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CRight ParRight-Aligned Paragraph NumbersI.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)3|x<6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpiXXx6X@JQX@( T$   dU!$(G.2$ FT!   $XX     0  MARVINBERKELESLIEMcWILLIAMS($   0  MARVINBERKELESLIEMcWILLIAMSMELDORFNnamdiAneneNgoziColgateStarkville 2d.TurcottWisemanSnodgrass HowscaregiveriTurley("$    GGGG'dxd D e V D  D Ӏ2 0Indent123  2" 0Indent20 23  2, 0Indent30 0 23  26 0Indent40 0 0 23  2@ 0Indent50 0 0 0 23  2J 0Indent60 0 0 0 0 23  2T 0Indent70 0 0 0 0 0 23  2^ 0Indent80 0 0 0 0 0 0 23  XYZ[\]^_ ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P 8Mac DefaultMac Default ` X<  9p`(Courier New% Line 7 diiii7Border 1ddNjC << G<  9p`(Arial  F!  #d#h  ll   YYY FILEDlX October2,1996CecilCrowson,Jr.lAppellateCourtClerk PtPtHH(FG(HH(d'@Styl{WP}01  HH  2$HH  Geneva  <Px443!#4$*$$*$ KK  Geneva  Geneva .,6 Geneva   BA Op Geneva  BA Op Geneva NC<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$   1  ' dxdP Pd F! . h    ћ7XXdd7\RA'\ `    , 5  i u` ќLkmj;+'h|`  `Lߛ@ INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE@ EASTERNSECTIONVICTORIANGOZIANENE@ ) HAMILTONCOUNTY@ ) 03A019511CV00387 PlaintiffAppellee @ )@ )@ ) v. @ ) HON.WILLIAML.BROWN,̀@ ) JUDGE @ )JOHNNNAMDIANENE@ )@ )  DefendantAppellant  @ ) AFFIRMEDANDREMANDED JOHNR.MELDORF,III,OFHIXSONFORAPPELLANTPHILLIPC.LAWRENCEOFCHATTANOOGAFORAPPELLEE    OPINION         Goddard,P.J.  TheDefendant,JohnNnamdiAneneappealsajudgmentoftheCircuitCourtofHamiltonCountygrantingVictoriaNgoziAnene'spetitionfordivorceandawardinghercustodyoftheirthreeminorchildren.Mr.Aneneraisesfiveissuesonappeal,twoofwhicharejurisdictional.(Seeappendix.)Astothejurisdictionalissues,wefindthattheCircuitCourtofHamiltonwascorrectinassumingjurisdictiontohearboththedivorceandcustodyissues.Wefindtheremainingissuestobewithoutmerit.  JohnandVictoriaAnenearecitizensofNigeria.theyweremarriedinatraditionalceremonyinNigeriaandlatermarriedinachurchceremonyinArizonaonMay29,1982.AtthattimeMr.AnenewaspursuingaPh.D.atArizonaStateandMs.AnenewaspursuingmedicalstudiesinNigeria.Aftercompletingherstudies,Ms.AnenemovedtotheUnitedStates,atwhichtimesheborethefirstoftheparties'threechildren,Victoria.Ms.AnenelaterreturnedtoNigeriatobecomelicensedtopracticemedicinethere.  Uponreceivingherlicense,Ms.AnenereturnedtotheUnitedStatestojoinherhusbandinArizona.Mr.AnenehadrecentlyreceivedhisPh.D.butwasunabletofindemployment.Thepartieslivedonpublicassistanceforoneyear.Duringthistime,thepartiessecondchild,Marilyn,wasborn.Alsoduringthistime,Ms.Aneneenteredashelterandremainedthereforaboutamonthinordertoavoidherhusbandsabusiveconduct.  In1989,Mr.AneneobtainedaoneyearcontracttoworkforColgateUniversityinHamilton,NewYork.Ms.AnenebeganapediatricresidencyprograminNewYorkCity.ThepartieslivedapartandthechildrenlivedwithMr.Anene.Thereafter,Ms.Anenegavebirthtothepartiesthirdchild,Dominic.Mr.AnenescontractforemploymentwithColgateUniversitywasnotrenewed.Thereafter,Ms.AneneabandonedherresidencyandthepartiesreturnedtoArizona.  In1991,Mr.AnenesecuredemploymentinthepoliticalsciencedepartmentatMississippiStateUniversityinStarkville,Mississippi.InJune1992,Ms.AnenebeganapediatricsresidencyprograminChattanooga.Ms.AneneintendedtotakeherchildrenwithhertoChattanoogatolivewithherwhilepursuingherresidencybutMr.Anenewouldnotallowit.WhilelivinginChattanooga,Ms.AnenetraveledtoStarkvilleseveraltimestovisitherchildren.  In1993,Ms.AnenefiledfordivorceandcustodyofthechildreninMississippi.Mr.AnenehadlosthisjobwithMississippiStateUniversity.TheMississippiCourtdismissedthecaseafterMr.AnenehadmovedtoChattanoogawiththechildrenandwasreunitedwithMs.AneneinJulyof1993.UponhisarrivalinChattanooga,Ms.Aneneleasedaduplexforherselfandherfamily.WhiletheywerelivingtogetherMr.AnenecontinuedhispatternofincessanttalkingandforciblyrequiredMs.Anenetohavesexualintercoursewithhim.OnDecember30,1993,Ms.Anenesoughtanorderofprotectionandfiledtheactionfromwhichthisappealarises.̀̀  TherewastestimonyattrialthatestablishesalongpatternofabusebyMr.AneneagainstMs.Anene.TherewastestimonythatMr.Aneneforcedhimselfuponhersexually,andphysicallyabusedherduringthelaterstagesofherpregnancy.Hewouldalsotalktoherincessantly,causinghertolosesleep.ThetestimonysuggeststhatthispatternofconductbyMr.AnenelastedfromthetimethepartiesfirstlivedtogetherinArizonauntilMs.AnenefiledforaprotectiveorderintheHamiltonCountyCircuitCourt.  TheTrialJudgegrantedthedivorceandawardedsolecustodytoMs.Anene.Regardingthecustodyissue,theTrialJudgespecificallyfoundthatMr.Anene'seffortstocreatetheimpressionthatMs.Aneneabandonedherchildrenwereincredible.Rather,theTrialJudgefoundthatMr.AnenehadcreatedanintolerablehomelifeforMs.Anenetotheextentthatshewasforcedtoleave.TheTrialJudgefoundthatMs.Anenewasawayfromherchildrenduringsometimeperiodsinordertopursuehereducationalendeavors,butshealwaysmaintainedcontactwiththechildren.Further,theTrialJudgefoundthatanyeffortstoseeorregainpossessionofthechildrenwerethwartedbyMr.Anene.Also,basedonprospectiveemploymentopportunitiesandMr.Anenespastjobhistory,Ms.Aneneappearedtobetheparentmorecapableofprovidingforthechildren.̀  Mr.AneneassertsthattheTrialCourterredinfindingthatithadsubjectmatterjurisdictionoverthiscase.JurisdictionoftheTrialCourtindivorcecasesiswhollygovernedbystatuteandislimitedtothatwhichisexpresslyconferredbystatute.Turnerv.Bell,198Tenn.232,279S.W.2d71(1955),cert.denied350U.S.842,76S.Ct.83;Pagev.Turcott,179Tenn.491,167S.W.2d350(1943).TennesseecourtsmaygrantadivorcewherethepersonseekingthedivorceisabonafideresidentofTennesseewhentheactscomplainedofwerecommittedor,iftheactscomplainedofwerecommittedoutsideTennessee,iftheplaintiffhasresidedinTennesseeforsixmonthspriortofilingthecomplaintfordivorce.T.C.A.364104.  Mr.AneneassertsthattheTrialCourtdidnothavejurisdictiontohearMs.AnenescomplaintfordivorcebecauseMs.AneneneverestablishedthatshewasabonafideresidentofTennesseewhentheactscomplainedofwerecommitted,norwasshearesidentofTennesseeforsixmonthspriortofilinghercomplaint.Ms.AneneassertsthatshehasbeenaresidentofHamiltonCounty,foraperiodlongerthansixmonthspriortothefilingofthedivorcecomplaintandthattheactscomplainedofoccurredinTennessee.Thus,theinterpretationoftheterm"residence"isofcriticalimportanceindeterminingwhethertheTrialCourthadjurisdictiontohearthismatter.  Mr.AnenearguesthatalthoughsheresidedinHamiltonCounty,Ms.Anenewasneverdomiciledthere.AsusedinT.C.A.364104,Tennesseecourtshaveinterpretedtheterm"reside"tomeandomicile.Wisemanv.Wiseman,216Tenn.702,393S.W.2d892(1965);Snodgrassv.Snodgrass,49Tenn.App.607,357S.W.2d829(1962).Thetermdomicilemeanstheplacewhereoneis,aswellastheplacewhereoneintendstoremain.Residencereferstotheplacewhereoneis.Onemayhavemanyresidencesbutonlyonedomicile.Mereintenttomakeaparticularplaceonesresidenceisinsufficienttoestablishdomicile.Anappropriateactionharmonizingwithintentisnecessary.Brownv.Hows,163Tenn.178,42S.W.2d210(1931).  Ms.AneneisacitizenofNigeria.ShereferstoNigeriaas"home."However,Ms.AnenehasofferednoproofthatsheintendstoreturntoNigeriapermanentlyinthefuture.Inhertestimony,Ms.AnenestatedthatshehasoptionsotherthanreturningtoNigeriaaftertheexpirationofhervisa.Further,Ms.AnenetookstepswhichmanifestedherintenttoremaininHamiltonCounty.Sheenrolledandparticipatedinapediatricresidencyprogramandmovedintoaduplexwithherfamily.CoupledwithherpresenceinHamiltonCounty,wefindthattheseactsaresufficienttoexhibittheintentrequiredtoestablishdomicile.Thus,weholdthattheTrialJudgewascorrectinfindingjurisdictionunderthestatute.  Next,Mr.AnenearguesthattheTrialCourterredinassumingjurisdictionoverthepartiesminorchildren.RelyingonT.C.A.366203(a)(1),heassertsthattheTrialCourtdidnothavejurisdictiontodecidethecustodymattersinvolvedinthiscasebecauseTennesseewasnotthe"homestate"ofthechildrenforatleastsixmonthspriortothecommencementoftheproceeding.  However,thestatuteallowsaTennesseecourttohavejurisdictionovercustodymattersevenwhenTennesseewasnotthehomestateofthechildforaperiodofsixmonthsprecedingthecommencementoftheproceedings.T.C.A.366203(a)(2)grantsjurisdictiontoaTennesseecourttohearchildcustodymatterswherenostatehasjurisdictionorwherethechildshomestatehasdeclinedtoexercisejurisdictiononthegroundthatTennesseeisthemoreappropriateplacetodeterminecustodyissuesandatleastoneofthecontestantshasasignificantconnectiontoTennessee.WefindthatthereissubstantialevidenceinTennesseetodeterminethecustodyissuesanditisappropriateforaTennesseecourttoassumejurisdiction.  PriortomovingtoChattanooga,thepartieslivedinMississippi.Ms.AnenefiledfordivorceinMississippi.TheMississippicourtdismissedthecauseafterfindingthat"thepartiesarelivinginthesameresidenceintheStateofTennessee,thatthepartiesresumedafamilyrelationshipinTennesseeinJuly,1993,andthatthepartiesnowhavenosignificantcontactswiththeStateofMississippi."Mr.AnenedoesnotassertthatanystateotherthanMississippihasjurisdiction.Thus,inaccordancewiththeexpresslanguageofthestatutetheTrialCourtwascorrectinfindingthatithadjurisdictiontotrythequestionofcustody.  Next,Mr.AneneassertsthattheTrialCourterredinawardingcustodytoMs.Anene.Thefindingsofthetrialcourtshallbedenovoupontherecordofthetrialcourtandareaccompaniedbyapresumptionofcorrectness,unlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.Rule13(d),TennesseeRulesofAppellateProcedure.Absentanerroroflaw,wemustaffirmunlesstheevidencepreponderatesagainstthefindingsofthetrialcourt.Griffinv.Stone,834S.W.2d300(Tenn.App.1992).Further,theawardofcustodyisinthediscretionofthetrialcourtand,onappeal,greatweightwillbegrantedtothefindingsoffactandcredibility.Edwardsv.Edwards,501S.W.2d283(Tenn.App.1973).  Mr.AneneassertsthefactthathewastheprimarycaregiverofthechildrenduringthemarriageashisbasisforoverturningthefindingoftheTrialJudgeonthisissue.WhileitistruethatMs.Anenewasnotalwaystheprimarycaregiverofthechildren,theevidencesupportsMs.AnenesassertionthatshewasforcedawayfromherchildrenbyMr.AnenesabusivenessandwaskeptawayfromthembyMr.Anenesobstructionisttactics.WefindthatMs.Anenesassertionsareclearlysupportedintherecord.ThefactsdonotpreponderateagainstthefindingsoftheTrialJudgeandthisissueisfoundinfavorofMs.Anene.  Mr.AnenesfourthissuecomplainsthattheTrialJudgeerredinexcludingevidencewhichhiscounselcontendshadbeenstipulatedtopriortotrialbyMs.Anene'spreviouscounsel.Duringtrial,Ms.Anenesnewcounselobjectedtotheadmissionofthestipulatedevidenceandwassustained.  TheevidenceinquestionisExhibit13,introducedforidentificationonly,whichisanunauthenticatedNewYorkcourtorderdismissingapetitionforchildabuseastooneoftheirdaughterswhichMs.AnenehadinstitutedagainstMr.Anene.  Wefirstnotethatabsentextraordinarycircumstances,stipulationsmadebytheparties,whetherbeforeorduringtrial,orbyapreviousorcurrentcounsel,wouldbeadmissibleinevidence.Weobserveinthepresentcase,however,thereisnothingintherecordwhichwehavefoundtoshowsuchastipulationwasmade.Instead,thereistheacknowledgmentbyMs.Anenethatduringherdiscoverydepositionshehadthepetitiondismissed.Shefreelyadmittedthisfactinhertestimonyattrial.Thus,eveniftherehadbeensuchastipulation,wecanfindnoprejudicialerrorbyrefusingtoadmitthecourtorder,whichwouldbeonlycumulativeevidence.  Mr.AnenesfinalissueassertsthattheTrialJudgeerredindenyinghisrequestforattorneyfeesandcosts.Thedecisiontoawardattorneyfeesiswithinthediscretionofthetrialcourt.Thedecisionofthetrialcourtastoattorneyfeeswillnotnormallybedisturbedonappealabsentaclearshowingofabuse.Aaronv.Aaron,909S.W.2d408(Tenn.1995).Mr.Anenehasmadenosuchshowing.  FortheforegoingreasonsthejudgmentoftheTrialCourtisaffirmedandthecauseremandedforsuchfurtherproceedings,ifany,asmaybenecessaryandcollectionofcostsbelow.CostsofappealareadjudgedagainstMr.Anene.      _______________________________      HoustonM.Goddard,P.J.̜ǛCONCUR:________________________________HerschelP.Franks,J.________________________________DonT.McMurray,J.