ÿWPC& <# XUNc %± 0 ñ·U <¨w@ä4$8 05G 0D| 1mÀ 0c- 0J 0TÚ 0^. Œ 0h” 0rü 0|n ê Eò 0†ô 0z 1u  0d 0@ã D3# BV AQsÆÄ 0DŠ 0DÎ D/ BAU>^B)œDCÅ AMU*UÑDP‹”²Ñiav~ÊvÓH ˜tech 4si IIHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLÐ(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX(É„$¡¡Ñ°°ÑѰ°ÑÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  ÓÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal[  AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÓÓÔ€X×xXXXÔ-šBu Z‹$Arrus BT Roman ‚Eƒ„E…†H‡ˆH‰HЋӀÀze"í3|x–(å(3E„$¤¤Ý ƒ„!ÝѰ°ÑѰ°ÑÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  ÓÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÓÓÔ€X,XXXÔÝ  Ýà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó #-e37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)(;3»$´´Ô2-eÔÚ  Ú0Ú  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0  à2 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)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò""""'ÿÿdxd d'( )*Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó++'÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d00007Border 1dd' 1Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial ÇÝ ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€/ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓ  ÓÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓÓÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ("ÝÝ  ÝÔ€3ÔÔ€3ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€3XÔÌÌò òMayÏ2,Ï1997ÌÌCecilÏCrowson,ÏJr.ÌÔ€3ôÔAppellateÏCourtÏClerkó ó :Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€/ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓ  ÓÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓÓÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÓÓRule€10€(Court€of€Appeals).€€òòMemorandum€Opinionóó.€„„€(b)€The€Court,Ïwith€the€concurrence€of€all€judges€participating€in€the€case,€may€affirm,€reverseÏor€modify€the€actions€of€the€trial€court€by€memorandum€opinion€when€a€formalÏopinion€would€have€no€precedential€value.€€When€a€case€is€decided€byÏmemorandum€opinion€it€shall€be€designated€"MEMORANDUM€OPINION,"Ïshall€not€be€published,€and€shall€not€be€cited€or€relied€on€for€any€reason€in€aÏsubsequent€unrelated€case.€Ô€/ÔÌ Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€/ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓ  ÓÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓÓÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÓÓ€€The€granting€of€the€divorce€is€not€an€issue€raised€on€appeal.Ì ¨Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€/ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓ  ÓÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓÓÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÓÓ€€The€values€given€to€the€household€furnishings€are€based€on€HusbandððsÏsworn€affidavit.€€(T.R.€20.)Ì †Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€/ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓ  ÓÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓÓÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÓÓ€€These€values€are€also€based€on€Husbandððs€affidavit.€€(T.R.€20.)Ì _Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€/ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓ  ÓÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓÓÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÓÓ€This€total€does€not€include€the€division€of€the€retirement€plan,€whichÏwas€divided€equally€between€the€parties€pursuant€to€a€Qualified€DomesticÏRelations€Order.€€Because€the€trial€court€divided€the€retirement€plan€equally,Ïhowever,€the€amounts€are€not€necessary€for€our€determination.ÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'hStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€/ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓ  ÓÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓÓÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÑ7€¬»XXdðdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÓÓÙ€'ÙßR€241A1-j|` à. `€€@ÿRß›Þ ÞÌà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àWESTERN€SECTION€AT€JACKSONÌà àà à€€€€______________________________________________ÌÌò òROSSLYN€JEAN€CARRIER,€ó óà àà àà àFROM€THE€MADISON€COUNTYÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àCHANCERY€COURT,€No.€48297Ìà àPlaintiff„Appellee,à àà àà àà àTHE€HONORABLE€JOE€C.ÏMORRIS,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àCHANCELLORÌVs.à àà àà àà àà àà àà àC.A.€No.€02A01„9608„CH„00180Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òòòAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDó óóóÌò òGENE€ALLEN€CARRIER,€ó óÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àJames€F.€Butler;€Spragins,€Barnett,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àCobb€&€Butler€of€JacksonÌà àDefendant„Appellant,à àà àà àFor€AppelleeÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àJoe€H.€Byrd,€Jr.,€of€JacksonÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àFor€AppellantÌ____________________________________________________________________________ÌÌÑ7€¬»XXdðXXdð7Ñà@ àMEMORANDUM€OPINION× ƒ5 ××  ×Ì___________________________________________________________________________ÌÌò òòòCRAWFORD,€J.ó óóóÌÌÌÓÓà àThis€is€a€divorce€case.€€Defendant,€Gene€Allen€Carrier€(Husband),€appealsÏthe€order€of€the€trial€court€dividing€the€marital€property€and€awarding€alimonyÍto€the€plaintiff,€Rosslyn€Jean€Carrier€(Wife).× ƒ6 ××  ×Ìà àThe€parties€were€married€on€July€17,€1967.€€They€have€two€childrenÏtogether,€but€both€children€have€reached€the€age€of€majority.€€At€the€time€ofÏtrial,€Husband€was€forty„eight€years€of€age,€and€Wife€was€forty„four.€€HusbandÏhad€an€associateððs€degree€from€a€junior€college€at€the€time€of€the€marriage,€butÏcompleted€a€bachelorððs€degree€during€the€marriage.€€Husband€has€beenÏemployed€with€the€Maytag€Corporation€for€more€than€twenty€years€and€earnsÏan€annual€salary€of€approximately€$75,000€plus€a€$10,000€bonus.€€Wife€has€anÏassociateððs€degree€that€she€received€during€the€marriage.€€Wife€is€employed€withÏthe€Jackson€Area€Chamber€of€Commerce€and€earns€an€annual€salary€of€$21,500.€€Ìà àOn€September€16,€1993,€Wife€filed€a€complaint€for€divorce€on€theÏgrounds€of€irreconcilable€differences€and€inappropriate€marital€conduct.€€OnÏNovember€3,€1994,€Wife€amended€her€complaint€to€allege€that€Husband€wasÏguilty€of€adultery.€€The€complaint€prayed€for,€òòinter€aliaò òóó,ó ó€an€absolute€divorce,€anÏequitable€division€of€the€martial€property,€alimony,€and€attorneyððs€fees.€€OnÏSeptember€11,€1995,€Husband€filed€an€answer€admitting€irreconcilableÏdifferences€and€that€he€was€guilty€of€inappropriate€marital€conduct€andÏadultery.€€Ìà àThe€case€was€tried€before€the€chancery€court,€sitting€without€a€jury,€onÏSeptember€11,€1995.€€The€trial€court€granted€an€absolute€divorce€to€Wife€basedÏon€Husbandððs€adultery.€€The€trial€court€also€divided€the€marital€property€andÏawarded€Wife€$171,600.00€in€alimonyòò€óófor€a€period€of€sixteen€years€on€aÏdeclining€basis,€which€we€conclude€from€the€decree€as€a€whole€to€be€alimonyòò€inÏsolidoóó.Ìà àHusband€appeals€from€the€order€of€the€trial€court€and€basically€presentsÏtwo€issues€for€review:€1)€whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€the€amount€of€itsÏaward€of€alimony€to€Wife;€and€2)€whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€its€division€ofÏthe€marital€property.€Ìà àSince€this€case€was€tried€by€the€court€sitting€without€a€jury,€we€reviewÏthe€case€ò òòòde€novoó óóó€upon€the€record€with€a€presumption€of€correctness€of€theÏfindings€of€fact€by€the€trial€court.€€Unless€the€evidence€preponderates€againstÏthe€findings,€we€must€affirm,€absent€error€of€law.€€T.R.A.P.€13(d).Ìà àIn€the€first€issue,€Husband€argues€that€the€trial€court€erred€with€respectÏto€the€alimony€award€because€the€amount€awarded€is€not€supported€by€WifeððsÏneeds.€€Husband€points€out€that€Wifeððs€expenses€would€be€reduced€if€she€movedÏinto€a€smaller€house.€€In€addition,€Husband€asserts€that€Wifeððs€expenses€forÏclothing€are€counted€twice€because€they€appear€in€her€payments€of€departmentÍstore€credit€cards€and€in€her€monthly€expenses.€€Husband€further€argues€thatÏthe€alimony€award€is€punitive.Ìà àThe€factors€used€to€determine€the€proper€amount€of€maintenance€andÏsupport€are€found€in€T.C.A.€ðð€36„5„101(d)€(1996).€€As€a€general€matter,€theÏcourts€set€the€amount€of€a€support€award€based€on€the€needs€of€the€innocentÏspouse€and€on€the€ability€of€the€obligor€spouse€to€pay.€€òòò òBatson€v.€Batsonó óóó,€769ÏS.W.2d€849,€861€(Tenn.€App.€1988).€€If€one€spouse€is€economicallyÏdisadvantaged€compared€to€the€other,€the€courts€are€generally€inclined€toÏprovide€some€type€of€support.€€òòò òId.ó óóó€€Ìà àThe€record€in€this€case€indicates€that€Wifeððs€expenses€total€$3,660€perÏmonth.€€€Although€Husband€contends€that€Wifeððs€clothing€expenses€are€countedÏtwice,€the€payments€on€the€department€store€credit€cards€reflect€past€purchasesÏfor€clothing€and€shoes€whereas€the€other€expenses€reflect€Wifeððs€need€to€makeÏsuch€purchases€in€the€future.€€The€record€further€indicates€that€Husband€makesÏalmost€four€times€as€much€income€as€Wife.€€We€believe€that€Husband€has€theÏability€to€pay€the€award.€€In€addition,€the€trial€court€specifically€stated€in€itsÏfinal€decree€of€divorce,€ð ðThe€alimony€award€is€not€based€so€much€on€the€fault€ofÏMr.€Carrier,€but€more€on€his€ability€to€pay€and€Mrs.€Carrierððs€proven€needs.ðð€ÏThe€record€reflects€that€the€trial€court€considered€the€factors€set€out€in€T.C.A.€ððÍ36„5„101€(d)€(1),€and€the€evidence€does€not€preponderate€against€the€findingsÏof€the€trial€court.€€This€issue€is€without€merit.€€Ìà àThe€next€issue€for€review€is€whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€its€division€ofÏthe€marital€property.€€Ìà àTrial€courts€have€broad€discretion€in€dividing€the€marital€estate€uponÏdivorce.€€ò òòòKincaid€v.€Kincaidóóó ó,€912€S.W.2d€140,€142€(Tenn.€App.€1995).€€InÏò òòòBatson€v.€Batsonó óóó,€769€S.W.2d€849€(Tenn.€App.€1988),€this€Court€discussed€theÏequitable€division€of€marital€property:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àà àTenn.Code€Ann.€ðð€36„4„121(a)€provides€thatÏmarital€property€should€be€divided€equitably€withoutÏregard€to€fault.€€It€gives€a€trial€court€wide€discretionÏin€adjusting€and€adjudicating€the€partiesðð€rights€andÏinterests€in€all€jointly€owned€property.òòò ò€€Fisher€v.ÏFisheró óóó,€648€S.W.2d€244,€246€(Tenn.1983).€ÏAccordingly,€a€trial€courtððs€division€of€the€maritalÏestate€is€entitled€to€great€weight€on€appeal,€òòò òEdwardsÏv.€Edwardsó óóó,€501€S.W.2d€283,€288€(Tenn.Ct.App.Ï1973),€and€should€be€presumed€to€be€proper€unlessÏthe€evidence€preponderates€otherwise.òòò ò€€Lancaster€v.ÏLancasteró óóó,€671€S.W.2d€501,€502€(Tenn.Ct.App.€1984);€Ïòòò òHardin€v.€Hardinó óóó,€689€S.W.2d€152,€154Ï(Tenn.Ct.App.1983).ÌÌà8 àà8 àà àA€trial€courtððs€division€of€marital€property€is€toÏbe€guided€by€the€factors€contained€in€Tenn.Code€Ann.Ïðð€36„4„121(c).€€However,€an€equitable€propertyÏdivision€is€not€necessarily€an€equal€one.€€It€is€notÏachieved€by€a€mechanical€application€of€the€statutoryÏfactors,€but€rather€by€considering€and€weighing€theÏmost€relevant€factors€in€light€of€the€unique€facts€ofÍthe€case.ÌÌÓÓòòò òBatsonó óóó,€769€S.W.2d€at€859.€Ìà àAs€stated€by€this€Court€in€òòò òWallace€v.€Wallaceó óóó,€733€S.W.2d€102€(Tenn.ÏApp.€1987):ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àThe€value€of€marital€property€is€a€fact€question.€€Thus,Ïa€trial€court's€decision€with€regard€to€the€value€of€aÏmarital€asset€will€be€given€great€weight€on€appeal.€€ÌÌà àà à*€à àà àà àà à*€à àà àà àà à*Ìà àà àÌà8 àà8 àThe€value€of€a€marital€asset€is€determined€byÏconsidering€all€relevant€evidence€regarding€value.€ÌÌà àà à*€à àà àà àà à*€à àà àà àà à*Ìà8 àà8 à.€.€.€[T]he€trial€court,€in€its€discretion,€is€free€to€placeÏa€value€on€a€marital€asset€that€is€within€the€range€ofÏthe€evidence€submitted.€ÌÌÓÓò òòòId.óóó ó€at€107€(citations€omitted).Ìà àHusband€contends€that€the€trial€court€did€not€place€values€on€the€partiesððÏhousehold€furnishings€and€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€the€values€it€placed€onÏsome€of€the€other€marital€property.€€Husband€asserts€that€his€sworn€affidavit,Ïfiled€with€the€court€clerk€before€trial€pursuant€to€the€local€rules€but€not€offeredÏinto€evidence€at€trial,€contains€the€correct€values€of€the€marital€property.€ÏHusband€points€out€that€Wife€did€not€file€a€sworn€affidavit€pursuant€to€theÏlocal€rules€and€that€there€was€no€other€evidence€before€the€trial€court€as€toÍthese€values.€€Ìà àAlthough€Husbandððs€affidavit€is€not€evidence,€ò òòòTurner€v.€Turneró óóó,€776ÏS.W.2d€88,€90€(Tenn.€App.€1988),€we€will€give€Husband€the€benefit€of€thatÏproof€establishing€the€value€of€the€household€furniture€at€approximatelyÏ$23,500.00.€€The€equity€in€the€marital€home€was€$40,695.00,€and€Wife€wasÏawarded€Husbandððs€one„half€interest€therein€as€alimony€òòin€solidoóó.€€However,€itÏappears€that€the€trial€court€intended€for€the€division€of€marital€property€toÏinclude€the€home€equity€and€then€intended€to€award€Husbandððs€one„halfÏinterest€to€Wife€as€additional€alimony€òòin€solidoóó.€€With€this€in€mind,€we€concludeÏthat€the€marital€property€was€divided€as€follows:ÌÓÓWife€à àà àà àà àà àà àHusbandÌßA€") °°xdME¯LAßÌ20,347.50€€à àhome€equityà àà àà à20,347.50€à àhome€equity€Ì€€2,599€à à1992€Toyotaà àà à43,244à à401(k)Ì€€2,528à àðð€Maytag€stockà àà à€€3,950à à1994€ToyotaÌ€€7,977€à àðð€Metlife€policyà àà à€€2,528à àðð€Maytag€stockÌ€€2,394à àðð€stock€optionsà àà à€€7,977à àðð€Metlife€policyÌ€€4,400à àsavings€bondsà àà à€€2,394€à àðð€stock€optionsÌ21,980à àhousehold€furnishings× ƒ7 ××  ×à à€€€€€500à à1968€VolkswagenÌà àà àà àà àà àà à€€1,550à àhouseholdÏà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àfurnishings/miscellaneous.× ƒ8 ××  ×Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€€1,300à àSoloflexÌà àà àà àà àà àà à€€1,300à àIRAÌßA€") °°xdE¾LAßÌ62,225.50€à àtotalà àà àà àà à85,090.50à àtotalÌÌÓÓà àThis€division€results€in€approximately€42€percent€of€the€marital€estate€toÏWife€and€58€percent€of€the€marital€estate€to€Husband.× ƒ9 ××  ×€€In€order€to€equalizeÏand€in€an€attempt€to€make€a€more€equitable€distribution€of€marital€property,Ïthe€trial€court€awarded€Husbandððs€one„half€interest€in€the€home€equity€in€theÏamount€of€$20,347.50€to€Wife€as€alimony€òòin€solido.€€óóConsidering€the€additionalÏalimony€òòin€solidoóó,€the€œnet€result€is€that€Wife›€œreceives€approximately›€56€percentÏof€the€total€marital€estate€and€Husband€œreceives€approximately›€44€percent€ofÏthe€total€marital€estate.Ìà àFrom€our€review€of€the€record€and€giving€Husband€the€benefit€of€hisÏproffered€evidence,€we€find€that€the€evidence€does€not€preponderate€against€theÏtrial€courtððs€findings€as€to€the€division€of€property€and€the€award€of€one„half€ofÏthe€home€equity€as€alimony€òòin€solidoóó.€Ìà àFinally,€Wife€contends€that€Husband€should€be€required€to€pay€herÏattorney's€fees€and€costs€of€appeal€for€the€necessity€of€defending€this€action.€€ÏUnder€the€circumstances€of€this€case,€we€conclude€that€Wife's€request€forÍattorney's€fees€on€appeal€should€be€granted.Ìà àThe€decree€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€The€case€is€remanded€to€theÏtrial€court€for€such€further€proceedings€as€may€be€necessary,€including€aÏdetermination€of€the€amount€of€attorney's€fees€to€be€awarded€Wife€for€thisÏappeal.€€Costs€of€appeal€are€assessed€against€appellant€for€which€execution€mayÏissue,€if€necessary.ÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà àà à_________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ó óÌÌò òCONCUR:ÌÌÌ____________________________________ÌALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEó óÌÌ____________________________________Ìò òHEWITT€P.€TOMLIN,€JR.ÌSENIOR€JUDGEó ó