’WPCƒ  ‡„[üN#?bĘdIS‹uMõ“ h‰E#.‹T|Wd^ĢuY¼Ū'<ɓŲ8č<©½2×óm5A[į8ł "Ł“l"ƒbbŠ9ūŅķ—ī‚ĆöĪć¦O r‘éśŒ•sppżĶƒĢ™~ū'oæ}  ką„č'ƒø šGpVŠ'ģFę'2ˆ-'ßJ”Õy;Z2ʼf¦”ŸXØ3w›q‚²ß”į­Ą4÷<›¹zŲßĻĶ]üVõ*óļW1øYŗŌƕAŸv¦Č˜xz–†œ •ĒĆ N›åŠ×é&Ęćo‡‚°ė|ŲżEšˆ{Ą™įEķé)Ź8ĘˆĢ™bČU‰qx10Ć9snS»–a;Œj2\”ä/’ZØG 6ę?­{Ģb’ C|2žŖ›)OņįŪ‰™‘ń¦~įž ’’ƒķAõ¾h¶±·M±+ał£kŽŠ"śrx²5jķ<ņ(fŚįeRŹT€œęLµ'„=©īŸ]l*}ŸōśŚ^hČób#É\ %% ^ + 0ˆ7 UNæ w 4# z7 ұ ƒ ’ m” U>« Ęé ĘÆ ĘuĘ;UNNOÄQ 0DEYģ[ųGGG’???????????????????b>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 0:FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF 0뀀€€ Bkk 0¤ˆ D3, D-_ 0KŒŒ AS×Ę* 0¤š 0D” A«Ų˜\\IB01S08\KNOXCLERK4ČČ,,,,ČČ0»pW/Ļ (`£Ŗ$””Ń€.ŃŃ8€½­»»d»»d8ŃŃ ż ŃÓ  Ó(ķ€"  Z6Times New Roman RegularD=ƒ.ź:i¢×+00 ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|x’U‹’ĄĄĄō\  `‹&Times New RomanLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(ÖĆ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular ŗŻ ƒRD±$ŻÓ  Óą  ąņņŚ  Ś2Ś  ŚóóŌ€ō’! ņ»»ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌņņIdóó.;€ņņsee€also€óóBernice€B.€Donald€&€Jennie€D.€Latta,€ņņThe€Dischargeability€of€Property€Settlement€and€HoldŠ ° ŠHarmless€Agreements€in€Bankruptcy:€An€Overview€of€šš€523(a)(15)óó,€31€Fam.€L.Q.€409,€409„10€(1997);€Richard€H.W.Š tÄ ŠMaloy,€ņņUsing€Bankruptcy€Court€to€Modify€Domestic€Relations€Decrees:€Problems€Created€by€šš€523(a)(15)óó,€31€Fam.Š 8ˆ ŠL.Q.€433,€434„35€(1997);€Michaela€M.€White,€ņņThe€Procedural€Plight€of€the€Property€Settlement€Creditoróó,€31€Fam.€L.Q.Š üL Š463,€463€(1997).(#Ć$ņņŚ  Ś0Ś  Śóó SCOGGINSBROWDER COASwineyGoddard P.J.solido$dischargeability&dischargeablilitydischargeable USC t]heLoudonsubpartsMcCaffertyBankrpretermitsLatta L.Q. H.W.MaloyVarnerIn Ina]limony īŻ ƒRD±$ŻÓ  Óą  ąņņŚ  Ś1Ś  ŚóóŌ€ō’! ņ»»ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌņņMcCaffertyóó,€96€F.3d€at€195€n.1;€Bankruptcy€Reform€Act€of€1994,€Pub.€L.€No.€103„394,€108€Stat.€4106€(1994). õŻ ƒRD±$ŻÓ  Óą  ąņņŚ  Ś3Ś  ŚóóŌ€ō’! ņ»»ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌDonald€&€Latta,€ņņsupraóó€note€2,€at€409;ņņóó€Maloy,€ņņsupraóó€note€2,€at€434;€White,€ņņsupraóó€note€2,€at€469.- ł-4’’2Emphasisņņóó(|G2{v$¤¤Ż ƒ£Ŗ!ŻŃ€.ŃŃ8€-»»dd8ŃŃ ż ŃÓ  ÓŻ  Żą  ąņņŚ  Ś0Ś  ŚóóŌ€ō¶%ņ»»Ō d(|3‡i$££Ż ƒ£Ŗ!ŻŃ€.ŃŃ8€-»»dd8ŃŃ ż ŃÓ  ÓŻ  ŻVVVV'’’dxd)!ČČČČdxdx( ±ž$’’ņ ņFigure€Ś  Ś1Ś  Śó ó^_X`YEž’<<C’’ƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3‡i$¢¢Ż ƒ£Ŗ!ŻŃ€.ŃŃ8€-»»dd8ŃŃ ż ŃÓ  ÓŻ  Ż($$””ņ ņŚ  Ś1Ś  Śó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’ HKKKKŻ ƒ£Ŗ!ŻŃ€.ŃŃ8€-»»ddČ8ŃŃ ż ŃÓ  ÓŻ  ŻŌ_ŌŃ  ŃŌ€¼-»»»ŌŃ8€X‘XXdģ»»d8ŃŃ  Ńą@ü ü ģąŌ‡ī<-ŌIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆŠ ° Šą@WW$ģąAT€KNOXVILLEŌ#†¼-»īī< #ԈŠ Ö& ŠÓ  ÓJuly€3,€2003€SessionŠ üL ŠŌ‡XX‘X»¼-ŌĢĢĢņ ņŌ#†¼-»XXX‘ń#ŌKAREN€THOMPSON€SCOGGINSņņóó€v.€LARRY€BROWDER€SCOGGINSņņóóŌ‡XX‘X»¼-Ōó óŠ Ņ " ŠĢą@@½½ģąņ ņAppeal€from€the€ą0 @ ąChancery€Court€for€Hamilton€CountyŠ Ņ " Šą@@ųųģąNo.€98„0224€€€€€€Howell€N.€Peoples,€ChancellorŠ ¾   ŠĢńńFILED€ńńńńOCTOBER€23,€Ō_Ō2003ńńńńńńAUGUSTńńńńŌ_ŌŠ –ę  Šą@@ģģ*ģąßA€V) °°` d€÷E<` Aߊ ‚Ņ  ŠĢą@@TTģąNo.€E2002„02923„Ō_ŌCOAŌ_Ō„R3„CVŠ }Ķ  ŠĢßA€V) °°` dE<T` Aߊ U„ Šó óĢĢÓ  ÓKaren€Thompson€Scoggins€(š šPlaintiffšš)€and€Larry€Browder€Scoggins€(š šDefendantšš)€were€divorcedŠ <Œ Šin€2000.€€The€divorce€judgment€ordered€Defendant€to€use€funds€from€his€401(k)€plan€to€pay€offŠ (x Šcertain€marital€debts€and€then€to€convey€the€remainder€of€the€401(k)€to€Plaintiff.€€Defendant€did€notŠ d Šdo€this.€€Instead,€Defendant€filed€for€bankruptcy,€listed€Plaintiff€as€a€creditor,€and€was€granted€aŠ P Šdischarge€in€bankruptcy.€€Plaintiff€filed€a€complaint€in€Chancery€Court€(š šTrial€Courtšš)€seeking€toŠ ģ< Šenforce€the€divorce€judgment.€€Defendant€claimed€the€debt€to€Plaintiff€was€discharged€in€bankruptcy.€Š Ų( ŠThe€Chancery€Court€held€that€the€discharge€in€bankruptcy€does€not€bar€Plaintiff€from€enforcing€herŠ Ä Šrights€in€Defendantššs€401(k)€plan.€€Defendant€appeals.€€We€reverse€and€remand.€€Š ° ŠÓÓĢĢņ ņTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€Reversed;€Š tÄ ŠCase€Remanded.ó óŠ `° ŠĢĢņņÓ  ÓŌ#†¼-»ąXX‘v#ŌŌ‡XX‘X.¼-ŌD.€Michael€Swiney,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€ņņCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.,€J.óó,Š $"t! Šjoined.€€Ō#†¼-»XXX‘  #ŌŌ‡XX‘X»¼-ŌņņHouston€M.€Goddard,€P.J.,óó€not€participatingņņóó.Š #`" ŠĢĢMitchell€A.€Byrd,€Chattanooga,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellant,€Larry€Browder€Scoggins.Š Ō%$!% ŠĢPhillip€C.€Lawrence,€Chattanooga,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellee,€Karen€Thompson€Scoggins.Š ¬'ü"' ŠÓq ÓĢĢĢĢĢŠ 4-„(-ż ŠŌ_Ō‡ņ ņOPINIONó óŌ#†¼-»XXX‘h #ŌŌ‡XX‘X»¼-ŌŠ ° ŠņņóóŌ#†¼-»XXX‘ķ #ŌÓ  ÓŌ€XX‘X»¼-ŌĢÓ  Óņ ņņņBackgroundóóó óŠ ˆŲ ŠÓ  ÓĢą  ąą ` ąPlaintiff€and€Defendant€were€divorced€by€a€Final€Judgment€of€Divorce€(š šFinalŠ `° ŠJudgmentšš)€entered€in€February€of€2000.€€The€Final€Judgment,€ņņinter€aliaóó,€ordered€Defendant€to€payŠ L œ ŠPlaintiff€$90,000€as€alimony€in€solido€š šfor€the€support€of€Plaintiffšš€and€in€a€separate€paragraphŠ 8 ˆ Šordered€Defendant€to€use€the€funds€from€his€401(k)€to€satisfy€specified€marital€debts€and€then€toŠ $ t Šconvey€the€remainder€of€the€401(k)€to€Plaintiff.€€The€paragraph€addressing€the€401(k)€further€orderedŠ  ` Šthat€š šDefendant€shall€not€encumber,€transfer,€liquidate€or€dissipate€the€funds€from€this€401(k)€planŠ ü L  Šuntil€after€the€debt€listed€in€paragraph€13€is€paid€and€Plaintiffššs€interest€in€the€[401(k)]€is€transferredŠ č 8  Što€her€by€a€Qualified€Domestic€Relations€Order.šš€€The€paragraph€addressing€the€401(k)€further€statedŠ Ō$  Šthat€if€Plaintiffššs€interest€in€the€401(k)€plan€when€added€to€other€property€granted€to€Plaintiff€in€theŠ Ą  Šdivorce€did€not€equal€the€net€marital€estate€received€by€Defendant€in€the€divorce,€then€DefendantŠ ¬ü  Šshall€owe€to€Plaintiff€š ša€sum€of€money€equal€to€this€difference€.€.€.€.šš€€A€separate€paragraph€of€theŠ ˜č  ŠFinal€Judgment€listed€thirteen€specific€marital€debts€that€Defendant€was€ordered€to€pay€using€theŠ „Ō  Šfunds€from€his€401(k)€and€stated€that€Defendant€š šshall€be€responsible€and€will€hold€PlaintiffŠ pĄ Šharmless€for€all€of€[the€specified]€debts€.€.€.€.šš€€€€€Š \¬ ŠĢą  ąą ` ąIn€April€of€2000,€Plaintiff€filed€a€Petition€for€Contempt€(š šPetitionšš)€allegingŠ 4„ ŠDefendant€had€refused€to€comply€with€the€provisions€of€the€Final€Judgment€that€ordered€him€to€payŠ  p Šoff€the€listed€debts€and€then€convey€the€remainder€of€his€401(k)€to€Plaintiff.€€Defendant€filed€forŠ  \ Šbankruptcy€in€October€of€2000.€€Š ųH ŠĢą  ąą ` ąDefendantššs€bankruptcy€petition,€among€other€things,€listed€the€specific€debts€thatŠ Š  ŠDefendant€was€ordered€to€pay€in€the€Final€Judgment,€claimed€the€401(k)€as€exempt€property,€andŠ ¼  Šnamed€Plaintiff€as€a€creditor.€€Plaintiff€received€notice€of€the€bankruptcy.€€Plaintiff€filed€a€proof€ofŠ Øų Šclaim€in€the€bankruptcy€court€for€an€unsecured€priority€claim€for€š š[a]limony,€maintenance,€or€supportŠ ”ä Šowed€to€a€spouse,€former€spouse,€or€child.šš€€Plaintiffššs€proof€of€claim€listed€the€total€amount€of€herŠ €Š Šclaim€as€š š$169,534.98+.šš€€This€figure€was€broken€down€with€$90,000€as€alimony€in€solido,Š l¼ Š$79,534.98€plus€interest€to€pay€off€the€thirteen€specific€marital€debts,€and€the€š š+šš€being€the€balanceŠ X Ø Šof€Defendantššs€401(k)€that€was€to€be€paid€to€her,€all€pursuant€to€the€Final€Judgment.€€However,Š D!” ŠPlaintiff€did€not€file€a€complaint€to€determine€the€dischargeability€of€any€debt€under€11€U.S.C.€ššŠ 0"€  Š523(a)(15).€€Defendant€was€granted€a€discharge€in€bankruptcy€in€January€of€2001.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Š #l! ŠĢą  ąą ` ąIn€March€of€2002,€Plaintiff€filed€a€Complaint€to€Enforce€Final€JudgmentŠ ō$D # Š(š šComplaintšš)€in€the€Trial€Court€alleging€Defendant€refused€to€comply€with€the€provisions€of€theŠ ą%0!$ ŠFinal€Judgment€regarding€his€401(k).€€Defendant€answered€the€Complaint€and€attached€a€copy€of€theŠ Ģ&"% ŠDischarge€of€Debtor€ordered€by€the€bankruptcy€court€in€January€of€2001.€Defendant€also€filed€a€PleaŠ ø'#& Šof€Discharge€in€Bankruptcy€and€a€motion€to€dismiss€claiming€that€the€issues€in€the€Complaint€wereŠ ¤(ō#' Šbarred€because€Plaintiff€failed€to€file€a€complaint€in€bankruptcy€court€to€deny€discharge€andŠ )ą$( ŠDefendant€was€granted€a€discharge€in€bankruptcy.€€Š |*Ģ%) ŠŠ h+ø&* Šą  ąą ` ąThe€Trial€Court€entered€two€orders€on€August€26,€2002,€allowing€Plaintiff€toŠ ° Šconsolidate€the€Petition€and€the€Complaint€and€denying€Defendantššs€motion€to€dismiss.€€In€the€ņņóóorderŠ œģ Šdenying€Defendantššs€motion€to€dismiss,€the€Trial€Court€held€that€š šthe€bankruptcy€dischargedŠ ˆŲ ŠDefendantššs€obligation€to€pay€the€debts€that€are€identified€in€the€final€judgment,€but€DefendantššsŠ tÄ Šbankruptcy€did€not€discharge€Defendantššs€obligation€to€transfer€so€much€of€his€401(k)€plan€andŠ `° Špension€plan€to€Plaintiff€that€the€Court€may€find€to€be€the€property€of€Plaintiff.ššņņó󀀩 L œ ŠĢą  ąą ` ąThe€parties€filed€a€joint€statement€of€undisputed€material€facts.€€Among€other€things,Š $ t Šthe€joint€statement€agreedņņóó€that€a€notice€of€the€Meeting€of€Creditors€that€listed€January€16,€2001,€asŠ  ` Šthe€deadline€to€file€complaints€with€the€bankruptcy€court€to€determine€the€dischargeability€of€debtsŠ ü L  Šwas€served€on€Plaintiff€as€a€creditor;€that€Plaintiff€filed€a€proof€of€claim€on€March€14,€2001;€and€thatŠ č 8  Šat€no€time€did€Plaintiff€file€a€complaint€to€determine€the€dischargeablility€of€any€debt€š šowed€to€herŠ Ō$  Šby€Defendant€pursuant€to€11€USC€šš523(a)(15).šš€€The€joint€statement€also€agreed€that€Defendant€š šhasŠ Ą  Šcontinued€to€pay€Plaintiff€the€alimony€in€solido€that€is€required€by€the€terms€of€the€final€judgmentŠ ¬ü  Šas€that€amount€is€non„dischargeable€under€11€USC€šš€523(a)(5).šš€€Further,€the€joint€statement€agreedŠ ˜č  Šthat€only€one€of€the€thirteen€specific€debts€listed€in€the€Final€Judgment€had€been€paid,€but€that€theseŠ „Ō  Šdebts€were€discharged€in€Defendantššs€bankruptcy€and€that€the€401(k)€was€abandoned€as€exemptŠ pĄ Šproperty€in€the€bankruptcy€proceeding.€€The€parties€also€agreed€in€the€joint€statement€that€DefendantŠ \¬ Šwas€granted€a€discharge€in€bankruptcy.€€€Š H˜ ŠĢą  ąą ` ąThe€case€proceeded€to€trial€and€the€Trial€Court€entered€its€Memorandum€Opinion€andŠ  p ŠOrder€on€November€20,€2002,€finding,€ņņinter€aliaóó,€that€theŠ  \ ŠĢą8  ą401(k)€plan€was€not€an€asset€of€the€bankruptcy€estate,€and,€in€fact,€it€had€already€beenŠ ä4 Šallocated€pursuant€to€the€divorce€judgment€to€the€payment€of€certain€debts€of€theŠ Š  Šparties€with€the€balance€or€residue€to€[Plaintiff].€€[Defendantššs]€function€with€regardŠ ¼  Što€the€use€of€the€funds€in€the€401(k)€plan€was€merely€ministerial.€€Pursuant€to€theŠ Øų Šdivorce€judgment,€[Defendant]€had€no€legal€or€equitable€interest€in€the€401(k)€planŠ ”ä Šat€the€time€he€filed€a€petition€in€bankruptcy.Š€ŠŠ Š  ŠĢThe€Trial€Court€held,€ņņinter€aliaóó,€that€š š[t]he€discharge€in€bankruptcy€does€not€bar€[Plaintiff]€fromŠ X Ø Šenforcing€her€rights€to€the€401(k)€planšš€and€ordered€the€parties€to€submit€a€Qualified€DomesticŠ D!” ŠRelations€Order€facilitating€the€transfer€of€the€401(k)€plan€to€Plaintiff.€€Defendant€appeals€to€thisŠ 0"€  ŠCourt.€€€€Š #l! ŠĢÓ  Óņ ņņņDiscussionóóó óŠ ō$D # ŠÓ  ÓĢą  ąą ` ąAlthough€not€stated€exactly€as€such,€Defendant€raises€four€issues€on€appeal:€1)Š Ģ&"% Šwhether€Defendantššs€debt€to€Plaintiff€concerning€Defendantššs€401(k)€falls€under€11€U.S.C.Š ø'#& Ššš523(a)(15);€2)€whether€this€debt€of€Defendant€to€Plaintiff€was€discharged€in€bankruptcy;€3)€whetherŠ ¤(ō#' Šthe€Trial€Court€had€jurisdiction€to€enter€its€August€26,€2002€orders;€and€4)€whether€Plaintiff€shouldŠ )ą$( Šbe€enjoined€from€taking€further€action€to€collect€the€debt€in€question.€€Plaintiff€raises€several€moreŠ |*Ģ%) Šissues€which€we€restate€as:€€1)€whether€the€Trial€Court€abused€its€discretion€in€denying€PlaintiffššsŠ h+ø&* Šrequest€for€attorneyššs€fees;€2)€whether€the€Trial€Court€erred€in€failing€to€protect€Plaintiffššs€interestŠ ° Šin€the€401(k)€from€being€reduced€by€any€loan€Defendant€owes€against€it;€3)€whether€the€Trial€CourtŠ œģ Šerred€by€fixing€the€value€of€Plaintiffššs€interest€in€the€401(k)€as€of€July€5,€2002;€and€4)€whetherŠ ˆŲ ŠPlaintiff€is€entitled€to€receive€damages€because€Defendantššs€appeal€is€frivolous.Š tÄ ŠĢą  ąą ` ąŌ‡ XYXXXYŌOur€review€is€Ż‚=’’’ŻņņŻ  Żde€novoóóŻ‚=’#/ƒŻŻ  Ż€upon€the€record,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€correctnessŠ L œ Šof€the€findings€of€fact€of€the€trial€court,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€Tenn.Š 8 ˆ ŠR.€App.€P.€13(d);€ņņBogan€v.€Boganóó,€60€S.W.3d€721,€727€(Tenn.€2001).€€A€trial€court's€conclusions€ofŠ $ t Šlaw€are€subject€to€a€Ż‚=’’’ŻņņŻ  Żde€novoóóŻ‚=’Š0ƒŻŻ  Ż€review€with€no€presumption€of€correctness.€€Ż‚=’’’ŻņņŻ  ŻS.€Constructors,€Inc.€v.Š  ` ŠLoudon€County€Bd.€of€Educ.Ż‚=’’’H1ƒŻóóŻ  Ż,€58€S.W.3d€706,€710€(Tenn.€2001).€Ō#†XYXX XYö.#ŌŌ‡XYXXXYŌŠ ü L  ŠŌ#†XYXXXY2#ŌĢą  ąą ` ąWe€begin€by€considering€whether€the€debt€in€question€falls€under€11€U.S.C.Š Ō$  Ššš523(a)(15).€€Section€523€Ō‡XYXXXYŌprovides€several€exceptions€to€discharge€in€a€bankruptcy€case.€€11€U.S.C.Š Ą  Ššš€523€(2003).€€Specifically,€two€subparts€of€šš€523,€namely€šš€523(a)(5)€and€šš€523(a)(15)€deal€withŠ ¬ü  Šmarital€debt€incurred€as€a€result€of€a€divorce€or€separation.€€ņņIdóó.€€Section€523(a)(5)€renders€non„Š ˜č  Šdischargeable€debts€š što€a€spouse,€former€spouse,€or€child€of€the€debtor,€for€alimony€to,€maintenanceŠ „Ō  Šfor,€or€support€of€such€spouse€or€child,€in€connection€with€a€separation€agreement,€divorce€decreeŠ pĄ Šor€other€order€of€a€court€of€record€.€.€.€.šš€€11€U.S.C.€šš€523(a)(5).€€Section€523(a)(15)€deals€with€debtsŠ \¬ Šother€than€those€addressed€by€šš523(a)(5)€that€are:€Š H˜ ŠĢą8  ąincurred€by€the€debtor€in€the€course€of€a€divorce€or€separation€or€in€connection€withŠ  p Ša€separation€agreement,€divorce€decree€or€other€order€of€a€court€of€record,€aŠ  \ Šdetermination€made€in€accordance€with€State€or€territorial€law€by€a€governmental€unitŠ ųH Šunless€„€„€Šä4Š Š  ŠĢą8  ąą ` ą(A)€the€debtor€does€not€have€the€ability€to€pay€such€debt€from€income€orŠ ¼  Šproperty€of€the€debtor€not€reasonably€necessary€to€be€expended€for€the€maintenanceŠ Øų Šor€support€of€the€debtor€or€a€dependent€of€the€debtor€and,€if€the€debtor€is€engaged€inŠ ”ä Ša€business,€for€the€payment€of€expenditures€necessary€for€the€continuation,Š €Š Špreservation,€and€operation€of€such€business;€orŠl¼Š Š  ŠĢą8  ąą ` ą(B)€discharging€such€debt€would€result€in€a€benefit€to€the€debtor€thatŠ D!” Šoutweighs€the€detrimental€consequences€to€a€spouse,€former€spouse,€or€child€of€theŠ 0"€  Šdebtor;Š#l!Š Š  ŠŌ#†XYXXXY3#ŌĢ11€U.S.C.€šš€523(a)(15).€€Š ō$D # ŠĢą  ąą ` ąPlaintiff€argues€that€her€interest€in€Defendantššs€401(k)€was€not€a€debt€at€all,€but€wasŠ Ģ&"% Ša€property€right€that€was€non„dischargeable€in€bankruptcy.€€Plaintiff€relies€upon€ņņMcCafferty€v.Š ø'#& ŠMcCaffertyóó,€a€Sixth€Circuit€case,€to€support€her€position.€€ņņMcCafferty€v.€McCaffertyóó,€96€F.3d€192Š ¤(ō#' Šā ā(6th€Cir.€1996).€€Unfortunately€for€Plaintiff,€the€issues€in€ņņMcCaffertyóó€arose€prior€to€the€BankruptcyŠ )ą$( ŠReform€Act€of€1994.׃ׯ ƒ#ĆŻņņŚ  Ś1Ś  ŚóóŻ  Ż×  ׀€The€Bankruptcy€Reform€Act€of€1994,€in€part,€amended€11€U.S.C.€šš€523€byŠ ° Šā āadding€subsection€(a)(15)€dealing€with€marital€debts€incurred€in€a€divorce€other€than€debts€in€theŠ œģ Šnature€of€alimony,€maintenance,€and€support.׃Tׯ ƒ#ĆŻņņŚ  Ś2Ś  ŚóóŻ  Ż×  ׀ņņóó€Prior€to€the€enactment€of€šš€523(a)(15),€marital€debtsŠ ˆŲ Šother€than€those€actually€in€the€nature€of€alimony,€maintenance,€and€support€were€dischargeable€inŠ tÄ Šbankruptcy.ņņóó׃šׯ ƒ#ĆŻņņŚ  Ś3Ś  ŚóóŻ  Ż×  ׀€The€new€subsection,€šš523(a)(15),€provided€that€some€other€marital€debts€could€nowŠ `° Šsurvive€a€discharge€in€bankruptcy.€€11€U.S.C.€šš€523(a)(15).€€With€the€enactment€of€šš€523(a)(15),Š L œ ŠCongress€demonstrated€an€intent€to€occupy€the€field€such€that€the€use€of€common€law€remedies,€likeŠ 8 ˆ Šthe€one€utilized€in€ņņMcCaffertyóó€to€prevent€a€marital€debt€from€being€discharged,€is€no€longerŠ $ t Šadvisable,€or€allowable€to€circumvent€discharge€under€bankruptcy€law.€€As€such,€we€find€PlaintiffššsŠ  ` Šreliance€upon€ņņMcCaffertyóó€and€similar€cases€that€employ€common€law€remedies€to€circumvent€theŠ ü L  Šdischarge€of€marital€debts€in€bankruptcy€to€be€misplaced.Š č 8  ŠĢą  ąą ` ąThe€Trial€Court€did€not€directly€address€the€question€of€whether€the€interest€in€theŠ Ą  Š401(k)€was€a€debt€or€some€other€type€of€interest.€€Instead,€the€Trial€Court€held€that€the€401(k)€planŠ ¬ü  Šnever€became€an€asset€of€the€bankruptcy€estate,€and,€therefore,€never€was€subject€to€dischargeŠ ˜č  Šbecause€Defendant€had€no€legal€or€equitable€interest€in€the€401(k)€plan€when€he€filed€for€bankruptcy.€Š „Ō  ŠWe€disagree.€€Defendant€was€ordered€in€the€Final€Judgment€to€utilize€a€portion€of€the€401(k)€to€payŠ pĄ Šoff€specific€marital€debts.€€These€specific€debts€were€debts€of€Defendantššs€as€well€as€being€debts€ofŠ \¬ ŠPlaintiffššs.€€As€such,€Defendant€was€to€use€the€funds€in€the€401(k)€for€his€benefit€to€pay€off€his€debt,Š H˜ Šas€well€as€for€the€benefit€of€Plaintiff.€€We,€therefore,€find€that€Defendant€continued€to€have€a€legalŠ 4„ Šor€equitable€interest€in€the€401(k)€after€entry€of€the€Final€Judgment.€€Since€Defendant€had€an€interestŠ  p Šin€the€401(k),€the€401(k)€became€a€part€of€the€bankruptcy€estate€pursuant€to€11€U.S.C.€šš€541(a)(1)Š  \ Šwhen€Defendant€filed€his€bankruptcy€petition.€€ņņSeeóó€11€U.S.C.€šš€541(a)(1)€(2003).€Š ųH Š€€Š ä4 Šą  ąą ` ąWe€now€consider€whether€the€debt€in€question€in€this€case,€Plaintiffššs€interest€inŠ Š  ŠDefendantššs€401(k)€plan,€is€a€marital€debt€that€falls€under€šš523€(a)(15),€or€is€in€the€nature€of€alimony,Š ¼  Šmaintenance€or€support€and€falls€under€šš€523(a)(5).€€State€courts€have€concurrent€jurisdiction€withŠ Øų Šbankruptcy€courts€to€determine€the€dischargeability€of€marital€debts€characterized€as€alimony,Š ”ä Šmaintenance€or€support€incurred€in€connection€with€a€divorce.€€ņņE.g.,€Varner€v.€Varneróó,€No.€E2001„Š €Š Š02917„COA„R3„CV,€2002€Tenn.€App.€LEXIS€691,€at€*8€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Sept.€25,€2002).€€š šTheŠ l¼ Šissue€of€when€an€assumption€of€joint€debts€is€ššin€the€nature€of€alimony,€maintenance,€or€supportšš€asŠ X Ø Šopposed€to€a€division€of€communal€property€is€to€be€determined€by€federal€bankruptcy€law.šš€€ņņIn€reŠ D!” ŠCalhounóó,€715€F.2d€1103,€1007€(6th€Cir.€1983).€€ņ ņ€€€€€€€€€€€€€Š 0"€  ŠŠ  #p! Šó óą  ąą ` ąThis€Court€has€adopted€as€persuasive€reasoning€an€analysis€to€determine€whether€anŠ ° Šaward€is€in€the€nature€of€alimony,€maintenance€or€support€as€set€forth€by€the€Sixth€Circuit€in€ņņIn€reŠ œģ ŠCalhounóó.€€ņņVarneróó,€2002€Tenn.€App.€LEXIS€691,€at€*8„9.€€Š ˆŲ ŠĢą8  ąą ` ąņņIn€re€Calhounóó,€715€F.2d€1103€(6th€Cir.€1983),€set€forth€a€four„part€test€toŠ `° Šdetermine€whether€the€assumption€of€a€debt€is€in€the€nature€of€alimony,€maintenanceŠ L œ Šor€support,€resulting€in€non„dischargeability€in€bankruptcy:€€Š8 ˆŠ Š  Šą8  ąŠ Š Š  Šą8  ąą ` ą1.€€Whether€the€state€court€or€the€parties€intended€to€create€an€obligation€toŠ  ` Šprovide€support€through€the€assumption€of€the€joint€debts;Šü L Š Š  Šą8  ąŠ Š Š  Šą8  ąą ` ą2.€€Whether€such€assumption€has€the€actual€effect€of€providing€the€supportŠ Ō$  Šnecessary€to€ensure€that€the€daily€needs€of€the€spouse€and€any€children€of€theŠ Ą  Šmarriage€are€satisfied;Ьü Š Š  Šą8  ąŠ Š Š  Šą8  ąą ` ą3.€€The€amount€of€support€represented€by€the€assumption€is€not€so€excessiveŠ „Ō  Šthat€it€is€manifestly€unreasonable€under€traditional€concepts€of€support.€ŠpĄŠ Š  Šą8  ąŠ Š Š  Šą8  ąą ` ą4.€€If€the€amount€of€support€is€unreasonable€how€much€of€[it]€should€beŠ H˜ Šdischarged€for€the€purposes€of€bankruptcy.€Š4„Š Š  ŠĢņņVarneróó,€2002€Tenn.€App.€LEXIS,€at€*8„9.Š  \ ŠĢą  ąą ` ąThe€record€does€not€show€that€the€Trial€Court€or€the€parties€intended€to€create€anŠ ä4 Šobligation€to€provide€support€through€the€assumption€of€the€joint€debts.€€In€fact,€as€discussed€above,Š Š  Šthe€Trial€Court€apparently€treated€the€debt€in€question€as€property€that€never€became€part€of€theŠ ¼  Šbankruptcy€estate.€€Further,€the€Final€Judgment€made€a€separate€award€of€alimony€in€solido€toŠ Øų ŠPlaintiff€and€the€parties€agreed€in€the€joint€statement€of€material€facts€that€this€amount€of€alimonyŠ ”ä Šin€solido€was€a€debt€that€was€non„dischargeable€in€bankruptcy€under€11€U.S.C.€šš€523(a)(5).€€€Š €Š ŠĢą  ąą ` ąNor€is€there€any€proof€in€the€record€showing€that€the€assumption€of€the€joint€maritalŠ X Ø Šdebt€by€Defendant€has€the€actual€effect€of€providing€the€support€necessary€to€ensure€that€the€dailyŠ D!” Šneeds€of€the€Plaintiff€are€satisfied.€€š šIn€general,€debt€obligations€such€as€mortgages,€insuranceŠ 0"€  Špremiums,€car€notes€and€medical€bills€are€viewed€as€more€directly€associated€with€daily€supportŠ #l! Šneeds.šš€€ņņVarneróó,€2002€Tenn.€App.€LEXIS,€at€*11.€€The€joint€marital€debt€that€Defendant€was€orderedŠ $X" Što€pay,€however,€consisted€of€credit€card€debt€and€personal€loans,€not€mortgages,€insuranceŠ ō$D # Špremiums,€car€notes€or€medical€bills.€€Rather,€the€mortgage€on€the€partiesšš€house€and€the€leases€onŠ ą%0!$ Šthe€partiesšš€cars€were€addressed€in€separate€paragraphs€of€the€Final€Judgment€and€are€not€at€issue€inŠ Ģ&"% Šthis€case.€€€€Š ø'#& ŠĢą  ąą ` ąAs€we€have€determined€that€the€first€two€prongs€of€the€ņņCalhounóó€test€are€not€satisfiedŠ )ą$( Šin€this€case,€we€find€no€need€to€proceed€with€the€analysis.€€There€is€no€basis€in€theņ ņ€ó órecord€to€support€ņ ņŠ |*Ģ%) Šó óa€finding€that€the€debt€in€question€is€in€the€nature€of€alimony,€maintenance€or€support.€€As€such,€Ō_ŌtheŠ l+¼&* Šdebt€in€question€is€a€debt€other€than€one€addressed€by€šš€523(a)(5)€that€was€incurred€in€connectionŠ ° Šwith€a€divorce€decree.€€Thus,€we€hold€that€the€debt€in€question€falls€under€11€U.S.C.€šš€523(a)(15).€Š œģ Š€€€€Š ˆŲ ŠĢą  ąą ` ąWe€next€consider€whether€the€debt€was€discharged€in€bankruptcy.€€Debts€that€fallŠ `° Šunder€šš€523(a)(15)€shall€be€discharged€unless€the€creditor€files€a€complaint€š šno€later€than€60€daysŠ L œ Šafter€the€first€date€set€for€the€meeting€of€creditors€.€.€.€.šš€Fed.€R.€Bankr.€P.€4007;€11€U.S.C.Š 8 ˆ Ššš523(c)(1).€€The€bankruptcy€court€has€exclusive€jurisdiction€to€determine€whether€a€debt€should€beŠ $ t Šexcepted€from€discharge€under€šš€523(a)(15).€€ņņSeeóó€Fed.€R.€Bankr.€P.€4007.€€€€€Š  ` ŠĢą  ąą ` ąThe€parties€agreed€in€the€joint€statement€of€material€facts€that€Plaintiff€never€filed€aŠ č 8  Šcomplaint€to€determine€the€dischargeablility€of€any€debt€š šowed€to€her€by€Defendant€pursuant€to€11Š Ō$  ŠUSC€šš523(a)(15).šš€€Federal€law€clearly€provides€that€debts€falling€under€šš€523(a)(15)€shall€beŠ Ą  Šdischarged€unless€the€creditor€files€a€complaint€š šno€later€than€60€days€after€the€first€date€set€for€theŠ ¬ü  Šmeeting€of€creditors€.€.€.€.šš€€Fed.€R.€Bankr.€P.€4007;€11€U.S.C.€šš€523(c)(1).€€Plaintiff€did€not€file€aŠ ˜č  Šcomplaint€in€bankruptcy€court€pursuant€to€11€U.S.C.€šš€523(c)(1).€€While€Plaintiffššs€argument€mayŠ „Ō  Šwell€have€been€successful€if€raised€in€the€bankruptcy€court,€neither€the€Trial€Court€nor€this€Court€hasŠ pĄ Šthe€power€to€reverse€the€bankruptcy€courtššs€exclusive€determination€that€Defendantššs€debt€inŠ \¬ Šquestion€was€discharged.€€If€Plaintiff€wished€to€contest€the€dischargeability€of€the€debt,€she€had€toŠ H˜ Šdo€it€in€bankruptcy€court.€€She€did€not€do€so.€€Therefore,€Defendantššs€debt€to€Plaintiff€concerningŠ 4„ ŠDefendantššs€401(k)€was€discharged€in€bankruptcy.€€€€€€€Š  p ŠĢą  ąą ` ąAs€for€the€other€issues€raised€by€Defendant,€the€Trial€Court€had€subject€matterŠ ųH Šjurisdiction€over€the€divorce€and€post„divorce€matters€in€this€case.€€However,€as€previouslyŠ ä4 Šdiscussed,€the€bankruptcy€court€had€exclusive€jurisdiction€to€determine€whether€the€debt€in€questionŠ Š  Šwas€discharged€in€bankruptcy.€€As€the€debt€was€discharged€in€bankruptcy€in€January€of€2001,Š ¼  ŠPlaintiff€is€prohibited€from€taking€further€action€to€collect€the€debt€in€question.€€We,€therefore,Š Øų Šreverse€the€Trial€Courtššs€August€26,€2002,€and€November€20,€2002,€orders.€€Š ”ä ŠĢą  ąą ` ąOur€determination€of€Defendantššs€issues€pretermits€consideration€of€Plaintiffššs€issues.€Š l¼ ŠĢÓ  Óņ ņņņConclusionó óóóŠ D!” ŠÓ  ÓĢą  ąą ` ąThe€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€is€reversed,€and€this€cause€is€remanded€to€the€TrialŠ #l! ŠCourt€for€such€further€proceedings€as€may€be€required,€if€any,€consistent€with€this€Opinion€and€forŠ $X" Šcollection€of€the€costs€below.€€The€costs€on€appeal€are€assessed€against€the€Appellee,€KarenŠ ō$D # ŠThompson€Scoggins.€€Š ą%0!$ ŠĢĢĢĢą  ąą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ą___________________________________€Š |*Ģ%) Šą  ąą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ąD.€MICHAEL€SWINEY,€JUDGE