ÿWPCÌ# …# V %ag 0(ow@—4×ëUFú 0l@ 0D¬ 0Jð 0T: 0^Ž 0hì 0rT 0|Æ 0†B 0È 1uX U,Í 0dù U,]U6‰B)¿DCè AM+ Bx D3•U*È!ò 0@tSdÇ«+v~ÖvÓT AO'"Æv" 0D<# D/€# B¯#˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0  X($¡¡ ùúDûüýþUÿUDÓ€ Gav y3|x <4šÛ 9Z ‹.Courier New Regular((3üÝ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)< Œ 9p`(ModernP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Monaco< Œ 9p`(Courier New% Line 7 d&&&&7Border 1dd€-'Cþÿ << Gÿÿ d))))'ÿÿdxd< Œ 9p`(Arial Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€%ÔÝ  ÝÔ€+ÔÔ€+ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€+XÔÌÌMay€31,€1996ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò jÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€%ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý€€Ô€%ôÔThat€section€provided€as€follows:ÌÌà8 àAny€order€for€child€support€shall€be€a€judgment€entitled€to€beÏenforced€as€any€other€judgment€of€a€court€of€this€state€and€shallÏbe€entitled€to€full€faith€and€credit€in€this€state€and€in€anyÏother€state.€€Such€judgment€shall€not€be€subject€to€modificationÏas€to€any€time€period€or€any€amounts€due€prior€to€the€date€that€anÏaction€for€modification€is€filed€and€notice€of€the€action€has€beenÏmailed€to€the€last€known€address€of€the€opposing€parties.ÌÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„5„101(a)(5)€(1991).€€In€1994€the€General€Assembly€amendedÏthis€provision€by€adding€language€to€the€end€of€the€section.€€The€new€languageÏprovided:ÌÌà8 àIf€the€full€amount€of€child€support€is€not€paid€by€the€fifth€(5th)Ïday€of€the€month€following€the€month€in€which€the€ordered€supportÏis€due,€the€unpaid€amount€is€in€arrears€and€shall€become€aÏjudgment€for€the€unpaid€amounts€and€shall€accrue€interest€from€theÏdate€of€the€arrearage€at€the€rate€set€in€section€47„14„121.ÏComputation€of€interest€shall€not€be€the€responsibility€of€theÏclerk.ÌÌ1994€Tenn.€Pub.€Acts€ch.€987€ðð4.€€The€General€Assembly€amended€this€sectionÏagain€in€1995.€€1995€Tenn.€Pub.€Acts€ch.€504€ðð2.Ì ZÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€%ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý€€Ô€%ôÔThere€is€no€evidence€that€Appellee€paid€rent€or€a€mortgage€payment.€ÏThus,€the€term€shelter€refers€to€that€portion€of€the€utilities€attributable€toÏthe€son.Ì ¡Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€%ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€%ôÔ€€During€oral€argument,€Appellee€argued€that€the€MDA€obligatedÏAppellant€to€pay€for€Cumberland€Heights€and€the€halfway€house€because€itÏrequired€Appellant€to€pay€for€all€medical€expenses€not€covered€by€insurance.€ÏNevertheless,€Appellee€did€not€raise€this€argument€below€or€develop€the€recordÏas€to€whether€the€care€given€at€the€Atlanta€facilities€was€medical€care.€ÏThus,€we€do€not€address€this€issue.€€òòò òCivil€Serv.€Merit€Bd.€v.€Bursonóóó ó,Ï816€S.W.2d€725,€734„35€(Tenn.€1991).ÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'@Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑMonacoÑÑ ÑÒ  BA Op Monaco ÒÒ  BA Op Monaco Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÓ&€$$X„d&ÓÑ#€$$Xd#ÑÔ€%ÔÝ  ÝÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ7€ÊXXdÖdÈ7ÑÑ  Ñ›Synthia€Jo€Gaines€Benson,à àà à)à àÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àAppeal€No.Ìà àPetitioner/Appellee,à àà à)à à01„A„01„9601„CV„00043Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìv.à àà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌJohn€Thomas€Benson,€IV,à àà àà à)à àCircuit€Court€No.Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)à à89D„4274Ìà àRespondent/Appellant.à àà à)à àÌÙ€€ÙœßL€(,';+'h|k` ç `€€Lß›ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÔ€%¼Ôà@ àCOURT€OF€APPEALSÌÌà@ àMIDDLE€SECTION€AT€NASHVILLEÌÌà@ àAPPEAL€FROM€THE€FOURTH€CIRCUIT€COURT€OF€DAVIDSON€COUNTYÌÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLE,€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àTHE€HONORABLE€MURIEL€ROBINSON,€JUDGEÌÔ€%XÔÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌVICKY€V.€KLEINÌ509€Lentz€DriveÌMadison,€Tennessee€37116„0608Ìà àATTORNEY€FOR€RESPONDENT/APPELLANTÌÌÌÌÌÌJOHN€M.€L.€BROWNÌ221€Fourth€Avenue€NorthÌSecond€FloorÌNashville,€Tennessee€37219ÌPHILIP€E.€SMITHÌ213€Third€Avenue€NorthÌNashville,€Tennessee€37201Ìà àATTORNEYS€FOR€PETITIONER/APPELLEEÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àÔ€%¼ÔAFFIRMED,€MODIFIED,€AND€REMANDEDÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àSAMUEL€L.€LEWIS,€JUDGEÔ€%XÔÌÓÓœ›à@ àÔ€%¼ÔòòOPINIONÔ€%XÔóóÌÌ€€€€€This€is€an€appeal€by€respondent/appellant,€John€ThomasÏBenson,€IV,€from€a€decision€of€the€trial€court€that€awardedÏpetitioner/appellee,€Synthia€Jo€Gaines€Benson,€$4,299.83€for€childÏsupport€arrearages,€$3,946.92€for€the€college€expenses€of€theÏparties'€son,€John€Thomas€Benson,€V,€and€$750.00€for€attorney'sÏfees.€€The€pertinent€facts€are€as€follows.€ÌÌà àThe€Fourth€Circuit€Court€of€Davidson€County€entered€a€finalÏdecree€of€divorce€as€to€the€parties€on€16€April€1990.€€The€decreeÏincorporated€a€marital€dissolution€agreement€(ð ðMDAðð)€whichÏprovided€that€Appellant€would€pay€child€support€of€$200.00€everyÏtwo€weeks€until€the€parties'€son€turned€eighteen€or€graduated€withÏhis€normal€high€school€class.€€In€addition,€the€MDA€obligatedÏAppellant€to€pay€the€son's€reasonable€college€expenses.ÌÌà àOn€21€October€1994,€Appellee€filed€a€petition€for€contempt€ofÏcourt€and€for€breach€of€contract.€€The€claims€in€the€petitionÏconcerned€three€different€time€periods.€€The€first€was€April€1990Ïto€January€1994.€€Appellee€claimed€that,€during€this€time,ÏAppellant€accumulated€an€arrearage€of€$3,166.51€as€a€result€of€twoÏactions.€€First,€he€paid€$400.00€per€month€instead€of€$200.00Ïevery€two€weeks€resulting€in€a€$33.33€monthly€shortfall.€€Second,Ïhe€failed€to€pay€any€support€for€four€months.ÌÌà àThe€second€period€was€February€1994€to€June€1994.€AppelleeÏclaimed€that€Appellant€did€not€pay€child€support€for€the€fiveÏmonth€period€and€that€he€owed€$2,166.65.€€During€this€time,€theÏson€was€an€inpatient€at€Cumberland€Heights.€€Upon€leaving€thisÏfacility,€the€son€moved€into€a€halfway€house€in€Atlanta,€Georgia.€ÏAppellant€paid€$7,577.00€to€Cumberland€Heights€and€the€halfwayÏhouse€for€his€sonððs€expenses.€€Appellant€then€insisted€that€heÏdeserved€a€credit€for€those€payments€against€his€child€supportÏobligation.ÌÌà àThe€third€period€was€the€Fall€of€1994€to€the€Winter€of€1995.€ÏDuring€this€time,€the€son€attended€Georgia€State€University.€ÏAppellee€asserted€that€Appellant€breached€the€contract€when€heÏrefused€to€pay€the€son's€reasonable€college€expenses.€€AppellantÏclaimed€he€did€not€know€his€son€had€enrolled€in€college.€€HeÏfurther€noted€that€during€the€Fall€1994€and€Winter€1995€quarters,Ïthe€son€was€enrolled€part„time€as€a€pre„freshman€and€took€remedialÍcourses€only.€ÌÌà àAppellant€filed€a€counter„petition€with€his€answer,€but€laterÏtook€a€voluntary€dismissal.€€On€23€May€1995,€the€court€entered€anÏœorder€in€which€it›€awarded€Appellee€$2,133.18€for€the€arrearageÏaccrued€from€April€1990€through€January€1994,€$2,166.65€for€theÏarrearage€accrued€from€February€1994€through€June€1994,€$2,858.26Ïfor€the€sonððs€tuition€and€books,€and€$1,088.66€for€the€sonððs€roomÏat€college.€€The€court€also€ordered€Appellant€to€pay€wifeððsÏattorney€$750.00€and€dismissed€the€contempt€charge.ÌÌà àOn€18€August€1995,€the€court€denied€Appellantððs€ð ðmotion€toÏalter€or€amend€or€for€a€new€trial.ðð€€The€basis€of€the€motion€wasÏthat€the€son's€courses€at€Georgia€State€were€remedial€and€not€forÏcredit€and€that€the€MDA€only€required€Appellant€to€pay€collegeÏexpenses.€€Appellant€filed€his€notice€of€appeal€as€to€both€ordersÏon€15€September€1995.€€On€appeal,€Appellant€asked€this€court€toÏaddress€the€following€issues:ÌÓÓà8 àI.à0 àWhether€the€father€is€entitled€to€a€credit€againstÏa€child€support€arrearage€for€his€payment€of€theÏchildððs€necessary€expenses€which€were€not€beingÏpaid€by€the€custodial€parent.Ìà8 àII.à0 àWhether€the€father€is€contractually€obligated€toÏpay€college€tuition,€room,€and€books:Ìà8 àà0 àA.à0 àWhen€the€child€is€not€enrolled€as€a€full„timeÏstudent.Ìà8 àà0 àB.à0 àWhen€the€child€is€taking€remedial€courses€andÏis€receiving€no€college€credit€therefore.ÌÌÓÓAppellant€has€not€appealed€that€portion€of€the€trial€court's€orderÏawarding€appellee€arrearages€for€April€1990€to€January€1994.€€WeÍaddress€Appellant's€issues€as€presented.ÌÌà àTennessee's€courts€have€held€that€trial€courts€may€awardÏparents€who€are€obligated€to€make€child€support€payments€creditÏfor€voluntary€payments€made€on€behalf€of€the€children.€€TheÏpayments€must€be€for€the€children's€necessaries€that€the€otherÏparent€either€failed€to€provide€or€refused€to€provide.€€òòò òHartleyÏv.€Thompsonóóó ó,€No.€01„A„01„9502„CV„00044,€1995€WL€296202,€at€*3Ï(Tenn.€App.€17€May€1995);€òòò òFoust€v.€Foustóóó ó,€No.€03„A„01„9202„CH„61,€1992€WL€145007,€at€*1€(Tenn.€App.€29€June€1992);€òòò òOliver€v.ÏOczkowiczó óóó,€Davidson€Law€No.€89„396„II,€1990€WL€64534,€at€*2Ï(Tenn.€App.€18€May€1990).€€One€objection€to€this€rule€is€thatÏallowing€credits€to€parents€who€have€defaulted€on€their€childÏsupport€obligations€violates€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€œ36„5„101(a)(5).× ƒ. ××  ×€€Despite›€this€objection,€the€courts€have€held€thatÍgiving€parents€a€credit€against€their€child€support€arrearagesÏdoes€not€violate€this€code€section.€€òòò òHartleyóóó ó,€1995€WL€296202,€atÏ*3;€òòò òNetherton€v.€Nethertonóóó ó,€No.€01„A„01„9208„PB00323,€1993€WLÏ49556,€at€*2€(Tenn.€App.€26€Feb.€1993);€òòò òSutton€v.€Suttonóóó ó,€No.Ï180,€1991€WL€16234,€at€*€1€(Tenn.€App.€€12€Feb.€œ1991).›€ÏSpecifically,€this€court€has€acknowledged€that€the€statuteÏprohibits€retroactive€modifications€of€child€support€payments.€€AsÏfor€credits,€however,€this€court€has€held€that€they€are€notÏmodifications.€€Instead,€the€credit€recognizes€that€the€obligorÏparent€provided€the€support€the€court€ordered€in€the€first€place.€€òòò òÏNethertonóóó ó,€1993€WL€49556,€at€*2.ÌÌà àApplying€these€rules€to€the€present€case,€it€is€clear€thatÏAppellant€is€entitled€to€a€credit.€€Appellee€did€not€provide€forÏthe€son's€food€or€shelter€while€the€son€was€at€Cumberland€HeightsÏand€the€halfway€house.× ƒ/ ××  ×€€Instead,€Appellant€paid€for€both€of€theseÏnecessities€when€he€paid€the€Cumberland€Heights'€and€the€halfwayÏhouse's€bills.€€We€acknowledge€that€Appellee€also€providedÏnecessaries€for€the€son,€but€the€rule€does€not€require€that€theÏobligee€parent€fail€or€refuse€to€provide€all€of€the€child'sÍnecessaries.ÌÌà àThe€more€difficult€issue€in€this€case€is€the€determination€ofÏthe€amount€of€the€credit.€€Appellant€argued€that,€because€AppelleeÏspends€over€$400.00€a€month€on€food€and€shelter,€he€should€receiveÏa€credit€for€the€full€$400.00,€that€is,€his€entire€child€supportÏobligation€for€that€time€period.€€It€is€this€court's€opinion,Ïhowever,€that€it€is€better€to€allow€a€credit€for€the€actual€amountÏspent€up€to€the€amount€of€the€child€support€payment.€€òòò òSee€id.óóó ó€atÏ*3€(remanding€the€case€for€the€trial€court€to€determine€the€amountÏof€support€provided€by€the€obligor€parent).€€If€that€amount€isÏincalculable,€then€evidence€of€typical€expenses€would€be€relevantÏto€the€determination€of€the€credit€amount.ÌÌà àWhile€there€is€some€evidence€in€the€record€of€the€son's€foodÏexpenses,€there€is€little€evidence€with€regard€to€the€cost€of€theÏson's€shelter.€€Appellee€testified€that€she€spent€between€$80.00Ïand€$100.00€per€week€on€the€son's€food.€€There€was€evidence€ofÏAppellee's€utility€bills€during€the€period€that€the€son€was€inÏAtlanta,€but€there€is€no€evidence€of€Appellee's€utility€bills€whenÏthe€son€lived€in€the€home.€€Further,€it€is€impossible€to€tell€fromÏthe€evidence€how€much€Appellant€actually€spent€on€the€son's€foodÏand€shelter.€€Because€we€are€unable€to€determine€the€appropriateÏamount€of€the€credit€from€the€record€before€us,€we€remand€to€theÏtrial€court€for€that€purpose.€€òòTenn.€Code€Ann.€óóðð€27„3„128€(1980);Ïòòò òsee€Hartleyóóó ó,€1995€WL€296202,€at€*3.€€The€parties€shall€provideÍthe€trial€court€with€evidence€of€the€son's€typical€monthly€foodÏand€shelter€expenses€while€living€with€Appellee€and€while€stayingÏat€the€Atlanta€facilities.€€Thereafter,€the€trial€court€shallÏdetermine€the€amount€actually€expended€by€Appellant.€€If€this€isÏimpossible,€the€court€may€determine€the€credit€amount€based€onÏevidence€of€the€son's€typical€monthly€food€and€shelter€expensesÏwhile€living€with€Appellee.œ× ƒ0 ××  ×›ÌÌà àAppellant's€second€issue€involves€the€language€of€the€MDA.€ÏTo€explain,€Appellant€acknowledged€that€the€MDA€obligated€him€toÏpay€any€reasonable€college€expenses€including€tuition,€books,€andÏroom.€€He€also€conceded€that€the€language€is€not€ambiguous€andÏthat€this€court€should€interpret€it€according€to€its€ordinaryÏmeaning.€€Appellant,€however,€disagreed€with€Appellee's€contentionÏthat€the€phrase€ð ðreasonable€college€expensesðð€included€the€cost€ofÏremedial€courses€and€part„time€attendance.ÌÌà àCourts€should€construe€the€language€of€an€MDA€in€the€light€ofÏits€plain,€ordinary,€and€popular€meaning.€€òòò òDuvier€v.€Duvieróóó ó,€No.Ï01„A„01„9311„CH„00506,€1995€WL€422465,€at€*3€(Tenn.€App.€19€JulyÏ1995)(citing€òòò òBob€Pearsall€Motors,€Inc.€v.€Regal€œChrysler„Plymouth,›€Inc.óóó ó,€521€S.W.2d€578,€580€(Tenn.€1975)).€€It€is€theÏopinion€of€this€court€that€the€ordinary€and€popular€meaning€of€theÏphrase€does€include€the€courses€taken€by€the€parties'€son.€€TheÏson€was€enrolled€in€Georgia€State€University.€€The€UniversityÏassigned€him€a€student€number€and€maintained€a€transcript€of€hisÏprogress.€€Further,€although€the€courses€were€remedial€and€notÏapplicable€to€curriculum€or€degree€requirements,€they€wereÏrecognized€and€factored€into€the€student's€grade€point€average.ÏFinally,€the€University€required€the€son€to€take€these€coursesÏbefore€the€son€could€obtain€his€bachelor's€degree.€€For€the€aboveÏstated€reasons,€the€costs€associated€with€the€son€taking€theseÏcourses€are€reasonable€college€expenses.€ÌÌà àAppellant€also€argued€that€he€was€not€responsible€for€theÏexpenses€because€the€son€was€not€a€full„time€student.€€AppellantÏclaimed€that€full„time€status€was€a€prerequisite€to€hisÏcontractual€obligation.€€In€support€of€his€argument,€AppellantÏcited€an€unreported€case€from€the€western€section,€òòò òWright€v.ÏWrightóóó ó,€C.€A.€No.€146,€1988€WL€99987€(Tenn.€App.€30€Sept.€1988).€ÏThis€case,€however,€does€not€support€Appellant's€proposition.€€InÏòòò òWrightóóó ó,€the€court€held€that€the€evidence€preponderated€in€favor€ofÏthe€trial€court's€finding€that€the€daughter€had€made€a€reasonableÏeffort€to€attain€her€education.€€òòò òId.€óóó óat€*2.€€Although€theÏappellate€court€noted€that€the€trial€court€mentioned€the€full„timeÏstatus€of€the€child,€no€where€did€it€state€that€full„timeÏattendance€was€a€prerequisite€to€the€father's€obligation.€€òòò òId.óóó ó€ÍMoreover,€there€is€no€evidence€in€the€record€before€this€courtÏthat€the€son€failed€to€make€reasonable€efforts€at€obtaining€hisÏdegree.€€œThe›€son's€transcript€reveals€that€he€has€a€2.82€gradeÏpoint€average€and€that€he€enrolled€in€a€non„remedial€course€in€theÏSpring€1995€quarter.€€Appellant's€second€issue€is€without€merit.ÌÌà àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€the€decision€of€the€trial€court€isÏreversed€as€to€the€denial€of€a€credit€and€remanded.€€On€remand,Ïthe€trial€court€shall€determine€the€amount€of€the€credit€owed€toÏrespondent/appellant,€John€Thomas€Benson,€IV,€in€accordance€withÏthis€opinion.€€The€trial€court's€decision€awarding€reasonableÏcollege€expenses€to€petitioner/appellee,€Synthia€Jo€Gaines€Benson,Ïis€affirmed.€€Costs€on€appeal€are€taxed€one„half€toÏrespondent/appellant,€John€Thomas€Benson,€IV,€and€one„half€toÏpetitioner/appellee,€Synthia€Jo€Gaines€Benson.ÌÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà àà à_________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àSAMUEL€L.€LEWIS,€JUDGEÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌ_________________________ÌBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€J.ÌÌÌ_________________________ÌWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€J.