ÿWPCÊ ‘qYLPßa›”¥t!"…âUEW·=ìñ3*P±–]ÉT|y'Æ` Ù˜òL6‹`÷‡¥FÊš0™¶ssÙÚïtÌ Eè¼Â‡i÷B‡°?DðMÜâ1«¨Ù ôœânn—PôýßÛ%@#°£mD¯«þjóaÒ/ô; ¯y€M7 6 ”ûeójFÅÔ¢ÞK¢= =6\¨;šº{[ÖSqTZBЦ°Hlˆã½c6Ä^ȹ¨’=­X>Ð^Ô)nEèWbÂ$žIâúT ²é ÀL¾Ï6åöƒ鈆…aOäûÅœ"úoÜžš*Y@Äôb*ëm1DœF†¥šY]e‹FˆNr*OqÇådsTšÄ*a Àú¬¾9.‰ǺڄÑ8pq3q@¾ÒôØ” Jë0èü ­î>Å­f *´0àa=±ypä&Æ£ˆŠ‹Lèðj&f<@b8,¦<6ŠÑõÚqËXÞ††¼h»‰í´Y!¾§€ŒŠiĨ¢‘å ²‡¦œZ ÿ^8híÏÏ;PÇÚLóysžã*#M˜«É ºÊ¤ºkX°-¹·'-®ôti¦ààl¯=ÕGsð2µß=±=¢„5¯ÅÉ6j ð´iÏc`Ý2)# >UNI %— 0(w@Å4UN(vF~ 0DÄ 0l 0Dt (¸ uà U:UUUUUUUUUUUUUUU AQÆà 0D¦ Bê 0D D/KK Bz D3—˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLlÎ(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡ êëDìíDîïðñDòÓ€þn~<$3|xþ'Ör Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular <Ý ƒ üÝ$Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€The€record€in€this€case€includes€a€letter€from€the€Deputy€Prosecuting€Attorney€forÐ ° ÐCrittenden€County,€Arkansas,€which€states€that€his€office€had€initiated€a€criminal€investigationÏinto€the€removal€of€the€partiesðð€children€by€Father,€Patricia€L.€Penn,€Fatherððs€Tennessee€counsel,Ïand€Terrance€E.€Tatum,€Fatherððs€Arkansas€counsel,€to€determine€whether€any€or€all€of€themÏshould€be€charged€with€Interference€with€Custody,€a€class€D€felony,€and/or€Kidnapping,€a€ClassÏY€felony.€€(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý((3üÝ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó Ý ƒ!¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€X‡XXXÔÔ€˜WXX‡ÔÓ  ÓÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€X‡X˜WÔÐ  ÐÌò òOctober€12,€1998Ð šš ÐÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€ô—©ôXX‡ÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó kÝ ƒ üÝ$Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€Father€continues€to€seek€remedies€in€forums€other€than€the€Arkansas€court€system.€€OnÐ ° ÐMay€28,€1997,€Father€filed€an€ð ðinterstate€child€custody€caseðð€complaint€with€the€United€StatesÏDistrict€Court€for€the€Western€District€of€Tennessee.€€The€complaint€seeks€permanent€custody€ofÏthe€children€as€well€as€declaratory,€injunctive,€and€monetary€relief€against€Mother,€MotherððsÏattorneys,€the€Honorable€David€R.€Goodson€(the€Arkansas€judge€involved€in€the€case),€theÏdirector€of€a€child€abuse€and€neglect€volunteer€service€involved€in€the€previous€action,€WinstonÏBryant,€the€attorney€general€of€the€state€of€Arkansas,€the€State€of€Arkansas,€and€Fatherððs€formerÏArkansas€attorneys,€including€Martha€P.€Gilpatrick,€Martin€E.€Lilly,€and€Paul€J.€Teufel,€or€theirÏsuccessors€or€assigns.,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular ! #%Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý d($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó'''÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd""""'ÿÿdxdÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýñòñ›ñòñÓ  ÓÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑñþññòñßr€(<,(j 8` `€€@Eȱ` ttx$°ð Õrßñòññþññþññþññþññòñ›ñòññþññþññþññþñ›ñþññþñ›ñþñà@} } ìàò òIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÌñþñœßt€(>.*jxy` `€€@EØ` ttx$ œ M tß›ñþñà@jj%ìàAT€JACKSONˆÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€òò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð à ÐÌóóÌRANDY€ALBERT€WATKINS,à h àà À à)Ð ` ° Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)Ìà  àó óPlaintiff/Appellant,à  àà h àà À àò ò)à  àó óFayette€Equity€No.€9009Ð @  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àò ò)Ð 0 € Ðvs.à  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)Ð  p  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)à  àó óAppeal€No.€02A01„9708„CH„00178ò òÐ `  ÐVICKI€LYNN€(SMITH)€WATKINS,€€€à À à)Ð P  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)Ìà  àó óDefendant/Appellee.à  àà h àà À àò ò)Ð à0  ÐÌÌÌó óÌÌà0  àà ° àà@ì(#(#àAPPEAL€FROM€THE€CHANCERY€COURT€OF€œFAYETTE›€COUNTYˆÌà@YYìàAT€SOMERVILLE,€TENNESSEE€ˆÌÌÌÌÌà@Ö Ö ìàTHE€HONORABLE€DEWEY€C.€WHITENTON,€JUDGEˆÌÌÌÌòòÌÌFor€the€Plaintiff/Appellantóó:òòà  àà h àà À àFor€the€Defendant/Appelleeóó:Ð À! ÐÌPatricia€L.€Penn€€€€€à ¸ àà  àà h àà À àDonna€M.€Fields€€€Ð  #ð! ÐMemphis,€Tennessee€€à  àà h àà À àMemphis,€Tennessee€€€€€€€Ð $à" Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àò òAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDó óÐ @)$' ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€J.ÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€P.J.,€W.S.ÌÌÌALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€J.€Ð  p5À04 ÐØØÓÓÑ7€|ãXXdðXXdð7ÑÑ  Ñà@55'ìàò òOPINIONó óˆÐ ° Ðà  àThis€is€an€interstate€child€custody€dispute.€€The€childððs€father€and€mother€were€first€divorcedÏin€Tennessee€with€custody€awarded€to€the€father.€€The€parents€œreconciled,€and€remarried,€laterÏdivorcing›€again€in€an€Arkansas€court.€€Custody€was€awarded€to€the€mother.€€After€a€dispute€overÏvisitation,€the€father€utilized€an€order€from€the€prior€Tennessee€divorce€to€physically€remove€theÏchildren€to€Tennessee€with€him.€€The€father€was€œordered€by€the€Tennessee€trial€court›€to€return€theÏchildren€to€their€œmother,€and€appeals€from€this€order.›€€We€affirm.€€Ìà  àThis€case€involves€a€volatile€relationship€and€convoluted€litigation.€€Moreover,€since€noÏtranscript€of€the€proceedings€below€was€filed,€the€facts€must€be€gleaned€from€the€technical€record.€Ïà  àAppellant€Randy€Watkins€(ð ðFatherðð)€and€Appellee€Vicki€Lynn€Watkins€(ð ðMotherðð)€wereÏmarried€on€December€31,€1984,€in€Fayette€County,€Tennessee.€€A€son,€Randy€Wayne€Watkins,€wasÏborn€to€the€couple€on€September€22,€1985.€€Father€and€Mother€first€separated€in€July€1986.€€FatherÏfiled€a€complaint€for€divorce€in€Tennessee€that€month,€Fayette€County€œcause€number›€7738.€ÏHowever,€the€parties€reconciled€in€August€1986€and€the€litigation€was€postponed.€€Father€and€MotherÏseparated€again€on€January€13,€1987,€œwhen€Father€allegedly€abandoned€Mother.€€Mother€then›€movedÏœto€Memphis,€Tennessee€with›€the€child.€€Father€then€filed€a€motion€in€the€Fayette€County,€TennesseeÏproceedings€for€temporary€custody€of€the€partiesðð€child.€€After€anòòò ò€ex€parteó óóó€hearing€on€January€26,Ð °"  М1987,›€Chancellor€Dewey€Whitenton€granted€Father€temporary€custody€of€the€partiesðð€child,€andÏawarded€restricted€visitation€to€Mother.€€The€parties€reconciled€again€in€œMay€1987,›€then€separatedÏagain€in€July€1987.€€They€then€resumed€litigation€over€child€custody€in€the€Fayette€County,ÏTennessee€proceedings.€€The€record€on€appeal€includes€a€temporary€order€allowing€Mother€visitationÏwith€the€partiesðð€child€on€alternating€weekends.€€The€record€for€the€Fayette€County,€TennesseeÏproceedings,€Fayette€County€œcause€number›€7738,€does€not€contain€a€final€decree€of€divorce.€€OnÏFebruary€8,€1988,€Mother€gave€birth€to€a€second€child,€Richard€Steven€œWatkins.›€Ìà  àFather€filed€a€second€complaint€for€divorce€in€Fayette€County,€Tennessee,€Fayette€CountyÏcause€number€8650,€on€January€17,€1990.€€Mother€was€served€by€publication.€€An€òòò òex€parteó óóó€œdecreeÐ 3à.2 Ðof€divorce›€œwas›€filed€on€April€9,€1990,€placing€custody€of€the€children€with€œFather.€€A€writ€ofÏattachment€was€also€issued€for€the€children€to€be€picked€up€and€delivered€to€Father.›€€€Ìà  àSubsequently,€the€parties€reconciled.€€They€remarried€on€June€23,€1990€in€Walls,€Mississippi.€Ï€The€record€does€not€state€where€the€parties€resided€during€this€1990€marriage.€€On€September€12,Ð ;`6: Ð1990,€they€separated€for€the€last€time.€€On€February€25,€1991,€€Mother€filed€for€divorce€in€CraigheadÏCounty,€Arkansas.€Ìà  àFour€days€later,€on€March€1,€1991,€Father€filed€a€divorce€action€in€Fayette€county,€œTennessee,ÏFayette€County€cause€number€9009.€€On›€this€same€date,€Father€also€œobtained,€apparently€ò òòòex€parteó óóó,€Ð P   Ða›€writ€of€attachment€for€custody€of€the€children.€€There€is€no€record€of€any€hearing€or€otherÏproceedings€on€Fatherððs€writ€of€attachment€for€custody€of€the€children.€Ìà  àThe€course€of€the€Arkansas€litigation€must€be€reconstructed€from€exhibits,€pleadings,€andÏmotions€contained€in€the€technical€record.€€Father€answered€Motherððs€complaint€for€divorce€andÏchallenged€the€Arkansas€courtððs€subject€matter€and€personal€jurisdiction€in€the€matter.€€The€Arkansas€Ïtrial€court,€Craighead€County€Judge€Graham€Partlow,€found€that€the€Arkansas€œcourt›€had€jurisdictionÏto€adjudicate€the€divorce€and€child€custody€issues€because€Mother€had€lived€in€the€state€of€ArkansasÏfor€60€days€prior€to€filing€suit.€€Both€parties€participated€in€a€hearing€in€the€Arkansas€court€on€childÏcustody€and€support€issues.€€The€final€decree€of€divorce,€entered€by€the€Arkansas€trial€court€onÏMarch€9,€1992,€granted€custody€of€the€children€to€Mother€with€visitation€to€Father€and€orderedÏFather€to€pay€child€support€and€to€provide€medical€care€for€the€children.€€The€Arkansas€trial€courtÏawarded€Mother€a€judgment€for€back€child€support€and€attorney€fees.€€The€Arkansas€court€also€foundÏFather€in€contempt€for€willful€disobedience€of€the€courtððs€orders,€œbut€delayed€sentence€for€one€yearÏto€allow€Father€an€opportunity€to€pay€the€child€support€arrearage.€€Finally,›€the€Arkansas€trial€courtÏentered€a€mutual€restraining€order€œpreventing€the›€parties€from€harassing€each€other.€€The€recordÏcontains€no€indication€that€Father€appealed€this€decree€by€the€Craighead€County,€Arkansas€trialÏcourt.€Ìà  àOn€November€27,€1996,€œbased€on€a€report€to€a€child€abuse€hotline›€that€Father€had€abused€theÏpartiesðð€children,€the€Craighead€County,€Arkansas€trial€œcourt›€Chancellor€David€Goodson,€enteredÏan€order€suspending€Fatherððs€visitation€rights.€€Father€filed€a€notice€of€œappeal€in€the€ArkansasÏappellate€court›€from€the€November€27€order.€€The€notice€of€appeal€states€that€the€appeal€was€takenÏð ðin€spite€of€the€fact€that€this€court€lacks€jurisdiction€in€this€cause€of€action.ðð€€However,€the€recordÏcontains€no€indication€that€the€issue€of€jurisdiction€of€the€Arkansas€court€was€considered€on€œappealÏin€Arkansas.›€€à ` àœÐ P7 26 ÐÐ  09€48 Ðà  àIn€April€1997,€after›€Fatherððs€visitation€rights€were€suspended€by€order€of€the€CraigheadÏCounty,€Arkansas€trial€court,€Father€decided€to€œutilize€the€1990€divorce€decree€and€writ€ofÏattachment€issued›€by€the€Fayette€County,€Tennessee€œcourt,›€prior€to€the€partiesðð€œremarriage€inÏMississippi›€œand€divorce›€in€Arkansas.€€œFather›€œð ðenrolledð𛀜the€Tennessee›€œdivorce€decree€and€writ›€ofÏattachment€in€Crittenden€County,€Arkansas.€€The€record€has€no€indication€that€Father€or€his€counselÏinformed€the€court€of€the€partiesðð€œremarriage€in€Mississippi›€and€second€divorce€in€Craighead€County,ÏœArkansas€or€the€suspension€of€Fatherððs€visitation€based€on€reports€of€child€abuse.›€€With€advice€andÏassistance€of€counsel,€Father€sought€a€writ€of€attachment€from€the€Chancery€Court€of€CrittendenÏCounty,€Arkansas,€based€on€œthe€divorce€decree€and€writ€of€attachment€from€the€prior›€TennesseeÏaction.€€After€anòòò ò€ex€parteó óóó€hearing,€Crittenden€County€Chancellor€Rice€Van€Ausdall€ordered€that€theÐ à Ðchildren€be€picked€up€from€school€and€delivered€to€the€custody€of€œ€Father.›€€With€no€notice€to€Mother,Ïthe€writ€of€attachment€was€executed€on€Friday,€April€11,€1997.€€On€this€date,€Father,€along€with€hisÏattorney€and€police€officers€from€the€City€of€Marion,€Arkansas,€went€to€œeach›€œchildððs›€œschool,›€and€tookÏphysical€custody€of€the€children.€€Father€then€brought€the€children€to€his€home€in€Fayette€County,ÏTennessee.€€After€Father€left€the€schools€with€the€children,€school€officials€contacted€Mother€and€toldÏher€that€Father€had€taken€the€children.€€à À àœÐ Ð  Ðà  àThe€following€Monday,€Mother€filed›€an€application€for€writ€of€habeas€œcorpus€in€theÏCraighead€County,€Arkansas€Chancery€Court›€œto€require€Father€to›€return€the€œchildren.€€The›€CraigheadÏCounty,€Arkansas€Chancellor,€David€Goodson,€ordered€Father€to€appear€before€the€court€with€theÏchildren€on€April€15,€1997.€€Father€did€not€comply€with€this€order.€€Instead,€counsel€for€Father€filedÏa€Notice€in€the€Fayette€County,€Tennessee€court€that€Father€had€enrolled€and€enforced€the€divorceÏdecree€œand€writ€of€attachment€from›€the€divorce€prior€to€the€partiesðð€remarriage.€€The€œNotice€to€theÏTennessee€court›€œincluded›€no€information€on€the€partiesðð€œremarriage€in€Mississippi,€the›€divorce€inÏœArkansas,€or€the€Arkansas€courtððs€order€suspending€Fatherððs€visitation€rights€based€on€suspectedÏchild€abuse.›€€Ìà  àWhen€Chancellor€Goodson€in€Arkansas€received€a€faxed€copy€of€the€Notice€filed€by€FatherððsÏcounsel€in€Fayette€County,€Tennessee,€Chancellor€Goodson€contacted€by€telephone€the€TennesseeÏtrial€œjudgeñèñ,€Chancellor€Dewey€Whitentonñèñ.›€€The€next€day,€April€16,€1997,€Chancellor€Goodson€wroteÏa€letter€œtoñéñ€the›€Tennessee›€trial›€judge,›€Deweyñéññêñ€Chancellorñêññëñ›€ñëññìñ€ñìñWhitenton,›€confirming€their€telephone€conference€and€enclosing€copies€ofÐ 09€48 Ðpleadings€from€the€Craighead€County,€Arkansas€proceedings,€including€the€divorce€complaint€andÏFatherððs€answer€noting€the€partiesðð€remarriage,€the€Craighead€County,€Arkansas€courtððs€finding€ofÏjurisdiction,€the€Arkansas€decree€of€divorce,€the€award€of€custody€to€Mother,€œthe›€Arkansas€orderÏsuspending€Fatherððs€visitation,€and€Fatherððs€notice€of€appeal€to€the€Arkansas€Court€of€Appeals.€ÏChancellor€Goodson€noted€that€the€law€in€Arkansas€and€Tennessee€indicated€that€the€1990€TennesseeÏdecree€of€divorce€has€been€invalidated€by€the€partiesðð€subsequent€remarriage.€Ìà  àThe€same€day,€Chancellor€Goodson€in€Arkansas€issued€a€body€attachment€requiring€theÏCrittenden€County,€Arkansas€Sheriff€to€take€the€children€from€Father€and€return€them€to€the€custodyÏof€œMother.›€Ìà  àMother€filed€a€motion€to€contest€jurisdiction€in€the€Fayette€County,€Tennessee€Court.€€AfterÏa€hearing€on€April€18,€œ1997,€Chancellor›€Whitenton€in€Fayette€County€entered€an€order€whichÏincluded€the€following:€€ÌÓÓà8  à1.à ` àThis€Court€communicated€with€the€Honorable€David€Goodson€of€the€SecondÐ 0€ ÐJudicial€District€in€Arkansas,€on€April€15,€1997.Ð Ð Ð  Ðà8  à2.à ` àThis€Court€has€reviewed€a€letter€from€Chancellor€Goodson€which€is€attachedÐ ` Ðas€Exhibit€ð ðA.ððÐ Ð Ð  Ðà8  à3.à ` àThis€Court€has€heard€the€representation€of€the€œplaintiff€[Father]›€that€theÐ ð@ Ðchildren€have€lived€with€their€mother€in€Arkansas€for€five€years€or€more.Ð Ð Ð  Ðà8  à4.à ` àThis€Court€finds€that€Arkansas€is€the€home€state€of€the€children€pursuant€toÐ Ð  Ðthe€Uniform€Child€Custody€Jurisdiction€Act€and€that€custody€litigation€should€takeÏplace€in€Arkansas.Ð Ð Ð  Ðà8  à5.à ` àOver€the€objection€of€the€plaintiff,€the€Court€is€issuing€a€Writ€of€HabeasÐ  #ð! ÐCorpus€to€Return€Children€and€Body€Attachment.€Ð Ð Ð  Ðà8  à6.à ` àThe€plaintiff€is€ordered€to€return€the€children€to€the€defendant€forthwith.Ѐ%Ð #Ð Ð  ÐÌÓ$/ÓThe€Fayette€County€court€then€issued€a€writ€of€habeas€corpus€ordering€Father€to€return€the€childrenÏto€Mother,€and€issued€a€body€attachment€ordering€the€Fayette€County€Sheriff€to€take€the€children€intoÏphysical€custody€and€return€them€to€œMother.ñðñ€€ñðññññ›€›€ññññíñTñíññîñAfter€thatñîññïñ,ñïññîñ€tñîñhe›€children€were€finally€returned€to€Mother.€ÏFrom€this€Order,€Father€now€appeals.Ìà  àOur€review€of€this€case€is€governed€by€œRule€13(d)€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€AppellateÏProcedure,›€which€provides€that€review€of€findings€of€fact€by€the€trial€court€shall€be€òòde€novoóó€upon€theÐ À0,/ Ðrecord€of€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€correctness€of€the€findings,€unless€theÏevidence€preponderates€otherwise.€€T.R.A.P.€13(d);€ò òòòUnion€Carbide€Corp.€v.€Huddlestonó óóó,€854Ð €4Ð/3 ÐS.W.2d€87,€91€(Tenn.€1993).€€€Under€Rule€13(c)€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€œof›€Appellate€Procedure,€thisÏCourt€may€consider€only€ð ðthose€facts€established€by€the€evidence€in€the€trial€court€and€set€forth€inÏthe€œrecord.ðð€€T.R.A.P.€13(c).›Ð  :p59 Ðà  àÔ‡X{qXXXÔÔ‡Oè-OXX{qÔOn€appeal,€Father€argues€that€the€Tennessee€trial€court€erred€in€its€determination€that€it€had€noÐ ° Ðjurisdiction€over€the€child€custody€action.€€However,Ô#†Oc¥OOOè-08#ÔÔ#†X<øXOOc¥O8#Ô€Father,€the€appellant€in€this€case,€filed€noÐ |Ì Ðtranscript€of€the€proceedings€below€for€our€review.€€The€record€on€appeal€consists€of€the€technicalÏrecord€œonly.€€In›€the€order€of€the€Tennessee€trial€court€from€which€Father€appeals,€the€trial€courtÏdeclined€to€exercise€jurisdiction€after€finding€that€Arkansas€was€the€childrenððs€ð ðhome€stateðð€forÏpurposes€of€custody€litigation€under€the€Parental€œKidnapping›€Prevention€Act€and€the€Uniform€ChildÏCustody€Jurisdiction€œAct.€€One›€basis€for€this€finding€was€Fatherððs€admission€that€the€children€hadÏlived€with€Mother€in€Arkansas€for€five€years€or€more€at€the€time€of€the€hearing.€€The€court€alsoÏcommunicated€with€the€Arkansas€trial€court€and€considered€a€letter€from€that€court€describing€theÏArkansas€custody€litigation.Ìà  àUnder€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€36„6„207,€Tennesseeððs€œUniform€Child€CustodyÏJurisdiction€Act€(UCCJA),›€a€Tennessee€court€should€decline€to€exercise€jurisdiction€ð ðif€at€the€timeÏof€filing€the€petition€a€proceeding€concerning€the€custody€of€the€child[ren]€was€pending€in€a€courtÏof€another€state€exercising€jurisdiction€substantially€in€conformity€with€this€part,€unless€theÏproceeding€is€stayed€by€the€court€of€œthe€other›€state€because€this€state€is€a€more€appropriate€forum€orÏfor€other€reasons.ðð€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„6„207(a)€(1996);€òòò òsee€Cooper€v.€Hamiltonó óóó,€688€S.W.2d€821Ð Ð  Ð(Tenn.€1985).€€Chancellor€Whitenton€properly€consulted€with€the€Arkansas€judge,€ChancellorÏGoodson,€concerning€the€Arkansas€œlitigation.€€òòò òSee€ó óóóTenn.›€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„6„207(c)€(1996).€Ð $à" ÐMoreover,€the€Tennessee€trial€court€may€œdecline€to›€exercise€jurisdiction€over€this€case€underÏTennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€36„6„209€œð ð[i]f›€the€petitioner€has€violated€any€other€provision€of€aÏcustody€decree€of€another€state.ðð€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„6„209(b)€(1996).€€Fatherððs€actions€wereÏclearly€in€derogation€of€the€Arkansas€order€suspending€Fatherððs€visitation€rights.€€Therefore,€it€isÏclear€that€the€trial€court€complied€with€Tennesseeððs€UCCJA€in€€making€œits›€determination€to€declineÏto€exercise€jurisdiction.€€òòò òSeeó óóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„6„207€(1996).Ð Ð/ +. Ðà  àFather€argues€that€Mother€had€ð ðunclean€œhandsðð€because›€she€moved€to€Arkansas€after€theÏpartiesðð€separation.€€Fatherððs€petition€for€a€writ€of€attachment€from€the€Fayette€County€Court€statesÏthat€the€children€ð ðwere€by€secrecy€and€subterfuge€removed€from€their€home€by€their€mother.ððÏFatherððs€appellate€brief€is€filled€with€unflattering€characterizations€of€Motherððs€conduct.€€From€œthis,›ÏFather€argues€that€Arkansas€courts€had€no€jurisdiction€over€this€matter.€€The€record,€however,Ð 09€48 Мcontains€no€evidence,›€only€œFatherððs›€conclusory€allegations.€€More€importantly,€if€Father€had€suchÏobjections,€the€forum€for€litigating€them€was€the€Craighead€County,€Arkansas€trial€court€in€whichÏthe€divorce€proceedings€were€held.€€Father€did€not€appeal€the€Arkansas€courtððs€determination€thatÏit€had€jurisdiction€or€its€issuance€of€the€decree€of€divorce.€€He€cannot€raise€such€objections€in€thisÏœCourt›€now.€Ìà  àFather€also€argues€on€appeal€that€the€1990€divorce€decree€and€writ€of€attachment€fromÏFayette€County,€Tennessee€is€still€valid€and€should€control€in€this€case,€despite€the€partiesððÏsubsequent€remarriage€and€the€divorce€in€Arkansas.€€Father€claims€that€the€partiesðð€remarriage€inÏ1990€was€fraudulent€and€void,€and€that€consequently€the€subsequent€Arkansas€divorce€was€void€andÏof€no€effect.€€Once€again,€the€record€contains€no€evidence€of€this,€only€Fatherððs€conclusoryÏallegations.€€Most€importantly,€Fatherððs€allegations€should€have€been€raised€and€resolved€in€theÏCraighead€County,€Arkansas€divorce€proceedings.€€Father€and€his€counsel€participated€œfully›€œin€the›ÏArkansas€divorce€proceedings,€admitted€the€partiesðð€remarriage€and€did€not€appeal€from€the€decreeÏof€divorce.€€Although€this€is€an€issue€of€first€impression€in€Tennessee,€the€clear€majority€of€statesÏhold€that€remarriage€by€the€parties€renders€a€prior€custody€decree€void€and€unenforceable.€òòò ò€See,€e.g.ó óóó,Ð ð@ Ðòòò òEx€parte€Phillipsó óóó,€95€So.2d€77€(Ala.€1957);€òòò òOliphant€v.€Oliphantó óóó,€7€S.W.2d€783€(Ark.€1928);Ð Ð  Ðòòò òWarren€v.€Warrenó óóó,€97€S.E.2d€349€(Ga.€1957);€òòò òIn€re€Parksó óóó,€630€N.E.2d€509€(Ill.€App.€1994);€òòò òRaschÐ °"  Ðv.€Raschó óóó,€168€So.2d€738€(Miss.€1964);€Debra€E.€Wax,€Annotation,€òòò òEffect€of€Remarriage€of€SpousesÐ $à" Ðto€Each€Other€on€Child€Custody€and€Support€Provisions€of€Prior€Divorce€Decreeó óóó,€26€A.L.R.€4thÐ p&À!$ Ð325,€ðð€3€œ(1996).€€We€agree.€€In€this€case,€after€entry€of€the€1990€Fayette€County,€Tennessee€ò òòòex€parteó óóóÐ P( #& Ðdecree€of€divorce€awarding€custody€to€Father,€the€parties€remarried.€€The€effect€of€the€partiesððÏremarriage€was€to€render€the€prior€custody€decree€void€and€unenforceable.€€Fatherððs€argument€isÏwithout€merit.Ìà  àFinally,€Father€argues€that€the€order€of€Chancellor€Whitenton€in€Fayette€County,€TennesseeÏrequiring€that€the€children€be€returned€to€Mother€should€be€reversed€and€remanded€because€FatherÏand€his€counsel€ð ðwere€only€given€a€few€hours€notice€and€no€opportunity€to€respond€at€the€hearingÏon€[Motherððs]€motion.ðð€€This€argument€may€only€be€characterized€as€sheer€chutzpah.€€In€this€case,ÏMother€obtained€from€the€Craighead€County,€Arkansas€trial€court€an€order€suspending€FatherððsÏvisitation€rights€based€on€allegations€of€child€abuse.€€Clearly€the€appropriate€forum€for€Father€to€seekÐ 09€48 Ða€remedy€was€the€Craighead€County,€Arkansas€trial€court€or€an€appeal€to€the€Arkansas€appellateÏcourt.€€Instead,€Father€chose€to€utilize€a€six„year€old€writ€of€attachment€and€decree€of€divorce€fromÏTennessee€that€was€clearly€void€and€unenforceable.€€Without€notice€to€Mother€or€her€counsel,€andÏwithout€disclosing€the€partiesðð€remarriage€and€divorce€in€Craighead€County,€Arkansas€or€the€orderÏsuspending€Fatherððs€visitation€rights€based€on€suspected€child€abuse,€Father€ð ðenrolledðð€the€voidÏTennessee€order€in€Crittenden€County,€Arkansas.€€Through€this€deception€Father€obtained€theÏassistance€of€the€City€of€Marion€police€in€Crittenden€County,€Arkansas€to€go€to€each€childððs€school,Ïstill€with€no€notice€to€Mother,€and€physically€remove€the€children€and€take€them€to€Tennessee.€€OnceÏin€Tennessee,€Father€filed€a€ð ðnoticeðð€with€the€Fayette€County,€Tennessee€court€that€he€had€ð ðenrolledððÏin€Arkansas€the€void€Tennessee€decree€of€divorce€and€writ€of€attachment.€€Again,€nothing€in€theÏrecord€indicates€that€Father€informed€the€Fayette€County,€Tennessee€court€of€the€partiesðð€remarriage,Ïthe€Arkansas€decree€of€divorce€and€award€of€custody€to€Mother,€or€the€order€of€the€Arkansas€courtÏsuspending€Fatherððs€visitation€rights€based€on€suspected€child€abuse.€€When€ordered€by€theÏCraighead€County,€Arkansas€court€to€return€the€child€to€Mother,€Father€refused.€€The€FayetteÏCounty,€Tennessee€court€was€finally€informed€of€the€Arkansas€divorce€proceedings€by€counsel€forÏMother€and€the€trial€judge€in€Craighead€County,€Arkansas,€and€Father€was€finally€forced€to€returnÏthe€children€to€Motherððs€custody.€€Ìà  àFor€Father€to€abuse€the€Tennessee€and€Arkansas€justice€systems€in€this€manner,€to€sayÏnothing€of€traumatizing€the€partiesðð€sons€by€these€actions,€is€indefensible.€€For€Fatherððs€counsel€toÏcountenance€and€advise€this€course€of€conduct€is€unconscionable.׃ ×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€For€Father€to€now€argue€in€thisÐ P( #& ÐCourt€that€the€Tennessee€order€requiring€him€to€return€the€children€to€Mother€should€be€reversedÏbecause€Father€was€ð ðonly€given€a€few€hours€noticeðð€is€nothing€short€of€astonishing.€€The€decisionÏof€the€trial€is€affirmed.€Ì›à  àMother€argues€that€this€appeal€is€frivolous€and€asks€this€Court€to€award€her€fees€and€costsÏassociated€with€this€matter.€€Fatherððs€appeal€is€clearly€frivolous.€€ò òòòSeeó óóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€œ27-1-122Ð °1-0 Ð(1980);€òòò òMcDonald›€v.€Onohó óóó,€772€S.W.2d€913,€914€(Tenn.€App.€1989).€€ð ðSuccessful€litigants€shouldÐ ° Ðnot€have€to€bear€the€expense€and€vexation€of€groundless€appeals.ððòòò ò€€œMcDonaldó óóó,€772€S.W.2d€at€914›Ð à Ð(quoting€òòò òDavis€v.€Gulf€œIns.€Groupó óóó,›€546€S.W.2d€œ583,€586›€(Tenn.€1977)).€€€Motherððs€request€isÐ pÀ Ðgranted.׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€cause€is€remanded€to€the€trial€court€for€an€award€of€appropriate€fees€and€costs.€€€Ð P   Ðà  àThe€decision€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed,€and€the€cause€is€remanded€for€a€determination€ofÏthe€amount€of€fees€and€costs€to€be€awarded€to€Appellee.€€Costs€are€assessed€against€Appellant,€forÏwhich€execution€may€issue,€if€necessary.€€€€€ÌÌÓÓÔ‡X{qXXX<øÔà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð ° Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àò òóóHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€J.Ð œì Ðó óà  àò òÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð 8ˆ ÐóóW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€P.€J.,€W.S.Ð $t ÐÌÌòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ è8 ÐALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€J.ó óÔ#†X<øXXX{q]#Ô