ÿWPC) …# VU:a %› 0@¡w@á4! 5 0„D 0DÈ  0J 0T^ 0^² 0h 0rx 0|ê 0†f 0ì 1u| 0dñ U6UB)‹DC´ AM÷U*D Bn/‹ºv~À D3>vÓq 0@D AO„ÆÓ 0D™ D/Ý B ˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 <Ô6X9`+"Courier 10cpiX(ù$¡¡Ó  ÓÓ  Ó ÖD×UØDÙVÚÛÜÝDÞßÓ€©U!3|xê(4(3DX$¤¤Ý ƒù!ÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  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)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Courier New% Line 7 d""""7Border 1dd€-#Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial d %Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€!ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ€%ÔÔ€%ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€%XÔÌÌò òOctober€1,€1996ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€%ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó üÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€!ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝòòNo€issue€is€made€as€to€the€amount€of€the€award€but€only€the€method€ofÏpayment.óóÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'@&&&&'ÿÿdxdStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  BA Op Geneva ÒÒ  BA Op Geneva Ò("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€!ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÑ ¸ ÑÑ Ü ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ7€73XXdÈdÈ7ÑÙ€€ÙßL€$'#;+'h|` Å `€€Lß›à@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALSÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌDEBRA€œJEWELL›€YOUNG€FORD,€€€€€€€€)à àBRADLEYÏCHANCERYÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àC.A.€NO.€03A01„9606„CH„00197Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellee€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ìvs.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àHON.€EARL€H.€HENLEYÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àCHANCELLORÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)ÌDENNIS€CLIFFORD€FORD,€€€€€€€€€€€)à àAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Defendant„Appellant€€€)ÌÌÌÌÌSTEPHEN€DAVIS€CRUMP,€œChancey›,€œKanavos›€&€Crump,€Cleveland,€forÏAppellant.ÌÌÌROGER€E.€œJENNE›,€œJenne›,€Scott€&€Bryant,€Cleveland,€for€appellee.ÌÌÌÌÌÌÓÓà@ àòòO€P€I€N€I€O€NóóÌÌà€ àMcMurray,€J.ÌÌà àThis€appeal€arises€from€the€judgment€of€the€trial€courtÏwhich,€among€other€things,€awarded€a€divorce€to€the€defendant,Ïprovided€for€custody€of€the€œparties'›€minor€children€and€made€aÏdivision€of€the€marital€estate.€€We€affirm€the€judgment€of€theÏtrial€court.ÌÌà àÔ&  ÔThe€appellant€has€presented€two€issues€for€our€consideration:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà0 àà à1.à àDid€the€chancellor€err€in€awarding€Mrs.€Ford€threeÔ'  ÔÏannual€payments€of€fifteen€thousand€dollars€as€aÏportion€of€marital€property€when€the€payments€wouldÏhave€to€be€paid€from€Dr.€Ford's€future€income?ÌÌà8 àà0 àà à2.à àDid€the€chancellor€err€in€awarding€custody€of€theÏœparties'›€three€minor€children€to€Mrs.€Ford€whereÏthe€evidence€established€that€she€was€sufferingÏfrom€a€mental€condition€that,€according€to€theÏproof,€required€extended€in„patient€treatment,€andÏthat€she€had€left€the€children€with€various€babyÏsitters€on€several€occasions€in€order€to€carry€onÏtwo€extramarital€affairs?ÌÌÓÓÌà àOur€review€of€the€case€is€òòde€novoóó€upon€the€record,€accompa…nied€by€a€presumption€of€the€correctness€of€the€findings€of€factÏby€the€trial€court,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€isÏotherwise.€€Rule€13(d),€T.R.A.P.€€No€presumption€attaches€toÏconclusions€of€law.€€òòSeeóó€òòAdams€v.€Dean€Roofing€Coóó.,€715€S.W.2dÏ341,€343€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1986).ÌÌà àAs€to€the€first€issue,€the€court€in€its€memorandum€opinionÏmakes€the€following€statement:€€"This€court€also€awards€cashÏinstallments€for€a€period€of€three€years€at€$15,000.00€per€year.€ÏThis€payment€is€deemed€a€portion€of€the€assets€and€is€not€to€beÏconstrued€as€alimony€in€futuro€or€in€solido."€€The€appellantÏclaims€that€this€award€is€an€improper€division€of€property€in€thatÏthe€installment€awards€must€be€paid€out€of€future€income.× ƒ( ××  ×ÌÌà àWe€agree€that€an€award€from€future€income€is€an€improperÏmethod€of€dividing€marital€assets€in€a€divorce€case.€€T.C.A.€ðð€36„4„121(b)(1)(A)€defines€marital€property€as€"all€real€and€personalÍproperty,€both€tangible€and€intangible,€acquired€by€either€or€bothÏspouses€during€the€course€of€the€marriage€up€to€the€date€of€theÏfinal€divorce€hearing€and€owned€by€either€or€both€spouses€as€ofÏthe€date€of€filing€of€a€complaint€for€divorce€..."€€Clearly,Ïfuture€income€does€not€fall€within€the€definition€of€maritalÏproperty.ÌÌà àIn€our€disposition€of€this€issue,€however,€we€must€note€thatÏthe€issue€is€framed€inaccurately.€€The€issue€as€stated€is€basedÏupon€the€assumption€that€the€installments€must€be€paid€from€futureÏincome.€€This€is€an€incorrect€assumption.€€It€appears€from€theÏrecord€that€the€total€award€to€the€appellant€is€valued€in€excessÏof€$360,000.00,€including€his€retirement€plan€valued€at€approxi…mately€$300,000.00€and€cash€of€approximately€$15,816.00.€€It€isÏclear€that€the€appellant€has€in€his€portion€of€marital€assets,Ïsufficient€liquid€assets€to€pay€$45,000.00€to€the€appellee€immedi…ately.€€Therefore,€we€do€not€consider€the€award€as€an€award€thatÏmust€be€paid€out€of€future€earnings€but€simply€a€delayed€transferÏof€assets.€€We€are€not€privy€to€the€court's€reasoning€in€orderingÏthat€the€award€be€paid€in€annual€installments.€It€may€or€may€notÍbe€advantageous€from€a€tax€viewpoint€to€pay€the€award€in€annualÏinstallments.€In€any€event€the€$45,000.00€award€is,€without€ques…tion,€intended€by€the€trial€judge€as€a€part€of€the€division€ofÏpresent€marital€assets.€€The€appellant€is€not€required€to€œdistri›„œbute›€that€part€of€the€marital€assets€to€the€appellee€in€lump€sum.€ÏHe€may€make€the€distribution€in€installments€or€he€may€pay€theÏdistribution€immediately.€€We€find€no€merit€in€this€issue.ÌÌà àWe€will€next€turn€our€attention€to€the€issue€regarding€custo…dy€of€the€parties'€minor€children.€€As€noted,€custody€was€given€toÏthe€mother.€€The€appellant€insists€that€the€father€is€the€more€fitÏparent€to€have€custody€of€the€children.€€In€considering€thisÏissue,€we€must€bear€in€mind€that€in€œnonjury›€cases€where€the€trialÏjudge€saw€and€heard€the€witnesses€and€observed€their€manner€andÏdemeanor€on€the€œstand,›€he€was€in€a€much€better€position€to€judgeÏthe€weight€and€value€of€their€œtestimony€than€we.›€€Decisions€by€theÏtrial€judge€regarding€the€credibility€of€witnesses€are€entitled€toÏgreat€weight€on€appeal.€€òòWilder€v.€Wilderóó,€863€S.W.2d€707,€713Ï(Tenn.€App.€1992).€€Where€the€evidence€is€conflicting,€the€weightÏand€œcredi›„œbility›€of€the€testimony€is€for€the€finder€of€fact,€andÍthe€finding€of€the€Trial€Judge€in€this€respect,€a€œnonjury›€matter,Ïwill€not€be€disturbed€on€appeal€unless€real€evidence€compels€aÏcontrary€conclusion.€€òòSeeóó€òòœSchlater›€v.€œHaynieóó,€833›€S.W.2d€œ919€Ï(Tenn.€App.€1991).›€€This€principle€has€long€been€applied€to€childÏcustody€cases.€€Ìà àIn€child€custody€cases,€the€welfare€and€best€interest€of€theÏchild€is€the€paramount€concern,€and€the€determination€of€theÏchild's€best€interest€must€turn€on€the€particular€facts€of€eachÏcase.€òòœHolloway›€v.€Bradleyóó,€190€Tenn.€565,€230€S.W.2d€1003€(1950).€ÌÌà àIt€is€not€necessary€to€find€that€one€parent€is€unfit€in€orderÏto€award€custody€to€the€other€parent.€Where€both€parents€are€foundÏto€be€fit€this€Court€has€resorted€to€a€comparative€fitness€test,ÏòòBah€v.€Bahóó,€668€S.W.2d€663€(Tenn.€App.€1983),€in€which,€consider…ing€all€the€relevant€circumstances,€the€Court€places€the€principalÏresponsibility€for€rearing€the€minor€child€with€the€person€mostÏfit€to€bear€that€responsibility.€òòIdóó.€at€666.€€It€can€be€inferredÏfrom€the€trial€court's€memorandum€that€the€court€applied€theÏcomparative€fitness€test€as€set€out€in€òòBahóó,€supra.€€Neither€parentÍwas€found€to€be€unfit€and€the€court€determined€that€the€bestÏinterests€of€the€child€required€custody€to€be€given€to€the€mother.ÌÌà àThere€is€evidence€in€the€record€that€both€parties€suffer€fromÏsome€problems.€€A€therapist,€Mr.€Ronald€Ashley€testified€that€heÏhad€counseled€with€the€appellant,€the€appellee€and€the€two€olderÏchildren.€€He€testified€that€in€his€opinion€the€appellee€sufferedÏfrom€depression€and€had€an€eating€disorder,€bulimia€nervosa.€€InÏaddition,€he€testified€that€the€appellee€was€a€"love€addict."€€HeÏdescribed€"love€addict"€as€"someone€who,€when€they're€in€a€rela…tionship,€tries€to€get€unconditional€positive€regard€from€theÏperson€who€they're€in€the€relationship€with€to€the€exclusion€ofÏtaking€care€of€themselves€within€a€relationship€...€."€€He€furtherÏtestified€that€the€appellant€suffered€from€"major€depression."ÌÌà àDr.€Janet€œSnoddy›,€a€physician,€testified€that€she€was€wellÏacquainted€with€the€appellee€on€a€social€rather€than€a€profession…al€basis€and€had€been€a€neighbor.€€She€described,€from€her€person…al€observations,€the€way€and€manner€in€which€the€appellee€ful…filled€her€role€as€a€parent.€€She€was€very€complimentary€andÍstated€that€the€appellee€had€a€very€close€relationship€with€herÏchildren.€€She€further€related€that€the€appellee€was€a€fit€andÏproper€person,€in€her€opinion,€to€be€a€custodial€parent.€€She€madeÏno€derogatory€statements€concerning€the€appellant€as€a€custodialÏparent.€€She€stated€that€the€appellant€spent€less€time€with€theÏchildren€because€he€worked.ÌÌà àThe€appellant€insists€that€the€appellee€was€deficient€as€aÏcustodial€parent€because€she€left€the€children€with€babysitters.€ÏMr.€œLockhart›,€an€investigator€for€the€appellant€testified€that€heÏhad€kept€the€appellee€under€surveillance€for€some€four€hundredÏhours.€€He€testified€that€the€appellee€did€use€babysitters€fre…quently,€however,€there€is€nothing€in€the€record€to€indicate€thatÏthe€babysitters€were€inappropriately€used.€€He€further€testifiedÏon€cross€examination€as€follows:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà0 àà àQ.à àAnd€isn't€it€true€and€did€you€not€tell€me€in€theÏdeposition,€Mr.€œLockhart›,€that€during€all€of€theseÏhours€of€observation€and€surveillance,€you€neverÏsaw€any€inappropriate€conduct€out€of€this€ladyÏinsofar€as€ð"ð€or€any€inappropriate€conduct€at€all?ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àA.à àNo€extra„marital€affairs€whatsoever.ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àQ.à àNo€inappropriate€conduct€was€what€I€asked€you€inÏdeposition€and€that's€what€you€told€me.€€Is€thatÏnot€true,€sir?ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àA.à àWell,€I€think€at€that€time€you€were€referring€toÏextra„marital€affairs,€and€that's€true.ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àQ.à àWell,€did€you€see€any€inappropriate€conduct€out€ofÏthis€lady€during€this€three€or€four€hundred€hoursÏof€surveillance?ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àA.à àThat's€a€matter€of€opinion.€€I€personally€consider,Ïyou€know,€leaving€the€children€alone€for€longÏperiods€of€time€with€babysitters.ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àQ.à àThat's€what€you€saw€and€that's€what€you're€here€toÏtestify€to.ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àA.à àRight.€€You€know,€that€would€just€be€my€opinion,ÏMr.€œJenne›.ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àQ.à àNow€isn't€it€true,€Mr.€œLockhart›,€that€you€don'tÏknow€if€the€person€in€the€house€was€a€babysitter€orÏhousekeeper?ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àA.à àCorrect.ÌÌÓÓÌà àThere€is€no€evidence€in€the€record€that€the€babysitters€orÏhousekeepers€were€inappropriate€persons€to€supervise€the€activi…ties€of€the€children.€€The€investigator€testified€that€over€a€six„month€period€his€only€observation€of€inappropriate€conduct€wasÏthat€the€appellee€was€away€from€her€children€more€than€he€thoughtÏwas€appropriate.ÌÌà àThere€was€further€testimony€elicited€that€the€appellant€had€aÏvery€close€relationship€with€his€children.€€There€is€no€suggestionÏthat€the€appellant€would€not€have€been€an€appropriate€custodialÏparent.ÌÌà àComparing€the€fitness€of€the€two€parents€is€a€function€thatÏis€peculiarly€within€the€province€of€the€trial€judge.€€He€wasÏpresent€during€all€the€proceedings,€heard€all€the€testimony,€sawÏall€the€witnesses€and€judged€their€credibility.€€He€thereafterÏdetermined€that€the€mother,€the€appellee€here,€should€be€theÏcustodial€parent.ÌÌà àThe€presumption€of€correctness€which€ordinarily€attaches€toÏthe€trial€judge's€findings€in€a€bench€trial€applies€to€issues€ofÏchild€custody.€òòBah€v.€Bahóó,€supra;€òòScarbrough€v.€Scarbroughóó,€752ÏS.W.2d€94€(Tenn.€App.€1988).€€Additionally,€trial€courts€areÏvested€with€wide€discretion€in€matters€of€child€custody€and€re…viewing€courts€will€not€interfere€except€upon€a€showing€of€anÏabuse€of€discretion.€òòGrant€v.€Grantóó,€39€Tenn.€App.€539,€286€S.W.2dÍ349€(1954).€€We€should€note€parenthetically,€that€an€"abuse€ofÏdiscretion"€standard€is€not€included€in€the€standard€of€review€asÏfound€in€Rule€13(d)€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Appellate€Procedure.€ÏHowever,€when€there€is€sufficient€evidence€to€do€so,€the€court€mayÏdetermine€that,€based€upon€the€material€evidence,€abuse€or€absenceÏof€abuse€of€discretion€may€be€determined€as€a€matter€of€law.€€InÏthis€case€we€find€no€abuse€of€discretion.€€We€find€no€reversibleÏerror€in€granting€custody€of€the€children€to€the€appellee.ÌÌà àIn€this€case€the€appellee€has€filed€a€motion€to€dismiss€thisÏappeal€based€upon€our€decision€in€òòCobb€v.€œBeier›óó,€an€as€yet€unre…ported€opinion€of€this€court€by€Judge€Franks,€opinion€filed€JulyÏ3,€1996,€wherein€it€was€held€that€a€failure€to€file€a€notice€ofÏappeal€œwith›€the€appellate€court€clerk€was€a€fatal€defect.€€In€viewÏof€our€disposition€of€this€case,€the€issue€is€moot.€€We,€there…fore,€decline€to€rule€on€the€motion.ÌÌà àThis€case€is€affirmed€in€all€respects.€€Costs€are€taxed€toÏthe€appellant€and€this€case€is€remanded€to€the€trial€court€for€theÏcollection€thereof.ÌÓÓÌà àœÌà€ à______________________________Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Don€T.€McMurray,€J.ÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌ___________________________________ÌHouston€M.€Goddard,€Presiding€JudgeÌÌÌ___________________________________ÌCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.,€JudgeÌÌ›€œÇÑ  ÑÑ7€‹XXdÈXXdÈ7Ñà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALSÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌDEBRA€JEWELL€YOUNG€FORD,€€€€€€€€)à àBRADLEY€CHANCERYÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àC.A.€NO.€03A01„9606„CH„00197Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellee€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ìvs.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àHON.€EARL€H.€HENLEYÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àCHANCELLORÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)ÌDENNIS€CLIFFORD€FORD,€€€€€€€€€€€)à àAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Defendant„Appellant€€€)ÌÌÌ›œÌà@ àò òòòORDERóóó óÌÌÌÓÓà àThis€appeal€came€on€to€be€heard€upon€the€record€from€theÏChancery€Court€of€Bradley€County,€briefs€and€argument€of€counsel.€ÏUpon€consideration€thereof,€this€Court€is€of€opinion€that€thereÏwas€no€reversible€error€in€the€trial€court.Ìà àThis€case€is€affirmed€in€all€respects.€€Costs€are€taxed€toÏthe€appellant€and€this€case€is€remanded€to€the€trial€court€for€theÏcollection€thereof.ÌÓÓÌÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€PER€CURIAM›