ÿWPC" §Ì¦¾×ÛņM Ö†H £Š x®Ôäž®+“ºxo9ª¾öÛw ó4Á½­a6Tütó4uÀî¾Î²PÞHyºpN"·†¬ŽË¥y¦Ñ«‹7ÑOa°Nª0j¦5ÿ’_¯ñîCe#àA‹5O† †cÜhsù |$ºbÏòÎÕ%Ý^ˆ½¶ý]͆&iÌ k²VúÄŒvuï-­‚§~eA'ò˧=’Ÿ‡U¯boc%ƒN¦@Ss»Åeí¯QcÁrytQо‹’‰2¿%T·A\”«e~æÑãòˆD]æ†éC²ù’þþ¯öªQ~I+noU—½.ã$RsàæQ8ßk>°‰^€:M{úÆ®zþSBq»0.¢/Æÿhp†¨ÒÈ‚V¯>ÃWé™$L Ò<ò-rÆ»ðt&8È%ɧ–º*ëJoaykîY †œÒ <×ðg+„ˆpZZ’¨·¬I¼¢ˆ0¾¯¹uÌ¿7hJ\» G@kç¤xŒf I’e)§èõ)^C"jቖquÝÈÓÞYãn¼Ozuñ{îÀpàíãé«§?ºñÿ€ôíÐ_/­v5ê~®¼ q±Åpø=Àv¬¯¾†¡P å«Õ@·(™Ù¶¦2®çÉ_¤»†ùûîâvW#ÉÂUN‹ %Ù 0:ß UN bg ^ o w{ 4 “ ¢ m¤ J» N   º 0 DÁ Á DEIŽEŸ°¡¬QìýìéíÕIÂI                                                     0 T!T!T!T! Bñ!˜\\IB01S02\CLERKJACÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular- ù-Zp1Ï 6hö0ê:i¢×+003|x ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ @Ý ƒRˆ$ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô½òXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€record€on€appeal€includes€no€documentation€regarding€the€partiesðð€divorce€proceedings,€and€noÐ ° Ðindication€of€why€the€issue€of€child€support€was€in€Juvenile€Court.  COAarrearagesHighersobligeeobligoru]nlessJC DHSCandiceyallTennCare n]o JahnRutledge t]he i]tC.F.R.u]nderPeychekMoserPeycheckT.C.A.pretermitsYarbrough(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó :Ý ƒRˆ$ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô½òXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔYarbroughððs€petition€was€brought€in€her€married€name,€Katherine€Ann€Johnson.€€Since€that€time,Ð ° Ðapparently,€Yarbrough€has€begun€to€use€Yarbrough€as€her€surname. ;Ý ƒRˆ$ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô½òXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€affidavit€attached€to€the€petition€for€support€indicates€that€Yarbrough€signed€her€petition€on€April€20,Ð ° Ð1989,€just€a€week€before€Jessica€was€born.€€Consequently,€the€petition€sought€support€for€Candice,€Kimberly,€and€anÐ qÁ Ðð ðunborn€child.ðð€€By€the€time€the€petition€was€filed€on€May€9,€however,€Jessica€was€born,€and€Yarbrough€then€soughtÐ 2‚ Ðsupport€for€all€three€children.€€ Ý ƒRˆ$ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô½òXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔYarbrough€was€late€for€the€hearing,€but€the€Juvenile€Court€Judge€heard€from€her€before€making€his€finalÐ ° Ðruling. ¦Ý ƒRˆ$ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô½òXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€petition€also€alleged€that€Lea€was€the€father€of€another€of€Mitchellððs€children,€Michael€David€(bornÐ ° ÐDecember€17,€1991).€€Tests€proved,€however,€that€Lea€was€not€that€childððs€father,€and€the€petition€as€it€related€toÐ qÁ ÐMichael€was€dismissed.€ ¢Ý ƒRˆ$ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô½òXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€Juvenile€Courtððs€order€actually€says€that€Yarbrough€signed€the€JC„94€form€in€1995,€but€we€assumeÐ ° Ðthat€this€date€resulted€from€a€typographical€error,€considering€that€the€testimony€at€the€hearing€indicated€that€theÐ qÁ Ðform€was€signed€in€1998. âÝ ƒRˆ$ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô½òXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔIt€is€unclear€why€the€Referee€did€not€include€Johnsonððs€2002€arrears€in€her€recommendation. âÝ ƒRˆ$ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú11Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô½òXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔLea€filed€a€letter€òòpro€seóó€in€support€of€his€position€on€appeal.€€Johnson€did€not€file€a€brief€or€any€otherÐ ° Ðdocument€on€appeal.€€Neither€Lea€nor€Johnson€were€present€at€oral€argument.€€Thus,€this€matter€is€considered€on€theÐ qÁ Ðrecord,€Leaððs€letter,€the€Stateððs€brief,€and€the€Stateððs€oral€argument. ãÝ ƒRˆ$ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô½òXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€September€1993€Order€and€the€income€assignment€directed€that€Leaððs€child€support€payments€be€madeÐ ° Ðto€the€juvenile€court€clerk.€€By€statute,€orders€in€Title€IV„D€support€cases€and€income€assignments€that€direct€thatÐ qÁ Ðchild€support€payments€be€made€to€the€court€clerkððs€office€are€ð ðdeemed€to€require€that€the€support€be€sent€to€theÐ 2‚ Ðcentral€collection€and€disbursement€unit,ðð€which€is€the€Tennessee€Department€of€Human€Services€in€Tennessee.€€ò òòòSeeÐ óC Ðóóó óTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„5„116(a)(1)€(2001€&€Supp.€2003). ?Ý ƒRˆ$ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô½òXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôð ð[A]€Title€IV„D€proceeding€is€commenced€when€a€custodial€parent€applies€to€a€Title€IV„D€service€providerÐ ° Ðfor€assistance€in€establishing,€modifying,€or€collecting€child€support.€€For€the€purposes€of€the€Title€IV„D€program,€itÐ qÁ Ðmakes€no€difference€whether€the€proceeding€began€as€a€Title€IV„D€proceeding€or€whether€the€custodial€parentÐ 2‚ Ðinitiated€the€proceeding€or€is€responding€to€the€obligor€parentððs€petition€to€modify€or€eliminate€an€existing€childÐ óC Ðsupport€obligation.ðð€€òòò òBaker€v.€State€ex€rel.€Bakeróóó ó,€No.€01A01„9509„CV„00428,€1997€WL€749452,€at€*4€(Tenn.€Ct.Ð ´ ÐApp.€Dec.€5,€1997). ?Ý ƒRˆ$ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô½òXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔAs€in€Mitchellððs€case,€the€assignment€in€fact€directed€that€the€child€support€payments€be€made€to€the€clerkÐ ° Ðof€the€trial€court,€but€such€an€assignment€is€deemed€ð ðto€require€that€the€support€be€sent€to€the€central€collection€andÐ qÁ Ðdisbursement€unit,ðð€which€is€the€Tennessee€Department€of€Human€Services.€€ò òòòSee€óóó óTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„5„116(a)(1)Ð 2‚ Ð(2001€&€Supp.€2003).(.G2ˆ$¤¤Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô½òXXÔ dÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡XÊ¿XXXÔÔ‡¼‡q»XXÊ¿ÔÑ€ÑÑ8€sXXdédÈ8ÑÑ  ÑÑ  Ñà@ò ò ìàÔ#†XÊ¿X»¼‡q\#ÔÔ‡î}æîXXÊ¿ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@òò%ìàAT€JACKSONÔ#†XÊ¿Xîî}æ#ÔÔ‡¼‡q»XXʿԈРÓ# ÐÓ  ÓJune€22,€2004€SessionÐ öF ÐÔ#†XÊ¿X»¼‡q¨#ÔÌò òÔ‡¼‡q»XXÊ¿ÔSTATE€OF€TENNESSEEòò€òòex€rel.€óóóóMARGARET€ESTELLE€MITCHELLòòóó€Ð ï? Ðv.€Ð  P ÐRAY€ALLEN€LEAÐ  a ÐÌSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE€òòòòex€rel.€óóóóKATHERINE€A.€YARBROUGHÐ 3 ƒ Ðv.Ð D”  ÐWILLIAM€R.€JOHNSONó óÐ U¥  ÐÌÔ#†XÊ¿X»¼‡q:#Ôà@@½½ìàò ò€A€Consolidated€Appeal€from€the€Juvenile€Court€for€Shelby€CountyÐ vÆ  Ðà@@øøìàNo.€E941,€No.€139021€€€€€€Harold€W.€Horne,€Special€JudgeÐ `°  ÐÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<3` AßÐ 4„ ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€W2003„01650„COA„R3„JV€Ô_Ô„€Filed€November€16,€2004Ô_ÔÐ -} ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<` AßÐ Q ÐÔ‡¼‡q»XXÊ¿Ôó óÌÓ  ÓÔ#†XÊ¿X»¼‡q«#ÔThis€is€a€consolidated€appeal€involving€two€Title€IV„D€child€support€cases.€€In€each€case,€the€motherÐ  p Ðhad€custody€of€the€children,€and€the€father€was€subject€to€a€court€order€requiring€monthly€childÐ  Y Ðsupport€payments.€€The€mother€in€each€case€received€State€assistance,€and€consequently€the€fatherÐ òB Ðwas€required€to€make€the€child€support€payments€through€the€Stateððs€central€collection€andÐ Û+ Ðdisbursement€unit.€€Years€later,€after€significant€child€support€arrearages€had€accrued,€the€father€inÐ Ä Ðeach€case€filed€a€motion€to€modify€the€child€support€order€and€requested€that€the€court€terminate€hisÐ ­ý Ðchild€support€obligation.€€Each€mother€joined€in€the€fatherððs€request,€confirming€that€she€no€longerÐ –æ Ðwanted€the€State€to€enforce€the€fatherððs€child€support€obligation.€€In€each€case,€the€State€objected,Ð Ï Ðasserting€that€the€mother€had€assigned€to€the€State€her€right€to€the€child€support€payments€when€sheÐ h¸ Ðaccepted€public€assistance€benefits.€€The€trial€court€dismissed€each€case€and€forgave€each€fatherððsÐ Q ¡ Ðoutstanding€child€support€arrearage.€€The€State€now€appeals.€€We€reverse,€in€both€cases,€concludingÐ :!Š Ðthat€the€trial€court€erred€in€retroactively€modifying€its€child€support€orders€and€in€terminating€theÐ #"s  Ðcases€before€the€State€had€been€reimbursed€for€public€assistance€benefits€received€by€the€mothers.Ð  #\! Ѐ¹ÓÎÓò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Juvenile€Court€is€Ð Þ$. # ÐReversed€and€Remandedó óÐ È%!$ ÐÌòòÓ  ÓHolly€M.€Kirby,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€Court,€in€which€òòAlan€E.€Highers,€J.,€óóand€òòDavidÐ ›'ë"& ÐR.€Farmer,€J.óó,€joined.Ð „(Ô#' ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€&€Reporter,€and€Stuart€F.€Wilson„Patton,€Senior€Counsel,Ð V*¦%) ÐNashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellants,€State€of€Tennessee€òòex€rel.€óóMargaret€Estelle€Mitchell€andÐ ?+&* ÐState€of€Tennessee€òòex€rel.€óóKatherine€A.€Yarbrough.Ð (,x'+ ÐÐ -a(, ÐRay€Allen€Lea,€appellee,€òòpro€seóó.Ð ° ÐÌWilliam€R.€Johnson,€appellee,€òòpro€seóó.Ð ‚Ò ÐÌÌÓà Óò òÔ‡¼‡q»XXÊ¿ÔOPINIONÔ#†XÊ¿X»¼‡qa#Ôó óÐ =  ÐÌòòóóÓ  Óà  àThis€consolidated€appeal€arises€from€two€cases€involving€the€trial€courtððs€authority€toÐ 7 ‡ Ðretroactively€modify€a€preexisting€child€support€order,€and€to€dismiss€a€case€under€Title€IV,€chapterÐ  p ÐD€of€the€Social€Security€Act€(ð ðTitle€IV„Dðð),€when€the€State€has€not€yet€been€reimbursed€for€publicÐ  Y  Ðassistance€benefits€received€by€the€obligee€parent.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€ò òòòó óóóThe€pertinent€facts€of€each€case€will€be€outlinedÐ ò B  Ðseparately,€and€the€common€legal€issues€will€be€addressed€together.Ð Û+  ÐÌÌò òòòòòState€ex€rel.€Mitchell€v.€Lea,€No.€E941óóóóó óÐ –æ  ÐÌà  àOn€August€19,€1993,€the€Petitioner/Appellant€State€of€Tennessee€(ð ðStateðð),€as€assignee€ofÐ g· ÐMargaret€Estelle€Mitchell€(ð ðMitchellðð),€filed€a€petition€in€Juvenile€Court€againstÐ P  ÐRespondent/Appellee€Ray€Allen€Lea€(ð ðLeaðð)€to€establish€paternity€of€Nicholas€Lea€(ð ðNicholasðð)Ð 9‰ Ð(born€January€20,€1993).׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€On€September€7,€1993,€the€Juvenile€Court€Referee€found€that€Lea€wasÐ "r Ðthe€father€of€Nicholas€and€entered€an€order€requiring€Lee€to€pay€child€support€of€$200€per€month,Ð  [ Ðincluding€the€clerkððs€fee€(ð ðSeptember€1993€Orderðð).€€The€September€1993€Order€states€that,Ð ôD Ðð ð[u]nless€specifically€ordered€by€the€Court,€such€support€shall€not€be€reduced€or€prorated.ðð€€OnÐ Ý- ÐJanuary€13,€1994,€the€Juvenile€Court€issued€an€Income€Assignment€Order€for€$214.58€per€month,Ð Æ Ðof€which€$14.58€was€to€go€toward€support€arrearages,€with€payments€to€be€made€to€the€StateððsÐ ¯ÿ Ðcentral€collection€and€disbursement€unit.׃" ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ˜è ÐÌà  àOn€May€14,€1996,€Mitchell€went€to€the€local€Department€of€Human€Services€(ð ðDHSðð)€officeÐ jº Ðand€signed€a€JC„94€form,€which€is€a€request€that€her€case€with€the€DHS€be€closed.ò òó ó€€At€that€time,Ð S£ ÐMitchell€believed€that€her€act€of€signing€the€form€meant€that€her€case€was€administratively€closed,Ð ° Ðand€that€Leaððs€child€support€obligation€was€terminated.€€It€is€undisputed,€however,€that€MitchellÐ ™é Ðreceived€public€assistance€benefits€ð ðoff€and€onðð€from€1993€through€2002,€and€that,€at€the€timeÐ ‚Ò ÐMitchell€requested€closure€of€her€case,€the€State€had€not€been€reimbursed€for€the€public€assistanceÐ k» Ðbenefits€that€Mitchell€had€received.Ð T¤ ÐÌà  àOn€September€18,€2002,€Lea€filed€a€motion€in€the€Juvenile€Court€to€modify€the€SeptemberÐ & v Ð1993€Order,€claiming€that€his€child€support€obligation€should€be€terminated€because€of€changedÐ  _ Ðcircumstances.€€The€only€changed€circumstance,€however,€was€that€Mitchell€had€requested€that€herÐ ø H Ðchild€support€case€be€closed.€€Leaððs€motion€also€requested€that€the€amount€of€his€child€supportÐ á 1  Ðarrearage€be€established.€€On€the€day€Leaððs€motion€was€filed,€the€Juvenile€Court€Referee€conductedÐ Ê   Ða€hearing€on€it.€€After€the€hearing,€the€Referee€entered€findings€and€recommendations€concludingÐ ³  Ðthat€Leaððs€child€support€obligation€under€the€September€1993€Order€ended€when€Mitchell€requestedÐ œì  Ðclosure€of€her€case€in€May€1996,€and€that€she€was€allowed€by€the€Title€IV„D€agency€Ô#†XsXXXÊ¿=#ÔÔ‡XÊ¿XXXsÔto€close€her€caseÐ …Õ  Ðadministratively€by€the€execution€of€ð ðthe€then€appropriate€form€(JC„94).ðð€€The€Juvenile€CourtÐ n¾  ÐReferee€also€found€that€Lea€should€be€given€a€$14,000€credit€for€necessaries€he€had€provided€toÐ W§  ÐNicholas€since€Mitchellððs€closure€of€the€case€in€May€1996.€€On€the€same€day,€the€Juvenile€CourtÐ @ Ðgranted€the€Stateððs€request€for€a€òòde€novoóó€hearing.Ð )y ÐÌà  àOn€May€8,€2003,€a€òòde€novoóó€hearing€was€held€before€the€Juvenile€Court€Judge.€€The€recordÐ ûK Ðon€appeal€contains€a€transcript€of€that€hearing.€€Both€Mitchell€and€Lea€were€present€at€the€hearing,Ð ä4 Ðbut€only€Mitchell€was€sworn€as€a€witness.€€In€her€testimony,€Mitchell€acknowledged€that€she€hadÐ Í Ðreceived€public€assistance€benefits€ð ðoff€and€onðð€between€1993€and€2002.€€She€said€that€Nicholas€wasÐ ¶ Ðher€only€child€fathered€by€Lea,€but€that€she€has€three€other€children€not€fathered€by€Lea.€€MitchellÐ Ÿï Ðmaintained€that€she€and€Lea€had€lived€together€off€and€on€over€the€years,€and€said€that€Lea€had€paidÐ ˆØ Ðchild€support€for€Nicholas€directly€to€her.ò òó ó€€She€did€not€testify€as€to€the€amount€that€Lea€hadÐ qÁ Ðpurportedly€paid€directly€to€her.€€Mitchell€stated€that€€Lea€provided€for€Nicholas,€and€that€he€helpedÐ Zª Ðprovide€for€the€other€children€as€well.€€She€claimed€that€she€was€told€by€the€welfare€department€thatÐ C“ Ðit€was€permissible€for€Lea€to€make€the€required€child€support€payments€directly€to€her,€rather€thanÐ ,| Ðthrough€the€central€collection€and€disbursement€unit.€€Mitchell€conceded€that,€when€she€beganÐ e Ðreceiving€public€assistance€benefits,€she€was€informed€that€she€had€assigned€her€right€to€receiveÐ þN Ðchild€support€to€the€State.€€Mitchell€was€unsure€whether€she€was€receiving€public€assistance€at€theÐ ç 7 Ðtime€that€she€attempted€to€administratively€terminate€Leaððs€child€support€obligation.€€MitchellÐ Ð!   Ðasserted€that€Lea€had€tried€to€pay€the€State€on€his€arrearage€owed€to€the€State€with€a€$1,000€check,Ð ¹" ! Ðbut€she€said€that€Leaððs€check€was€sent€back.€€She€indicated€that€Leaððs€income€tax€refund€from€2001Ð ¢#ò" Ðhad€been€intercepted€by€the€State€to€pay€child€support€arrears,€but€that€she€did€not€believe€that€theÐ ‹$Û# Ðgovernment€had€any€reason€to€keep€that€money.Ð t%Ä $ ÐÌà  àThe€State€asserted€that,€as€of€April€2003,€€Lea€owed€$14,683.32€in€child€support€arrearsÐ F'–"& Ðunder€the€September€1993€Order.€€The€State€claimed€that,€because€Mitchell€had€€received€publicÐ /(#' Ðassistance€benefits€off€and€on€from€1993€to€2002,€she€had€assigned€all€of€her€rights€to€child€supportÐ )h$( Ðto€the€State.€€The€State€further€argued€that€Lea€was€not€entitled€to€credit€for€any€direct€paymentsÐ *Q%) Ðmade€to€Mitchell,€because€the€payments€were€not€made€through€the€State€disbursement€unit€asÐ ê*:&* Ðrequired€by€statute.€€The€State€also€offered€proof€that,€even€after€Mitchell€attempted€toÐ Ó+#'+ Ðadministratively€close€her€case€in€May€1996,€it€would€have€been€reactivated€by€her€receipt€of€publicÐ ° Ðassistance€benefits€in€June€1998.Ð ™é ÐÌà  àAt€the€conclusion€of€the€hearing,€the€Juvenile€Court€Judge€confirmed€the€decision€of€theÐ k» ÐJuvenile€Court€Referee.€€The€Juvenile€Court€found€that€the€local€DHS€office€had€informed€MitchellÐ T¤ Ðthat€her€case€would€be€closed€by€her€execution€of€the€JC„94€form€in€May€1996.€€The€Juvenile€CourtÐ =  Ðreasoned€that€ð ðthe€State€[sought]€to€perpetrate€a€fraud€on€the€parties€by€allowing€them€to€rely€uponÐ & v Ðthe€Stateððs€assurances€that€their€order€[sic]€had€been€closed€and€then€10€years€later€arguing€that€theÐ  _ Ðclosure€was€not€effective€.€.€.€.ðð€€Based€on€this,€the€Juvenile€Courtððs€written€Order€stated€that€theÐ ø H ÐSeptember€1993€Order€was€dismissed€as€of€May€14,€1996,€when€the€parties€requested€closure€of€theÐ á 1  Ðcase.€€€Ô#†XsXXXÊ¿¤#ÔÔ‡XÊ¿XXXsÔThe€Juvenile€Court€Judge€also€confirmed€the€Juvenile€Court€Refereeððs€conclusion€that€LeaÐ Ê   Ðshould€receive€a€credit€against€his€child€support€arrearage€of€$14,000€for€necessaries€he€had€providedÐ ³  Ðto€Nicholas,€stating€that€it€was€ð ðsatisfied€with€truthfulness€of€[Mitchellððs]€testimonyðð€that€Lea€hadÐ œì  Ðprovided€such€support.€€Accordingly,€the€Juvenile€Court€Judge€confirmed€the€decision€of€theÐ …Õ  ÐJuvenile€Court€Referee.€€The€State€now€appeals€that€order.Ð n¾  Ѐ€Ð W§  ÐÌò òòòòòState€ex€rel.€Yarbrough€v.€Johnson,€No.€139021ó óóóóóÐ )y ÐÌà  àOn€May€9,€1989,€Katherine€Ann€Yarbrough€(ð ðYarbroughðð)׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€filed€a€petition€in€Juvenile€CourtÐ úJ Ðagainst€Respondent/Appellee€William€Reed€Johnson€(ð ðJohnsonðð)€for€child€support€for€€threeÐ ã3 Ðchildren€born€of€the€partiesðð€marriage,€Candice€Mitchell€Johnson€(born€September€19,€1985),Ð Ì ÐKimberly€Ann€Johnson€(born€June€1,€1987),€and€Jessica€D.€Johnson€(born€April€27,€1989).׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€JohnsonÐ µ Ðdid€not€file€an€answer€to€the€petition.€€On€May€22,€1989,€the€Juvenile€Court€Referee€found€JohnsonÐ žî Ðin€default€and€ordered€him€to€pay€child€support€of€$525€per€month,€including€the€clerkððs€fee€(ð ðMayÐ ‡× Ð1989€Orderðð).€€On€May€30,€1989,€the€Juvenile€Court€issued€an€income€assignment€in€that€amount,Ð pÀ Ðdirecting€that€Johnsonððs€child€support€payments€be€made€to€the€State€central€collection€andÐ Y© Ðdisbursement€unit.׃Þ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Soon€thereafter,€Yarbrough€filed€a€petition€in€the€Juvenile€Court€for€contemptÐ B’ Ðfor€Johnsonððs€failure€to€pay€child€support€under€the€May€1989€Order.€€On€November€29,€1990,€theÐ +{ ÐJuvenile€Court€denied€Yarbroughððs€contempt€petition€and€ordered€that€all€of€Johnsonððs€child€supportÐ d Ðarrearages€up€to€that€date€be€forgiven.Ð ýM ÐÐ æ 6 Ðà  àOn€October€3,€1995,€Yarbrough€filed€a€petition€in€the€Juvenile€Court€to€modify€the€May€1989Ð ° ÐOrder.€€On€October€11,€1995,€the€Juvenile€Court€entered€an€order€decreasing€Johnsonððs€child€supportÐ ™é Ðobligation€from€$525€per€month€to€$378€per€month€beginning€on€October€15,€1995,€by€agreementÐ ‚Ò Ðof€the€parties€(ð ðOctober€1995€Orderðð).€€On€November€9,€1995,€the€Juvenile€Court€issued€an€incomeÐ k» Ðassignment€order€for€$378€per€month.Ð T¤ ÐÌà  àOn€December€11,€2002,€Johnson€filed€a€motion€to€modify,€seeking€a€further€decrease€in€hisÐ & v Ðchild€support€payments€due€to€a€change€in€circumstances.€€That€same€day,€the€Juvenile€CourtÐ  _ Ðconducted€a€hearing€on€Johnsonððs€motion€to€modify.€€The€record€on€appeal€contains€a€transcript€ofÐ ø H Ðthat€hearing,€at€which€both€Yarbrough€and€Johnson€gave€unsworn€statements.€€They€said€that€theyÐ á 1  Ðwere€divorced€in€September€1998,€and€that€the€children€had€lived€with€each€of€them€at€differentÐ Ê   Ðtimes€over€the€years.€€At€the€time€of€their€divorce,€Johnson€had€custody€of€all€three€children,€but€heÐ ³  Ðdid€not€request€any€child€support€from€Yarbrough,€and€the€divorce€court€apparently€held€the€childÐ œì  Ðsupport€issue€in€abeyance.׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×ò òó ó€€At€the€time€of€the€Juvenile€Court€hearing€on€Johnsonððs€motion€to€modifyÐ …Õ  Ðhis€child€support€obligation,€one€of€the€children€lived€with€Johnson,€and€the€other€two€children€livedÐ n¾  Ðwith€Yarbrough.€€Apparently€both€parties€were€receiving€public€assistance€benefits€at€the€time€of€theÐ W§  Ðhearing.€€Based€on€those€facts,€the€Juvenile€Court€Referee€attempted€to€set€the€partiesðð€child€supportÐ @ Ðobligations€to€one€another€based€on€their€salaries€at€that€time.€€By€this€method,€the€RefereeÐ )y Ðdetermined€that€Johnson€owed€Yarbrough€$612€per€month€for€two€children,€which€was€32%€of€hisÐ b Ð$2,344€monthly€income,€and€Yarbrough€owed€Johnson€$377€per€month€for€one€child,€which€wasÐ ûK Ð21%€of€her€$2,182€monthly€income.€€The€Referee€explained€to€the€parties€that€they€could€not€simplyÐ ä4 Ðagree€for€Johnson€to€pay€Yarbrough€the€difference€between€the€monthly€payments€($235€per€month),Ð Í Ðbecause€both€parties€were€accepting€public€assistance€benefits€at€the€time,€and€the€computersÐ ¶ Ðresponsible€for€tracking€the€child€support€information€could€not€process€payments€made€in€thatÐ Ÿï Ðmanner.€Ð ˆØ ЀÌà  àThe€Juvenile€Court€Referee€also€addressed€the€partiesðð€arrearages.€€Johnson€had€signed€anÐ Zª Ðaffidavit€on€January€16,€2002,€stating€that€the€amount€of€arrears€owed€by€Yarbrough€from€SeptemberÐ C“ Ð23,€1998,€through€December€31,€2001,€was€zero.€€Based€on€this,€the€Referee€determined€thatÐ ,| ÐYarbrough€owed€back€support€from€January€2002€through€December€2002€totaling€$4,524€($377Ð e Ðx€12€months).€€As€to€Johnson,€there€was€conflicting€evidence€about€the€amount€of€child€support€heÐ þN Ðhad€paid.€€After€hearing€the€testimony€of€the€parties,€however,€the€Referee€estimated€that€JohnsonÐ ç 7 Ðwas€$3,750€in€arrears€from€payments€due€in€early€1990€through€January€1,€2001.€€The€RefereeÐ Ð!   Ðdetermined€that€Johnson€owed€arrears€of€$1,495€for€2002.€€With€respect€to€Johnsonððs€obligations,Ð ¹" ! Ðthe€Referee€concluded€by€recommending€that€his€child€support€payments€be€increased€to€$612€perÐ ¢#ò" Ðmonth,€and€that€his€retroactive€child€support€arrears€be€established€at€$3,750€through€January€1,Ð ‹$Û# Ð2002,€to€be€paid€at€the€rate€of€$50€per€month.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€On€December€13,€2002,€the€State€filed€a€request€forÐ t%Ä $ Ða€hearing€before€the€Juvenile€Court€Judge,€which€was€granted€on€the€same€day.Ð ]&­!% ÐÐ F'–"& Ðà  àOn€May€8,€2002,€the€Juvenile€Court€conducted€a€hearing€on€the€matter.€€The€record€on€appealÐ ° Ðcontains€a€transcript€of€that€hearing.€€At€the€hearing,€no€witnesses€were€sworn,€but€the€trial€courtÐ ™é Ðheard€arguments€from€the€State,€Johnson,€and€Yarbrough.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€State€argued€that,€according€to€theÐ ‚Ò ÐStateððs€records,€Johnsonððs€child€support€arrearage€was€$50,625.05€as€of€April€30,€2003,€because,Ð k» Ðuntil€2001,€Johnson€paid€no€support€through€the€Court,€as€he€was€ordered€to€do.€€During€the€hearing,Ð T¤ Ðthe€Juvenile€Court€Judge€requested€to€see€the€ð ðsocial€fileðð€on€the€case.€€The€Juvenile€Court€JudgeÐ =  Ðobserved€that€the€file€included€a€JC„94€form,€signed€by€Yarbrough€in€1998,€which€purported€toÐ & v Ðadministratively€terminate€her€case.€€The€JC„94€form€to€which€the€Juvenile€Court€Judge€referred€wasÐ  _ Ðnot€entered€into€evidence,€nor€was€it€included€in€the€appellate€record.€€The€State€argued€that€the€JC„Ð ø H Ð94€form€was€intended€only€to€terminate€Title€IV„D€services€and€would€not€stop€Johnsonððs€childÐ á 1  Ðsupport€obligation€under€the€courtððs€previous€orders.€€The€State€maintained€that,€in€a€Title€IV„DÐ Ê   Ðcase,€both€state€and€federal€law€prevented€the€parties€from€modifying€the€previous€child€supportÐ ³  Ðorders€absent€a€petition€for€modification€and€an€order€of€the€court.€€The€Juvenile€Court€JudgeÐ œì  Ðdisagreed,€asking€the€Stateððs€counsel,€ð ðWhatððs€the€difference€between€this€and€yððall€sending€anÐ …Õ  ÐAdministrative€Order€out?€€Itððs€an€administrative€act€of€the€court.ðð€€Yarbrough€indicated€that€sheÐ n¾  Ðstopped€receiving€welfare€benefits€when€she€started€a€job€in€October€1996,€but€acknowledged€thatÐ W§  Ðshe€continued€to€receive€TennCare€benefits.€€Johnson€pointed€out€to€the€Juvenile€Court€that,€on€fourÐ @ Ðoccasions,€he€had€sent€a€check€in€the€amount€of€$906.82€to€the€State€to€reimburse€it€for€the€publicÐ )y Ðassistance€benefits€paid€to€Yarbrough.€€Each€time,€he€claimed,€the€money€was€sent€back€to€him.€€InÐ b Ðresponse,€the€State€explained€that€the€money€would€not€be€accepted€from€Johnson€to€reimburse€theÐ ûK ÐState€until€Yarbrough€was€first€paid€her€child€support.€€Both€Johnson€and€Yarbrough€indicated€toÐ ä4 Ðthe€Juvenile€Court€that€they€wanted€to€terminate€Johnsonððs€child€support€obligation€at€that€time€andÐ Í Ðto€forgive€his€child€support€arrearage.€€The€State€maintained,€however,€that€Johnsonððs€obligationÐ ¶ Ðcould€not€be€modified€retroactively.€Ð Ÿï ЀÌà  àAt€the€conclusion€of€the€hearing,€the€Juvenile€Court€Judge€rejected€the€recommendation€ofÐ qÁ Ðthe€Juvenile€Court€Referee€and€found€in€favor€of€Johnson.€€The€Juvenile€Court€entered€a€writtenÐ Zª Ðorder€dismissing€its€previous€orders€relating€to€child€support.€€The€Juvenile€Court€Judge€reasonedÐ C“ Ðthat€in€1988,€Johnson€and€Yarbrough€had€gone€to€the€local€Title€IV„D€agency€to€close€their€case,€andÐ ,| Ðwere€assured€by€the€child€support€office€representatives€that€signing€the€JC„94€form€was€all€that€wasÐ e Ðneeded€to€terminate€the€support€order.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€Juvenile€Court€further€noted€that,€for€several€years,€allÐ þN Ðof€the€children€lived€with€Johnson,€and€observed€that€Yarbrough€wanted€no€court„ordered€supportÐ ç 7 Ðor€Title€VI„D€services.€€The€Juvenile€Court€indicated€that€ð ð[n]o€proof€was€offered€to€justify€theÐ Ð!   ÐStateððs€position€or€to€prove€that€the€State€had€any€right€to€require€the€payment€of€support.ðð€€BasedÐ ¹" ! Ðon€those€factors,€the€Juvenile€Court€granted€Johnsonððs€motion€to€modify,€and€ordered€that€ð ðtheÐ ¢#ò" Ðâ âprevious€order€of€the€Court€of€October€11,€1995,€and€all€orders€since€that€time€be€dismissed.ðð€€TheÐ ‹$Û# ÐJuvenile€Court€noted€that€its€ruling€was€without€prejudice€to€the€right€of€the€State€to€collect€anyÐ ° Ðmoney€owed€to€the€State€by€either€parent.€€The€State€now€appeals€that€order.€Ð ™é Ðâ â€Ìà  àOn€August€11,€2003,€the€Mitchell€and€Yarbrough€cases€were€consolidated€for€appeal.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú11Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð k» Ðò òòòòòÌÌAnalysisÐ $ t Ðó óóóóóÌà  àOn€appeal,€the€State€argues€that€in€both€cases€the€Juvenile€Court€erred€in€forgiving€theÐ õ E Ðobligor€parentððs€child€support€arrearages€in€violation€of€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€36„5„Ð Þ .  Ð101(a)(5).€€The€State€asserts€that€the€Juvenile€Court€lacked€jurisdiction€to€forgive€the€arrearagesÐ Ç   Ðunder€the€September€1993€and€October€1995€Orders€for€the€period€of€time€prior€to€the€date€theÐ °  Ðmotions€for€modification€were€filed€and€notice€given€to€the€opposing€parties€in€accordance€with€theÐ ™é  Ðstatute.€€Further,€the€State€contends€that€the€Juvenile€Court€erred€by€depriving€the€State€of€childÐ ‚Ò  Ðsupport€arrearages€which€had€been€assigned€to€the€State€by€operation€of€law€as€a€result€of€the€receiptÐ k»  Ðof€public€assistance€benefits€by€the€obligee€parents€for€the€benefit€of€the€children€in€accordance€withÐ T¤  ÐTennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€71„3„124.€€The€State€also€claims€that€the€Juvenile€Court€erred€byÐ = Ðdeclaring€the€September€1993€and€October€1995€Orders€to€be€ð ðdismissedðð€without€any€basis€forÐ &v Ðgranting€relief€from€the€judgments€pursuant€to€Rule€60€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure.€Ð _ ÐFinally,€the€State€argues€that€the€Juvenile€Court€erred€in€relying€on€the€JC„94€forms€in€both€cases,Ð øH Ðbecause€those€documents€were€not€properly€authenticated,€not€admitted€into€evidence,€not€includedÐ á1 Ðin€the€record,€and€not€the€subject€of€judicial€notice.Ð Ê Ѐ€€€Ð ³ Ðà  àA€trial€courtððs€findings€of€fact€are€reviewed€òòde€novoóó€on€the€record,€and€those€findings€areÐ œì Ðpresumed€to€be€correct€unless€the€evidence€preponderates€otherwise.€€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(d).€Ð …Õ ÐQuestions€of€law€are€reviewed€òòde€novoóó,€with€no€presumption€of€correctness.€€òòò òJahn€v.€Jahnó óóó,€932Ð n¾ ÐS.W.2d€939,€941€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1996).Ð X¨ ÐÌà  àWe€first€address€the€Stateððs€argument€that€the€Juvenile€Court€below€retroactively€modifiedÐ *z Ðthe€September€1993€and€October€1995€Orders.€€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€36„5„101(a)(5)Ð c Ðprovides:Ð üL ÐÌà8  à(5)€Any€order€for€child€support€shall€be€a€judgment€entitled€to€be€enforced€as€anyÐ Î!  Ðother€judgment€of€a€court€of€this€state€and€shall€be€entitled€to€full€faith€and€credit€inÐ ·"! Ðthis€state€and€in€any€other€state.€€ò òòòSuch€judgment€shall€not€be€subject€to€modificationÐ  #ð" Ðas€to€any€time€period€or€any€amounts€due€prior€to€the€date€that€an€action€forÐ Š$Ú# Ðmodification€is€filed€and€notice€of€the€action€has€been€mailed€to€the€last€knownÐ r% $ Ðaddress€of€the€opposing€parties.€óóó ó€If€the€full€amount€of€child€support€is€not€paid€byÐ Z&ª!% Ðthe€date€upon€which€the€ordered€support€is€due,€the€unpaid€amount€is€in€arrears€andÐ D'”"& Ðshall€become€a€judgment€for€the€unpaid€amounts€and€shall€accrue€interest€from€theÐ -(}#' Ðdate€of€the€arrearage€at€the€rate€of€twelve€percent€(12%)€per€annum.€€All€interestÐ ° Ðwhich€accumulates€on€arrearages€shall€be€considered€child€support.€.€.€.€Ð™éÐ Ð  ÐÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„5„101(a)(5)€(2001€&€Supp.€2003).€€Thus,€under€the€plain€language€of€theÐ k» Ðstatute,€an€order€for€child€support€is€not€ð ðsubject€to€modification€as€to€any€time€period€or€anyÐ T¤ Ðamounts€dueðð€before€a€petition€for€modification€is€filed€by€one€of€the€parties€and€notice€is€givenÐ =  Ðaccording€to€the€statute.€€This€principle€was€recognized€by€the€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€inÐ & v Ðò òòòRutledge€v.€Barrettóóó ó,€802€S.W.2d€604€(Tenn.€1991).€€The€ò òòòRutledgeó óóó€Court€first€noted€that€the€statuteÐ  _ Ðwas€amended€in€1987€to€conform€to€strict€federal€requirements€under€which€Tennessee€courtsÐ ù I Ðð ðwould€lose€their€ability€to€forgive€past€arrearages€in€child€support€cases.ðð€€The€ò òòòRutledgeó óóó€Court€heldÐ â 2  Ðthat€ð ð[t]he€language€of€the€1987€amendments€could€not€be€more€clear.€€Retroactive€modificationsÐ Ì   Ðare€plainly€unauthorized;€prospective€modifications€can€be€made,€but€only€after€notice€as€providedÐ µ  Ðin€subsection€(a)(5).ðð€€òòò òRutledgeó óóó,€802€S.W.2d€at€606;€ò òòòsee€also€Alexander€v.€Alexanderó óóó,€34€S.W.3dÐ žî  Ð456,€460€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2000)€(noting€that€ð ða€court€has€no€power€to€alter€a€child€support€award€asÐ ˆØ  Ðto€any€period€of€time€occurring€prior€to€the€date€on€which€an€obligee€[parent]€files€his€or€herÐ qÁ  Ðpetitionðð);€ò òòòBaker€v.€State€ex€rel.€Bakeróóó ó,€No.€01A01„9509„CV„00428,€1997€WL€749452,€at€*2„*3Ð Zª  Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Dec.€5,€1997)€(discussing€the€history€Title€IV„D€and€the€effect€of€the€federalÐ D” Ðrequirements€on€Tennessee€legislation).Ð -} ÐÌà  àIn€the€consolidated€cases€at€bar,€the€Juvenile€Courtððs€rulings€involving€both€Lea€and€JohnsonÐ ÿO Ðwere€contrary€to€the€statuteððs€prohibition€against€retroactive€modification€of€a€child€support€order.€Ð è8 ÐIn€both€cases,€the€trial€court€was€persuaded€by€the€partiesðð€insistence€that€they€no€longer€wantedÐ Ñ! Ðcurrent€child€support€nor€did€they€want€to€collect€past€child€support€arrearages.€€In€Leaððs€case,Ð º  ÐMitchell€had€completed€a€JC„94€form€at€the€local€DHS€office€and€said€that€she€was€informed€at€theÐ £ó Ðtime€that€execution€of€the€form€meant€that€Lea€would€no€longer€be€obligated€to€pay€child€supportÐ ŒÜ Ðunder€the€September€1993€Order.€€Similarly,€Yarbrough€also€completed€a€JC„94€form€in€an€attemptÐ uÅ Ðto€terminate€her€receipt€of€Title€IV„D€benefits€and€cancel€Johnsonððs€obligation€to€pay€child€supportÐ ^® Ðunder€the€May€1989€Order,€as€modified€in€the€October€1995€Order.€€Regardless€of€the€misinformedÐ G— Ðbelief€of€€Mitchell€and€Yarbrough€that€their€execution€of€the€JC„94€forms€would€effectively€cancelÐ 0€ ÐLeaððs€and€Johnsonððs€child€support€obligations€under€the€previous€court€orders,€section€36„5„Ð i Ð101(a)(5)€plainly€requires€that€ð ðan€action€for€modificationðð€be€filed€with€the€court€and€that€noticeÐ  R Ðbe€given€in€order€to€modify€the€established€child€support€orders.€€Therefore,€we€are€compelled€toÐ ë ; Ðreverse€the€Juvenile€Courtððs€rulings€to€the€extent€that€they€ð ðdismissedðð€the€established€child€supportÐ Ô!$  Ðorders€and€forgave€Leaððs€and€Johnsonððs€child€support€arrearages€for€the€period€of€time€prior€to€theÐ ½" ! Ðfiling€of€the€petitions€to€modify,€because€dismissing€such€child€support€orders€constitutes€anÐ ¦#ö" Ðimpermissible€retroactive€modification€of€those€orders.òòò ò€€See€Johnson€v.€Johnsonó óóó,€No.€E2003„00130„Ð $ß# ÐCOA„R3„CV,€2003€WL€22258180,€at€*3€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Sept.€29,€2003)€(finding€that€ð ð[i]t€is€well„Ð y%É $ Ðsettled€that€child€support€payments€cannot€be€altered,€reduced€or€forgiven€by€the€court€once€theyÐ b&²!% Ðbecome€due,ðð€even€when€custody€has€changed€from€one€parent€to€another).Ð K'›"& Ðà  àFurthermore,€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€71„3„124€mandates€that€the€right€to€receive€childÐ 4(„#' Ðsupport€of€applicants€and€recipients€of€public€assistance€benefits€in€a€Title€IV„D€case€is€assigned€toÐ )m$( Ðthe€State.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€71„3„124€(1995€&€Supp.€2003);€ò òòòsee€Bakeró óóó,€1997€WL€749452,€at€*3.€Ð *V%) ÐFederal€law€prohibits€the€closure€of€a€Title€IV„D€case€so€long€as€there€is€a€child€support€arrearageÐ ð*@&* Ðdue€and€assigned€to€the€State€as€a€result€of€the€familyððs€receipt€of€public€assistance€benefits.€€45Ð Ù+)'+ ÐC.F.R.€ðð€303.11(b)(8);€ò òòòsee€State€ex€rel.€Mitchell€v.€Armstrongó óóó,€No.€W2003„01687„COA„R3„JV,Ð ° Ð2004€WL€239811,€at€*4€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Sept.€3,€2004).€€In€ò òòòArmstrongó óóó,€the€mother€establishedÐ šê Ðpaternity€against€the€father€of€the€partiesðð€child€in€juvenile€court,€and€the€father€was€ordered€to€payÐ „Ô Ðchild€support€to€the€mother.€€Prior€to€establishing€the€fatherððs€paternity,€the€mother€had€receivedÐ m½ Ðpublic€assistance€benefits€to€care€for€the€child.€€Consequently,€her€case€was€a€Title€IV„D€case,€andÐ V¦ Ðthe€father€was€required€to€make€his€child€support€payments€through€DHS,€the€central€collections€andÐ ?  Ðdisbursement€unit€in€Tennessee.€€The€father€failed€to€pay€the€required€support,€and€the€State€filedÐ ( x Ða€motion€for€contempt€against€him€in€the€juvenile€court.€€At€a€hearing€on€the€motion€for€contempt,Ð  a Ðthe€mother€indicated€to€the€juvenile€court€referee€that€the€parties€had€reached€a€private€agreementÐ ú J Ðregarding€child€support.€€The€mother€stated€that€she€wanted€to€stop€receiving€Title€IV„D€benefits€andÐ ã 3  Ðwanted€to€have€the€father€pay€child€support€directly€to€her€in€accordance€with€the€partiesðð€privateÐ Ì   Ðagreement.€€The€juvenile€court€referee€approved€the€partiesðð€private€agreement€and€found€that€itÐ µ  Ðconformed€to€the€child€support€guidelines,€even€though€the€terms€of€the€purported€agreement€wereÐ žî  Ðundisclosed.€€The€juvenile€court€judge€affirmed€the€recommendation€of€the€referee€because€theÐ ‡×  Ðmother€had€asked€that€the€fatherððs€child€support€payments€be€suspended,€and€because€the€motherÐ pÀ  Ðstated€that€she€no€longer€wanted€any€Title€IV„D€services.€€ò òòòArmstrongó óóó,€2004€WL€239811,€at€*2„*3.Ð Y©  ÐÌà  àOn€appeal,€the€State€argued,€among€other€things,€that€even€though€the€mother€was€no€longerÐ ,| Ðreceiving€Title€IV„D€benefits,€the€juvenile€court€could€not€honor€the€motherððs€request€to€terminateÐ e Ðthe€fatherððs€child€support€obligation€or€end€the€Title€IV„D€services€provided€to€her.€€The€appellateÐ þN Ðcourt€agreed€and€reversed€the€juvenile€courtððs€decision.€€The€appellate€court€reasoned€that,€ð ðwhenÐ ç7 Ða€parent€receives€public€benefits€from€the€State,€federal€and€state€law€both€provide€that€the€parentÐ Ð  Ðhas€assigned€his€or€her€right€to€support€from€any€other€source€to€the€State,€42€U.S.C.€ðð€608€(a)(3);Ð ¹  ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€71„3„124(a)(1)€(Supp.€2003)€.€.€.€.ðð€€ò òòòId.ó óóó€at€*4.€€Furthermore,€the€court€held€thatÐ ¢ò Ðð ð[u]nder€federal€law,€a€request€by€the€recipient€parent€to€end€Title€IV„D€services€may€be€honoredÐ ŒÜ Ðonly€if€the€recipient€meets€at€least€one€of€the€criteria€set€forth€in€the€regulation.€€45€C.F.R.€ðð€303.11.ðð€Ð uÅ Ѐò òòòId.ó óóó€€€Because€the€fatherððs€arrearage€in€that€case€had€not€been€paid€and€the€State€had€not€been€paidÐ ^® Ðits€assigned€arrearage,€the€mother€could€not€meet€any€of€the€criteria€necessary€to€end€her€Title€IV„DÐ H˜ Ðservices.€€Thus,€the€appellate€court€held€that€the€juvenile€court€erred€in€granting€the€motherððs€requestÐ 1 Ðto€end€the€fatherððs€child€support€obligation€and€the€Title€IV„D€services.€€ò òòòId.ó óóóÐ j ÐÌà  àIn€this€consolidated€appeal,€as€to€both€Lea€and€Johnson,€the€Juvenile€Court€ð ðdismissedðð€theÐ í = Ðestablished€child€support€orders€and€terminated€Leaððs€and€Johnsonððs€past€and€future€child€supportÐ Ö!&  Ðobligations€based€on€the€request€of€the€parties.€€As€was€explained€in€òòò òArmstrongó óóó,€the€Juvenile€CourtÐ ¿"! Ðwas€without€authority€to€honor€the€partiesðð€request€in€light€of€their€receipt€of€Title€IV„D€benefits€andÐ ©#ù" Ðthe€fact€that€the€State€had€not€been€paid€its€assigned€arrearage.€€Therefore,€as€to€both€Lea€andÐ ’$â# ÐJohnson,€we€reverse€the€Juvenile€Courtððs€decision€to€dismiss€the€child€support€orders€and€toÐ {%Ë $ Ðterminate€their€future€child€support€obligations.Ð d&´!% Ðà  àFinally,€in€Leaððs€case,€the€State€argues€that€the€Juvenile€Court€erred€in€giving€Lea€credit€forÐ M'"& Ð$14,000€in€necessaries€purportedly€paid€to€the€custodial€mother€for€the€benefit€of€his€child.€€TheÐ 6(†#' ÐState€argues€that€the€trial€court€had€no€factual€or€legal€basis€for€granting€such€credits€to€Lea.€€GivingÐ )o$( ÐLea€credit€for€necessaries€paid€on€behalf€of€Nicholas,€the€State€argues,€violates€Tennessee€CodeÐ *X%) ÐAnnotated€sections€36„5„101(a)(4)(A)(ii)€and€36„5„101(a)(5),€because€those€statutes€prohibit€makingÐ ñ*A&* Ðchild€support€payments€directly€to€the€obligee€parent.€€Section€36„5„101(a)(4)(A)(ii)€requires€that,Ð Ú+*'+ Ðin€a€Title€IV„D€case,€the€court€must€order€that€the€payments€be€made€to€the€central€collection€andÐ ° Ðdisbursement€unit.€€Further,€the€statute€states€expressly€that€ð ð[n]o€credit€shall€be€given€by€the€court,Ð ™é Ðthe€court€clerk€or€the€[DHS]€for€child€.€.€.€support€payments€required€by€the€support€order€that€areÐ ‚Ò Ðmade€in€contravention€of€such€requirements€.€.€.€.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„5„101(a)(4)(A)(ii)€(2001Ð k» Ð&€Supp.€2003);€ò òòòsee€State€ex€rel.€Patterson€v.€Frenchó óóó,€No.€W2000„02668„COA„R3„CV,€2002€WLÐ T¤ Ð1349498,€at€*4€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Feb.€5,€2002)€(holding€that€trial€court€has€no€discretion€to€direct€thatÐ > Ž Ðpayments€be€made€directly€to€the€parties).€€In€addition,€the€State€argues,€Lea€did€not€submitÐ ' w Ðsufficient€proof€of€necessaries€purportedly€provided€by€him€that€were€not€being€provided€by€eitherÐ  ` Ðthe€State€or€by€Mitchell.€€Moreover,€regardless€of€whether€Lea€is€entitled€to€such€credits,€the€StateÐ ù I Ðargues,€he€still€owes€child€support€arrears€that€were€assigned€to€the€State.Ð â 2  ÐÌà  àUnder€the€so„called€ð ðnecessaries€rule,ðð€a€non„custodial€parent€may€be€entitled€to€a€credit€forÐ ´  Ðmoney€spent€on€necessaries€for€his€child€ð ðif€such€payments€are€for€necessaries€that€the€custodialÐ í  Ðparent€either€failed€to€provide€or€refused€to€provide.ðð€€òòò òCastle€v.€Bakeró óóó,€No.€E2000„02772„COA„R3„Ð †Ö  ÐCV,€2001€WL€1105321,€at€*3„*4€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Sept.€21,€2001);€ò òòòsee€Peychek€v.€Rutherfordó óóó,€No.Ð pÀ  ÐW2003„01805„COA„R3„JV,€2004€WL€1269313,€at€*3€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€June€8,€2004).€€The€ò òòòPeychekó óóóÐ Zª  Ðcourt€discussed€the€parameters€of€the€rule:Ð D” ÐÌà8  à[T]he€credit€for€necessaries€cannot€exceed€the€amount€of€support€due€for€the€periodÐ f Ðduring€which€the€necessaries€were€furnished.€.€.€.€€The€obligation€to€provideÐ ÿO Ðnecessaries€requires€the€provision€of€appropriate€food,€shelter,€tuition,€medical€care,Ð è8 Ðlegal€services,€and€funeral€expenses€as€are€needed.€€What€items€are€appropriate€andÐ Ñ! Ðneeded€depends€on€the€parentððs€ability€to€provide€and€this€issue€is€to€be€determinedÐ º  Ðby€the€trier€of€fact.€.€.€.УóÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àIn€order€to€maintain€a€successful€claim€for€necessaries,€the€plaintiff€mustÐ uÅ Ðprove:€(1)€that€the€child€needed€the€particular€goods€or€services€that€were€provided,Ð ^® Ð(2)€that€the€defendant€had€a€legal€obligation€to€provide€the€goods€or€services,€(3)€thatÐ G— Ðthe€defendant€failed€to€provide€the€goods€or€services,€and€(4)€the€actual€cost€of€theseÐ 0€ Ðgoods€or€services.ÓP^ÓÐiÐ Ð  ÐÓ2œÓò òòòPeycheckóóó ó,€2004€WL€1269313,€at€*4€(citations€omitted).€€Thus,€an€obligor€parent€seeking€credit€forÐ ë ; Ðnecessaries€must€show€that€the€expenditures€were€based€on€the€childððs€need€for€the€goods,€that€theÐ Õ!%  Ðcustodial€parent€was€responsible€for€but€failed€to€provide€the€goods,€and€the€actual€cost€of€the€goodsÐ ¾"! Ðprovided.€€ð ðThe€necessaries€rule€does€not€violate€T.C.A.€€ðð€36„5„101(a)(5)€ð!ð€the€statute€that€forbidsÐ §#÷" Ðthe€retroactive€modification€of€child€support€awards.ðð€€ò òòòId.ó óóó€at€*3€(footnote€omitted).€€€€Ð $à# Ðà  àIn€the€instant€case,€the€obligee€parent€Mitchell€testified€that€obligor€parent€Lea€had€madeÐ z%Ê $ Ðchild€support€payments€directly€to€her€over€a€period€of€time,€and€that€Lea€had€been€ð ðproviding€forÐ c&³!% Ðhis€child.ðð€€The€Juvenile€Court€Judge€noted€that€the€Juvenile€Court€Referee€had€determined€ð ðthatÐ L'œ"& Ð[Lea]€has€given€[Mitchell]€$14,000€of€payments€direct€to€her.ðð€€Based€on€Mitchellððs€testimony€andÐ 5(…#' Ðthe€refereeððs€conclusion,€the€Juvenile€Court€Judge€ordered€that€the€State€credit€Leaððs€obligation€inÐ )n$( Ðthe€amount€of€$14,000.Ð *W%) Ðâ âÐ ð*@&* Ðà  àUnder€the€standard€set€forth€in€ò òòòPeycheckó óóó,€the€evidence€submitted€by€Lea€is€insufficient€toÐ ° Ðâ âsupport€a€finding€that€he€provided€$14,000€worth€of€necessaries€for€Nicholas€during€the€time€inÐ šê Ðwhich€he€was€required€to€pay€child€support€under€the€September€1993€Order.€€There€was€noÐ ƒÓ Ðevidence€that€Nicholas€needed€a€good€or€service€which€was€not€provided€to€him,€no€evidence€thatÐ l¼ ÐLea€paid€for€any€necessary€good€or€service,€and€no€evidence€of€the€cost€of€such€a€necessary€goodÐ U¥ Ðor€service.€€The€evidence€showed€only€that€Lea€paid€monies€in€undetermined€amounts€directly€toÐ > Ž ÐMitchell.€€This€is€not€the€equivalent€of€providing€necessaries.€€ò òòòSee€Frenchó óóó,€2002€WL€1349498,€atÐ ' w Ð*4.€€Thus,€the€evidence€did€not€show€that€Leaððs€payments€met€the€requirements€of€ð ðnecessariesððÐ  a Ðunder€the€test€set€out€in€ò òòòPeycheckó óóó.€€Under€these€circumstances,€we€must€conclude€that€the€evidenceÐ ú J Ðpreponderates€against€the€Juvenile€Courtððs€decision€to€give€Lea€a€$14,000€credit€for€necessaries.€Ð ä 4  Ðò òòòSee€id.ó óóó€at€*5.Ð Í   ÐÌà  àThis€holding€pretermits€the€other€issues€raised€in€this€appeal.Ð  ð  ÐÌà  àThe€decision€of€the€trial€court€is€reversed€in€both€ò òòòState€ex€rel.€Mitchell€v.€Leaóóó ó€andòòò ò€State€exÐ r  Ðrel.€Yarbrough€v.€Johnsonó óóó,€and€the€causes€are€remanded€for€further€proceedings€not€inconsistentÐ \¬  Ðwith€this€Opinion.€€Costs€on€appeal€are€to€be€taxed€to€Appellee€Ray€Allen€Lea€and€Appellee€WilliamÐ F– ÐR.€Johnson,€for€which€execution€may€issue,€if€necessary.€€€Ô‡¼‡q»XXÊ¿Ôà p àà È àà  àà x àÐ / ÐÔ#†XÊ¿X»¼‡qÀ¨#ÔÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð ¼  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àHOLLY€M.€KIRBY,€Ô_ÔJUDGEÔ#†XsXXXÊ¿Ó/#ÔÐ ¥õ ÐÔ_Ô