ÿWPC„# ŽÁêÉ’ 1a[Ú'cÌÙÊ‚Dn08­ŽÖThaË!‡|v¦—s%ÜBº³A£Kwq¼‡4%xI@Áf>Dþ˜nò xÒɃF#ñ¾0€SwÁ _Iþ?…VɈ¦þÿüI}PÇ–Xç%²é_±•×!ƒ2ŸÉ÷ÿ–B’Pú £”ÕgŸj’¾ûO´Ä½¬?Þæs×½;ïtPìõ5»©XþÄ{ÄŒŠxL=ÃíOXŒ"žçÒÅ%‡k“L¬Ð˜Kú oö,ÔYWR¿úÒ`_Ø’»QË€ƒ›Jýô@È`cP¾«ÀŠ$÷ÕqDKÁHFù‡j}ýEJèÎ\é²°„<;[³ Æ×sp9¥B4!¢I0‚hç܉ÕêuÛ¥@>»m`¸3º(°/ï¨q5Òc_LG„:!“·Wei_0irwÕ<bÕô¬‹Ä…—–>½ÑÉú¾º†üÊí9ƒþ&Ç `_,÷ïÈÐ"‡u%5}b[å-¤MOAòJæ_ØP‘±š Ò 9$Z6ÅË™ÎR½V¬'dbÑ^'3nƒ›m¡¡íQnÜÌ ¡‡üÞ»ò8Ú`Oìmµ…Étï8t-á:ŠyEW# ÂUNÍ % 04! 0 ÏU^ $ w@0 4p „ “ m• b¬ N´ ƶ 0 D| À  à àÏ (¯×Rí€?¿VÐU:&``kaºÌ† U:‰! AQÃ!" 0D" 0D`" 0D¤"¤" D/è"è" B# D34#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4#4# Bg#˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular»( ¤U$¡¡Ó  Ó((2Mi$¤¤Ý ƒ¤U!ÝÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€X¯X»»ÔÑ  ÑÑÑà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóóƒ=&c !D"#D$e%&E'()Ó€3Ö~-&xktop`‰3|x5 ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ- ù-ƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó ùÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€»Ñ »»»ÔÔ€2ÿ  »»ÑÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€XÂk X 2ÿÔÐ  ÐÌFebruary€2,€1999ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó Ý ƒMi$ÝÓ  ÓÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€X¯X»»ÔÑ @ ÑÑ@Ñà ` àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThis€amount€included€$55€in€child€support€and€$2.75€representing€the€circuit€court€clerkððsÐ ° Ðfive€percent€commission€because€Ms.€Ô_ÔNorfleetÔ_Ô€was€required€to€pay€her€child€support€through€theÏclerkððs€office€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„5„101(a)(4)(A)€(Supp.€1998).€€ ÖÝ ƒM/$ÝÓ  ÓÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€XOfX»»ÔÑ @ ÑÑ@Ñà ` àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€nature€of€Ms.€Norfleetððs€disability€is€not€clear.€€In€response€to€the€trial€courtððsÐ ° Ðquestioning,€she€stated€that€ð ð[Ô_Ôi]tÔ_Ôððs€bipolar,€manic,€tomonic€(phonetic),€and€Ô_ÔhianzitisÔ_Ô€(phonetic).ðð€€ Ý ƒM/$ÝÓ  ÓÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€XOfX»»ÔÑ @ ÑÑ@Ñà ` àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€Notice€of€Award€stated:Ð ° ÐÌà8 ` àIf€you€work€full„time€or€part„time€and€make€$65€or€less€each€month,€your€SSI€willÏusually€not€change.€€As€the€money€you€earn€from€your€job€goes€up,€your€SSI€will€goÏdown.€€However,€if€you€have€no€other€income€(money€or€support),€you€can€earn€upÏto€$1,052.99€a€month€and€still€get€at€least€$1€in€SSI. Ý ƒM/$ÝÓ  ÓÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€XOfX»»ÔÑ @ ÑÑ@Ñà ` àòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔòòSeeóó€S.€Rep.€No.€93„1356€(1974),€òòreprinted€inóó€1974€U.S.C.C.A.N.€8133,€8145. HÝ ƒM/$ÝÓ  ÓÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€XOfX»»ÔÑ @ ÑÑ@Ñà ` àòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔòòSeeóó€42€U.S.C.A.€ðð€654(4)(B)(ii)€(West€Supp.€1998);€S.€Rep.€No.€93„1356,òò€reprinted€inóó€1974Ð ° ÐU.S.C.C.A.N.€at€8158. vÝ ƒM/$ÝÓ  ÓÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€XOfX»»ÔÑ @ ÑÑ@Ñà ` àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔMr.€Dobbs€was€represented€by€an€attorney€during€the€original€divorce€and€first€modificationÐ ° Ðproceeding.€€He€has,€however,€been€unrepresented€ever€since€the€1997€proceeding. Ý ƒM/$ÝÓ  ÓÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€XOfX»»ÔÑ @ ÑÑ@Ñà ` àòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔòòSeeóó€Family€Support€Act€of€1988,€Pub.€L.€No.€100„485,€102€Stat.€2343€(1988). LÝ ƒM/$ÝÓ  ÓÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€XOfX»»ÔÑ @ ÑÑ@Ñà ` àòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔFederal€law€does€not€require€IV„D€agencies€or€contractors€to€provide€assistance€to€allÐ ° ÐÔ_ÔnoncustodialÔ_Ô€parents€seeking€to€decrease€their€child€support.€€They€are€permitted€to€make€anÏindependent€decision€that€a€Ô_ÔnoncustodialÔ_Ô€parent€has€a€meritorious€claim€for€reduction€of€childÏsupport€before€agreeing€to€provide€assistance.,@ÓÐAZ‹"Arial Regular öÝ ƒM/$ÝÓ  ÓÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€XOfX»»ÔÑ @ ÑÑ@Ñà ` àòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔòòSeeóó€Act€of€May€4,€1977,€ch.€235,€1977€Tenn.€Pub.€Acts€566. ÷Ý ƒM/$ÝÓ  ÓÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€XOfX»»ÔÑ @ ÑÑ@Ñà ` àòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔòòSeeóó€Act€of€Apr.€6,€1982,€ch.€764,€1982€Tenn.€Pub.€Acts€372. aÝ ƒM/$ÝÓ  ÓÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€XOfX»»ÔÑ @ ÑÑ@Ñà ` àòòÚ  Ú11Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔòòSeeóó€òòSmith€v.€Smithóó,€188€Tenn.€430,€437„38,€220€S.W.2d€627,€630€(1949);òò€Rubin€v.€Kirshneróó,Ð ° Ð948€S.W.2d€742,€747€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1997). °Ý ƒM/$ÝÓ  ÓÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€XOfX»»ÔÑ @ ÑÑ@Ñà ` àòòÚ  Ú12Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€Board€of€Professional€Responsibility€has€issued€a€formal€ethics€opinion€concluding€thatÐ ° Ðattorneys€furnished€by€IV„D€agencies€or€contractors€may€appear€in€later€proceedings€to€advocateÏmodifying€a€child€support€award€even€though€they€had€previously€assisted€in€establishing€the€awardÏfor€the€other€parent.€€òòSeeóó€Board€of€Professional€Responsibility,€Formal€Op.€90„F„123€(Sept.€14,Ð €Ð Ð1990).€€This€case€involves€a€different€circumstance.€€The€question€here€is€not€whether€a€lawyerÏfurnished€by€a€IV„D€agency€or€contractor€can€assert€different€interests€in€two€proceedings,€but€ratherÏwhether€a€lawyer€or€lawyers€furnished€by€the€same€IV„D€agency€or€contractor€may€assert€differentÏinterests€in€the€same€proceeding.€€€ ùÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€»Ñ »»»ÔÔ€2ÿ  »»ÑÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€XÂk X 2ÿÔÐ  ÐÌFebruary€1,€1999ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,@ÓÐAZ‹"Arial Regular"#$&Cþÿ<< Cÿÿ (3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó(('÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdVVVV'ÿÿdxd dÝ ƒ¤U!ÝÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ„°ÑÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ  ÑÑ€ ÑÑ7€<»»ddÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÔ€„¼n„»»Ôò òÑ  Ññ3ññ)ñßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@E ±` 8ttxPX°ð  rßñ)ññ3ññ3ñßt€ )>.*jxÎÿ\` `€€@Eî ` 8ttxP&Dð È tßñ3ñÌà@¡ ¡ DàIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÌà@ÜÜ)DàAT€NASHVILLEó óÔ€¼‡?¼„„¼nԈР€Ð ÐÌÌÌSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE,€ex€rel.,à0  à)Ð* z€%€% ÐKIMBERLY€NORFLEET,à0 À àà0À€%À€%à)Ð@ €%€% Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à0 p àDavidson€CircuitÐV¦ p€%p€% Ðà ` àPlaintiff/Appellant,à0 À àà0À€%À€%à)à0p€%€%àNo.€95D„996Ðl¼ p€%p€% Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)ÌVS.à0 ` àà0¸ ` €%` €%àà0¸ €%¸ €%àà0h€%€%àà0Àh€%h€%àà0À€%À€%à)à0p€%€%àAppeal€No.Иè p€%p€% Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à0 p à01A01„9805„CV„00228Юþ p€%p€% ÐTOMMY€DOBBS,€JR.,à0 h àà0Àh€%h€%àà0À€%À€%à)ÐÄ €%€% Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìà ` àDefendant/Appellee.à0 À àà0À€%À€%à)Ðð@€%€% ÐÌÌÌÌà@  DàAPPEAL€FROM€THE€CIRCUIT€COURT€FOR€DAVIDSON€COUNTYˆÌà@88$DàAT€NASHVILLE,€TENNESSEEˆÌÌà@  DàTHE€HONORABLE€MURIEL€ROBINSON,€JUDGEˆÌÌÌÌÌòòFor€Plaintiff/Appellantóó:à0 h àà0Àh€%h€%àà0À€%À€%àà0p€%€%àòòFor€Defendant/Appelleeóó:Ð$^p€%p€% ÐÌJohn€Knox€Walkupà0 h àà0Àh€%h€%àà0À€%À€%àà0p€%€%àNo€appearanceÐ:&Š!p€%p€% ÐAttorney€General€and€ReporterÌÌTammy€L.€KennedyÌAssistant€Attorney€GeneralÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@%DàÔ€„¼n„¼¼‡?Ôò òAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDó óˆÐ B3’.* ÐÌÌÌÌÌÔ€¼‡?¼„„¼nÔà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÐ  ²;70 Ðò òà@ÎÎ)DàòòÔ‡„¼n„¼¼‡?ÔO€P€I€N€I€O€NÔ#†¼‡?¼„„¼nÙ #Ôóóó óˆÐ ° ÐÌÓ€Óà ` àThis€appeal€involves€a€parentððs€efforts€to€avoid€paying€child€support€for€herÏtwo€children.€€Approximately€two€years€after€the€Circuit€Court€for€Davidson€CountyÏawarded€custody€of€the€partiesðð€two€children€to€their€father,€the€childrenððs€mother,Ïwith€the€assistance€of€a€lawyer€furnished€by€the€IV„D€contractor€for€DavidsonÏCounty,€filed€a€petition€to€eliminate€her€child€support€obligation€because€she€wasÏunemployed€and€her€only€income€was€Supplemental€Security€Income€(ð ðSSIðð)Ïpayments.€€Following€a€bench€trial,€the€trial€court€denied€the€motherððs€petition€on€theÏground€that€she€was€voluntarily€unemployed.€€The€mother€asserts€on€this€appeal€thatÏthe€trial€courtððs€order€conflicts€with€the€child€support€guidelines€because€she€will€beÏrequired€to€use€her€SSI€payments€to€pay€her€child€support.€€We€have€determined€thatÏthe€evidence€does€not€preponderate€against€the€trial€courtððs€finding€that€the€motherÏis€voluntarily€unemployed€and€that€the€trial€courtððs€order€is€consistent€with€the€childÏsupport€guidelines.€€Therefore,€we€affirm€the€trial€court.ÌÌà@ùù.Dàò òI.ó óˆÐ üL ÐÌà ` àTommy€Dale€Dobbs,€Jr.€and€Kimberly€Ann€Norfleet€were€married€on€MarchÏ19,€1993.€€On€October€11,€1993,€Ms.€Norfleet€gave€birth€to€Austin€Dale€Dobbs€andÏAshley€Nicole€Dobbs.€€Marital€problems€eventually€caused€the€parties€to€separate.€ÏOn€June€12,€1995,€Mr.€Dobbs€and€Ms.€Norfleet€signed€a€marital€dissolutionÏagreement€in€which€they€agreed€that€Mr.€Dobbs€was€entitled€to€an€irreconcilableÏdifferences€divorce,€that€he€should€have€sole€custody€of€the€children,€and€that€Ms.ÏNorfleet€would€pay€$57.75€per€week€in€child€support׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€and€would€also€provideÐ +T&. Ðmedical€and€hospitalization€insurance€for€the€children.€€Following€a€hearing€on€JulyÏ25,€1995,€the€trial€court€entered€a€final€judgment€of€divorce€on€August€24,€1995,Ïgranting€Mr.€Dobbs€an€irreconcilable€differences€divorce€and€approving€the€maritalÏdissolution€agreement.ÌÌà ` àMs.€Norfleet€has€apparently€been€unemployed€since€1995.€€In€mid„1996,€sheÏsought€unsuccessfully€to€reduce€her€child€support€obligation.€€In€October€1996,€sheÐ k6»1< Ðapplied€for€SSI€benefits€under€Title€XVI€of€the€Social€Security€Act€and€on€FebruaryÏ10,€1997€received€word€that€she€was€entitled€to€receive€$322.67€per€month.€€The€letterÏinforming€her€of€her€benefits€stated€that€ð ð[t]he€doctors€and€other€trained€personnelÏwho€decided€that€you€are€disabled€believe€that€your€health€may€improve.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Therefore,Ð œ ì Ðwe€will€review€your€case€in€about€3€years.ðð€€It€also€informed€her€that€she€could€workÏand€still€receive€SSI€payments.׃p×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€On€February€27,€1997,€the€Social€SecurityÐ ä 4  ÐAdministration€informed€Ms.€Norfleet€that€her€SSI€payments€were€being€increasedÏto€$484€per€month.ÌÌà ` àAt€about€the€same€time,€Ms.€Norfleet€requested€the€IV„D€contractor€forÏDavidson€County€for€assistance€in€seeking€a€reduction€of€her€child€support€obligation.€ÏOn€April€25,€1997,€a€lawyer€furnished€by€the€IV„D€contractor€filed€a€petition€on€Ms.ÏNorfleetððs€behalf€seeking€to€decrease€her€child€support€ð ðdue€to€petitioner€[sic]€onlyÏsource€of€income€being€social€security€benefits.ðð€€During€a€May€22,€1997€hearing,ÏMs.€Norfleet€testified€that€she€was€currently€living€with€her€boyfriend€and€that€sheÏwas€borrowing€money€from€her€mother€to€make€her€child€support€payments.€ÏAccordingly,€on€June€24,€1997,€the€trial€court€entered€an€order€dismissing€Ms.ÏNorfleetððs€petition€and€granting€Mr.€Dobbs€a€$1,515€judgment€for€the€child€supportÏarrearage.×ƒØ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Following€this€hearing,€Ms.€Norfleet€was€obligated€to€continue€to€payÐ 8"ˆ$ Ð$57.75€per€week€in€child€support€and€$10.50€per€week€to€reduce€the€arrearage.ÌÌà ` àOn€November€3,€1997,€Ms.€Norfleet,€with€the€assistance€of€the€lawyerÏfurnished€by€the€IV„D€contractor,€filed€a€third€petition€to€decrease€her€child€support.€ÏShe€again€asserted€that€she€was€unemployed€and€was€receiving€SSI€disabilityÏpayments€and€also€claimed€that€she€was€no€longer€living€with€her€boyfriend€and€thatÏher€mother€had€stopped€loaning€her€money€to€pay€her€child€support.€€During€aÐ ´-)2 ÐNovember€20,€1997€hearing,€Ms.€Norfleet€testified€that€she€had€recently€been€arrestedÏfor€ð ðprescription€fraudðð€and€that€she€had€pawned€her€automobile€in€order€to€makeÏbail.€€At€the€conclusion€of€the€hearing,€the€trial€judge€ruled€from€the€bench€as€follows:ÌÓ€Óà8 ` àà8¸ ` (#` (#àI€am€not€going€to€grant€her€petition.€€Iððve€had€anÏopportunity€to€see€Ms.€Dobbs,€and€I€think€that€she€canÏobtain€some€employment.€€Iððm€not€so€sure€that€thisÏdisability€thing€is€not€an€error,€and€I€think€Social€SecurityÏought€to€re„think€her€case€and€make€sure€that€sheððs€notÏdrawing€it€when€she€shouldnððt€be.Ð ¸ Ð ¸ Ð  ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à*à@  /Dà*ˆà p àà È à*à  àà x àà Ð àà (# àÐ D”  ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` (#` (#àSo€I€want€the€order€to€reflect€that€Iððm€not€going€to€grant€herÏpetition.€€I€think€sheððs€underemployed€and€I€think€theÏdisability€matter€ð!ð€where€sheððs€drawing€SSI€ð!ð€needs€to€beÐ ¤ô Ðreviewed,€and€I€will€so€order€a€review€to€make€sure€that€sheÏis€drawing€under€this€program€appropriately,€so€if€youððllÏput€that€in€the€order.Ð ¸ Ð ¸ Ð  ÐÌÓ€ÓThe€trial€court€also€provided€Mr.€Dobbs€with€one€of€the€IV„D€contractorððs€pamphletsÏin€order€to€enable€him€to€obtain€assistance€in€collecting€child€support€from€Ms.ÏNorfleet.€€On€March€31,€1998,€the€trial€court€entered€an€order€finding€ð ðthat€theÏPetitioner€is€receiving€SSI€benefits€but€.€.€.€that€the€Petitioner€is€able€to€work€and€isÏnot€disabled.ðð€€The€trial€court€also€stated€ð ðthat€the€State€of€Tennessee€shouldÏinvestigate€the€Petitionerððs€claim€of€disability€to€determine€whether€her€SSI€disabilityÏshould€be€terminated.ðð€€The€State,€through€the€Attorney€General€and€Reporter,€hasÏperfected€this€appeal€on€Ms.€Norfleetððs€behalf.ÌÌà@ËË.Dàò òII.ó óˆÐ à)0%( ÐÌà ` àThis€case€comes€to€us€in€a€unique€posture.€€While€it€is€not€unusual€for€theÏAttorney€General€and€Reporter€to€appear€in€this€court€on€behalf€of€custodial€parentsÏwho€are€seeking€assistance€in€collecting€child€support€under€the€IV„D€program,€thisÏis€the€first€appeal€in€which€the€Attorney€General€and€Reporter€has€appeared€before€usÏto€advocate€decreasing€a€noncustodial€parentððs€child€support€obligation.€€Because€theÏfather€is€unrepresented€and€because€no€party€before€the€court€appeared€to€beÏadvocating€the€best€interests€of€the€children,€we€invited€the€Attorney€General€andÏReporter€to€enlighten€us€concerning€his€role€in€this€proceeding.€€The€AttorneyÏGeneral€and€Reporter€has€provided€us€with€a€supplemental€brief€asserting€that€hisÐ H:˜5< Ðconduct,€and€that€of€the€IV„D€contractor,€is€consistent€with€the€IV„D€program.€€He€hasÏalso€suggested€that€we€should€not€inquire€into€these€matters€because€they€are€beyondÏthe€scope€of€this€appeal.€€We€respectfully€disagree.€€The€best€interests€of€minorÏchildren€whose€parents€are€before€the€court€are€properly€our€concern.ÌÌà ` àIn€1974€the€Congress€enacted€the€IV„D€program€to€provide€the€states€withÏfinancial€incentives€to€improve€their€laws€and€programs€to€collect€child€support€fromÏnoncustodial€parents.€€The€programððs€major€premises€were€that€the€rapid€increase€inÏAFDC€spending€were,€to€a€great€extent,€caused€by€the€failure€of€noncustodial€parentsÏto€support€their€children׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€and€that€the€rate€of€growth€of€federal€spending€could€beÐ tÄ Ðmoderated€if€the€states€collected€child€support€more€aggressively.€€Thus,€the€IV„DÏprogram€required€the€states€to€provide€custodial€parents€with€legal€assistance€inÏcollecting€child€support€from€noncustodial€parents.׃€×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€General€AssemblyÐ `° Ðresponded€€in€1977׃(×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€and€again€in€1982׃à×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€by€enacting€statutes€empowering€the€State€toÐ T Ðprovide€child€support€collection€assistance€not€only€to€custodial€parents€receivingÏAFDC€support€but€also€to€custodial€parents€who€are€not.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€71„Ð Lœ Ð3„124€(Supp.€1998);€òòBaker€v.€State€ex€rel.€Bakeróó,€No.€01A01„9509„CV„00428,€1997Ð ð@  ÐWL€749452,€at€*3€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Dec.€5,€1997)€(No€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€11€applicationÏfiled).ÌÌà ` àWhen€the€Congress€enacted€the€Family€Support€Act€of€1988׃˜×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×,€it€included€aÐ €%Ð ( Ðprovision€requiring€the€states€to€enact€laws€providing€for€two€types€of€review€of€childÏsupport€orders€being€enforced€under€the€IV„D€program.€The€first€type€of€review€is€aÏperiodic€review€.€€òòSeeóó€42€U.S.C.A.€ðð€666(a)(10)(A)€(West€Supp.€1998).€€This€type€ofÐ l*¼%. Ðreview€is€automatic€and€envisions€updating€child€support€awards€enforced€by€the€IV„¼D€program€without€requiring€proof€of€a€substantial€change€in€circumstances.€€òòSeeóó€42Ð ´-)2 ÐU.S.C.A.€ðð€666(a)(10)(A)(iii).€The€second€type€of€review€is€a€review€initiated€at€theÐ X/¨*4 Ðrequest€of€either€parent.€€òòSeeóó€42€U.S.C.A.€ðð€666(a)(10)(B).€€Under€this€procedure,Ð ° Ðmodifications€to€an€existing€child€support€obligation€will€not€be€made€if€theÏrequesting€party€fails€to€demonstrate€a€substantial€change€in€circumstances.ÌÌà ` àThe€Secretary€of€Health€and€Human€Services€later€promulgated€regulations€toÏimplement€the€review€procedures€required€by€the€Family€Support€Act€of€1988.€€TheseÏregulations€provide€that€IV„D€agencies€must€ð ð[p]eriodically€review€and€adjust€childÏsupport€orders,€as€appropriate,€in€accordance€with€ðð€303.8.ðð€€45€C.F.R.€ðð€303.4Ï(1998).€€They€define€an€ð ðadjustmentðð€as€ð ð[a]n€upward€or€downward€change€in€theÏamount€of€child€support€based€upon€an€application€of€State€guidelines€for€setting€andÏadjusting€child€support€awards.ðð€€45€C.F.R.€ðð€303.8(a)(1)(ñ$ñiñ$ññ$ñIñ$ñ).€€They€also€defineÏð ðreviewðð€to€include€ð ðan€objective€evaluation,€conducted€through€a€proceeding€beforeÏa€court€.€.€.€of€information€necessary€for€application€of€the€Stateððs€guidelines€forÏsupport.ðð€€45€C.F.R.€ðð€303.8(a)(3).€€In€addition,€the€regulations€require€IV„D€agenciesÏto€notify€obligor€parents€of€their€right€to€request€a€review€of€their€child€support€order.€ÏòòSeeóó€45€C.F.R.€ðð€303.8(c)(2).Ð Lœ ÐÌà ` àOne€of€the€original€premises€of€the€IV„D€program€was€that€aggressivelyÏpursuing€child€support€from€a€noncustodial€parent€was€in€a€childððs€best€interests.€€ItÏis€for€this€reason€that€the€IV„D€program€requires€states€to€provide€assistance€toÏcustodial€parents€who€are€attempting€to€collect€child€support€from€noncustodialÏparents.€€The€Secretaryððs€regulations,€promulgated€in€response€to€the€Family€SupportÏAct€of€1988,€introduce€the€seemingly€anomalous€notion€that€it€might€also€be€in€aÏchildððs€best€interests€to€decrease€the€amount€of€support€received€by€a€noncustodialÏparent.€€While€the€regulations€themselves€do€not€elucidate€how€the€Secretary€arrivedÏat€this€conclusion,€an€Information€Memorandum€issued€by€the€Office€of€ChildÏSupport€Enforcement€explains€thatÌÓ€Óà8 ` àà8¸ ` (#` (#àIn€some€cases,€a€downward€adjustment€may€even€beÏadvantageous€to€the€child€if€it€results€in€an€amount€ofÏsupport€which€can€be€paid€fully,€regularly,€and€timely€byÏthe€obligor.€€An€unrealistic€order,€which€is€inconsistentÏwith€the€guidelines€and€the€obligorððs€ability€to€pay,€mayÏresult€in€only€sporadic€payments€or€none€whatsoever.Ð ¸ Ð ¸ Ð  ÐÌÓ€ÓThe€Role€of€the€IV„D€Agency€and€Its€Staff€in€Delivering€Program€Services,€OCSE„¼IM„93„03€(July€23,€1993).Ð H:˜5? Їà ` àThis€proceeding€does€not€require€us€to€review€or€endorse€the€SecretaryððsÏconclusion€that€decreasing€the€amount€of€child€support€may,€in€some€instances,€be€inÏthe€childððs€best€interests.€€We€cite€these€federal€materials€only€to€make€clear€thatÏfederal€law€does,€in€fact,€empower€lawyers€furnished€by€IV„D€agencies€or€contractorsÏto€assist€non„custodial€parents€who€are€seeking€to€decrease€the€amount€of€their€childÏsupport€obligation.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Thus,€for€the€purposes€of€this€case,€the€lawyer€furnished€byÐ ä 4  ÐNashvilleððs€IV„D€agency€could€properly€appear€in€the€trial€court€to€advocateÏdecreasing€Ms.€Norfleetððs€child€support.€€Because€this€lawyer€was€technicallyÏrepresenting€the€State,€òòseeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€71„3„124(d)€(Supp.€1998),€the€AttorneyÐ Ð  ÐGeneral€and€Reporter€may€likewise€pursue€this€appeal€by€virtue€of€his€authority€toÏrepresent€the€State€in€all€civil€litigated€matters.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€8„6„109(b)(1)Ð h Ð(1993).€€ÌÌà ` àConcluding€that€lawyers€furnished€by€a€IV„D€agency€or€contractor€may€assistÏnoncustodial€parents€who€are€seeking€to€decrease€their€child€support€does€not€end€theÏmatter.€€Serious€conflict€of€interest€concerns€arise€when€government„providedÏlawyers€advocate€decreasing€child€support.€€Courts,€discharging€their€parens€patriaeÏresponsibility€to€children€of€divorced€parents,׃P×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú11Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€should€satisfy€themselves€in€theseÐ ” ä" Ðcircumstances€that€the€interests€of€the€child€are€being€adequately€represented.€€TheyÏmay€reasonably€conclude,€in€absence€of€evidence€to€the€contrary,€that€a€lawyerÏadvocating€a€decrease€in€the€noncustodial€parentððs€child€support€obligation€is€notÏnecessarily€representing€the€best€interests€of€the€child.€€They€may€also€take€steps€toÏsatisfy€themselves€that€the€custodial€parent€is€able€to€represent€the€childððs€bestÏinterests.ÌÌà ` àIn€circumstances€such€as€this€case,€where€the€custodial€parent€desires,€but€doesÏnot€have€the€financial€means,€to€retain€counsel€to€assist€in€opposing€a€request€toÏdecrease€child€support,€the€court€may€appropriately€take€steps€to€aid€the€custodialÏparent€in€seeking€legal€assistance.€€Under€both€state€and€federal€law,€the€custodialÐ  2ð-8 Ðparent€is€entitled€to€request€assistance€from€the€IV„D€agency€or€contractor.€€However,Ïwhen€the€IV„D€agency€or€contractor€is€already€furnishing€legal€assistance€to€theÏnoncustodial€parent,€it€may€be€unable€or€unwilling€to€provide€legal€assistance€to€theÏcustodial€parent.€€If€the€IV„D€agency€or€contractor€undertakes€to€provide€legalÏassistance€to€the€custodial€parent,€the€trial€court€should€satisfy€itself€that€no€ethicalÏconflict€has€arisen€by€permitting€lawyers€furnished€by€the€same€IV„D€agency€orÏcontractor€to€assert€conflicting€positions€in€the€same€proceeding.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú12Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€If€the€IV„DÐ ˆØ  Ðagency€or€contractor€declines€to€provide€legal€assistance€to€the€custodial€parent€or€ifÏthe€court€determines€that€the€manner€in€which€the€IV„D€agency€or€contractor€hasÏchosen€to€provide€legal€assistance€Ô_Ôcrñ&ññ%ñañ%ññ&ññ'ñeñ'ñatesÔ_Ô€a€conflict€of€interest,€the€court€may€appointÏa€lawyer€to€assist€the€custodial€parent€and€may€order€that€the€lawyer's€fee€be€paidÏfrom€funds€administered€by€the€IV„D€agency€or€contractor.€€The€court€should€notÏappoint€a€lawyer€to€assist€the€custodial€parent€until€it€has€satisfied€itself€that€theÏcustodial€parent€has€a€colorable€claim€for€child€support€or€a€colorable€defense€to€theÏnoncustodial€parent's€request€for€modification€of€an€existing€child€support€order.ÌÌà ` àAs€far€as€this€record€shows,€Mr.€Dobbs€had€not,€prior€to€the€November€20,Ï1997€hearing,€requested€the€IV„D€contractor€to€assist€him€in€collecting€the€childÏsupport€arrearage€owed€by€Ms.€Norfleet€or€in€defending€her€request€for€reduction€inÏher€child€support.€€Even€though€the€trial€court€provided€him€with€informationÏconcerning€how€to€seek€this€assistance€at€the€conclusion€of€the€hearing,€Mr.€DobbsÏdid€not€make€an€appearance€in€this€court,€and€the€record€contains€no€indication€thatÏhe€sought€assistance€for€this€appeal.€€Because€we€have€determined€that€this€case€mayÏproperly€be€submitted€for€decision€under€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€29(c),€we€need€notÏconsider€whether€Mr.€Dobbs€is€entitled€to€counsel€for€this€appeal.ÌÌÌÐ ü0L,6 Ðà@-Dàò òIII.ó óˆÐ ° ÐÌà ` àMs.€Norfleet€raises€only€one€issue€on€this€appeal.€€She€asserts€that€the€trialÏcourtððs€denial€of€her€motion€to€modify€her€child€support€obligation€is€contrary€to€theÏchild€support€guidelines€because€she€will€be€required€to€use€her€SSI€payments€to€payÏher€child€support.€€We€have€concluded€that€Ms.€Norfleet€has€misconstrued€both€theÏtrial€courtððs€order€and€the€child€support€guidelines.ÌÌà ` àThe€child€support€guidelines€clearly€state€that€the€courts€may€not€include€inÏtheir€calculation€of€a€noncustodial€parentððs€gross€income€benefits€the€parent€isÏreceiving€from€€ð ðmeans„tested€public€assistance€programs€.€.€.€such€as€.€.€.ÏSupplemental€Security€Income€(SSI).ðð€€Tenn.Comp.€R.€&€Regs.€r.€1240„2„4„.03(3)(c)Ï(1994).€€However,€the€child€support€guidelines€also€state€with€equal€clarity€that€ÌÓ€Óà8 ` àà8¸ ` (#` (#àà  àIf€an€obligor€is€willfully€and€voluntarily€unemployed€Ïor€underemployed,€child€support€shall€be€calculated€basedÏon€a€determination€of€potential€income,€as€evidenced€byÏeducational€level€and/or€previous€work€experience.Ð ¸ Ð ¸ Ð  ÐÌÓ€ÓTenn.€Comp.€R.€&€Regs.€r.€1240„2„4„.03(3)(d).€€In€this€case,€the€trial€court€did€not€useÏMs.€Norfleetððs€SSI€payments€to€calculate€the€amount€of€her€child€support.€€Rather,€theÏtrial€court€simply€concluded,€based€on€the€proof€and€its€opportunity€to€view€Ms.ÏNorfleet€in€court,€that€Ms.€Norfleet€was€willfully€unemployed€and€that€she€wasÏcapable€of€earning€$68.25€per€week€to€enable€her€to€pay€her€child€support.€€€ÌÌà ` àThe€trial€courtððs€conclusion€that€Ms.€Norfleet€was€able€to€do€some€work€andÏthat€she€was€voluntarily€unemployed€is€not€inconsistent€with€the€Social€SecurityÏAdministrationððs€decision€nine€months€earlier€that€Ms.€Norfleet€was€entitled€to€SSIÏbenefits.€€The€Social€Security€Administration€did€not€conclude€that€Ms.€Norfleet€wasÏunable€to€perform€any€work,€and€in€fact,€it€specifically€informed€Ms.€Norfleet€that€sheÏcould€work€either€full„time€or€part„time€and€still€receive€a€prorated€portion€of€the€SSIÏpayments€as€long€as€she€did€not€earn€more€than€$1,052.99€per€month.€€Thus,€the€mereÏfact€that€Ms.€Norfleet€was€receiving€SSI€payments€did€not€prevent€the€trial€court€fromÏconcluding€that€she€was€voluntarily€unemployed.Ìâ âÐ 8h3= Ðà ` àAt€the€November€20,€1997€hearing,€Ms.€Norfleet€had€the€burden€of€proving€thatÏâ âthere€had€been€a€substantial€change€in€her€circumstances€and€that€she€was€unable€toÏearn€sufficient€income€to€enable€her€to€meet€her€current€child€support€obligation.€ÏWhile€she€may€have€proved€that€she€was€no€longer€living€with€her€boyfriend€and€thatÏher€mother€had€declined€to€loan€her€anymore€money,€she€failed€to€satisfy€the€trialÏcourt€that€she€was€so€disabled€that€she€was€unable€to€perform€any€sort€of€work.€€BasedÏon€the€record€before€us,€we€have€no€basis€to€conclude€that€the€evidence€preponderatesÏagainst€the€trial€courtððs€conclusion€that€Ms.€Norfleet€is€voluntarily€unemployed.ÌÌà@ˆˆ-Dàò òIV.€ó óˆÐ tÄ ÐÌà ` àWe€affirm€the€order€denying€Ms.€Norfleetððs€request€to€modify€her€child€supportÏobligation.€€We€remand€the€case€to€the€trial€court€for€further€proceedings€consistentÏwith€this€opinion€and€for€the€entry€of€an€order€directing€the€State€to€provide€theÏNashville€District€Office€of€the€Social€Security€Administration€with€a€copy€of€the€trialÏcourtððs€March€31,€1998€order.€We€tax€the€costs€of€this€appeal€to€Kimberly€AnnÏNorfleet€for€which€execution,€if€necessary,€may€issue.ÌÓ€ÓÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à____________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌBEN€H.€CANTRELL,ÌPRESIDING€JUDGE,€M.S.€ÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌPATRICIA€J.€COTTRELL,€JUDGEñ(ñÐ  ü0L,1 ÐÔ€ g !»¼{>ÔÑ8€{>»»d»»d8ÑÌà@Q Q DàÔ‡„B„»¼{>ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ òB Ðà@  )DàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#† g !„„B^#ԈРZª ÐÌÔ‡¼{>»»¼{>ÔSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE,€ex€rel.,à0  à)Ð T€%€% ÐKIMBERLY€NORFLEET,à0 À àà0À€%À€%à)Ð l€%€% Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à0 p àDavidson€CircuitÐ4 „p€%p€% Ðà ` àPlaintiff/Appellant,à0 À àà0À€%À€%à)à0p€%€%àNo.€95D„996ÐL œp€%p€% Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)ÌVS.à0 ` àà0¸ ` €%` €%àà0¸ €%¸ €%àà0h€%€%àà0Àh€%h€%àà0À€%À€%à)à0p€%€%àAppeal€No.Ð|Ì p€%p€% Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à0 p à01A01„9805„CV„00228Дä p€%p€% ÐTOMMY€DOBBS,€JR.,à0 h àà0Àh€%h€%àà0À€%À€%à)Ьü €%€% Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìà ` àDefendant/Appellee.à0 À àà0À€%À€%à)ÐÜ, €%€% ÐÔ#† g !»¼{>±^#ÔÌÌò òà@cc(DàòòJ€U€D€G€M€E€N€Tóóó óˆÐ xÈ ÐÌÔ€ŠÞ ‹ ! gÂÔÓ€Óà ` àThis€cause€came€on€to€be€heard€upon€the€record€on€appeal€from€the€Davidson€CountyÐ üL ÐCircuit€Court,€the€briefñ(ñññsñññ(ñ€of€the€ñ ñappellantñ ññ(ññ!ñpartiesñ!ññ(ñ,€and€argument€of€counsel.€€Upon€consideration€of€theÏentire€record,€this€court€finds€and€concludes€that€the€trial€judge's€judgment€should€beÏaffirmed.ÌÌà ` àIn€accordance€with€the€opinion€filed€contemporaneously€with€this€judgment,€it€is,Ïtherefore,€ordered,€adjudged,€and€decreed€that€the€trial€court's€judgment€be€and€is€herebyÏaffirmed,€and€that€the€cause€be€remanded€to€the€trial€court€for€further€proceedings€consistentÏwith€this€court's€opinion.ÌÌà ` àIt€is€further€ordered€that€the€costs€of€this€appeal€be€taxed€ñ"ñto€Kimberly€Ann€NorfleetÏfor€which€execution€may€issue,€if€necessaryñ"ññ(ññ#ñ___ñ#ññ(ñ.ÌÌÓ€Óà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à_______________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€M.S.€ÌÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à_______________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGE€ÌÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à_______________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àPATRICIA€J.€COTTRELL,€JUDGEñ(ñ