WPC(  V\ƵUYl{-xH -#U*k#k################################# 0#### B$$ 0$ D3I% D-|% 0K%% AS%G& 0 ' 0D' A'HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 6,,,,0{,-s (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regular9,+00 C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xU*+ (_2623  ..Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5*G+M (_25   /%` ` hp x /23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  *D+M (_24   ," hp x ,23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  *A+M (_23  ` ) hp x )23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  *>+M (_22   &hhp x &23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  *;+M (_21   #p x #23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  *8+M (_20  h  p x 23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  *5+M (_19   pp x 23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  *2+M (_18    x 23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  * (_1723  Ԁ*GM (_16   /%` ` hp x /23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  *DM (_15   ," hp x ,23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  *AM (_14  ` ) hp x )23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  *>M (_13   &hhp x &23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  *;M (_12   #p x #23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  *8M (_11  h  p x 23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  *5M (_10   pp x 23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  (2M &_9    x 23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  ( &_823  (GM &_7   /%` ` hp x /23   5+ ` hp x 5  (DM &_6   ," hp x ,23   5+ ` hp x 5  (AM &_5  ` ) hp x )23   5+ ` hp x 5  (>M &_4   &hhp x &23   5+ ` hp x 5  (;M &_3   #p x #23   5+ ` hp x 5  (8M &_2  h  p x 23   5+ ` hp x 5  (5M &_1   pp x 23   5+ ` hp x 5  &2M $_    x 23   5+ ` hp x 5  - -\  `&Times New Roman%2A`Arial (|G2=Z$ !.8Ydd8         0   d(|3$ !.8Ydd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3$ !.8Ydd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8Ydd8     _  Y8 IXXdd8  @ [YINTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @kk$ATNASHVILLE#Y[ #Ԉ &   October8,2001Session L X IXY #YXX I#LOISLYNNMILLERv.JAMESEARLMILLERX IXY  J @@ AppealfromtheCircuitCourtforDavidsonCounty  J @@No.98D1144MurielRobinson,Judge  6 @@*AV) ` dE<` A   @@TTNo.M200100501_COA_ԄR3CVFiledDecember28,_2001_   AV) ` dE<|` A }   #YXX Ie#/YY/X IX/Y  ThisisthesecondappealtothisCourtofthisdivorcecaseandtheappellantdisputesattorney#/YX/X I#/X IX/Y#/YX/X I#/X IX/Ysfees x  awardedforwife#/YX/X I#/X IX/Y#/YX/X IK#/X IX/Ysattorneyandthedivisionoftwomaritalassets.OnremandfromthisCourt,the d trialcourtheldthatcertainassets,includinganIRAandpensionbenefits,weremaritalpropertyand P dividedthem.Thehusbandappeals.Weaffirmthetrialcourt#/YX/X I#/X IX/Y#/YX/X I#/X IX/Ysclassificationofthehusband#/YX/X I:#/X IX/Y#/YX/X I#/X IX/YsIRA < andTextronretirementaccountasmaritalpropertyanditsdivisionofthemaritalproperty.Wealso (x affirmtheawardofattorney#/YX/X I#/X IX/Y#/YX/X I #/X IX/Ysfees.#/YX/X I ##Y/Y#X IXY d    Tenn.R.App.P.3AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheCircuitCourtAffirmed  <   #YX I #X IX.YWilliamB.Cain,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichBenH._Cantrell_,_P.J._,M.S.,and  JohnA._Turnbull_,J.,joined.  JackGreen,Brentwood,Tennessee,fortheappellant,JamesEarlMiller.  RobertL.JacksonandLarryHayes,Jr.,Nashville,Tennessee,fortheappellee,LoisLynnMiller. ` 4  OPINION #YXX Ic #X IXY 8!  #YXX I #X IXY  ?+ ` hp x X?/X IXXX I  ThisappealisthesecondtimethisdisputehasbeenbeforethisCourt.#X IXX/X Iw#Intheoriginaltrial, #`" thetrialcourtsetalimonyinfuturointheamountof$850.00permonthuntilthewifesdeathor #L# remarriage,awardedthewifealimonyinsolidoof$65,000.00,anddividedthepartiesmarital $8 $ property.Thehusbandappealed. %$!% /X IXXX I  Inthefirstappeal,#X IXX/X Ia#thisCourtdeterminedthattwoassetswhichhadbeenawardedtothe '"' husbandweremaritalpropertyandshouldbeequitablydividedbetweentheparties(theLincolnLife (#( IRAandtheTextronRetirement)./X IXXX IԀ#X IXX/X I#/X IXXX IMillerv.Miller#X IXX/X I#/X IXXX I,No.M1999-00724-_COA_-R3-CV,2000WL )$) 1231378(Tenn.Ct.App.Aug.31,2000)( #X IXX/X IP#/X IXXX IMillerv.Miller#X IXX/X I#/X IXXX IԀI).#X IXX/X Io#ThisCourtremandedthecaseback p*%* tothetrialcourtonAugust31,2000todeterminethevalueofandtomakeanequitabledivisionof \+&+ theassets.Theoriginalinfuturoalimonyamountwasreducedto$500.00permonthbythisCourt, H,', andtheinsolidoawardof$65,000.00wasreversed./X IXXX I. 4-(- _ԇ  Inthisappeal,thehusbandassertsthatthetrialjudgeerredby(1)awardingthewifemore  thantheinsolidoalimonyawardedintheoriginaltrial,(2)awardingadditionalalimonyinfuturo,  and(3)inawardingthewifeattorneysfees.Thewifesubmitsthatnoalimonywasawardedbythe  trialcourtonremand.Rather,thetrialcourtmadeanequitabledivisionofthemaritalproperty,the t husbandsretirementplanwithTextronandtheLincolnLifeIRA,asdirectedbythisCourtinthe ` firstappealofthecase.Theissuesonappealarewhetherthetrialcourtabuseditsdiscretionin L  awardingthewifeone-halfoftheLincolnLifeIRAandtheTextronRetirement,inawarding 8  attorneysfees,andinfailingtoreducethealimonyinfuturo.Weaffirmthetrialcourt. $ t   OurpreviousopinioninthiscasewasfiledAugust31,2000.Muchofthehistoryofthiscase  L  canbegleanedfromthepreviousopinionofthisCourt.Anexcerptoftheopinionappearsas  8  follows: $   X X?+ ` hp x X?LoisLynnMiller(hereinafter Wife)filedacomplaintfordivorceagainstJames   EarlMiller(hereinafter Husband)onApril8,1998.Afteranonjurytrial,thetrial   courtawardedthedivorcetoWifeonthegroundsofinappropriatemaritalconduct.   Thefinaldecreeawardedalimonyinfuturo,alimonyinsolido,andattorneyfeesto p Wifeandclassifiedanddividedthepartiesmaritalproperty.Husbandhasappealed, \ andWifealsopresentsissuesforreview. H  ` ThepartiesweremarriedinJanuaryof1988.Atthetimeofthemarriage, 4 Husbandwas48yearsold,andWifewas58yearsold.Themarriagelasted11years.  p Therewerenochildrenofthemarriage.Afteraboutthreeyears,themarriagebegan  \ todeteriorate,butthepartiescontinuedtolivetogether.Thepartiesdidnotacquire H titleorinteresttorealpropertybutlivedinanapartmentthathadbeenoccupiedby 4 Husbandbeforethemarriage.Husbandstotalincomeduringthemarriagewas   $363,086.00.Wifestotalincomeduringthemarriagewas$214,867.00.Throughout   themarriage,Husbandpaidtherentandutilities.Wifepurchasedalloftheir  groceriesandcleaningsupplies,aswellherownclothes,car,andgasoline.   ` Wifefiledfordivorcealleginginappropriatemaritalconductonthepartof  Husbandandirreconcilabledifferences.AtrialwasheldonSeptember20,1999. l Atthetimeoftrial,Husbandwas60yearsold,andWifewas70yearsold.Wife X  testifiedthatsheworkedthroughoutthemarriageuntil1998,whensheappliedfor D! andwasgrantedsocialsecuritybenefitsintheamountof$963.00permonthand 0"  medicarecoverage.Wifetestifiedtomonthlyexpensesof$1,432.00. #l!  ` Husbandtestifiedthatduringthemarriage,heworkedforAvco,whichwas $X" subsequentlyknownasTextron,andthenAerostructures.Priortothemarriage, $D # Husbandhadretirementfundsandstocksinmutualfunds.Husbandtestifiedthat %0!$ WifesignedawaivermakingHusbandschildrenthebeneficiariesofaLincolnLife &"% account.Husbandfurtherstatedthatallaccountswereestablishedpriortothe '#& marriageandthatneitherpartycontributedtoaccountsduringthemarriage.The (#' accountsincludedaHeritageFederalCreditUnionAccount,aCDwithJ.C. )$( Bradford,aCDwithHeritageFederal,twoLincolnLifeIRAs,andaTextronpension |*%) _fund. h+&*  ` Atthecloseofproof,thecourtstatedfromthebenchthatthedemiseofthe  marriageafter2yearswasthefaultofbothparties,butthattheychosetocontinue  tolivetogetherand bebasicallymiserablefor8years.Thecourtfoundthatduring  themarriagethepartieschosetokeeptheirfinancesseparate,maintainingseparate t checkingaccounts,payingseparatebills,andkeepingseparateretirementsand ` 401(K)accounts.Thecourtnoted,however,thatWifepaidfortheirsharedgroceries L  inadditiontoherownexpenses,allowingtheHusbandto compileasizeableestate. 8  ThecourtfoundthatalthoughWifemadenomonetarycontributions,shemaintained $ t themaritalhomefor11years.ThetrialcourtnotedthatWifeis10yearsolderthan  ` theHusband,isretired,isonafixedincome,andhashealthproblems.  L   ` AfinaldecreegrantingWifeadivorcewasenteredonSeptember29,1999.  8   ` .... $   ` Wifewasawardedalimonyinfuturoof$850.00permonthuntildeathor   remarriageandalimonyinsolidoof$65,000.00.Shewasalsoawarded$4,500.00   inattorneyfees.    ` ....    X XE+ ` hp x X E  Insummary,thetrialcourtsfinaldecreeismodifiedtoawardalimonyinfuturoof$500.00 \ permonth.Thetrialcourtsawardof$65,000.00asalimonyinsolidoisreversed,andthecaseis H remandedtothetrialcourtforadeterminationofthevalueofHusbandsretirementplanwith 4 TextronandthevalueoftheLincolnLifeIRArolledoverfroma401(K)plan.Thecourtshould  p thenmakeanequitabledivisionthereof.Thedecreeofthetrialcourtinallotherrespectsisaffirmed.  \ Eachpartywillpaytheirownattorneyfeesonappeal,andcostsoftheappealareassessedequally H totheparties,LoisLynnMillerandJamesEarlMiller. 4  X X?+ ` hp x X? X XE+ ` hp x X E  Onremand,thetrialcourtheld:     UpontheremandfromtheCourtofAppeals,testimonyoftheparties,statementsofcounsel,  andfromtheentirerecordherein,theCourtfindsthatthecurrentvalueofMr.MillersLincolnLife  IRA,accountno.96-9148992is$163,161.00andthatsaidaccountismaritalpropertyofwhichMs. l Millerisentitledtoanequitabledivision.TheCourtfurtherfindsthatMr.Millerhasatotalpension X  benefitfromhisformeremployerintheamountof$1,226.34permonth,ofwhich$475.68per D! monthwasaccumulatedduringthemarriageandconstitutesmaritalpropertyofwhichMs.Miller 0"  isentitledtoaequitabledivision. #l!  X X?+ ` hp x X? ` TheCourtfurtherfindsthatwithregardtothedivisionoftheothermarital $D # assetssetforthinthisCourtsFinalDecree(whichdoesnotincludethe %0!$ above-describedLincolnLifeIRAorpensionbenefit),thepartieshaveagreedthat &"% inlieuofdividingeachmaritalassetequallyassetforthinsaidDecree,eachparty '#& wouldkeepthemaritalassetsintheirownnameandonepartywouldpaytheother (#' asumcertaintoequalizethedivision.TheCourtacceptsthepartiesagreementand )$(  findsthatMs.MillershouldpayMr.Millerthesumof$13,998.25toequalizethe |*%) divisionofthemaritalassetsotherthantheLincolnLifeIRAandthepensionbenefit  describedabove.    ` TheCourtfurtherfindsthatthepartieshaveagreedthatMr.Milleroverpaid  hisalimonyobligationsinthemonthofSeptember,2000andthatheisentitledtoa t creditintheamountof$350.00forsaidoverpayment. `  ` WithregardtoMr.MillersPetitiontoReduceAlimony,theCourtfindsthat L  therehasnotbeenasubstantialandmaterialchangeofcircumstanceswhichshould 8  justifymodificationofMr.MillersalimonyobligationsandhisPetitioninthis $ t regardisthereforedenied.  `  ` ....  L   ` Ms.MillerisawardedajudgmentagainstMr.Millerintheamountof  8  $2,572.25forherattorneysfeesincurredinthismatter. $   X XE+ ` hp x X E  Thehusbandappealsthejudgmentofthetrialcourt.Ourreviewisdenovoandtherecord   beforeusisaccompaniedbyapresumptionofcorrectnessunlesswefindthattheevidence   preponderatesagainstthetrialcourtsfindingsoffact.Tenn.R.App.P.13(d);seealso#X IXX/X I#/X IXXX I_Watters_Ԁv.   _Watters_#X IXX/X I<#/X IXXX I,959S.W.2d585,588(Tenn.Ct.App.1997).Thequestionofwhethertherehasbeena p sufficientshowingofasubstantialandmaterialchangeincircumstancesisinthesounddiscretion \ ofthetrialcourt.#X IXX/X Im=#/X IXXX I_Watters_#X IXX/X I>#/X IXXX I,22S.W.3d817,821(Tenn.Ct.App.1999). H   Thehusbandfirstchallengestheawardofwhathereferstoasalimonyinsolidoandargues  p thatthetrialcourterredinawardingmorethantheinsolidoalimonyawardedintheoriginaltrialof  \ thecasefailingtotakeintoconsiderationthedurationofthemarriage,needofthewife,and H non-maritalassetsofthehusband. 4 Ѐ     Onthefirstappeal,thisCourtreversedtheinsolidoawardanddeterminedthattheLincoln   LifeIRAandtheTextronretirementplanconstitutemaritalproperty.Weaddressfirstthetrial  courtsdivisionoftheLincolnLifeIRA.Whendividingpropertyinadivorce,thetrialcourtmust  firstclassifypropertyasmaritalorseparatethendividethemaritalpropertyequitably.See#X IXX/X I?#/X IXXX I_Batson_  v._Batson_#X IXX/X I&C#/X IXXX I,769S.W.2d849,856(Tenn.Ct.App.1988).Inthefirstappeal,thisCourtdetermined l thetwoassetsweremaritalproperty.#X IXX/X IC#/X IXXX I X    TheprioropinionofthisCourtinthiscaseissuedAugust31,2000heldtheLincolnLifeIRA 0"  andaportionoftheTextronretirementplantobemaritalproperty.Suchholdingsarethelawofthe #l! caseandnotopentofurtherquestion.MemphisPublishingCo.v.TennesseePetroleum,975S.W.2d $X" 303(Tenn.1998).#X IXX/X ID#/X IXXX I $D #   ThefundsintheIRAincludedcontributionsmadebythehusbandfromhissalaryduringthe &"% periodofthemarriagefrom1988through1996.Informationfromthehusbandsfinancialadvisor '#& establishedthatthevalueoftheIRAwas$163,161.00.Thetrialcourtawardedthewifeone-half (#' ofthevalue.Uponourreviewoftherecord,wedonotthinkthattheevidencepreponderatesagainst )$( thetrialjudgesdivisionofthemaritalproperty.Weaffirmthetrialcourtbutremandonceagain |*%) tothetrialcourttodeterminethepresentvalueofthismaritalassetandmakeadivisionthereof. h+&* Ї  Next,weaddressthetrialcourtsawardofone-halfofthe$475.68Textronpensionbenefits  accumulatedduringthemarriage.Thehusbandreceivesapremaritalpensionpaymentintheamount  of$750.66andapensionpaymentwhichwasaccumulatedduringthemarriageintheamountof  $475.68.Thetrialcourtdeterminedthevalueoftheportionofthepensionbenefitconstitutinga t maritalassetandmadeaproperdivisionthereof. `   Next,Husbandallegedasubstantialandmaterialchangeofcircumstancesonremandbased 8  uponhisretirement.Thetrialcourtspecificallyfoundthattherewasnotasubstantialandmaterial $ t changeofcircumstanceswhichwouldjustifymodificationofthehusbandsalimonyobligations.  ` Recently,theSupremeCourtaddressedtheissueofwhetheran_obligor_sretirementconstitutesa  L  substantialandmaterialchangeincircumstancessoastopermitmodificationofaspousalsupport  8  obligationin#X IXX/X IF#/X IXXX IBoganv.Bogan#X IXX/X IgN#/X IXXX I,2001WL1386102(Tenn.Nov.8,2001).In#X IXX/X IN#/X IXXX IBogan#X IXX/X I+O#/X IXXX I,thecourtfound $  that anobjectivelyreasonableretirement,takeningoodfaithandwithoutintenttodefeatthe   supportobligation,doesconstituteasubstantialandmaterialchangeincircumstancessothata   modificationofsupportobligationsmaybeconsidered.Id.at*2.     Itiswellsettledthatspousalsupportawardsmaynotbemodifiedunlessthecourtfindsa p substantialandmaterialchangeincircumstanceshasoccurredsincetheentryofthesupportdecree. \ Tenn.CodeAnn.36-5-101(a)(1)(Supp.2000).Thecourtstatedin#X IXX/X IuO#/X IXXX IBogan#X IXX/X IoR#/X IXXX IԀthat an_obligor_Ԁcannot H merelyutterthewordretirementandexpectanautomaticfindingofasubstantialandmaterial 4 changeincircumstances.#X IXX/X IR#/X IXXX IBogan#X IXX/X IS#/X IXXX I,2001WL1386102at*4.Thetwomostimportantconsiderations  p inmodifyingasupportawardarethefinancialabilityofthe_obligor_Ԁandthefinancialneedofthe  \ partyreceivingsupport,bothgivenequalconsideration.Id.at*5.Weaffirmthetrialcourt. H   Finally,thehusbandassertsthatthetrialcourterredinawardingthewifeattorneysfees.    X X?+ ` hp x X?Inthecontextofadivorceproceeding,attorneyfeeawardsareconsideredasalimony  insolido.See#X IXX/X I1T#/X IXXX I_Herrera_Ԁv._Herrera_#X IXX/X I8W#/X IXXX I,944S.W.2d379,390(Tenn.Ct.App.1996).In  makinganalimonyaward,acourtmustconsideranumberoffactors,includingthe  relativeearningcapacity,obligations,needsandfinancialresourcesoftheparties. l SeeTenn.CodeAnn.365101(d)(1)(A)(L)(Supp.1999)(listingthefactorsa X  courtmustconsider). Theneedofthespousereceivingthesupportisthesingle D! mostimportantfactor.#X IXX/X IW#/X IXXX I_Watters_Ԁv._Watters_#X IXX/X IZ#/X IXXX I,22_S.W.3d_Ԁ817,821(Tenn.Ct. 0"  App.1999).The_obligor_Ԁspousesabilitytopayisalsoanimportantconsideration. #l! See#X IXX/X IZ#/X IXXX IHazardv.Hazard#X IXX/X I[#/X IXXX I,833S.W.2d911,917(Tenn.Ct.App.1991).Becausesupport $X" decisionsarefactuallydrivenandinvolveconsideringandbalancingnumerous $D # factors,appellatecourtsgivewidelatitudetothetrialcourtsdiscretion.See %0!$ #X IXX/X I,\#/X IXXX I_Cranford_Ԁv._Cranford_#X IXX/X I]#/X IXXX I,772S.W.2d48,50(Tenn.Ct.App.1989). &"% #X IXX/X I'^# X XE+ ` hp x X E/X IXXX I_Lassiter_Ԁv._Lassiter_#X IXX/X I _#/X IXXX I,No.M199900374_COA_ԄR3CV,2000WL1425235,*2(Tenn.Ct.App.Sept. (#' 28,2000) )$(   |*%) _  Thetrialcourtawardedattorneysfeestothewifetobepaidbythehusband.Although [t]he   decisiontoawardattorneysfeestoapartyinadivorceproceedingiswithinthesounddiscretionof  thetrialcourtandwillnotbedisturbeduponappealunlesstheevidencepreponderatesagainstsuch  adecision.#X IXX/X I_#/X IXXX IԀStoreyv.Storey#X IXX/X IJb#/X IXXX I,835S.W.2d593(Tenn.Ct.App.1992).Weaffirmthetrialcourts t awardofattorneysfeestothewife. `   Thejudgmentofthetrialcourtisaffirmed.Remandthiscausetothetrialcourtforfurther 8  proceedingsconsistentwiththisopinion.Taxcostsonappealtoappellant./X/X I#/ݠb#0  $ t   # 0gd##X IX%d#   `     h     ___________________________________      `     h     WILLIAMB.CAIN,JUDGE