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ÚóóÔ€ôõmò»»Ô d(|3‰`$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€J¥»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3‰`$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€J¥»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€J¥»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼J¥»»»ÔÑ8€¹XXdì»»d8ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼J¥»»¼J¥Ôà@ü ü ìàÔ‡î—%J¥ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼J¥»îî—%+#ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓSeptember€5,€2001€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡X¹X»¼J¥ÔÌò òÔ#†¼J¥»XX¹#ÔWILLIAM€ERNEST€HOOD,€IIIòòóó€v.€PATSY€SEALS€HOOD€(BAST)òòóóÔ‡X¹X»¼J¥Ôó óÐ úJ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò ò€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Ô_ÔSequatchieÔ_Ô€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€7292€€€€€€J.€Curtis€Smith,€JudgeÐ æ 6 ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<©` AßÐ ªú  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M2001„00206„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€October€30,€Ô_Ô2001Ô_ÔÐ ¥õ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<|` AßÐ }Í  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThe€parties€executed€a€marital€dissolution€agreement€pursuant€to€divorce,€which€required€the€wifeÐ xÈ  Ðto€transfer€her€interest€in€a€36€acre€tract€of€marital€property€to€the€husband,€and€the€husband€to€sellÐ d´ Ðthe€tract,€with€the€net€proceeds€to€be€divided€between€the€parties.€€The€wife€subsequently€Ô_ÔquitclaimedÔ_ÔÐ P  Ðher€interest€in€the€property,€and€the€trial€court€incorporated€the€marital€dissolution€agreement€intoÐ <Œ Ðthe€Final€Decree€of€Divorce€by€reference.€€When€the€wife€filed€a€motion€to€enforce€the€agreement,Ð (x Ðthe€trial€court€ruled€that€any€lien€on€the€property€the€wife€had€acquired€by€virtue€of€the€agreementÐ d Ðwas€extinguished€when€she€signed€the€quitclaim€deed.€€We€reverse€the€trial€court.€Ô#†¼J¥»XX¹š#ÔÔ‡X¹X»¼J¥ÔÐ P ÐÓúÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€CourtÐ Ø( ÐReversed€and€Remandedó óÐ Ä ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼J¥»àX¹q#ÔÔ‡X¹X.¼J¥ÔBen€H.€Ô_ÔCantrellÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔP.J.Ô_Ô,€M.S.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòWilliam€B.€Cainóó€andÐ œì ÐòòPatricia€J.€Cottrell,€JJ.óó,€joined.Ð ˆØ ÐÌJennifer€Austin€Mitchell,€Ô_ÔDunlapÔ_Ô,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Patsy€Seals€Hood€(Bast).Ð `° ÐÌHoward€L.€Ô_ÔUpchurchÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔPikevilleÔ_Ô,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellee,€William€Ernest€Hood,€III.Ð 8!ˆ  ÐÓC ÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼J¥»XX¹r #ÔÔ‡X¹X»¼J¥ÔÐ #`" ÐÌÔ#†¼J¥»XX¹ #ÔÔ‡X¹X»¼J¥ÔÓ  ÓÓÓà@ ìàò òI.€€òòMarital€Dissolution€Agreement€and€Divorceóóó óˆÐ è$8 $ ÐÓÓà  àWilliam€Ernest€Hood,€III€and€Patsy€Seals€Hood€agreed€that€their€marriage€ought€to€beÐ À&"& Ðdissolved€because€of€irreconcilable€differences.€€The€husband€accordingly€retained€an€attorney€toÐ ¬'ü"' Ðprepare€a€Marital€Dissolution€Agreement€(MDA),€which€set€out€the€terms€for€the€division€of€maritalÐ ˜(è#( Ðproperty.€€Since€the€marital€estate€included€both€personalty€and€real€property,€the€MDA€included€theÐ „)Ô$) Ðfollowing€provision:Ð p*À%* ÐÒ°ÒÒ°ÒÌà ` àEach€party€expressly€covenants€and€agrees€to€execute€or€deliver€withoutÐ H,˜', Ðcharge€to€the€other€any€and€all€deeds,€bills€of€sale,€releases,€or€other€instrumentsÐ 4-„(-ý ÐÔ_Ôwhich€are,€or€may€become€necessary€to€carry€out€the€terms€of€this€agreement.€€ShouldÐ ° Ðeither€party€refuse€to€execute€and€deliver€any€of€said€instruments,€this€AgreementÐ œì Ðshall€serve€to€transfer€that€partyððs€interest€to€the€other€as€fully€and€effectually€as€ifÐ ˆØ Ðsaid€instruments€were€executed.Ð tÄ ЀÌÒ°ÒÒ°Òà  àAnother€provision€of€the€MDA€transferred€the€marital€home€and€the€five€acres€on€which€itÐ L œ Ðsat€to€the€wife.€€An€adjoining€piece€of€property€was€dealt€with€as€follows:€€Ð 8 ˆ ÐÓ€ (5h83 ÓØ! !ØÒ°ÒÒ°ÒòòÌ36.79€acresó󀄀The€parties€by€agreement€hereby€apportion,€set€aside,€transfer€andÐ  ` Ðconfirm€to€the€husband,€free€and€clear€of€all€demands€of€the€wife,€except€asÐ ü L  Ðhereinafter€noted,€the€partiesðð€36.79€acres€of€real€property,€as€more€fully€describedÐ è 8  Ðby€deed€of€record€in€Deed€Book€98,€Page€650,€Registerððs€Office,€Sequatchie€County,Ð Ô$  ÐTennessee.€€The€wifeððs€interest€in€this€real€property€shall,€by€agreement,€be€divestedÐ À  Ðout€of€her€and€vested€solely€and€exclusively€in€the€husband.€€Pending€the€sale€of€theÐ ¬ü  Ðreal€property€as€hereinafter€set€forth,€the€husband€shall€make€all€installment€paymentsÐ ˜è  Ðdue€and€owing€the€Citizens€Tri„County€Bank€for€this€real€property€and€hold€the€wifeÐ „Ô  Ðfree€and€harmless€therefrom.€€The€husband€further€hereby€agrees€to€offer€for€sale€andÐ pÀ Ðsell€the€property€in€form€and€fashion€most€advantageous€to€the€parties€hereto.€€TheÐ \¬ Ðproceeds€derived€from€the€sale€of€the€real€property€shall,€by€agreement,€be€dividedÐ H˜ Ðas€follows:€first,€unto€the€expenses€of€sale,€including€pro„rated€property€taxes;Ð 4„ Ðsecond,€to€satisfy€the€debt€and€obligation€due€and€owing€the€Citizens€Tri„CountyÐ  p ÐBank;€third,€an€amount€representing€the€capital€gains€taxes€which€will€be€assessedÐ  \ Ðagainst€the€husband€for€the€sale€of€the€real€property,€said€amount€to€be€paid€by€theÐ øH Ðhusband€and€applied€to€the€capital€gains€taxes;€fourth,€to€reimburse€the€husband€forÐ ä4 Ðinvestments€and€improvements€made€to€the€real€property;€and€thereafter,€the€profitsÐ Ð  Ðafter€the€sale€shall€be€divided€between€the€parties.€€The€parties€hereby€agree€that€theÐ ¼  Ðwife€shall€retain€a€lien€in€and€to€the€real€property€to€secure€payment€of€her€portion€ofÐ ¨ø Ðthe€sale€profit.Ð ”ä ÐÌÒ°ÒÒ°Òà  àOn€May€24,€1999,€Mr.€Hood€filed€a€complaint€for€an€irreconcilable€differences€divorce,Ð l¼ Ðpursuant€to€Tenn.€Code.€Ann.€ðð€36„4„101(11)€and€36„4„103,€together€with€the€Marital€DissolutionÐ X ¨ ÐAgreement.€€The€complaint€recited€that€no€children€had€been€born€of€the€marriage,€and€asked€theÐ D!” Ðcourt€to€approve€the€MDA,€and€make€it€part€of€the€final€decree€by€reference.€€Ð 0"€  ÐÌò òó óà  àA€quitclaim€deed€on€the€36€acre€property€was€prepared,€which€Ms.€Hood€signed€on€July€9,Ð $X" Ð1999,€without€consideration€or€representation.€€The€deed€recited€that€she€was€conveying€to€Mr.€HoodÐ ô$D # Ðall€her€ð ðright,€title€and€interest€in€and€to€the€real€property.ðð€€The€deed€was€filed€in€the€SequatchieÐ à%0!$ ÐCounty€Registerððs€office€on€July€21,€1999.€€€Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà  àOn€August€4,€1999,€the€parties€amended€the€MDA.€€The€amended€agreement€gave€the€maritalÐ ¤(ô#' Ðhome€and€five€acres€to€the€husband€instead€of€the€wife.€€The€36.79€acre€property€was€not€mentioned.€Ð )à$( ÐÌÐ h+¸&* Ðà  àFollowing€a€hearing€on€August€23,€1999,€the€trial€court€entered€a€Final€Decree€of€Divorce,Ð ° Ðwhich€stated€thatÐ œì ÐÒ°ÒÒ°ÒÌð ðthe€Marital€Dissolution€Agreement€and€Amendment€to€Marital€DissolutionÐ tÄ ÐAgreement€entered€into€by€and€between€the€parties€are€fair,€just€and€equitable€in€allÐ `° Ðrespects€and€provide€for€and€resolve€all€matters€of€dispute€between€the€parties€and,Ð L œ Ðtherefore,€should€be€ratified,€confirmed€and€approved€by€the€Court.ððÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌÒ°ÒÒ°Òà  àThe€two€agreements€were€attached€to€the€Final€Decree€as€exhibits,€and€the€Decree€furtherÐ  ` Ðrecited€that€both€agreements€ð ðare€hereby€ratified,€confirmed€and€approved€by€the€Court€in€allÐ ü L  Ðrespects,€and€the€provisions€thereof€are€hereby€made€orders€and€decrees€of€this€court.ðð€Ð è 8  ÐÌà@ßßìàò òII.€€òòAfter€the€Divorceóóó óˆÐ À  ÐÌà  àThe€Final€Decree€was€recorded€in€the€Sequatchie€County€Registerððs€Office€on€February€5,Ð ˜è  Ð2000.€€Mr.€Hood€subsequently€sold€a€6.69€acre€portion€of€the€disputed€property€for€a€sale€price€ofÐ „Ô  Ð$33,450.€€As€soon€as€Ms.€Hood€ò òó ólearned€about€the€sale,€she€filed€a€Motion€to€Enforce€the€MaritalÐ pÀ ÐDissolution€Agreement.€€She€stated€in€her€Motion€that€she€had€received€no€profits€or€accounting€fromÐ \¬ Ðthe€sale.€€She€also€stated€that€Mr.€Hood€had€failed€to€sell€the€remainder€of€the€property€as€requiredÐ H˜ Ðby€the€Final€Decree€and€the€MDA.€€She€asked€the€court€to€order€Mr.€Hood€to€furnish€her€with€anÐ 4„ Ðaccounting€of€the€money€received€from€the€6.69€acre€sale,€to€sell€the€remainder€of€the€property€inÐ  p Ðaccordance€with€the€MDA,€and€to€pay€the€reasonable€attorney€fees€and€costs€she€incurred€inÐ  \ Ðenforcing€the€MDA.€€€€Ð øH ÐÌà  àMr.€Hood€responded€to€the€Motion,€arguing€that€the€wifeððs€execution€of€the€quitclaim€deedÐ Ð  Ðhad€extinguished€any€interest€she€had€in€the€property,€and€that€in€any€event€a€sale€of€real€propertyÐ ¼  Ðcould€not€be€directed€by€the€court€through€the€Motion€to€Enforce€Marital€Dissolution€Agreement,Ð ¨ø Ðbut€only€through€a€separate€action€in€the€chancery€or€circuit€courts.Ð ”ä ЀÌà  àThe€court€was€persuaded€by€these€arguments,€and€in€an€order€entered€on€October€23,€2000,Ð l¼ Ðit€held€that€the€quitclaim€deed€had€extinguished€the€lien€given€to€the€wife.€€The€court€also€held,Ð X ¨ Ðhowever,€that€the€wife€had€the€right€to€enforce€the€MDA€through€contempt€proceedings,€and€itÐ D!” Ðordered€Mr.€Hood€to€give€her€an€accounting€for€any€proceeds€he€received€from€the€partial€sale€of€theÐ 0"€  Ðproperty.€€€Ð #l! ÐÌà  àMs.€Hood€promptly€filed€a€Petition€for€Contempt€to€compel€the€husband€to€sell€the€property,Ð ô$D # Ðand€Mr.€Hood€responded€with€a€Motion€to€Dismiss€the€Petition€for€insufficiency€of€process,€andÐ à%0!$ Ðinsufficiency€of€service€of€process.€€This€appeal€followed.€Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà@**ìàò òIII.€€òòArguments€on€Appealóóó óˆÐ ¤(ô#' ÐÌà  àWe€note€at€the€outset€that€the€appellee€could€have€argued€that€because€of€the€pendency€of€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðcontempt€motion,€there€is€no€final€order€in€this€case,€and€that€this€court€accordingly€lacks€jurisdictionÐ h+¸&* Ðto€hear€it€under€Rule€3(a),€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€€However,€because€it€would€appear€to€be€in€the€interestÐ ° Ðof€both€parties€that€we€reach€a€decision€in€this€case,€we€will€exercise€our€right€under€Rule€2€toÐ œì Ðsuspend€the€operation€of€Rule€3(a),€in€order€to€hear€and€decide€it.€€€€€Ð ˆØ ÐÌà  àThe€trial€courtððs€ruling€that€Ms.€Hoodððs€quitclaim€deed€extinguished€her€lien€is€not€a€findingÐ `° Ðof€fact,€but€a€conclusion€of€law.€€Our€review€is€therefore€de€novo,€with€no€presumption€of€theÐ L œ Ðcorrectness€of€the€trial€courtððs€ruling.€€òòSeeóó€òòUnion€Carbide€Corp.€v.€Huddleston,óó€854€S.W.2d€87Ð 8 ˆ Ð(Tenn.€1993).€€After€examining€the€course€of€proceedings€in€the€court€below,€we€have€found€severalÐ $ t Ðgood€reasons€why€Ms.€Hoodððs€lien€should€be€held€to€have€survived€her€execution€of€the€quitclaimÐ  ` Ðdeed.€€€Ð ü L  ÐÌà  àA€Marital€Dissolution€Agreement€is€essentially€a€contract€between€a€husband€and€wife€inÐ Ô$  Ðcontemplation€of€divorce€proceedings.€òò€Gray€v.€Estate€of€Grayóó,€993€S.W.2d€59,€63€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ð À  Ð1998).€€The€cardinal€rule€for€the€interpretation€of€contracts€is€to€ascertain€the€intention€of€the€parties,Ð ¬ü  Ðand€to€give€effect€to€that€intention€consistent€with€legal€principles.€€òòWinfree€v.€Educators€CreditÐ ˜è  ÐUnion,óó€900€S.W.2d€285,€289€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1995);€òòBob€Pearsall€Motors,€Inc.€v.€Regal€Chrysler„Ð „Ô  ÐPlymouth,€Inc.óó,€521€S.W.2d€578€(Tenn.€1975).Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àIn€determining€the€intent€of€the€parties,€the€court€should€look€to€the€contract€as€a€whole,€andÐ H˜ Ðall€its€terms€must€be€examined,€for€one€clause€may€modify,€limit,€or€illuminate€another.€òò€State€ex€rel,Ð 4„ ÐCommissioner€Dept.€of€Transportation€v.€Teasley,óó€913€S.W.2d€175€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1995).€€WhereÐ  p Ðseveral€instruments€are€made€part€of€one€transaction,€they€will€be€read€together,€and€each€will€beÐ  \ Ðconstrued€with€reference€to€the€other.€òò€Stovall€v.€Dattelóó,€619€S.W.2d€125€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1981);òòÐ øH ÐRealty€Shop€Inc.,€v.€RR€Westiminster€Holdings,€Inc.óó,€7€S.W.3d€581€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1999).Ð ä4 ÐÌà  àExamining€the€marital€dissolution€agreement€and€the€quitclaim€deed€in€light€of€theseÐ ¼  Ðprinciples,€there€can€be€no€doubt€(1)€that€the€parties€intended€Ms.€Hood€to€surrender€any€rights€toÐ ¨ø Ðthe€property€that€would€have€prevented€Mr.€Hood€from€selling€it,€and€(2)€that€she€was€to€retain€a€lienÐ ”ä Ðon€the€property€to€secure€her€rights€to€the€proceeds€from€its€sale.€€The€above€premises€inescapablyÐ €Ð Ðlead€to€the€conclusion€that€the€execution€of€the€quitclaim€deed€was€an€obligation€that€Ms.€HoodÐ l¼ Ðassumed€as€part€of€the€marital€dissolution€agreement.Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àIt€would€not€only€be€an€odd€result€for€the€performance€of€an€obligation€under€a€contract€toÐ 0"€  Ðextinguish€one€of€the€contemplated€benefits€for€that€performance,€but€in€this€case€it€would€thwart€theÐ #l! Ðintention€that€the€parties€so€clearly€as€expressed€in€their€contract.€€The€appellee€suggests€that€if€Ms.Ð $X" ÐHood€wanted€to€preserve€her€lien€right,€she€could€have€asked€that€express€language€be€included€inÐ ô$D # Ðthe€quitclaim€deed€to€that€effect.€€In€view€of€the€express€requirements€of€the€MDA,€however,€weÐ à%0!$ Ðdonððt€believe€such€language€was€necessary€to€preserve€the€lien.€Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà  àAdditionally,€when€a€marital€dissolution€agreement€is€incorporated€into€a€divorce€decree,€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðagreement€loses€its€contractual€nature,€and€it€becomes€a€judgment€of€the€court.€òò€Gray€v.€Grayóó,€993Ð )à$( ÐS.W.2d€59€at€63€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1998);€òòHays€v.€Haysóó,€709€S.W.2d€625€(Tenn.€App.€1986).€€Thus,Ð |*Ì%) Ðeven€if€we€believed€that€the€quitclaim€deed€had€extinguished€Ms.€Hoodððs€lien,€we€would€beÐ h+¸&* Ðcompelled€to€find€that€the€court€imposed€an€identical€lien€on€the€property€by€incorporating€theÐ ° Ðmarital€dissolution€agreement€into€its€final€decree.€€Ð œì Ðà  à€Ð ˆØ Ðà@dd)ìàò òIV.ó óˆÐ tÄ ÐÌà  àThe€order€of€the€trial€court€is€reversed.€€Remand€this€cause€to€the€Circuit€Court€of€SequatchieÐ L œ ÐCounty€for€further€proceedings€consistent€with€this€opinion.€€Tax€the€costs€on€appeal€to€the€appellee,Ð 8 ˆ ÐWilliam€Ernest€Hood,€III.€€Ô#†¼J¥»XX¹[ #ÔÔ€X¹X»¼J¥ÔÐ $ t ÐÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à_________________________________________€Ð À  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€PRESIDING€JUDGE,€M.S.