alimony in Solido
Husband’s next issue on appeal concerns whether the trial court erred in awarding
Wife attorney’s fees as alimony in solido without making a determination concerning the
relevant factors.
Alimony in solido is alimony that “may be awarded in lieu of or in addition to any
other alimony award, in order to provide support, including attorney fees, where
appropriate.” Gonsewski v. Gonsewski, 350 S.W.3d 99, 108 (Tenn. 2011) (quoting Tenn.
Code Ann. § 36-5-121(d)). Our Supreme Court has stated:
It is well-settled that an award of attorney’s fees in a divorce case constitutes
alimony in solido. The decision whether to award attorney’s fees is within
the sound discretion of the trial court. As with any alimony award, in
deciding whether to award attorney’s fees as alimony in solido, the trial court
should consider the factors enumerated in Tennessee Code Annotated section
36-5-121(i). A spouse with adequate property and income is not entitled to
an award of alimony to pay attorney’s fees and expenses. Such awards are
appropriate only when the spouse seeking them lacks sufficient funds to pay
his or her own legal expenses, or the spouse would be required to deplete his
or her resources in order to pay them. Thus, where the spouse seeking such
an award has demonstrated that he or she is financially unable to procure
counsel, and where the other spouse has the ability to pay, the court may
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properly grant an award of attorney’s fees as alimony.
Id. at 113 (internal citations omitted).
In the present matter, the trial court awarded Wife a judgment against Husband for
attorney’s fees in the amount of $5,369.00 in connection with her successful defense
against Husband’s challenge to the trial court’s jurisdiction. The trial court predicated its
award on two independent legal theories. First, it noted that Wife was entitled to recover
her reasonable attorney’s fees as the prevailing party pursuant to Tennessee Code
Annotated section 36-6-236. Section 36-6-236 states that,
[t]he court may award the prevailing party, including a state, necessary and
reasonable expenses incurred by or on behalf of the party, including costs,
communication expenses, attorney’s fees, investigative fees, expenses for
witnesses, travel expenses, and child care during the course of the
proceedings.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-236. Thus, because Wife was the prevailing party on Husband’s
challenge to the trial court’s jurisdiction, the trial court determined that she was entitled to
an award of fees at the trial court’s discretion. The trial court also found that Wife was
entitled to recover attorney’s fees as alimony in solido “because Husband’s objection to
this Court’s jurisdiction involved an element of bad faith and dishonesty.”
In his brief, Husband appeals only the trial court’s grant of attorney’s fees to Wife
as alimony in solido. His argument does not engage with nor argue against the trial court’s
award of fees pursuant to section 36-6-236. As such, we find any argument as to the trial
court’s award of fees to Wife pursuant to section 36-6-236 waived. Moreover, because the
trial court predicated its award of fees on two independent legal theories and Husband
challenges only one of those theories, we affirm the award of fees in light of Husband’s
waiver.
The trial court also awarded Wife a judgment of $4,575.00, representing her
attorney’s fees in connection with Husband’s civil contempt. Because we are reversing the
trial court’s finding of contempt, there cannot be an award of fees in this regard. As such,
we reverse the trial court’s award of fees to Wife as a result of Husband’s contempt.
Thus, although we affirm the trial court’s award of fees to Wife in connection with
Husband’s challenge to the trial court’s jurisdiction, we reverse the award of fees based on
Husband’s contempt.
Whether the Trial Court Erred in Failing to Provide Husband an Opportunity to
Challenge Wife’s Attorney’s Fees
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Husband’s final issue on appeal concerns whether the trial court erred in failing to
provide him with an opportunity to challenge Wife’s attorney’s fees.
In his brief, Husband argues that the trial court erred by not presenting him an
opportunity to “review or challenge the award of attorney’s fees on the basis that they were
not reasonable or necessary,” and he claims the trial court’s decision on the attorney’s fees
“came immediately at the conclusion of trial . . . [and] he was not afforded an opportunity
to review the attorney’s fees or to challenge the amount of attorney’s fees.” Specifically,
Husband contends that the trial court “failed entirely to provide [Husband] an opportunity
to cross-examine the requesting party’s lawyer regarding his fees or present proof of his
own.” Rather, Husband asserts, “the [trial court] took the affidavit of [Wife’s] counsel and
granted exactly the fees requested.” However, as we will explain in further detail below,
we find Husband’s recitation of the events that are contained in the record to be inconsistent
at best, and thus, we find his argument in this regard to be without merit.
In reviewing the transcript of the hearing in the record on appeal, we note that Wife’s
attorney did in fact introduce an affidavit regarding attorney’s fees as evidence. The court
then asked Husband whether he objected to the introduction of the affidavit, which he
stated he did not. Shortly thereafter, Wife’s attorney concluded his examination of Wife,
thus allowing Husband to cross-examine her. Based on our review of the transcript, we
find no indication that Husband ever objected to the fees or initiated questioning as to the
fees although he had the opportunity to do so. Husband asserts that, “[p]arties opposing a
request for attorney’s fees should be afforded a fair opportunity to cross-examine the
requesting party’s lawyer or to present proof of its own.” Indeed, “[t]rial courts may act
upon requests for legal expenses without a fully developed record as long as the party
opposing the request has been afforded a fair opportunity to cross-examine the requesting
parties’ witnesses and to present proof of its own on the issues.” Sherrod v. Wix, 849
S.W.2d 780, 785 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1992) (citing Kahn v. Kahn, 756 S.W.2d 685, 696 (Tenn.
1988); Wilson Mgmt. Co. v. Star Distribs. Co., 745 S.W.2d 870, 873 (Tenn. 1988)).
However, the issue with Husband’s argument is that he never acted nor objected to the
entry of the affidavit for attorney’s fees as an exhibit. Moreover, Husband fails to point to
any part in the hearing during which the trial court prevented him from questioning the
veracity of Wife’s attorney’s fees. In Sherrod, the husband took issue with the trial court’s
awarding the wife attorney’s fees because he had not “been able to accurately determine
the amount of attorney fees incurred by [wife].” Id. at 784. There, the trial court held a
hearing on the issue of attorney’s fees where wife’s attorney testified as to his hourly rate
and submitted an affidavit showing fees incurred by wife pursuant to the litigation. Id. The
trial court ultimately entered an order directing husband to pay wife’s attorney’s fees. Id.On appeal, this Court found the husband “did not object to the procedure used by the trial
court to determine the amount of the attorney’s fees award and did not insist on cross-
examining [the wife’s] lawyer or offering proof of his own.” Id. at 785. Therefore, we
found the trial court’s award proper. Id. Similarly here, we note that Wife’s attorney
conducted a brief questioning of Wife upon entering an affidavit of attorney’s fees as an
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exhibit. Upon doing so, the trial court asked Husband if he had any objection to the entry
of the affidavit as an exhibit, to which Husband replied in the negative. Although we note
that Husband was proceeding pro se during the hearing, “courts must not excuse pro se
litigants from complying with the same substantive and procedural rules that represented
parties are expected to observe.” Hessmer v. Hessmer, 138 S.W.3d 901, 903 (Tenn. Ct.
App. 2003) (citing Edmundson v. Pratt, 945 S.W.2d 754, 755 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1996);
Kaylor v. Bradley, 912 S.W.2d 728, 733 n. 4 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1995)). As such, here,
Husband chose to represent himself at the divorce proceedings and thus was charged with
the responsibility of questioning witnesses and cross-examining witnesses. Despite his
status as a pro se defendant, we decline to find any error on the part of the trial court. Much
like in Sherrod, Husband in this case did not object to the affidavit, nor did he insist on
cross-examining Wife’s attorney. “Our rules do not require that ‘relief be granted to a
party responsible for an error or who failed to take whatever action was reasonably
available to prevent or nullify the harmful effect of an error.’” Bowers v. Bowers, No.
M2010-00311-COA-R3-CV, 2011 WL 1344258, at *6 (Tenn. Ct. App. Apr. 7, 2011)
(quoting Tenn. R App. P. 36(a)). Accordingly, we reject Husband’s contention that he was
denied the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses or present proof of his own regarding
Wife’s attorney’s fees.
Whether Wife is Entitled to Her Attorney’s Fees on Appeal
Wife’s sole issue for appeal concerns whether she is entitled to her attorney’s fees
on appeal. Specifically, she contends that Husband has simply reiterated identical
arguments he made before the trial court and waived some of the same issues he now
challenges before this Court.
“Whether to award attorney’s fees on appeal is a matter within the sole discretion
of this Court.” Luplow v. Luplow, 450 S.W.3d 105, 119 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2014). In
determining whether to award a party attorney’s fees on appeal, “we consider the ability of
the requesting party to pay the accrued fees, the requesting party’s success in the appeal,
whether the requesting party sought the appeal in good faith, and any other equitable factor
that should be considered.” Ellis v. Ellis, 621 S.W.3d 700, 709 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2019).
Exercising our discretion, and in light of our decision herein, we decline to award Wife her
attorney’s fees on appeal.
CONCLUSION
In light of the foregoing, we affirm in part and reverse in part.
s/ Arnold B. Goldin
ARNOLD B. GOLDIN, JUDGE
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