ÿWPC¥ Kz|%ëZ*–qHXÆ[.¶˜ì‰-¾w§à¯è}XgJíÁû¬Dk’É\á<`)¬ ËEr4Ü]/Sĉ‘äñ„G±D+ûÒOŽÊÉÝD”gôŠÑ¾ÁÜTKFÞAÉø‹õB²§}ØDÿzXƒ½áen¤Jn”Žó°®6¾#GWhô+ô§Ko±|R$¿4;ÉzßøÁÿ0aâµÌ ræee£:Gý—Ýj~µŠh×Ô+wý…Àç ¤Ïf,vŽpÝí×x¨ §§‚æï’>áûµ#Pôÿ¥€à7y­Þ 7ÞÉñWÿ©Úð{ððöùpa¶ÆðV[ É̼eŸØä4cÝdïvÀÚ”߯±Õ]Œ™¦÷À!‡H4¡ˆG8'(J\ë~Öä@ÅDOƒrþzÂìêfökIÙÃr?‡ò6àiG¼®·ÏdY¯Ô1MQlî F £Õ©Ÿ–­Ê… ýÁŠÐÝ1 Š—»Îõ)fÂôðÍO™‚ó”Óõ3¤@>/›hRÉýãÿ÷Ò;w·ÿNlÝZ#ÏSdgµÇP’‡?€íçw©ÚWb´;.|QùHCp££GH„/<1s *Ù¾ GQ6¬¾†Å@=¦»ë*# LUNW %¥ 0³«U<^w@š4Úî 0÷ý¤ô 0D˜ Ü "ä ¦ ¬U:¯éU:ììììììììììììì B& AQCÆ” 0DZ 0Dž 0Dââ D/&& BU D3r˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX(‹7ÿ$¡¡Ò°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  ÓÑ7€ü†XXdðXXdð7ÑÑ  ÑÔ€Xd|XXXÔ-šBu Z‹$Arrus BT Roman LMEN[OPUQîRÓ€SÓ€TÓ€^Ö~-&TS Ô3|x`(§(3‚<$¤¤Ý ƒ7ÿ!ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  ÓÑ7€¥XXdðdð7ÑÑ  ÑÔ€X¤IXXXÔÝ  Ýà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó šÝ ƒ ‚<$ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  ÓÔ€X¤IXXXÔà ` àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€€Sandra€Lynn€Todd€Bryant,€wife€of€Respondent€and€mother€of€the€minorÐ ° Ðchildren€involved,€joined€the€Petitioners€in€the€petition€to€terminate€theÏRespondentððs€parental€rights.€€In€the€petition,€she€consents€to€the€termination€of€herÏparental€rights.€(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý Ý ƒ ~ã$ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ‡XdXXXÔÓ  ÓÓÓà ` àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÓÓ€€Petitioners€requested€that€Respondent€move€out€of€the€residence€for€aÐ ° Ðnumber€of€reasons.€€According€to€Petitioners,€they€stated€that€they€could€not€standÏRespondent€living€in€the€house€any€longer€because€of€his€irresponsibility,€his€failureÏto€clean€up€after€himself,€his€lifestyle,€and€the€fact€that€he€left€pornography€out€in€theÏopen€in€his€room.Ìà ` àAccording€to€Respondent,€he€said€Petitioners€requested€that€he€move€out€forÏtwo€weeks€because€of€company€that€was€coming€to€visit.€€When€Respondent€returnedÏto€the€house€at€a€later€time,€Petitioners€had€changed€the€locks€to€the€house. œÝ ƒ ‚<$ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  ÓÔ€X¤IXXXÔà ` àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€€Respondentððs€wife€subsequently€left€the€coupleððs€home€in€Colorado€toÐ ° Ðpursue€job€training€in€Florida.€€Upon€completion€of€the€two€month€job€trainingÏcourse€in€Florida,€she€moved€to€Utah€while€Respondent€continued€his€military€careerÏin€Colorado.€€ ùÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€X7pXXXÔÔ€¨.XX7pÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€X7pX¨.ÔÐ  ÐÌFebruary€2,€1999ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular ùÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€X7pXXXÔÔ€¨.XX7pÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€X7pX¨.ÔÐ  ÐÌFebruary€1,€1999ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular d!" $&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó(('÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd'ÿÿdxdÝ ƒ7ÿ!ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  ÓÑ7€¥XXdðdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÔ€X¤IXXXÔÝ  ÝÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ7€¥XXdðXXdð7Ññ^ññTñßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@Eô±` 8ttxP,°ð  rßñTññ^ññ^ñßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@Eô±` 8ttxP,°ð  rßñ^ñà@Ì Ì ®àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÌà@¢¢(®àAT€NASHVILLEˆÌà ` àà ¸ à€€€€______________________________________________ÌÌò òROBERT€LELAND€BRYANT€and€wife,Ð ° ÐLINDA€KAY€WOLFSON€BRYANT,€ó óÐ ²  ÐÌà ` àPetitioners/Counter„Respondents/Ìà ` àAppellants,ÌÌò òSANDRA€LYNN€TODD€BRYANTà  àà p àó óDavidson€Circuit€No.€97A„84Ð ´  ÐÌà ` àPetitioner/Counter„Respondent,à  àà p àC.A.€No.€01A01„9806„CV„00337Ð ¶  ÐÌVs.ÌÌò òJAMES€ASHLEY€BRYANT,€ó óÐ ¶ ÐÌà ` àRespondent/Counter„Petitioner/Ìà ` àAppellee.Ì____________________________________________________________________________ÌÌà@¼¼®àFROM€THE€FOURTH€CIRCUIT€COURT€FOR€DAVIDSON€COUNTYˆÌà@K K ®àTHE€HONORABLE€MURIEL€ROBINSON,€JUDGEˆÌÌÌÌÌà@??®àWende€J.€Rutherford,€Paul€A.€Rutherford;ˆÌà@# # ®àRutherford,€Demarco,€White€&€Soloman€of€NashvilleˆÌà@'®àFor€AppellantsˆÌÌà@¥¥®àRobert€L.€Jackson,€W.€Scott€Rosenberg;ˆÌà@ ®àJackson,€Kweller,€McKinney€&€Badger€of€NashvilleˆÌà@rr(®àFor€AppelleeˆÌÌÌÌÌà@¦¦$®àò òòòREVERSED€AND€REMANDEDó óóóˆÐ ¸+'' ÐÌà@'®àOpinion€filed:€ˆÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€Ð ¸400 Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌñNññKñó óñKññNññMññLñDAVID€ñLññMññOñDAVID€R.€FARMER,€ñOññNññKñò òñKññNñJUDGEÌÌHEWITT€P.€TOMLIN,€JR.ó ó,€ò òJUDGE€ó ó(Retired)ñPñÐ Æ;77/ ÐñPññQññQññRñÓÓñRññQñ›à ` àThis€is€a€termination€of€parental€rights€and€adoption€case.€€Petitioners„¼Appellants,€Robert€Leland€Bryant€and€Linda€Kay€Wolfson€Bryant,׃ ×Ý ƒ##ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€appeal€the€trialÐ ° Ðcourtððs€order€denying€their€petition€to€terminate€the€parental€rights€of€Respondent„¼Appellee,€James€Ashley€Bryant,€with€respect€to€his€minor€children,€Megan€RaeÏBryant,€born€December€13,€1991,€and€Devon€Michael€Bryant,€born€December€30,Ï1993.Ìà ` à€Petitioners€are€the€father€and€stepmother€of€Respondent,€and€are€theÏgrandparents€of€the€minor€children€involved€in€this€action.€€Sandra€Lynn€ToddÏBryant€and€Respondent€are€married,€but€currently€are€separated,€and€are€the€parentsÏof€the€two€minor€children€who€are€the€subject€of€this€case.€€Ìà ` àIn€1996,€Respondent,€his€wife€and€their€minor€children€resided€in€ColoradoÏSprings,€Colorado€where€Respondent€was€stationed€in€the€military.€€In€early€MarchÏ1996,€Respondent€and€his€wife€contacted€Petitioners€and€asked€them€to€care€for€theÏminor€children€until€the€Respondent€and€his€wife€could€establish€separateÏhouseholds.€€On€March€9,€1996,€Petitioner€Linda€Bryant€flew€to€Colorado€SpringsÏand€returned€to€Nashville,€Tennessee€with€the€minor€children€on€the€same€day.׃×Ý ƒ##ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Ð °" Ðà ` àPrimarily€for€purposes€of€medical€insurance,€the€parties€filed€a€proceeding€inÏjuvenile€court€for€Petitioners€to€be€awarded€temporary€custody€of€the€children.€€ByÏagreed€order€entered€October€28,€1996,€the€juvenile€court€awarded€custody€of€theÏchildren€to€the€Petitioners.€€In€December€1996,€Respondent€was€discharged€from€theÏmilitary€and€returned€to€Nashville€where€he€resided€with€the€Petitioners€and€theÏminor€children.€€In€May€1997,€Respondent€was€requested€to€leave€the€home€of€theÐ °.** ÐPetitioners.€€Subsequently,€the€Petitioners€filed€the€instant€Petition€for€TerminationÏand€Adoption€on€July€2,€1997.€€The€petition€alleges€abandonment€as€grounds€forÏtermination€asserting€that€Respondent€had€token€visitation€with€the€minor€childrenÏand€had€willfully€failed€to€support€or€make€reasonable€payments€toward€the€supportÏof€the€minor€children€for€a€period€of€more€than€four€consecutive€months€immediatelyÏpreceding€the€filing€of€the€petition.€€Respondent€filed€an€answer€denying€theÏallegations€of€abandonment€and€filed€a€counter„petition€requesting€that€he€beÏawarded€custody€of€the€children€based€on€a€material€change€in€circumstances€andÏthat€he€be€awarded€attorney€fees.€€On€December€5,€1997,€Petitioners€filed€anÏAmended€Petition€for€Termination€and€Adoption€asserting€the€same€grounds€forÏtermination€and€that€termination€of€Respondentððs€parental€rights€would€be€in€theÏbest€interests€of€the€children.€€At€the€conclusion€of€an€evidentiary€hearing€onÏMay27,€1998,€the€court€announced€that€the€petition€would€be€denied.€€PetitionersÏfiled€an€objection€to€an€award€of€attorney€fees€to€Respondent,€and€on€June€9,€1998,Ïan€order€was€entered€dismissing€the€petitions€and€awarding€attorney€fees€toÏRespondent.€€Ìà ` àPetitioners€have€appealed€and€present€the€following€issues€for€review€as€statedÏin€their€brief:ÌñQññSñÓÓñSññQñà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!à1.€€Whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€finding€thatÏRespondent€James€Ashley€Bryant€had€never€willfullyÏabandoned€his€children€and€never€willfully€failed€toÏsupport€his€children€as€defined€by€the€plain€language€ofÏT.C.A.€ðð€36„1„102.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!à2.€€Whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€awarding€attorney€feesÏto€Respondent€James€Ashley€Bryant.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌÓÓà ` àSince€this€case€was€tried€by€the€trial€court€sitting€without€a€jury,€we€review€theÏcase€ò òòòde€novoóóó ó€upon€the€record€with€a€presumption€of€correctness€of€the€findings€of€factÐ °3// Ðby€the€trial€court.€€Unless€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€findings,€we€mustÏaffirm,€absent€error€of€law.€€T.R.A.P.€13(d).Ìà ` àThe€trial€court€found€that€there€was€not€sufficient€evidence€to€terminateÐ ´955 ÐRespondentððs€parental€rights.€€The€trial€court€stated€that€the€Respondent€neverÐ ´955 Ðwillfully€abandoned€his€children€nor€had€he€willfully€failed€to€support€them,€and€thatÏthe€Respondent€has€a€good€relationship€with€the€minor€children.Ìà ` àPetitioners€contend€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€denying€their€petition.€€TheyÏassert€that€Respondentððs€parental€rights€should€be€terminated€because€he€hasÏabandoned€his€children€in€that€he€has€willfully€failed€to€support€his€children€asÏdefined€by€the€plain€language€in€T.C.A.€ðð€36„1„102.€€In€support€of€their€contention,ÏPetitioners€state€that€it€was€uncontroverted€at€trial€that,€from€the€time€the€childrenÏcame€to€live€with€them€in€March€1996€until€the€date€of€trial,€Respondent€failed€toÏmake€any€monetary€payments€for€the€support€of€his€children€even€though€he€had€theÏmeans€to€support€them.€€They€assert€that€the€trial€courtððs€finding€was€erroneouslyÏbased€on€the€courtððs€conclusion€that€Petitioners€allowed€Respondent€to€beÏirresponsible€in€not€supporting€his€children€by€allowing€him€to€reside€with€them€andÏnot€demanding€that€he€support€the€children.€€Petitioners€contend€that€they€did€notÏhave€a€duty€to€take€steps€to€make€Respondent€accept€financial€responsibility€for€hisÏchildren€nor€does€their€failure€to€insist€that€he€accept€financial€responsibility€alleviateÏhim€of€such€responsibility.€€They€argue€that€there€is€no€requirement€or€conditionÏprecedent€in€the€statute€that€would€require€them€to€take€any€affirmative€action€toÏmake€Respondent€support€his€children€nor€is€there€an€exception€in€the€statute€forÏthose€whose€parents€allow€them€to€be€irresponsible.€€Thus,€they€argue€that€under€theÏplain€terms€of€T.C.A.€ðð€36„1„102,€Respondent€abandoned€his€children,€and€hisÏparental€rights€should€be€terminated.€€With€regard€to€the€issue€of€attorney€fees,ÏPetitioners€contend€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€awarding€fees€since€there€is€noÏstatutory€provision€for€the€award€of€attorney€fees€in€adoption€cases.Ìà ` àOn€the€other€hand,€Respondent€contends€that€the€requirement€that€supportÏbe€paid€does€not€require€that€it€be€paid€directly€to€the€custodians.€€RespondentÏasserts€that€the€proof€revealed€that€he€did€various€things€for€his€children€such€asÏpaying€for€dance€lessons,€buying€dance€shoes,€taking€the€children€out€for€dinner,Ð °844 Ðtaking€the€children€to€entertainment€establishments,€and€taking€the€children€on€trips.€ÏRespondent€further€contends€that€the€individual€circumstances€of€each€case€must€beÏconsidered,€and€that€the€unique€circumstances€of€this€case€support€the€conclusion€ofÏthe€trial€court.€€This€situation€is€unique,€according€to€Respondent,€because€theÏgrandparents€of€the€children€have€taken€custody€of€the€children,€the€grandparentsÏhave€allowed€their€son€to€reside€with€them,€the€grandparents€did€not€require€him€toÏpay€money€for€rent,€bills€or€groceries,€nor€did€the€grandparents€request€assistanceÏfrom€him€for€support€of€the€children.€€He€asserts€that€the€Petitioners€are€jointlyÏresponsible€for€his€actions€and€that€it€would€be€inequitable€and€unjust€to€rewardÏPetitioners€for€the€role€they€played€in€creating€his€behavior€and€irresponsibility.€ÏFurthermore,€Respondent€contends€that€the€proof€further€revealed€that€terminationÏof€his€parental€rights€was€not€in€the€best€interests€of€the€children.€€Finally,ÏRespondent€asserts€that€the€trial€court€was€correct€in€awarding€him€attorney€fees,€andÏfurther€requests€that€he€be€awarded€attorney€fees€for€this€appeal.Ìà ` àA€parent€has€a€fundamental€right€to€the€care,€custody€and€control€of€theirÏchildren.€€ò òòòStanley€v.€Illinoisóóó ó,€405€U.S.€645,€92€S.€Ct.€1208,€31€L.Ed.2d€551€(1972).€Ð °" ÐHowever,€this€right€is€not€absolute.€€It€may€be€terminated€if€there€is€clear€andÏconvincing€evidence€justifying€such€termination€under€the€applicable€statute.€Ïò òòòSantosky€v.€Krameró óóó,€455€U.S.€745,€102€S.€Ct.€1388,€71€L.Ed.2d€599€(1982).à (# à€Ð ´($$ Ðà ` àT.C.A.€ðð€36„1„113€(Supp.€1998)€provides€in€pertinent€part:ÌÓÓà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àò ò36„1„113.€Termination€of€parental€rights.€„„ó ó€(a)€TheÐ ¸,(( Ðchancery€and€circuit€courts€shall€have€concurrentÏjurisdiction€with€the€juvenile€court€to€terminate€parentalÏor€guardianship€rights€to€a€child€in€a€separate€proceeding,Ïor€as€a€part€of€the€adoption€proceeding€by€utilizing€anyÏgrounds€for€termination€of€parental€or€guardianship€rightsÏpermitted€in€this€part€or€in€title€37,€chapter€1,€part€1€andÏtitle€37,€chapter€2,€part€4.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h à*à À àà  à*à p àà È à*Ð º4 00 Ðà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àà  à(c)€Termination€of€parental€or€guardianship€rightsÏmust€be€based€upon:Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ Ðà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àà  à(1)€A€finding€by€the€court€by€clear€and€convincingÏevidence€that€the€grounds€for€termination€of€parental€orÏguardianship€rights€have€been€established;€andк9 55¸ ¤¸ ¤ Ðà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àà  à(2)€That€termination€of€the€parentððs€or€guardianððsÏrights€is€in€the€best€interests€of€the€child.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h à*à À àà  à*à p àà È à*Ð ° Ðà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àà  à(g)€Initiation€of€termination€of€parental€orÏguardianship€rights€may€be€based€upon€any€of€theÏfollowing€grounds:Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ Ðà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àà  à(1)€Abandonment€by€the€parent€or€guardian,€asÏdefined€in€ðð€36„1„102,€has€occurred;Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h à*à À àà  à*à p àà È à*Ð °  ÐÌÓÓà ` àWith€regard€as€to€what€constitutes€abandonment,€T.C.A.€ðð€36„1„102€(Supp.Ï1998),€as€pertinent€to€our€inquiry,€provides:ÌÓÓà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àà  à(1)(A)€ð ðAbandonmentðð€means,€for€purposes€ofÏterminating€the€parental€or€guardian€rights€of€parent(s)€orÏguardian(s)€of€a€child€to€that€child€in€order€to€make€thatÏchild€available€for€adoption,€that:Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ Ðà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àà  à(i)€For€a€period€of€four€(4)€consecutive€monthsÏimmediately€preceding€the€filing€of€a€proceeding€orÏpleading€to€terminate€the€parental€rights€of€the€parent(s)Ïor€guardian(s)€of€the€child€who€is€the€subject€of€theÏpetition€for€termination€of€parental€rights€or€adoption,Ïthat€the€parent(s)€or€guardian(s)€either€have€willfullyÏfailed€to€visit€or€have€willfully€failed€to€support€or€makeÏreasonable€payments€toward€the€support€of€the€child;Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h à*à À àà  à*à p àà È à*Ð ° Ðà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àà  à(B)€For€the€purposes€of€this€subdivision€(1),€ð ðtokenÏsupportðð€means€that€the€support,€under€the€circumstancesÏof€the€individual€case,€is€insignificant€given€the€parentððsÏmeans;Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h à*à À àà  à*à p àà È à*Ð °# Ðà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àà  à(D)€For€purposes€of€this€subdivision€(1),€ð ðwillfullyÏfailed€to€supportðð€or€ð ðwillfully€failed€to€make€reasonableÏpayments€toward€such€childððs€supportðð€means€that,€for€aÏperiod€of€four€(4)€consecutive€months,€no€monetaryÏsupport€was€paid€or€that€the€amount€of€support€paid€isÏtoken€support;Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h à*à À àà  à*à p àà È à*Ð °*&& Ðà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àà  à(G)€ð ðAbandonmentðð€and€ð ðabandonment€of€anÏinfantðð€do€not€have€any€other€definition€except€thatÏwhich€is€set€forth€in€this€section,€it€being€the€intent€of€theÏgeneral€assembly€to€establish€the€only€grounds€forÏabandonment€by€statutory€definition.€€Specifically,€itÏshall€not€be€required€that€a€parent€be€shown€to€haveÏevinced€a€settled€purpose€to€forego€all€parental€rights€andÏresponsibilities€in€order€for€a€determination€ofÏabandonment€to€be€made.€€Decisions€of€any€court€to€theÏcontrary€are€hereby€legislatively€overruled;Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h à*à À àà  à*à p àà È à*Ð °511 ÐÌÓÓà ` àFrom€a€review€of€the€record,€we€find€that€the€evidence€preponderates€againstÏthe€findings€of€the€trial€court.€€The€actions€by€Respondent€constitute€ð ðabandonmentððÐ °955 Ðas€defined€by€the€foregoing€statutory€provisions€in€that€he€willfully€failed€to€supportÏor€make€reasonable€payments€toward€the€support€of€the€children€for€a€period€of€moreÏthan€four€consecutive€months€immediately€preceding€the€filing€of€the€Petition€forÏTermination€and€Adoption.€€œññThus,›€we€find€that€Respondentððs€parental€rights€shouldÏbe€terminated€on€grounds€of€abandonment€and€thatÏtermination€is€in€the€best€interests€of€the€children.ññÌà ` àThe€record€reflects€a€father€who€has€failed€to€provide€monetary€support€for€hisÏchildren€and€who€has€irresponsibly€relied€upon€others€to€raise€and€support€hisÏchildren.€€As€previously€mentioned,€Respondent€sent€his€children€to€live€with€hisÏfather€and€stepmother€in€March€1996€while€he€and€his€wife€were€having€maritalÏdifficulties.€€At€no€time€while€the€children€resided€with€Petitioners€and€he€resided€inÏColorado€did€Respondent€send€any€monetary€support€to€his€children.€€While€theÏchildren€resided€with€Petitioners€and€during€the€time€that€his€wife€had€ceasedÏresiding€in€the€same€household€with€him,€Respondent,€as€part€of€his€service€in€theÏmilitary,€continued€to€receive€extra€military€benefits€for€the€support€of€his€family.€ÏRather€than€send€this€money€to€Petitioners€to€support€his€children,€RespondentÏspent€the€money€on€himself.€€Furthermore,€Respondent€also€received€Social€SecurityÏbenefits€because€of€his€sonððs€congenital€birth€defects.€€As€with€the€military€benefits,ÏRespondent€did€not€send€this€money€to€Petitioners.€€Rather,€Respondent€used€thisÏmoney€for€his€own€benefit.€€Respondentððs€excuse€for€not€sending€such€money€toÏsupport€his€children€is€that€Petitioners€did€not€ask€for€any€money.Ìà ` àAs€previously€noted,€in€December€1996,€Respondent€was€discharged€from€theÏmilitary.€€Upon€being€discharged,€Respondent€moved€back€to€Nashville€and€movedÏin€with€Petitioners€and€his€children.€€Petitioners€allowed€this€so€Respondent€couldÏget€back€on€his€feet€in€order€to€be€able€to€support€himself€and€his€children.€ÏRespondent€soon€after€became€gainfully€employed.€€However,€there€is€not€oneÏâ âepisode€from€the€time€he€moved€in€in›€December€1996€until€the€time€he€wasÐ °400 Ðrequested€to€move€out€in€May€1997׃ ×Ý ƒ##ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€that€Respondent€provided€any€reasonableÐ ° Ðâ âmonetary€support€for€his€children,€purchased€any€groceries€for€the€children,Ïpurchased€any€diapers€or€clothing€for€his€children,€or€purchased€any€Christmas€orÏbirthday€presents€for€them.€€In€addition,€when€asked€if€he€would€help€with€DevonððsÏmedical€bills,€Respondent,€on€one€occasion,€stated€he€could€not€afford€to€pay,€and,Ïon€another€occasion,€he€simply€picked€up€the€bill€and€threw€it€down.€€However,€theÏevidence€reveals€that€Respondent€had€the€money€to€purchase€a€computer,€software,Ïand€a€guitar€for€himself€and€to€maintain€monthly€Internet€service€for€himself.€€œññà ` àññ›Ìà ` àFurthermore,€Respondent€admits€that€he€failed€to€provide€any€monetaryÏsupport€to€Petitioners€for€his€children.€€On€May€27,€1998,€Respondent€testified€asÏfollows€at€the€proceedings€below:ÌÓÓà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àQ.€€Since€March€of€1996,€have€you€paid€any€monetaryÏsupport€to€Robert€or€Linda€Bryant€for€the€support€of€yourÏminor€children?Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àA.€€No,€I€have€not.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àQ.€€Have€you€paid€one€dime?Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àA.€€No,€I€have€not.ÓÓÐ ¸ ¤¸ ¤ Ðà ` àHowever,€Respondent€contends€that€he€did€provide€support€for€his€children.€ÏAs€support€for€this€contention,€he€testified€as€follows:ÌÓÓà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àQ.€€Tell€the€Court€some€of€the€ways€that€you€spentÏmoney€on€your€children€during€that€period€of€DecemberÏðð96€to€May€of€ðð97.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àA.€€I€took€my€kids€to€Discovery€Zone,€paid€for€everythingÏthere.€€I€had€taken€them€out€to€eat€on€occasion.€€IÏremember€one€time€I€was€at€„„€I€was€coming€back€fromÏGeorgia,€I€stopped€in€Cracker€Barrel,€I€bought€Megan€aÐ °/++ Ðkaleidoscope,€I€bought€Devon€a€harmonica€and€broughtÏthose€home€to€them.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌÓÓAccording€the€plain€terms€of€the€statute,€this€Court€views€Respondentððs€assertions€ofÏsupport€to€constitute,€at€best,€mere€token€support.Ìà ` àIn€addition€to€failing€to€provide€monetary€support€for€his€children,ÏRespondent€failed€to€provide€any€other€type€of€support€for€his€children.€€For€example,Ïhe€left€the€day„to„day€care€of€his€children€in€the€hands€of€Petitioners,€he€spent€moreÏtime€on€the€computer€than€with€his€children,€he€only€attended€one€of€Devonððs€speechÏtherapy€sessions€and€only€one€of€Devonððs€numerous€doctorððs€appointments€and€didÏso€only€at€the€insistence€of€Petitioners,€and€he€briefly€made€an€appearance€at€theÏhospital€after€one€of€Devonððs€surgeries.€€Ìà ` àWhile€Respondentððs€irresponsibility€may€have€been€produced€in€part€byÏPetitioners,€this€does€not€excuse€him€for€failing€to€support€his€children.€€Nonetheless,Ïwe€are€bound€to€follow€the€plain€terms€of€the€statute€as€prescribed€by€the€legislature.€ÏIn€construing€statutes,€this€Court€is€to€ascertain€and€give€effect€to€the€intentions€ofÏthe€General€Assembly.€€We€must€consider€the€statute€as€a€whole€in€light€of€its€generalÏpurpose€and€give€the€words€utilized€in€the€statute€their€ordinary,€commonly€acceptedÏmeaning.€€ò òòòComputer€Shoppe,€Inc.€v.€Stateóóó ó,€780€S.W.2d€729,€735€(Tenn.€App.€1989).€Ð °%!! ÐAn€unambiguous€statute€must€be€interpreted€according€to€its€plain€meaning.€Ïò òòòMcClain€v.€Henry€I.€Siegel€Co.óóó ó,€834€S.W.2d€295,€296€(Tenn.€1992).ò òòò€óóó ó€Ð ´)%% Ðà ` àUnder€the€plain€terms€of€the€statute,€a€natural€parentððs€willful€failure€toÏsupport€or€make€reasonable€payments€toward€the€support€of€their€children€for€a€fourÏmonth€period€immediately€preceding€the€filing€of€the€petition€to€terminate€is€anÏabandonment€of€the€children€and€a€ground€for€termination€of€that€personððs€parentalÏrights.€€The€statute€defines€a€willful€failure€to€support€or€make€reasonable€paymentsÏtoward€the€support€of€the€children€as€where€no€monetary€support€is€paid€or€that€theÏamount€paid€is€token€support€for€a€consecutive€four€month€period.€€Furthermore,€theÏlegislature€makes€it€clear€that€abandonment€has€no€definition€other€than€that€setÐ ¸955 Ðforth€in€the€statute.€€Ìà ` àññœññœAfter€reviewing€this€record,€we€find€that€there€is€clear€and€convincing€evidenceÏthat€Respondent€has€abandoned€the€children.€€Although€this€constitutes€a€ground€forÏtermination€of€parental€rights,€there€must€also€be€a€finding€by€the€court€thatÏtermination€of€parental€rights€is€in€the€best€interests€of€the€children.€€T.C.A.€ðð€36„1„¼113€(c)(2).€€Since€the€trial€court€found€no€grounds€for€termination,€the€court€did€notÏmake€any€determination€concerning€the€best€interests€of€the€children.€€Accordingly,Ïin€view€of€our€finding€concerning€abandonment,€the€case€must€be€remanded€forÏfurther€proceedings€to€determine€the€best€interests€of€the€children.›Ìà ` àWith€regard€to€the€issue€of€attorney€fees,€we€are€œnot€generally›€œinclined›€toÏinterfere€with€decisions€concerning€attorney€fees€in€cases€where€awarding€fees€isÏwithin€the€discretion€of€the€trial€court.€€ò òòòThreadgill€v.€Threadgillóóó ó,€740€S.W.2d€419,Ð ° Ð426€(Tenn.€App.€1987).€€However,€this€deference€extends€only€to€cases€in€which€theÏamount€of€the€fee€award€is€challenged,€not€to€cases€in€which€the€legal€justification€ofÏthe€award€is€at€issue.€€In€the€latter€case,€this€Court€reviews€the€decision€of€the€trialÏcourt€the€same€as€any€other€legal€issue€„€with€no€presumption€of€correctness.€€ò òòòStateÐ ´" ÐDepððt€of€Human€Servs.€v.€Shepherdóóó ó,€1989€WL€144019,€at€*1€(Tenn.€App.€Nov.€29,Ð ¸$  Ð1989).Ìà ` àA€prevailing€litigant€had€no€right€at€common€law€to€the€payment€of€its€legalÏfees€or€costs.€€ò òòòMooneys€v.€Stateó óóó,€10€Tenn.€(2€Yer.)€578,€579€(1831);€òòò òMcCormic€v.Ð ¼* && ÐSmithó óóó,€668€S.W.2d€304,€306€(Tenn.€App.€1984).€€The€common€law€rule€can€beÐ À,(( Ðmodified€by€contract,€but€in€the€absence€of€such,€the€authority€of€the€court€to€awardÏattorney€fees€must€be€statutorily€grounded.€€òòò òPullman€Standard,€Inc.€v.€Abex€Corp.ó óóó,Ð Ä0,, Ð693€S.W.2d€336,€338€(Tenn.€1985);€òòò òPerson€v.€Fletcheróóó ó,€582€S.W.2d€765,€767€(Tenn.Ð È2.. ÐApp.€1979).€€Thus,€in€the€absence€of€a€statute,€contract,€or€other€compellingÏequitable€ground,€a€trial€court€cannot€compel€a€losing€party€to€pay€a€prevailingÏpartyððs€legal€expenses.€€ò òòòState€ex€rel.€Orr€v.€Thomasó óóó,€585€S.W.2d€606,€607€(Tenn.Ð Ì844 Ð1979).Ìà ` àNeither€Respondent€nor€the€trial€court€were€able€to€point€to€any€statutoryÏsupport€for€the€award€of€attorney€fees€in€the€type€of€proceeding€before€us.€€T.C.A.€ððÏ36„5„103(c)€(Supp.€1998)€allows€the€trial€court€to€award€legal€expenses€in€custodyÏand€support€proceedings.€€The€proceeding€before€us€in€the€case€sub€judice€concernsÏtermination€of€parental€rights€and€adoption.€€There€is€no€statutory€authority€whichÏprovides€that€the€trial€court€can€award€attorney€fees€in€such€a€proceeding.€€The€trialÏcourt€erred€in€awarding€attorney€fees€to€Respondent,€and€his€request€for€attorney€feesÏfor€this€appeal€is€denied.Ìà ` àAccordingly,€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€œreversedññ›ññ.€€The€case€is€remandedÏto€the€trial€court€for€further€proceedings€to€determine€if€termination€of€parental€rightsÏis€in€the€best€interests€of€the€children.€€Costs€of€appeal€are€assessed€one„half€toÏAppellants€and€one„half€to€Appellee.ÌÓÓà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à_________________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€Ð ° Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ó óÐ ²  ÐÌò òCONCUR:Ð ´" ÐÌ____________________________________›Ìœññññó óññññññññdaviññññññDAVID€R.€FARMER,€ññññññò òññññññALAN›€E.›€HIGHERS,›€ññJUDGEó ó›Ð º% !! ÐÌ____________________________________Ìò òHEWITT€P.€TOMLIN,€œJR.,€JUDGEó ó€(ññññreññññññRetired)ññò ò›Ð ¼( $$ Ðó óœÔ†ÿÿÔÔ†ÿÿÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔñQñ