ÿWPCŠ ïhô·©4èþºÂ^ACiYcé’:zjB‰3qÜd£þWc'U䤫G&E ýhܬÿoxÄmÞr;Â#Ìï¨Þ?*ãvì5Éf9á|6Í:îPÓÏx éã‘cM:ÖjaA0ôˆúOCÌ?¼ÿtV,jbÕÃàÛôÊËs:,@=®:&^Uy7;à³ÆÈÃ`–þÎ0¦ü…—êYÐåå­»R³lÚŽ!Ïð´¨ưNí“ÉD¼ÿ‘ToájàîN¸çVÕñ°ðr>®Ç-¸¿¡Íª¤Ì¥R``³_äö…ùuŸ¯›3Ž»9[p ®Ÿ´Ør ì10 OKŒãÈeYóu;ãùI“Ò<,PNlDipW,uõM‹–Þ·)Ï–[ᄨ /‚h¦À2¶o³ëÞDª8BÛHç1úWê¨kƈZCÔ’R¤Û š¥}ô)ü«–¡m ,ɽ¬·+áÒÚýï$抵>'­dÇæ]kÏ[â©vHÜfº_ÚÞ'bði<ª®À?•·QÜ8gDò¢›fxW‰½¡‘ÊÇú˜êUUÓª÷DÄÓ5+ø^:µeg††z^S¨ l5E“e OÄß}ÑÚ± ÇÎb#Á\ % ^ # 0ˆ/ U"N· w 4 z Ò— i x mz z Æ‘ ÆW Æ Æã U@©Né 0DëU N/E}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}b 0뇇‡‡ Brr 0¤ D33 D-f 0K““ ASÞÆ1 0¤÷ 0D› A«ß˜HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 5eÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0»öq•) (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regularõ}|) \$¤ ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(ÖÃ9 Z‹(Times New Roman (#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular- ù-(|G2y-$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€HÕ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôæ}ò»»Ô d(|3ÇŒ$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€HÕ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3ÇŒ$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€HÕ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€HÕ»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼HÕ»»»ÔÑ8€9XXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îAtHÕÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼HÕ»îîAt #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓNovember€6,€2000€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡X9X»¼HÕÔÌò òÔ#†¼HÕ»XX9õ#ÔROBERT€LEE€Ô_ÔCASTLEMANÔ_Ô€v.€SALLYÐ úJ ÐLUTHER€BROWN€Ô_ÔCASTLEMANÔ_ÔÔ‡X9X»¼HÕÔó óÐ  ^ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òAppeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Williamson€CountyÐ  ^ Ðà@@øøìàNo.€96473€€€€€€Jeffrey€S.€Ô_ÔBivinsÔ_Ô,€JudgeÐ ú J ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<½` AßÐ ¾  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M2000„00270„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€December€21,€Ô_Ô2000Ô_ÔÐ ¹  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<` AßÐ ‘á  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓMother€appeals€the€trial€courtððs€denial€of€her€motion€to€set€aside€a€default€judgment€awarding€divorceÐ ŒÜ Ðto€Father,€distributing€marital€property,€and€awarding€custody€of€the€minor€child€to€Father.€€BecauseÐ xÈ Ðno€evidence€was€heard€regarding€factors€which€must€be€considered€by€a€court€in€making€theseÐ d´ Ðdeterminations,€we€reverse€the€trial€courtððs€denial€of€her€motion€to€set€aside€the€default€judgment€andÐ P  Ðremand€this€matter€for€a€trial€on€the€merits.Ð <Œ ÐÓ&ÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Ð d ÐReversed€and€Remandedó óÐ P ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼HÕ»àX9Ã#ÔÔ‡X9X.¼HÕÔPatricia€J.€Cottrell,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòBen€H.€Ô_ÔCantrellÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔP.J.Ô_Ô,€M.S.€óóÐ Ø( Ðand€òòWilliam€B.€Cain,€J.óó,€joined.Ð Ä ÐÌThomas€F.€Bloom,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Sally€Luther€Ô_ÔCastlemanÔ_Ô.Ð œì ÐÌConnie€Ô_ÔReguliÔ_Ô,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellee,€Robert€Lee€Ô_ÔCastlemanÔ_Ô.Ð t Ä ÐÌÓúÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼HÕ»XX9)#ÔÔ‡X9X»¼HÕÔÐ 8#ˆ" ÐÌÔ#†¼HÕ»XX9¯ #ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X9X»¼HÕÔà  àRobert€Lee€Ô_ÔCastlemanÔ_Ô€(ð ðFatherðð)€and€Sally€Luther€Brown€Ô_ÔCastlemanÔ_Ô€(ð ðMotherðð)€married€inÐ %` $ Ð1995,€a€few€months€after€their€son€was€born.€€The€parties€separated€in€July€€1996,€and€Father€filedÐ ü%L!% Ða€complaint€for€divorce.€€Mother€filed€an€answer€and€countercomplaint€in€August€1996.€€The€recordÐ è&8"& Ðindicates€that€no€action€was€taken€on€the€complaint€or€countercomplaint€until€August€1998,€whenÐ Ô'$#' ÐFather€filed€a€motion€to€amend,€in€which€he€alleged€that€the€parties€reconciled€for€a€time,€but€hadÐ À($( Ðseparated€again.€Ð ¬)ü$) ÐÌà  àFather€filed€an€amended€complaint€for€divorce€on€November€9,€1998.€€He€alleged€that€theÐ „+Ô&+ Ðparties€ð ðhave€had€a€very€turbulent€marriage€.€.€.€and€have€separated€and€reconciled€several€times.ðð€Ð p,À', ÐHe€sought€a€divorce,€and€custody€of€the€partiesðð€son.€€On€January€28,€1999,€Mother€filed€an€answer,Ð \-¬(-ý Ðin€which€she€denied€most€of€Fatherððs€allegations€regarding€his€grounds€for€divorce€and€custody,€andÐ ° Ðfiled€a€€countercomplaint€seeking€a€divorce€and€custody€of€the€child.€€Both€parties€made€variousÐ œì Ðallegations€against€the€other€relevant€to€the€issue€of€custody,€each€questioning€the€other€parentððsÐ ˆØ Ðfitness€while€asserting€their€own.Ð tÄ ÐÌà  àThe€final€hearing€was€set€and€was€continued€at€least€twice.€€Having€last€been€set€for€9:00€a.m.Ð L œ Ðthe€morning€of€December€3,€1999,€€the€proceedings€began€at€9:09€a.m.€with€some€preliminaryÐ 8 ˆ Ðmatters.€€€Motherððs€counsel€in€this€matter€arrived€moments€after€the€proceedings€began.€€Mother€wasÐ $ t Ðnot€present.€€Her€attorney€stated€that€he€had€toldò òó ó€her€to€be€there€by€8:30.€€During€the€discussionÐ  ` Ðamong€the€trial€judge€and€the€attorneys,€Motherððs€attorney€received€a€note€and€informed€the€courtÐ ü L  Ðthat€Mother€had€called€his€office,€stating€that€she€would€be€late.€€At€9:15,€the€attorneys€and€the€judgeÐ è 8  Ðleft€the€courtroom€for€a€discussion€off€the€record.€€They€returned€at€9:50,€and€Fatherððs€attorneyÐ Ô$  Ðmoved€for€a€default€judgment,€noting€that€Mother€had€not€arrived€and€had€ð ðheld€up€four€attorneysÐ À  Ðand€quite€a€courtroom€full€of€witnesses.ðð€€Fatherððs€counsel€also€stated,€ð ðIf€Ms.€Ô_ÔCastlemanÔ_Ô€is€soÐ ¬ü  Ðinclined€to€appear€in€court€at€sometime€in€the€future,€she€will€have€30€days€to€file€a€motion€to€alterÐ ˜è  Ðor€amend€or€set€aside€that€judgment.ðð€€Ð „Ô  ÐÌà  àThe€court€granted€the€motion€for€default,€noting€that€ð ðthere€will€be€a€30„day€period€in€which€„Ð \¬ Є€if€she€can€provide€the€court€with€a€reasonable€excuse€as€to€why€she€hasnððt€shown€up€today,€thenÐ H˜ Ðthe€court€can€consider€that€on€a€motion€to€alter€or€amend€the€judgment.ðð€€The€trial€court€entered€anÐ 4„ Ðorder€stating,€ð ðThis€court€finding€that€the€defendant€was€given€notice€of€this€hearing€and€has€failedÐ  p Ðto€appear€grants€the€oral€motion€of€the€plaintiff€for€default€judgment€against€the€defendant/Wife.ðð€Ð  \ ÐThe€court€awarded€the€divorce€to€Father€on€unspecified€grounds,€divided€the€marital€property,€and€Ð øH Ðawarded€custody€of€the€minor€child€to€Father,€with€standard€visitation€to€Mother.€€The€order€doesÐ ä4 Ðnot€include€findings€of€fact,€and€it€is€undisputed€that€no€evidence€was€taken€at€the€hearing.Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àMother€filed€a€motion€to€set€aside€the€default€judgment,€or€in€the€alternative,€to€alter€orÐ ¨ø Ðamend,€accompanied€by€her€affidavit€which€stated€that€she€had€transportation€problems,€but€hadÐ ”ä Ðarrived€at€the€courthouse€at€10:10€on€the€morning€of€the€hearing.€€Her€motion€to€set€aside€the€defaultÐ €Ð Ðjudgment€was€denied.€€Mother€appeals€the€trial€courtððs€refusal€to€set€aside€the€default€judgment.Ð l¼ ÐÌÓ  ÓI.Ð D!” ÐÓëÓÌà  àA€judgment€by€default€is€a€final€order€disposing€of€a€case€on€its€merits,€like€any€otherÐ #l! Ðjudgment.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€of€Tennessee€ex€rel.€Jeffrey€Jones€v.€Looperóó,€No.€M1999„00662„COA„R3„CV,Ð $X" Ð2000€WL€354404€at€*3€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Apr.€7,€2000)€(perm.€app.€denied€Oct.€30,€2000)òòóó.ò òó ó€€TheÐ ô$D # ÐTennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure€authorize€the€entry€of€a€judgment€by€default€where€a€party€"hasÐ à%0!$ Ðfailed€to€plead€or€otherwise€defend€as€provided€by€these€rules."€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€55.01.€Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà8  àThe€essence€of€a€default€judgment€is€that€a€[defendant]€fails€to€take€a€step€requiredÐ ¤(ô#' Ðby€a€rule€of€practice€or€of€the€court.€A€default€judgment€contemplates€a€lack€ofÐ )à$( Ðresponsiveness€by€defendant€such€that€plaintiff€is€entitled€to€judgment€as€a€matter€ofÐ |*Ì%) Ðpolicy;€defendants€are€not€to€be€allowed€to€prolong€litigation€by€imposing€proceduralÐ h+¸&* Ðdelays.€€The€default€judgment€protects€a€diligent€party€from€continual€delay€andÐ ° Ðuncertainty€as€to€his€or€her€rights.€€òòМìÐ Ð  ÐÌLooperóó,€2000€WL€354404€at€*4€(quoting€Ô_ÔC.J.S.Ô_Ô€òòJudgmentsóó€ðð€196€(1997)).€ò òó ó€òò€óóÐ tÄ ÐÓ  ÓÌÓt!Óà  àMotions€for€default€judgment€and€motions€to€set€aside€default€judgments€are€addressed€to€theÐ L œ Ðtrial€court's€discretion€and€generally€will€not€be€reversed€absent€an€abuse€of€discretion.€€òòSee€Looperóó,Ð 8 ˆ Ð2000€WL€354404€at€*3.€€The€fact€that€a€decision€is€discretionary€with€a€trial€court€necessarily€impliesÐ $ t Ðthat€the€trial€court€has€a€choice€of€alternatives€among€a€range€of€acceptable€ones;€the€reviewingÐ  ` Ðcourt's€job€is€to€determine€whether€the€trial€court's€decision€is€within€the€range€of€acceptableÐ ü L  Ðalternatives,€given€the€applicable€legal€principles€and€the€evidence€in€the€case.òò€€See€id.óóÐ è 8  ÐÌà  àRegarding€a€motion€to€set€aside€a€default€judgment,€our€Supreme€Court€has€stated,€ð ðSinceÐ À  Ðthe€interests€of€justice€are€best€served€by€a€trial€on€the€merits,€only€after€a€careful€study€of€all€relevantÐ ¬ü  Ðconsiderations€should€courts€refuse€to€open€default€judgments.ðð€€òòTennessee€Ô_ÔDepððtÔ_Ô€of€Human€Ô_ÔServsÔ_Ô.Ð ˜è  Ðv.€Ô_ÔBarbeeÔ_Ôóó,€689€S.W.2d€863,€866€(Tenn.€1985)€(quoting€with€approval€òòSecurities€and€ExchangeÐ „Ô  ÐÔ_ÔCommððnÔ_Ô€v.€Seaboard€Corp.óó,€666€F.2d€414€(9thòòóó€Cir.€1982)).€€This€court€echoed€that€principle,€stating,€Ð pÀ Ðð ðTrial€courts€should€grant€relief€whenever€any€reasonable€doubt€exists€concerning€whether€theÐ \¬ Ðdefault€judgment€should€be€set€aside.ðð€€òòNelson€v.€Simpsonóó,€826€S.W.2d€483,€485„86€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ð H˜ Ð1991)€(citation€omitted).Ð 4„ ÐÓ  ÓÌÓ†(Óà  àIn€this€case,€the€trial€court€awarded€custody€to€Father€on€the€basis€of€Motherððs€failure€to€Ð  \ Ðappear€on€time€for€the€hearing.€€No€evidence€was€taken€in€Motherððs€absence€regarding€FatherððsÐ øH Ðfitness€as€a€custodial€parent.€€Mother€had€filed€pleadings€defending€against€Fatherððs€complaints€forÐ ä4 Ðdivorce€and€for€custody€and€had€filed€Ô_ÔcountercomplaintsÔ_Ô€€asking€that€the€divorce€be€awarded€to€herÐ Ð  Ðand€that€custody€be€granted€to€her.€€It€was€apparent€that€the€issue€of€custody€was€strongly€contested.€Ð ¼  ÐÌà  àThe€trial€court€failed€to€hear€evidence€regarding€the€factors€relevant€to€an€award€of€custody.€Ð ”ä ÐIt€also€failed€to€give€any€consideration€to€the€principles€which€must€guide€a€custody€determination.€Ð €Ð ÐÔ‡X9XXX9ÔWhen€called€upon€to€order€a€custody€arrangement,€a€court€must€consider€many€factors€and€make€aÐ l¼ Ðcustody€determination€based€on€the€best€interest€of€the€child.€€òòSee€óóTenn.€Code€Ann.€€ðð€36„6„106Ô#†X9XXX9%,#ÔÔ‡X9XXX9ÔÐ X ¨ Ð(Supp.€Ô_Ô2000)Ô_Ô€(listing€several€factors€for€a€court€to€consider).€€In€child€custody€cases,€the€welfare€andÐ D!” Ðbest€interest€of€the€child€are€the€paramount€concern,€and€the€determination€of€the€childððs€best€interestÐ 0"€  Ðmust€turn€on€the€particular€facts€of€each€case.€€òòSee€Ô_ÔAkinsÔ_Ô€v.€Ô_ÔAkinsÔ_Ôóó,€805€S.W.2d€377,€378€(Tenn.€Ct.Ð #l! ÐApp.€1990)€(citing€òòHolloway€v.€Bradleyóó,€190€Tenn.€565,€570„72,€230€S.W.2d€1003,€1006€(1950)).€Ð $X" Ðà  àÔ#†X9XXX9B-#ÔÔ‡X9XXX9ÔÌà  àWhere,€as€here,€both€parents€seek€custody,€this€court€has€held€that€the€childððs€best€interest€isÐ à%0!$ Ðto€be€determined€by€using€an€analysis€of€the€comparative€fitness€of€each€parent.€òò€See€Bah€v.€Bahóó,€668Ð Ì&"% ÐS.W.2d€663,€665„66€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1983)òò.óó€€ð ðThere€are€literally€thousands€of€things€that€must€beÐ ¸'#& Ðtaken€into€consideration€in€the€lives€of€young€children,€and€these€factors€must€be€reviewed€on€aÐ ¤(ô#' Ðcomparative€approach.€.€.€ððÔ#†X9XXX9ù/#ÔÔ‡X9XXX9Ô€òòId.óó,€668€S.W.2d€at€666.€€Ô#†X9XXX9Q2#ÔÔ‡X9XXX9ÔòòÓ-€ü(€ö ¼è“X°œX-ÓóóBecause€the€determination€of€where€a€childððsÐ )à$( Ðâ âbest€interest€lies€is€the€result€of€the€consideration€of€a€number€of€factors€in€the€context€of€a€specificÐ |*Ì%) Ðfactual€situation,€òòsee€Ô_ÔAdelspergerÔ_Ô€v.€Ô_ÔAdelspergerÔ_Ôóó,€970€S.W.2d€482,€485€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1997),€it€is€Ð ° Ðparticularly€fact„driven.€€òòSee€Ô_ÔRogeroÔ_Ô€v.€Pittóó,€759€S.W.2d€109,€112€(Tenn.€1988).Ð œì Ðâ âÔ#†X9XXX9³2#ÔÌà & àÔ‡X9XXX9ÔThe€trial€court€herein€did€not€base€its€award€on€any€of€the€factors€it€is€required€to€consider€Ð tÄ Ðby€the€terms€of€Tenn€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„6„106Ô#†X9XXX9U5#ÔÔ‡X9XXX9Ô€or€by€the€long€line€of€cases€requiring€a€determinationÐ `° Ðof€the€childððs€best€interest.€€In€making€what€is€a€ð ðparticularly€fact„drivenðð€decision,€the€trial€courtÐ L œ Ðheard€no€evidence,€considered€no€facts,€and€made€no€findings€of€fact.€This€situation€Ô#†X9XXX976#Ôrequires€us€toÐ 8 ˆ Ðfind€that€the€trial€courtððs€award€of€custody€by€default€was€outside€the€range€of€alternatives€availableÐ $ t Ðto€the€court€and€not€within€its€discretion.€Ð  ` ÐÔ‡X9XXX9ÔÌÔ#†X9XXX9‚8#Ôà & àTenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€55.01€recognizes€that,€even€where€a€default€judgment€is€procedurallyÐ è 8  Ðauthorized,€certain€issues€may€be€required€to€be€determined€after€an€evidentiary€hearing€in€order€toÐ Ô$  Ðð ðenable€the€court€to€enter€judgment.ðð€€Where€custody€is€disputed€and€allegations€relevant€toÐ À  Ðdetermination€of€the€comparative€fitness€of€the€parents€and€the€best€interests€of€the€child€have€beenÐ ¬ü  Ðmade€and€denied,€a€trial€court€must€hear€sufficient€evidence€upon€which€to€make€the€findings€Ð ˜è  Ðrequired.Ð „Ô  Ѐ€€€Ô‡X9XXX9ÔÐ pÀ ÐÔ#†X9XXX99;#Ôò òó óà & àThis€court€has€previously€considered€whether€a€change€of€child€custody,€made€by€defaultÐ \¬ Ðjudgment,€should€be€affirmed.€€òòSeeóó€òòMartin€v.€Martinóó,€No.€01A01„9002„GS„00064,€1990€WL€73928Ð H˜ Ðat€*5€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€June€6,€1990)€(no€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€11€application€filed).€€In€òòMartinóó,€weÐ 4„ Ðaffirmed€the€change€of€custody€by€default,€but€the€opinion€makes€clear€that€the€trial€court€heard€proofÐ  p Ðas€to€the€fitness€of€the€parents.€òòSee€idóó.€at€*1€and€*4.€€In€that€case,€the€father€filed€a€petition€seekingÐ  \ Ðmodification€of€the€original€custody€award€to€the€mother,€which€the€mother€did€not€answer.€€òòóóOnlyÐ øH Ðafter€the€default€judgment€was€entered€did€the€mother€make€her€initial€appearance,€when€she€soughtÐ ä4 Ðto€have€the€default€judgment€set€aside.€€Most€importantly,€the€court€in€that€case€heard€proof€regardingÐ Ð  Ðfactors€relevant€to€modification€of€a€custody€award.Ð ¼  ÐÌÔ‡X9XXX9Ôà & àThis€court€set€aside€a€trial€courtððs€denial€of€a€husbandððs€motion€for€a€new€trial€in€a€divorceÐ ”ä Ðcase,€even€where€a€full€trial€was€held€in€the€husbandððs€absence.€€òòSee€Ô#†X9XXX9¼?#ÔMohan€v.€Mohanóó,€No.€01A01„Ð €Ð Ð9708„CV„00415,€1998€WL€743332€at€*4€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Oct.€9,€1998)€(no€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€11Ð l¼ Ðapplication€filed).€€In€that€case,€the€husbandððs€two€motions€for€a€continuance,€based€on€his€expressedÐ X ¨ Ðneed€to€attend€to€his€ailing€mother€overseas,€were€denied€by€the€trial€court.€€The€husbandððs€attorneyÐ D!” Ðwas€present€and€the€trial€proceeded€in€the€husbandððs€absence.€€The€trial€court€granted€the€wife€aÐ 0"€  Ðdivorce,€set€child€support,€and€awarded€all€marital€property,€custody€of€the€child,€and€alimony€to€theÐ #l! Ðwife.€€òòSee€id.óó€at€*2.€€This€court€rejected€the€husbandððs€characterization€of€the€decision€as€a€defaultÐ $X" Ðjudgment,€because€the€husband€€ð ðdid€not€fail€to€plead€or€defend€in€this€case.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€*3.€€This€courtÐ ô$D # Ðsaw€the€real€issue€as€ð ðwhether€the€trial€court€erred€in€denying€the€husband€a€new€trial€in€light€of€theÐ à%0!$ Ðfact€that€he€was€not€present€at€the€final€hearing.ðð€€òòIdóó.€€We€vacated€the€trial€courtððs€judgment€ð ð[Ô_Ôi]nÔ_ÔÐ Ì&"% Ðlight€of€the€significance€of€this€decision€to€both€parties€and€of€the€prejudice€suffered€by€the€HusbandÐ ¸'#& Ðat€the€courtððs€decision€.€.€.€to€hold€the€trial€without€him.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€*4.Ô‡X9XXX9ԀР¤(ô#' ÐÌà & à€In€the€case€before€us,€the€trial€court€granted€the€divorce€and€made€the€awards€of€property€andÐ |*Ì%) Ðcustody€with€no€proof€at€all,€even€knowing€that€Mother€had€contested€a€number€of€issues,€includingÐ h+¸&* Ðcustody,€and€that€she€had€notified€her€attorney€that€she€would€be€late€to€the€hearing.€We€find€the€factsÐ ° Ðof€the€case€before€us€even€more€compelling€than€those€in€òòMohan.óóÐ œì ÐÌÔ#†X9XXX9bF#ÔÔ‡X9XXX9Ôà & àOur€courts€make€no€more€important€decisions€than€those€involving€the€custody€of€a€child,Ð tÄ Ða€decision€which€must€be€based€on€the€childððs€best€interest.€€We€cannot€sustain€an€award€of€custodyÐ `° Ðmade€without€proof€relevant€to€those€best€interests.€Ô#†X9XXX9ŠH#ÔÔ‡X9XXX9ԀРL œ ÐÔ#†X9XXX9õI#ÔÔ‡X9XXX9Ôà & àÌÓ  ÓII.Ð $ t ÐÓyJÓÌà & àAlthough€Motherððs€arguments€have€involved€only€the€custody€award,€she€seeks€to€have€theÐ ü L  Ðdefault€judgment€set€aside€in€its€entirety.€€Divorce,€other€than€on€the€basis€of€irreconcilableÐ è 8  Ðdifferences,€€can€be€granted€only€upon€proof€of€or€stipulation€to€statutory€grounds.€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€CodeÐ Ô$  ÐAnn.€ðððð€36„4„101€and€36„4„129€(Supp.€2000).€€Neither€appears€in€this€record.€€Similarly,€distributionÐ À  Ðof€marital€property,€in€the€absence€of€agreement€by€the€parties,€requires€factual€determinations€byÐ ¬ü  Ðthe€court.€€òòSee€óóTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„4„121(c).€€The€record€does€not€include€any€of€the€requiredÐ ˜è  Ðfindings€or€any€evidence€upon€which€we€could€review€the€award.€€Ð „Ô  ÐÌà & àBecause€no€evidence€was€heard€to€allow€the€trial€court€to€make€necessary€factual€findingsÐ \¬ Ðto€support€the€judgment,€we€reverse€the€trial€courtððs€denial€of€Motherððs€motion€to€set€aside€theÐ H˜ Ðdefault€judgment.€€We€further€order€that€the€judgment€itself€is€vacated,€and€that€this€case€is€remanded€Ð 4„ Ðto€the€trial€court€for€a€trial€on€the€merits.€€Ð  p ÐÌà & àBy€virtue€of€our€vacating€the€judgment,€any€award€of€custody€after€a€full€hearing€will€be€theÐ øH Ðinitial€award€of€custody€and€should€not€be€considered€a€modification€of€a€prior€award.€€In€the€interim,Ð ä4 Ðwe€are€reluctant€to€subject€the€child€to€greater€instability€in€his€environment€than€he€has€alreadyÐ Ð  Ðsuffered.€€Therefore,€we€order€that€the€child€remain€in€the€primary€physical€custody€of€the€Father,Ð ¼  Ðwith€standard€visitation€to€the€Mother,€unless€and€until€the€trial€court€establishes€a€different€custodyÐ ¨ø Ðarrangement,€after€a€hearing,€through€either€a€temporary€or€final€award.€€€€€Ð ”ä ÐÌà & àCosts€of€this€appeal€are€taxed€against€Appellee,€Ô_ÔRobertÔ_Ô€Lee€Ô_ÔCastlemanÔ_Ô€for€which€executionÐ l¼ Ðmay€issue€if€necessary.Ð X ¨ ÐÌò òó óÔ#†X9XXX9MJ#ÔÌÌÌà & àà0 ì àà0ì(#ì(#àà0p(#(#à______________________________€Ðô$D #p(#p(# Ðà & àà ì àà  àà p àPATRICIA€J.€COTTRELL,€JUDGEÐ à%0!$ ÐÌÓ  Ó