ÿWPCÔ+ …# VUNa %¯ 0 NµÆ ÆÉ Æ ÆU Æ 0Íá b® ¶ w@¸ 4ø   m 0D2v†~ 0J  0TV 0^ª 0h 0@p 0r° B" D+? 0Kj 0|µ 0†1 0· D3G 1uz 0dïU>SB)‘DCº AOýU*L0v|¦ð"=O§T v~û" A©y$vÓ"% AOõ* 0DD+ D/ˆ+ B·+˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 'í€"  Z 6Times New Roman Regular¼(&öy$¡¡Ó  ÓÙñÓ ÙLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5ƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(}(2j^$¤¤Ý ƒöy!ÝÓ  ÓÙñÓ ÙÝ  ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ€XuX¼¼Ôà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó- ù- þEÿEeÓ€DÒ <3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóBoutin v. Boutin - opinion Ì 3 ' IB011C20IB011C2 .    2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô d'ÈÈÈÈdxd( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô$$$$'ÿÿdxd !#'() ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d44447Border 1dd"&5Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial &Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€3ÔÔ€3¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ€7ÔÔ€7ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€7XÔÌÌDecember€4,€1996ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó rÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€3ÔÔ€3¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€3XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý›The€parties€had€a€third€child€who€had€already€reached€the€age€ofÏmajority€by€the€time€the€marital€dissolution€agreement€was€negotiatedÏand€signed.Ì æÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€3ÔÔ€3¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€3XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý›Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€34„11„102(b)€(1996)€(formerly€codified€atÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€34„1„101(b))€provides:Ìà8 àà àParents€shall€continue€to€be€responsible€for€theÏsupport€of€each€child€for€whom€they€are€responsible€afterÏthe€child€reaches€eighteen€(18)€years€of€age€if€the€child€isÏin€high€school.€€The€duty€of€support€shall€continue€until€theÏchild€graduates€from€high€school€or€the€class€of€which€theÏchild€is€a€member€when€the€child€attains€eighteen€(18)Ïyears€of€age€graduates,€whichever€occurs€first.Ì 3Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€3ÔÔ€3¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€3XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€Missouri€court€has€stayed€the€URISA€proceeding€pending€theÏoutcome€of€this€case.Ì ûÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€3ÔÔ€3¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€3XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý›The€contempt€matter€related€to€Ms.€¢Boutin£ððs€unauthorized€use€ofÏa€joint€line€of€credit€at€a€Nashville€furniture€store.€€Mr.€¢Boutin£€appealedÏfrom€the€decision€not€to€hold€Ms.€¢Boutin£€in€contempt,€but€his€lawyerÏannounced€during€oral€argument€that€he€was€abandoning€this€issue.Ì Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€3ÔÔ€3¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€3XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝMr.€¢Boutin£ððs€adjusted€gross€income€in€1992€was€$73,883.€ÏAccordingly,€the€child€support€guidelines€required€him€to€payÏapproximately€$1,383€in€monthly€child€support.€€His€agreement€to€payÏ$2,250€until€May€1993€when€Brian€was€expected€to€graduate€from€highÏschool€was€62%€higher€than€the€support€required€by€the€guidelines.€€TheÏamount€Mr.€¢Boutin£€agreed€to€pay€for€Stephenððs€support€after€May€1993Ïlikewise€exceeds€the€guidelines€amount.ÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'h"&%›&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKStyl{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 ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  inion Geneva ÒÒ  inion Geneva Ò"‚ƒCþÿ<< Cÿÿ($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€3ÔÔ€3¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÑ Ü ÑÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ€ ÑÑ7€_!¼¼ddÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÑ  Ñ›à@ àÞ ÞÌÔ€3„Ôò òIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àMIDDLE€SECTION€AT€NASHVILLE̜ـÙÙ€ÙßR€685A1-j|•þ` ç `€€@ÿRß›ÌÔ€3¼ÔÌÌÌÌó óELIZABETH€ANN€BOUTIN,à àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àPlaintiff/Appellee,à àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àWilliamson€ChanceryÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àNo.€18606„R2ÌVS.à àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àAppeal€No.Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à à01A01„9601„CH„00014ÌFRANCIS€JOHN€BOUTIN,à àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àDefendant/Appellant.à à)ÌÌÌÌÌà@ àAPPEAL€FROM€THE€CHANCERY€COURT€FOR€WILLIAMSON€COUNTYÌà@ àAT€FRANKLIN,€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àTHE€HONORABLE€HENRY€DENMARK€BELL,€JUDGEÌÌÌòòÌÌÓ  ÓFor€the€Plaintiff/Appelleeóó:à àòòFor€the€Defendant/Appellantóó:ÌÓ  ÓÌVirginia€Lee€Storyà àà àà àEwing€SellersÌFranklin,€Tennesseeà àà àà àSMITH€&€SELLERSÌà àà àà àà àà àà àMurfreesboro,€TennesseeÌÌÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÔ€3„Ôò òAFFIRMED€AS€MODIFIEDÌÓ  Óà@ àAND€REMANDEDó óÌÌÌÔ€3¼ÔÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÇÓ€ÓÔ€3„Ôà@ àò òòòO€P€I€N€I€O€Nóóó óÌÔ€3¼ÔÌà àThis€appeal€involves€a€provision€in€a€marital€dissolutionÏagreement€requiring€the€father€to€prepay€his€child€support.€ÏUpon€discovering€that€one€of€his€children€had€decided€not€toÏcomplete€high€school,€the€father€stopped€paying€the€agreedÏamount€of€child€support€and€filed€a€petition€to€terminate€hisÏchild€support€obligation€on€the€ground€that€the€prepaymentÏagreement€was€premised€on€the€childrenððs€continuedÏenrollment€in€high€school.€€The€Chancery€Court€for€WilliamsonÏCounty€denied€the€petition,€and€the€father€perfected€thisÏappeal.€€We€have€determined€that€the€trial€court€correctlyÏenforced€the€amended€marital€dissolution€agreement€andÏaccordingly€affirm€the€judgment€as€modified€herein.ÌÌà@ àò òI.ó óÌÌà àElizabeth€Ann€¢Boutin£€and€Francis€John€¢Boutin£€wereÏdivorced€in€November€1988€in€the€Chancery€Court€forÏWilliamson€County.€€The€decree€incorporated€an€August€1988Ïmarital€dissolution€agreement€in€which€the€parties€agreedÍthat€Ms.€¢Boutin£€would€receive€custody€of€two€of€their€sons,× ƒ9 ××  ×ÏBrian€Boutin,€then€fourteen,€¢£and€Stephen€¢Boutin£,€then€twelve,Ïand€that€Mr.€¢Boutin£€would€pay€$2,000€per€month€in€childÏsupport.€€The€agreement€specifically€provided€for€theÏrenegotiation€of€Mr.€¢Boutin£ððs€child€support€obligation€whenÏBrian€¢Boutin£€became€eighteen.€€ÌÌà àBrian€¢Boutin£€turned€eighteen€in€May€1992€shortly€beforeÏcompleting€his€junior€year€in€high€school.€€In€June€1992€Ms.Ï¢Boutin£€petitioned€for€an€increase€in€child€support,€and€theÏparties€negotiated€an€amendment€to€their€marital€dissolutionÏagreement.€€In€return€for€Ms.€¢Boutin£ððs€agreement€not€to€seekÏany€future€child€support€increases,€Mr.€¢Boutin£€agreed€toÏincrease€his€monthly€child€support€to€$2,250€until€BrianÏ¢Boutin£ððs€expected€graduation€from€high€school€in€May€1993Ïand€then€to€reduce€it€to€$1,128€until€Stephen€BoutinððsÍexpected€graduation€from€high€school€in€May€1995.× ƒ: ××  ×€€Mr.Ï¢Boutin£€also€agreed€to€prepay€his€entire€anticipated€childÏsupport€obligation€for€both€children€„€$57,950€„€on€or€beforeÏJuly€15,€1993.€€In€addition,€the€parties€agreed€that€Mr.€¢Boutin£ððsÏtotal€obligation€would€be€reduced€by€$25,000€when€heÏconveyed€his€interest€in€the€marital€home€to€Ms.€¢Boutin£.€€TheÏtrial€court€entered€an€agreed€order€in€June€1992€directing€Mr.Ï¢Boutin£€to€pay€Ms.€¢Boutin£€the€remaining€$32,950€by€July€15,Ï1993.ÌÌà àMs.€¢Boutin£€and€her€two€sons€moved€to€Florida€during€theÏsummer€of€1992.€€Stephen€enrolled€in€high€school,€but€BrianÏdid€not€when€he€learned€that€he€would€be€required€to€attendÏan€extra€year€of€high€school€in€order€to€graduate.€€Instead€ofÏenrolling€in€high€school,€Brian€decided€to€pursue€his€¢G.E.D.£€€Mr.Í¢Boutin£€stopped€paying€child€support€in€January€1993€when€heÏdiscovered€that€Brian€had€not€enrolled€in€high€school.€€By€thatÏtime,€he€had€transferred€his€interest€in€the€marital€home€toÏMs.€¢Boutin£€and€had€paid€$20,250€of€his€remaining€$32,950Ïobligation.ÌÌà àMr.€¢Boutin£€moved€to€St.€Louis€after€the€divorce.€€In€JuneÏ1993,€Ms.€¢Boutin£€commenced€an€¢URISA£€action€against€Mr.Ï¢Boutin£€in€Missouri€to€require€him€to€pay€his€child€supportÏarrearage.× ƒ; ××  ×€€In€response,€Mr.€¢Boutin£€filed€a€petition€in€theÏChancery€Court€for€Williamson€County€seeking€to€hold€Ms.Ï¢Boutin£€in€contempt¢× ƒ< ××  ×£€and€requesting€a€termination€of€his€childÏsupport€obligation€because€he€had€overpaid€his€obligationÏfollowing€Brianððs€decision€not€to€complete€high€school.€€OnÏAugust€21,€1995,€the€trial€court€filed€an€order€finding€that€Mr.Ï¢Boutin£€owed€Ms.€¢Boutin£€$12,700€in€back€child€support.€ÍAccordingly,€the€trial€court€awarded€Ms.€¢Boutin£€a€judgment€forÏ$15,933.33€representing€the€child€support€arrearage€and€pre„judgment€interest€and€$2,050€in€attorneyððs€fees.ÌÌà@ àò òII.ÌÌà àó óMr.€¢Boutin£ððs€principal€assertion€on€this€appeal€is€that€theÏtrial€court€erred€by€interpreting€the€amended€maritalÏdissolution€agreement€to€require€him€to€pay€the€full,€lumpÏsum€amount€of€child€support€obligation€even€though€one€of€hisÏsons€had€dropped€out€of€high€school.€€He€asserts€that€heÏagreed€to€pay€the€increased€child€support€on€the€assumptionÏthat€his€two€minor€sons€would€complete€high€school€onÏschedule.€€Since€the€amended€agreement€does€not€specificallyÏaddress€the€possibility€that€the€boys€might€drop€out€of€highÏschool,€we€must€determine€whether€the€amount€of€Mr.€¢Boutin£ððsÏchild€support€obligation€depended€as€a€matter€of€law€on€bothÏhis€sons€remaining€in€high€school.€ÌÌà àMarital€dissolution€agreements€are€essentiallyÏcontractual€in€the€sense€that€they€are€the€product€of€theÍpartiesðð€negotiation€and€agreement.€€òòSeeóó€òò¢Seeber£€v.€¢Seeber£,óóÏApp.€No.€¢03A01£„9508„CV„00290,€1996€WL€165092,€at€*5Ï(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Apr.€10,€1996);€òòMitchell€v.€Mitchell,óó€App.€No.Ï¢01A01£„9206„CV„00244,€1993€WL€33765,€at€*4€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.ÏFeb.€10,€1993).€€Except€for€legal€obligations€that€remain€underÏthe€courtððs€control,€òòseeóó€òòTowner€v.€Towner,óó€858€¢S.W.2d£€888,Ï890€(Tenn.€1993),€these€agreements€should€be€construed€andÏenforced€using€the€customary€principles€of€contract€law.€ÏòòBruce€v.€Bruce,óó€801€¢S.W.2d£€102,€105€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1990)Ï(òòquotingóó€òòMatthews€v.€Matthews,óó€24€Tenn.€App.€580,€593,€148Ï¢S.W.2d£€3,€11„12€(1940)).ÌÌà àA€parentððs€obligation€to€support€minor€children€is€one€ofÏthe€legal€obligations€remaining€within€the€courtððs€control€asÏlong€as€the€child€is€entitled€to€receive€support.€€Parents€mustÏsupport€their€non„disabled€children€until€they€becomeÏeighteen€or€until€their€high€school€class€graduates.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€ðð€34„11„102(b).€€The€Child€Support€GuidelinesÏpromulgated€by€the€Tennessee€Department€of€HumanÏServices€govern€a€parentððs€minimum€support€obligation.€€AnyÏvoluntarily€assumed€obligation€in€excess€of€the€œrequired›Íminimum€is€governed€exclusively€by€the€partiesðð€agreement.€ÏMr.€¢Boutin£ððs€child€support€obligation€following€the€entry€ofÏthe€amended€marital€dissolution€agreement€in€June€1992Ïappears€to€exceed€the€guidelines€in€three€material€respects.€ÏFirst,€the€guidelines€would€not€require€him€to€defray€theÏcosts€of€his€sonsðð€college€education.€€Second,€the€guidelinesÏwould€not€require€him€to€pay€as€much€monthly€child€supportÏas€he€agreed€to€pay.œ× ƒ= ××  ×›€€Third,€the€guidelines€œwould›€not€requireÏhim€to€agree€to€prepay€the€entire€amount€of€his€expectedÏchild€support€obligation.€ÌÌà àThe€amended€marital€dissolution€agreement€containsÏsupport€obligations€that€remained€in€the€trial€courtððs€controlÏand€other€obligations€controlled€by€the€partiesðð€agreement.€ÏMr.€Boutinððs€prepayment€obligation€exceeds€the€legalÏminimum€required€by€the€guidelines€and€is,€therefore,Ïgoverned€by€the€terms€of€the€marital€dissolution€agreement.€€ÌÌà àWe€must€ascertain€and€give€effect€to€the€contractingÏpartiesðð€mutual€intention€as€reflected€in€their€agreement.€ÏòòBob€Pearsall€Motors,€Inc.€v.€Regal€Chrysler„Plymouth,€Inc.,óó€521Ï¢S.W.2d£€578,€580€(Tenn.€1975).€€To€accomplish€this€task,€weÏmust€consider€the€entire€contract€without€favoring€eitherÏparty.€€òò¢Omaha€Property€and€Cas.€Ins.€Co.€v.€óóJohnson,€866€S.W.2dÏ539,€541€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1993)œ.€€We€must€also€be€guided€by€theÏwritten€terms€of€the€contract,€òò¢Heyer£„Jordan€&€¢Assocs£€v.ÏJordan,óó€801€¢S.W.2d£€814,€821€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1990),€rather€thanÏby€the€contracting€partiesðð€states€of€mind€or€¢uncommunicated£Ïintentions.€€òòPetty€v.€Sloan,óó€197€Tenn.€630,€642,€277€¢S.W.2d£€355,Ï360„61€(1955);€òòBill€Walker€&€¢Assocs£.€v.€¢Parrish£,óó€770€¢S.W.2d£Ï764,€770€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1989).ÌÌà àThe€fact€that€the€parties€calculated€Mr.€¢Boutin£ððsÏanticipated€future€child€support€obligation€based€on€Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€ðð€34„11„102(b)€does€not€necessarily€mean€that€theÏparties€agreed€that€Mr.€¢Boutin£ððs€obligation€would€decrease€ifÏeither€son€left€high€school€before€graduating.€€The€recordÏcontains€no€indication€that€the€parties€ever€discussed,€letÍalone€agreed,€how€their€amended€marital€dissolutionÏagreement€might€be€affected€if€one€or€both€of€their€sonsÏdecided€to€drop€out€of€high€school.€€Without€this€evidence,€weÏcannot€condition€Mr.€¢Boutin£ððs€contractual€agreement€toÏprepay€an€agreed€upon€amount€of€alimony€on€both€of€his€sonsÏremaining€in€high€school.€€Were€we€to€do€so,€we€could€beÏgiving€effect€to€Mr.€¢Boutin£ððs€¢uncommunicated£€intentions.€ÏAccordingly,€we€affirm€the€trial€courtððs€conclusion€that€Mr.Ï¢Boutin£€is€not€excused€from€his€child€support€obligations€underÏthe€amended€marital€dissolution€agreement€simply€becauseÏBrian€elected€not€to€complete€high€school.ÌÌà@ àò òIII.ó óÌÌà àMr.€¢Boutin£€also€insists€that€the€trial€court€erred€by€notÏrequiring€Ms.€¢Boutin£€to€reimburse€him€for€a€payment€he€wasÏrequired€to€make€to€a€furniture€store€because€ofÏunauthorized,€post„divorce€charges€Ms.€¢Boutin£€made€on€aÏcharge€account€with€the€store.€€We€agree€that€this€was€not€aÏmarital€debt€and,€therefore,€that€it€was€not€Mr.€¢Boutin£ððsÍobligation.€€Accordingly,€we€have€determined€that€Mr.€¢Boutin£Ïshould€receive€credit€for€this€payment.ÌÌà àThe€parties€agreed€in€their€original€marital€dissolutionÏagreement€that€they€would€not€incur€any€debts€after€theÏdivorce€that€could€be€chargeable€to€the€other€party.€€DespiteÏthis€agreement,€Ms.€¢Boutin£€purchased€approximately€$7,500Ïworth€of€furniture€at€a€Nashville€store€using€a€joint€chargeÏaccount€that€was€still€in€Mr.€¢Boutin£ððs€name.€€DerogatoryÏinformation€was€placed€in€Mr.€¢Boutin£ððs€credit€file€after€Ms.Ï¢Boutin£€failed€to€keep€the€account€current,€and€thisÏinformation€caused€a€mortgage€company€to€decline€toÏrefinance€Mr.€¢Boutin£ððs€mortgage€until€the€dispute€wasÏresolved.€€Even€though€he€had€not€purchased€the€furniture,€Mr.Ï¢Boutin£€was€required€to€pay€the€furniture€company€$500€toÏresolve€the€problem.ÌÌà àThe€trial€court€declined€to€hold€Ms.€¢Boutin£€in€contemptÏfor€using€this€account€to€purchase€furniture€and€declined€toÏgive€Mr.€¢Boutin£€credit€for€the€$500€payment€to€Ms.€¢Boutinððs£Ïcreditor.€€The€debt€involved€was€a€non„marital€debt€incurredÍby€Ms.€¢Boutin£€after€the€divorce€for€her€own€benefit.€ÏAccordingly,€Mr.€¢Boutin£€was€not€responsible€for€this€debt,€andÏthe€trial€court€should€have€given€Mr.€¢Boutin£€a€$500€credit€onÏhis€child€support€arrearage€to€compensate€him€for€the€$500Ïpayment€he€made€on€Ms.€¢Boutin£ððs€behalf.ÌÌà@ àò òIV.ó óÌÌà àFinally,€Mr.€¢Boutin£€asserts€the€trial€court€should€haveÏawarded€him€$3,997.82€to€reimburse€him€for€the€legalÏexpenses€incurred€to€defend€against€Ms.€¢Boutin£ððs€demand€thatÏhe€honor€his€child€support€agreement.€€He€argues€that€he€isÏentitled€to€these€fees€because€Ms.€¢Boutin£€breached€theÏmarital€dissolution€agreement€by€making€unauthorizedÏcharges€on€a€joint€account€that€should€have€been€closed€afterÏthe€divorce.€€This€argument€confuses€two€issues€that€shouldÏbe€kept€separate.ÌÌà àThe€first€issue€involves€the€partiesðð€child€supportÏdispute.€€Post„divorce€proceedings€to€collect€past„due€childÏsupport€are€primarily€for€the€benefit€of€the€child€or€childrenÍin€need€of€support€not€the€custodial€parent.€€òòGraham€v.ÏGraham,óó€140€Tenn.€328,€334„35,€204€¢S.W.£€987,€989€(1918).€ÏAccordingly,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„5„103(c)€(1996)€providesÏthat€a€parent€using€the€courts€to€enforce€a€child€supportÏobligation€may€recover€reasonable€attorneyððs€fees€from€theÏdelinquent€spouse.€€These€fees€are€within€the€courtððsÏdiscretion.€¢òòSherrod£€v.€¢Wixóó£,€849€¢S.W.2d£€780,€785€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ï1992).€€€Mr.€Boutin€is€not€entitled€to€attorneyððs€fees€withÏregard€to€the€child€support€issue;€however€the€recordÏcontains€ample€basis€for€the€trial€courtððs€decision€to€orderÏMr.€¢Boutin£€to€pay€Ms.€¢Boutin£€$2,050€for€the€legal€expenses€sheÏincurred.ÌÌà àThe€second€issue€involves€Mr.€Boutinððs€efforts€to€recoverÏthe€$500€he€paid€on€Ms.€Boutinððs€behalf.€€His€¢£claim€forÏattorneyððs€fees€can€only€be€based€on€the€provision€in€theÏmarital€dissolution€agreement€authorizing€either€party€toÏrecover€the€legal€expenses€incurred€as€a€result€of€the€otherÏpartyððs€breach.€€We€have€carefully€reviewed€the€billingÏinformation€submitted€by€Mr.€¢Boutin£ððs€lawyer.€€While€we€haveÏno€doubt€that€the€time€and€charges€reflected€therein€areÍreasonable€and€appropriate,€we€are€unable€to€determine€whatÏportion€of€the€lawyerððs€time€was€spent€defending€Ms.€BoutinððsÏclaim€for€child€support€¢arrearages£€and€what€portion€was€spentÏpursuing€Mr.€Boutinððs€claim€for€the€$500€he€paid€on€Ms.€BoutinððsÏpost„divorce€furniture€debt.€€Without€this€information,€and€inÏlight€of€the€fact€that€the€primary€contested€issue€betweenÏthe€parties€concerned€Mr.€¢Boutin£ððs€child€support€obligation,Ïwe€find€that€the€trial€court€properly€declined€to€require€Ms.Ï¢Boutin£€to€reimburse€¢Mr.€Boutin£€for€any€portion€of€his€legalÏexpenses.€€ÌÌà@ àò òV.ó óÌÌà àWe€affirm€the€trial€courtððs€conclusion€that€Mr.€¢Boutin£Ïremains€liable€for€the€entire€amount€of€the€child€support€heÏagreed€to€pay€in€the€amended€marital€dissolution€agreement.€ÏOn€remand,€however,€we€direct€the€trial€court€to€give€Mr.Ï¢Boutin£€a€$500€credit€on€the€original€judgment€in€recognition€ofÏthe€payment€he€was€required€to€make€to€one€of€Ms.€¢Boutin£ððsÏcreditors.€€We€also€tax€the€costs€of€this€appeal€to€FrancisÍJohn€¢Boutin£€and€his€surety€for€which€execution,€if€necessary,Ïmay€issue.ÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà àà à____________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,ÏJUDGEÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌ________________________________ÌSAMUEL€L.€LEWIS,€JUDGE€ÌÌÌ________________________________ÌBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€JUDGE€