WPC' # t U: % 0 w@ 4   0J# 0Tm 0^ 0h' 0r 0| 0} 0 1u 0d 0@l D3 BU*B)&DCO AM AQ0 0D 0D: D/~ B/v~vI 0?% 0D['HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,,,,,,0nLH,cAZ"Arial RegularX(~$  HTR[A' LegalLh (Avery 4167 Post CardA' Legalh (Avery 4167 Post CardTXmXXX73XXdXXd7 DDӀzz!3|xH2 0Indent123  2" 0Indent20 23  2, 0Indent30 0 23  26 0Indent40 0 0 23  2@ 0Indent50 0 0 0 23  2J 0Indent60 0 0 0 0 23  2T 0Indent70 0 0 0 0 0 23  2^ 0Indent80 0 0 0 0 0 0 23   ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P 8Mac DefaultMac Default ` X("$    $$$$'dxd d<  9p`(Arial% Line 7 d&&&&7Border 1dd* 'C << G*+ ,-C<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3$ !  ($$   1  ..' dxdP Pd  !  #d#%    H \RA'\#d#  +"  %   YYY FILED%X July1,1997CecilCrowson,Jr.%AppellateCourtClerk   !#d#%    H \RA'\#d#  $       Thepartiesdidnotseparate,apparently,untilthefollowingmonth.HusbanddidnotseekadivorcepresumablybecauseNorthCarolinalawrequiredoneyearsseparationasaconditionprecedent. % !#d#%    H \RA'\#d#  $       ThisparticularmotionwasheardNovember22,1994byJudgeSharpe,whodidnothearthecontemptmotions.Oddlyenough,wifewasheldincontempt,withsanctionsimposed,onthesameday[112294]byanotherjudgeofthesamecourt.  !#d#%    H \RA'\#d#  $       Thepartiesrefertothe enrollmentoftheforeigndecrees.TheTennesseestatutoryschememakesnoreferenceto enrollmentofthejudgmentsofsisterstates,butwelooktosubstance,notform.PtPtHH(FG(HH(d'hStyl{WP}01  HH  2$HH  Geneva  <Px443!#4$*$$*$ KK  Geneva  Geneva .,6 Geneva   h HD: Geneva  h HD: Geneva ((3$ ~!  HTR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'TXzXXX7zXXdd7   `   0  (#$  0   ! . %    H \RA'\#Xd##Xd#  ݛ   Ӝ INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEEWESTERNSECTIONATJACKSON̄  LORRAINEBURTONSPIERS  ) ShelbyEquity MARCUS,     ) No.D249682      ) PlaintiffAppellant   )      ) AppealNo.02A019611CH00278̜*R(/'A1-j|` . `@Rߛv.      )      ) TRENTWRIGHTMARCUS,   )      ) Defendant/Appellee  )  APPEALFROMTHECHANCERYCOURTOFSHELBYCOUNTYATMEMPHIS,TENNESSEETHEHONORABLEFLOYDPEETE,CHANCELLOR  LORRAINESPIERSMARCUS  DANIELLOYDTAYLOR 370SilverPlusCove#8   CRAIGB.FLOOD,II Collierville,TN38017   100NorthMainStreetProSeAppellant    Suite2400      Memphis,TN38103      AttorneysforAppellee REVERSED       WILLIAMH.INMAN,SENIORJUDGECONCUR:W.FRANKCRAWFORD,PRESIDINGJUDGE(W.S.)̜DAVIDR.FARMER,JUDGE   OPINION    Thiscaseisaproceduralquagmire.Thedispositiveissueonappeal,thoughnotofthemerits,ofthecase,iswhethertheChancellorwascorrectindecliningtoassumejurisdictionofit.   History   ThesepartiesweremarriedinShelbyCounty,TennesseeonDecember22,1990.In1991theymovedtoNorthCarolinawheretheappellee[Husband]enrolledinamedicalschool.AchildwasborninNorthCarolinaonNovember19,1991. HusbandfiledadomesticrelationsactioninNorthCarolinaonOctober22,1992seekingcustodyofthechild. 0   ׀Wifeansweredandcounterclaimedforcustody,childsupportandalimonypendentelite.ThecasewasheardincourseandanOrderwasenteredonMarch16,1993awardingprimarycustodyofthechildtomother,$500.00monthlychildsupport,and$500.00monthlyalimonypendentelite.AvisitationschedulewascraftedbytheCourt. InJanuary,1993,wifemovedtoShelbyCounty.HusbandmovedtoBlytheville,ArkansasinJuly,1993,andshortlythereafterfiledapetitionintheNorthCarolinaCourttoamendtheMarch16,1993Order.TheNorthCarolinaCourtobliged,andamendedtheOrderonSeptember30,1993toawardHusbandsecondaryphysicalcustodyofthechildwithconsiderablespecificity.BothpartieswerebeforetheCourt,eachwasrepresentedbycounsel,andneitherquestionedthejurisdiction.ThecasewasspecificallyretainedforfurtherOrders. OnNovember22,1994,pursuanttoashowcausemotion,WifewasfoundtobeinbothcivilandcriminalcontemptforthedeliberateviolationoftheSeptember30,1993Orderrespectingvisitation,andherincarcerationwasordered. ThiswasfollowedbyanothershowcauseOrderwhichwasheardonDecember16,1994.WifeagainwasfoundincontemptbecausesherefusedtoallowHusbandhisvisitationprivileges,andwasagainsentencedtojail.ThecasewasretainedonthedocketforfurtherOrders. Atthetimestheshowcausemotionswerefiled,neitherpartywasaresidentofNorthCarolina.ThechildresidedinTennesseewiththemother. InSeptember1993,HusbandfiledasuitinArkansasforadivorce,divisionofpersonalty,andafindingthatneitherpartywasentitledtoalimony.Wifemovedtodismiss,onjurisdictionalgrounds,astoallreliefsoughtexceptdivorce.Thismotionwasgranted,apparently(therecordisunclear)onthetheorythatjurisdictiontohearallissuesotherthanthedivorcewasretainedbyNorthCarolina.Inanyevent,theArkansasCourtretainedjurisdictionforthepurposeofdeterminingwhetherornotHusbandwasentitledtoadivorce. OnDecember21,1994,theArkansasCourtheardtheHusbandscomplaintfordivorce.Bothpartieswerepresent,andeachwasrepresentedbycounsel.TheHusbandwasfoundtobeacitizenandresidentofArkansassinceJuly1,1993;thewifewasfoundtobearesidentofTennessee. Husbandwasgrantedadivorce,andtheCourtexpresslymadenofindingsorconclusionsabout anyothermatter.JudgmentwasenteredJanuary11,1995. Butintheinterim,andbacktoNorthCarolina,Husbandmovedtomodifyhissecondaryphysicalcustodyofthechildandtoterminatethealimonyaward. ThetrialcourtfoundthatHusbandpresentlyresidedinArkansas,butwasa citizenandresidentofForsythCounty,NorthCarolina,sixmonthspriortofilingofthisaction.ThisOrderwasenteredNovember22,1994,nuncprotunctoOctober10,1993.Bothpartiesappearedandeachwasrepresentedbycounsel.Jurisdictionagainwasnotquestioned. TheobligationofHusbandforalimonypendentelitewasincreasedto$1,000.00monthly.Herattorneysfeeswereawarded,andtheexistingcustodial/visitationarrangementwascontinued.Supportforthechildwasincreasedto$1,000.00permonth.Thecourtexpresslyfoundthatit hasjurisdictionoverthepartiesandsubjectmatter,anddeclaredthattheMarch16,1993Orderwouldremainineffectexceptasmodified. 1    Again,intheinterim,wife,onDecember19,1994,filedacomplaintfor anabsolutedivorceandinjunctivereliefintheChanceryCourtofShelbyCounty,Tennessee.Shesoughtadivorce,custody,supportandalimony,andallegedthattheNorthCarolinaCourtwaswrongfullyexercisingjurisdiction overthecustodyissuebecauseneitherpartywasaresidentofNorthCarolina,andTennesseewasthehomestateoftheirchildbyvirtueofthefactthatthechildhadresidedinTennesseesinceDecember30,1992. ThedefendantHusbandmovedtodismissonnonspecifiedgrounds. OnApril18,1995,Wifefileda PetitiontoEnrollandModifyForeignDecreesintheChanceryCourtofShelbyCounty,Tennessee.ShereferencedtheMarch16,1993,September30,1993andNovember22,1994OrdersoftheNorthCarolinaCourt,andtheNovember10,1993OrderoftheArkansasCourttogetherwiththeJanuary11,1995OrderoftheArkansasCourtgrantingHusbandadivorce. Sheallegedthatthethree(3)NorthCarolinaOrders,andthetwo(2)ArkansasOrderswereentitledtofullfaithandcreditinTennessee,andconsequentlyshouldbeenrolledandenforcedinTennessee.Shealsosoughtsolecustodyofthechild,allegingachangeincircumstancesmostlyrelatedtoHusbandssociallife,withreasonablevisitationprivilegesbeingaccordedtohim. Husbandfiledamotiontodismissthispetitionwithoutspecifyingthereasonstherefor,whichwasgrantedbyOrderenteredNovember14,1995. OnDecember11,1995,WifefiledaMotiontoAlterorAmendthejudgment[ofdismissal],allegingthat28U.S.C.A.1738requiresachildshomestatetogivefullfaithandcredittochildsupportordersofanotherstate,andwhichgrantstothehomestatetheauthoritytomodifytheordersofsuchotherstate.WifeallegedthatTennesseewasthehomestateofthechildsinceshehasresidedinTennesseesinceJanuary1,1993. HusbandmovedtodismisstheMotiontoAlterorAmendbecausetherewasnolegalbasisforitandbecause wifecomesbeforethecourtwithuncleanhandssincesherefusedtoobeythejudgmentoftheNorthCarolinaCourtwhichshenowseekstoenrollinTennessee.Thismotionwasgrantedandwifeappeals.    TheIssue   ShouldthetrialcourthaveexercisedjurisdictiontoenrolltheNorthCarolinaandArkansasjudgments?   Analysis   Onthefaceofit,Tennesseeisthe homestateofthechildundertheUniformChildCustodyJurisdictionAct[UCCJA]andtheParentalKidnapingPreventionAct,T.C.A.366205(5);28U.S.C.A.1738A.UndertheUCCJA,Tennesseethushasjurisdictiontomakeormodifyachildcustodyorder,sincethechildhaslivedinTennessee foratleastsixconsecutivemonthsimmediatelyprecedingthefilingofthepetitioninTennessee,T.C.A.366202(5).WeinferfromtherecordandbriefsthattheChancellorrecognizedtheauthorityvisitedintheTennesseeChanceryCourttoassumejurisdictionandenrolltheforeignjudgments, 2   ׀butdeclinedtodoso,apparentlyforthereasonsHusbandallegedinhismotion. Wifespositionissomewhatanomalous,andHusbandexcoriatesherascomingtocourtwithuncleanhands,sincesherefusedtoobeytheNorthCarolinajudgmentsshenowseekstoenforceinTennesseeandwasheldinbothcivilandcriminalcontemptforherdefiance.Aswededuce,shefledNorthCarolinatoavoidincarceration. T.C.A.366209authorizedacourttodeclinejurisdictionwithinitsparameter:  8 Ifthepetitionerforaninitialdecreehaswrongfullytakenthechildfromanotherstateorhasengagedinsimilarreprehensibleconductthecourtmaydeclinetoexercisejurisdictionifthisisjustandproperunderthecircumstances.8 UnlessrequiredintheinterestofthechildandsubjecttoT.C.A.366215(a),thecourtshallnotexerciseitsjurisdictiontomodifyacustodydecreeofanotherstateifthepetitioner,withoutconsentofthepersonentitledtocustody,hasimproperlyremovedthechildfromthephysicalcustodyofthepersonentitledtocustodyorhasimproperlyretainedthechildafteravisitorothertemporaryrelinquishmentofphysicalcustody.Ifthepetitionerhasviolatedanyotherprovisionofacustodydecreeofanotherstate,thecourt,subjecttoT.C.A.366215(a)maydeclinetoexerciseitsjurisdictionifthisisjustandproperunderthecircumstances.      WifearguesthatthecontemptmotionswerefiledinNorthCarolinamorethanoneyearafterbothsheandHusbandhadpermanentlymovedfromthatState,whichentertainedthemotionswithoutregardtoitsownjurisdictionalcriteria. TheNorthCarolinaUCCJAprovidesthattheStatehasjurisdictiontodecidecustodyandvisitationcasesif:  8 (1)8 ThisStateisthehomestateofthechildatthetimeofthecommencementoftheproceeding....8 (2)8 ItisinthebestinterestofthechildthatacourtofthisStateassumejurisdictionbecausethechild...andatleastonecontestanthaveasignificantconnectionwiththisState...N.C.Gen.Stat.50A3(1989).   TheargumentbyWifeoverlooksthefactthatthemotionsinvolvedcontemptofthecourtforviolationofOrdersenteredwhenjurisdictionadmittedlywasreposedinNorthCarolina,andwemanifestlydeclinetoholdthattheNorthCarolinaCourtlackedjurisdictiontoimposesanctionsforthewilfulviolationofitsdecrees. WifesdefianceoftheNorthCarolinaCourtisclearlyreprehensible,andtothatextentherhandsareunclean.ButshecannotnowberepelledbecauseoftheoffensesheofferedtotheNorthCarolinaCourt,see,Haynesv.Haynes,904S.W.2d118(Tenn.Ct.App.1995),sinceourprimaryconcernisforthebestinterestsofthechild.ItisatthisjuncturethatweemphasizethatthechildandWifehavebeenresidentsofTennesseesinceJanuary1993,andHusbandaresidentofArkansassinceJuly,1993.NorthCarolinahasnovestedjurisdictionalinterest,andneitherWifenorHusbandnorthechildhasasignificantconnectionwiththatState.N.C.Gen.Stat.50A3(2)(1989).Moreover,thecustodyofthechildisnotanissuebeforeus;rather,whetherornottheNorthCarolinaOrdersmaybefiledinTennesseeisthesoleissue.Stateexrel.Cooperv.Hamilton,688S.W.2d821(Tenn.1985)istheauthorityfortheconclusionthatwhereallpersonsinvolvedhavemovedaway,jurisdictiontomodifycustodialdecreeswillshiftelsewhere. GiventherecordbeforeuswearenotawareofanyreasonwhytheNorthCarolinaOrdersarenotentitledtofullfaithandcreditinTennessee,T.C.A.366214;Brownv.Brown,847S.W.2d496(Tenn.1993),andthuseligibleforfilingintheChanceryCourtofShelbyCounty,TennesseepursuanttoT.C.A.366216. ThesolepurposeofthislegalexercisebytheWifeappearstobeanefforttosalvagetheissueofpermanentalimony,sincethedivorcejudgmentrenderedbytheArkansasCourthasbecomefinal,andtheissueofcustodymaybelitigatedinthechildshomestateinaccordancewiththelawsofTennessee.Astotheefficacyofthisstratagemweexpressnoopinionandoffernocritique.Sufficetostatethatajudgmentwhichcannotbeenforcedisworthless,andthattheNorthCarolinaϜjudgments,whenfiledinTennesseeatthebehestofWifeareamenabletoenforcementabinitio. Accordingly,thejudgmentisreversedandthecaseisremandedtotheChanceryCourtofShelbyCountytotheendthattheforeigndecreesorOrdersmaybefiled,andthereaftermodified,ifatall,inaccordancewithlegalprinciplesandprocedures. Costsareassessedtotheappellee.      ________________________________      WilliamH.Inman,SeniorJudgeCONCUR:___________________________________W.FrankCrawford,PresidingJudge(W.S.)______________________________̜DavidR.Farmer%  ,Judge̜