WPCA s&h#fn2GڲZnߠ_"vKQoL-6\YLjVmژxI8L~zTh絭?˔ / (%ǣI_ҩgeAH4򃴓k`3^fRC$0SMR3T H.J9/`{ڎa* (9헱:J|&.7\ɏ+,E;fiL~Â~ƒ^ TLtaڎg _[ր!c?p2A$-V_w.%۠afv`4Zf;RF{`&h*P)+vfn#1;}^=c!Ma eǪyXM5Ԑ˙!l`8N[$~j_R8fqXb#\^  %) 0/ U#N w 4 z  i x mz UB   _ % 0Nu 0w 0x E 0 0 C+8nPQ 0U# 0x 0[ 0  0"" 0#`$ 0.%%&ba* 0i* 0+ 0+ 0v, 0G- 0- 0. 0N/ 0/ 00 01 01 0n2 0<3 03 04 0:5 05 0p6 07d799999999999999 0 <<<< B== 0= D3> D-> 0K>> AS:?? 0S@ 0D@ A;AHP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 5e,,,,0o^+s (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regularj5+am Files" C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xU\  `*Times New RomanTTLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5H! 4Body TextBody Text            `:footnote reffootnote reference        V :footnote texfootnote text  W \  `*Times New RomanTTW        XXXW \  `*Times New RomanTTW  H0% 4heading 1heading 1&            '    ($     PulaskiMable a]nyadministrixparaboreb]rokeny]earsSchmutzer i]nAyersMcLemoreCihlarrelitigatingCatroninterestin  RY<$      1    _ThisconveyancedidnotincludetheloggingmachineryandequipmentthatMr.Whiteownedjointlywithtwo  ofhissons. RY<$      2    _ThiswillwaswitnessedbythelawyerwhoprepareditandMs.Smith.  RY<$      3    _ThepetitionwassomisdirectedthatthetrialcourtapparentlysuggestedtoMs.Whiteslawyerthatheshould  findanotherlawyertohelphimwiththecase.WhileMs.Whiteslawyerdiscussedthecaseonatleastoneoccasionwith t anotherlawyer,hedidnotretaincocounsel. x RY<$      6    _Curiously,Ms.Whitefirstrequeststhecourttoaddressthisissue,butthenassertsthattheissueismoot   becausethiscasewasmovedfromtheChanceryCourtofGilesCountytotheCourtofAppeals.Whilethelogicof t thisargumentisnotaltogetherapparent,wepresumethatMs.Whitebelievesthattheissueismootbecausethecaseis 8 nowinthiscourtandthatthiscourtcannowreviewthedecisionsoftheGilesCountyProbateCourtbaseduponthetrial L courtrecord.Thisbeliefismistaken.WhatwehavebeforeusisanappealfromtheChanceryCourtforGilesCounty,  notanappealfromtheGilesCountyProbateCourt.Ouronlytask,therefore,istoreviewthedecisionsoftheChancery  CourtforGilesCounty.Lookingatthecaseinthislight,thequestionregardingthetrialcourtsdecisionregardingits H  appellatejurisdictionisnotmoot. G RY<$      8    _InWatersv.Stateexrel.Schmutzer,theTennesseeSupremeCourtinvalidatedastatutethatundertooktovest  thejudicialpowersofthecountyjudgeinthecountyexecutive.*+ (_2623  ..*G+G (_25   /%` ` hp x /23  ../%` ` hp x /   *8+8 (_24  ," hp x ,23  ..," hp x ,  *5+5 (_23 ` ) hp x )23  ..) hp x ) `   RY<$      4    _Ms.Whitehadassertedinherpetitionthat oneoftheheirs,JeffWhite,hasnowindicatedhewantsapartition  sale.AfterJefferyWhitestatedinopencourtthathedesiredthepropertytobesold,thetrialcourtdeterminedthatMr. t WhitessonscouldsellthepropertybutthatMs.Whitewasnotentitledtoashareoftheproceedsofthesale.Thetrial 8 courtsfinalorderstates, IfMrs.Whitedoesnotappealthiscasethenallsixboyswithaninterestinthispropertycan L sellthispropertyoutrightwiththedeedconveyingtheproperty.*2+2 (_22  &hhp x &23  ..&hhp x &  */+/ (_21  #p x #23  ..#p x #   RY<$      9    _ActofApr.18,1980,ch.875,1980Tenn.,Pub.Acts1254,asamended.*,+, (_20 h  p x 23  .. p x h  RY<$      10    _ThisprovisionrenderedTenn.CodeAnn.274102(2000)essentiallysuperfluousinprobatematters.  RY<$      5    _Forsomereason,Ms.WhiteslawyernamedthelawyerwhorepresentedbothMs.SmithandMr.Whites  estateasanappellee.ThislawyerhasfiledabriefonhisownbehalfbuthasnotfiledabriefonbehalfofeitherMs. t SmithorMr.Whitesestate.NootherappearancehasbeenmadeonbehalfofMr.Whitesestate,hiscoexecutors,or 8 thebeneficiariesofhiswill.Thus,Mr.Whitesestateisunrepresentedonthisappeal.Wealsonotewithsomeregret L thatthebriefsfiledonbehalfofbothMs.WhiteandthelawyerwhorepresentedMs.SmithandMr.Whitesestateat  trialdonotmeettheminimumrequirementsforacceptablebriefsfiledinthiscourt.- -*)+) (_19  pp x 23  ..pp x   *&+& (_18   x 23  .. x   *AA (_17  5+ ` hp x 523  Ԁ5+ ` hp x 5  *GG (_16   /%` ` hp x /23  Ԁ/%` ` hp x /   *88 (_15  ," hp x ,23  Ԁ," hp x ,  *55 (_14 ` ) hp x )23  Ԁ) hp x ) ` *22 (_13  &hhp x &23  Ԁ&hhp x &  *// (_12  #p x #23  Ԁ#p x #  *,, (_11 h  p x 23  Ԁ p x h *)) (_10  pp x 23  Ԁpp x   (&& &_9   x 23  Ԁ x   (AA &_8  5+ ` hp x 523  5+ ` hp x 5  (GG &_7   /%` ` hp x /23  /%` ` hp x /   (88 &_6  ," hp x ,23  ," hp x ,  (55 &_5 ` ) hp x )23  ) hp x ) ` (22 &_4  &hhp x &23  &hhp x &  (// &_3  #p x #23  #p x #  (,, &_2 h  p x 23   p x h ()) &_1  pp x 23  pp x   &&& $_   x 23   x    Z RY<$      11    _ActofMay3,1973,ch.158,5,1973Tenn.Priv.Acts540,542.Eventhoughtheprintedversionofthe  1973privateactsindicatesthatthisacthadnotbeenapprovedbytheQuarterlyCountyCourtbythetimetheprivateacts t wereprinted,wepresumethatitmusthavebeenapprovedbecausethe1973privateactwasamendedin1974,andthe 8 QuarterlyCountyCourtforGilesCountydulyapprovedtheamendment.  RY<$      7    _ThecourtsderivetheirsubjectmatterjurisdictionfromtheConstitutionofTennesseeorfromlegislativeact.  Meighanv.U.S.SprintCommunicationsCo.,924S.W.2d632,639(Tenn.1996);Kanev.Kane,547S.W.2d559,560 t (Tenn.1977);SuntrustBankv.Johnson,46S.W.3d216,221(Tenn.Ct.App.2000).Theycannotexercisesubject 8 matterjurisdictionunlessithasbeenconferredonthemexplicitlyorbynecessaryimplication.Dishmonv.ShelbyState L Cmty.College,15S.W.3d477,480(Tenn.Ct.App.1999).(|G2Y<$ !.8KdXXd8         0   d(|3L$ !.8KdXXd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3L$ !.8KdXXd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8Kdd8     _TRY,3'LetterX3' Letter 3' Letter3'T  K8IXXdd8  @ PDKINTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @kk$ATNASHVILLE#KPDn#Ԉ &   AssignedonBriefsAugust2,2001 L XIXK #KXXI`#INRE:ESTATEOFGUYALLENWHITEXIXK  J @@ AppealfromtheChanceryCourtforGilesCounty  J @@No.1671RobertL.Jones,Judge  6 @@*AV) ` dE<` A   @@TTNo.M200100632_COA_ԄR3CVFiledOctober30,_2001_   AV) ` dE<|` A }     Thisappealinvolvesadisputebetweenawidowandhersixsonsregardingasmalltractofproperty x  herestrangedhusbandconveyedtothesonsapproximatelyninemonthsbeforehedied.Thewidow d filedapetitionintheChanceryCourtforGilesCountyseekingappellatereviewoftheGilesCounty P ProbateCourtsorders.Shealsosoughtadeclarationthatthedecedentsconveyancetothesonswas < afraudulentconveyanceand,inthealternative,requestedapartitionsaleoftheproperty.Following (x ahearing,thetrialcourtdeterminedthatitlackedappellatejurisdictionovertheprobatecourtand d thatthewidowlackedstandingtoseekpartitionofthepropertybecausesheownednointerestinit. P Thewidowassertsonthisappealthatthetrialcourterredbydismissingherpetitiontopartitionthe < property.Weaffirmthedismissalofthewidowsfraudulentconveyanceandpartitionclaims. ( However,wevacatethedismissalofherappealfromtheprobatecourtandremandthisclaimfor  furtherproceedingsinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.164108(a)(2)(1994).  #KXXI#XIXK Tenn.R.App.P.3AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheChanceryCourtAffirmedinPart  andVacatedinPart  t   #KXIV #XIX.KWilliamC.Koch,Jr.,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichWilliamB.Cainand L  PatriciaJ.Cottrell,JJ.,joined. 8!  W.HowellForrester,Pulaski,Tennessee,fortheappellant,MableWhite. #`" RobertD.Massey,Pulaski,Tennessee,ProSe. $8 $ BobbyAllenWhite,TerryLeeWhite,JamesEdwardWhite,JefferyLaneWhite,MackDeanWhite, &"& andJackEugeneWhite,Pulaski,Tennessee,ProSe. '"' #  OPINION #KXXIR #XIXK )$) #KXXI#XIXK  @) I. #KXXI#XIXKԈ \+&+   GuyAllenWhiteandhiswife,MableWhite,livedinGilesCountyandhadsixsons.Mr. 4-(- Whiteownedthetractoflandwherethefamilyhomeandhisshopwerelocated.Forreasonsnot  .p). readilyapparentintherecord,theWhitesdecidedtopartitionthisproperty.Accordingly,onMarch  14,1985,theyexecutedapartitiondeedconveyingthe.60acretractcontainingthefamilyhomeand  apumphousetoMs.Whiteandtheremaininga.80acretractcontainingtheshopbuildingtoMr.  White.Onthesamedate,theWhitesalsoexecutedabillofsaleinwhichMs.Whiteconveyedto t Mr.Whiteallherinterestintheshoptools,fixtures,equipment,andmachineryintheshop.   1       `   TheWhitesbecameestrangedastheyearswentby.Theyseparatedinlate1997orearly 8  1998,butneitherofthemstarteddivorceproceedings.Aftertheseparation,Mr.Whitetookupwith $ t JaniceSmith.OnFebruary4,1998,Mr.WhiteexecutedtwoinstrumentsthatarethetargetsofMs.  ` Whitesassault.First,heconveyedthe.80acretractthathadbeenthesubjectofthe1985partition  L  deedtohissixsons.Second,heexecutedaonepagewillleavingtheshopanditscontentstohis  8  sons.Inadditiontoseveralspecificbequestsofhisvehicleandfirearms,Mr.Whitedirectedthat $  Ms.Whitereceive [a]nymoneyleftafterhisdebts,taxes,andfuneralexpenseswerepaid.   2      ׀The   willalsonamedtwoofMr.Whitessonsasthecoexecutorsofhisestate.Later,onApril1,1998,   Mr.Whiteconveyedhisonethirdinterestintheloggingequipmenttooneofhissons.     Mr.WhitediedattheageofsixtyfouronNovember2,1998.OnJanuary14,1999,Ms. p WhitefiledapetitionintheProbateCourtforGilesCountyseekingtobeappointedthe \ administratrixofMr.WhitesestateandtoexerciseherrighttodissentfromMr.Whiteswill. H Thereafter,thetwosonsnamedascoexecutorsinMr.WhitesFebruary4,1998willfiledthewill 4 forprobate.Twoweekslater,Ms.Smithmovedtointerveneintheprobateproceedingforthe  p purposeofstatingthat,toherknowledge,theonlypersonalpropertyMr.Whitepossessedwhenhe  \ diedconsistedofhisclothing,a [b]rokendownDatsunauto,andapocketwatch.OnFebruary16, H 1999,theprobatecourtenteredanorderadmittingtheFebruary4,1998willtoprobateand 4 appointingascoexecutorsthetwosonsMr.Whitenamedinhiswill.OnNovember8,1999,the   coexecutorsfiledanoticeintheprobatecourtthatMr.Whitesestatewasinsolvent.     OnSeptember15,2000,Ms.WhitefiledacuriouspetitionintheChanceryCourtforGiles  County.   3      ׀Inthispetition,shefirstrequestedthat theentire[probatecourt]fileshouldbetransferred  totheChanceryCourtandtreatedasanappeal.Second,sherequestedthetrialcourttosetaside l Mr.WhitesFebruary4,1998conveyanceofthe.80acretracttotheirsixchildrenasafraudulent X  conveyance.Finally,sherequestedthetrialcourttosellthe.80acretractandtoallowhertodeduct D! herwidowssharefromtheproceedsofthesale. 0"    ThetrialcourtconductedaratherinformalhearingonNovember22,2000.Thefamily $X" apparentlyagreedthatthe.80acretractshouldbesoldbecause,asoneofMr.Whitessonsputit, $D # theproperty isnotdoingnoneofusnogood.Thesonsalsostatedthattheyhadfoundsomeone  whowouldpurchasethepropertyfor$25,000.However,Ms.Whiteandhersonscouldnotagree  onthedispositionofthesaleproceeds.Ms.Whiteinsistedthatshewasentitledtodeducther  widowssharefromtheseproceeds,butatleastfiveofthesixsonsdisagreedwithherbecauseshe t hadnotsharedwiththemtheproceedsofthesaleofanumberofitemsofMr.Whitespersonal ` property. L    Thetrialcourtinstructedthepartiestoattempttoresolvetheirdifferenceswhileittookup $ t therestofthedocket.Whenthepartiesannouncedthattheywereatanimpasse,thetrialcourtheld  ` (1)thatitlackedsubjectmatterjurisdictiontoconsideranappealfromtheprobatecourtsorders,  L  (2)thatMs.Whitewasbarredfromassertingafraudulentconveyanceclaiminthisproceeding  8  becauseasimilarclaimhadalreadybeendismissedinanearlierproceeding,and(3)thatMs.White $  didnothavestandingtoseekapartitionofthe.80acretractbecauseshehadnointerestinthe   property.&   4      ׀Ms.Whitehasappealed.-d   5         @) II.    @+ +  AppellateJurisdictionoftheChanceryCourt  p   Ms.Whitefirsttakesissuewiththetrialcourtsconclusionthatitlackedsubjectmatter H jurisdictiontoreviewthedecisionsoftheGilesCountyProbateCourt.    6      ׀Thesumandsubstanceof 4 herargumentonthispointisherlawyersobservationthat [y]earsagowhenthisattorneystarted  p practicinglaw,therulewasthatanyclaimcouldbemadeintheProbateCourtandthenmovedto  \  theChanceryCourt.Notwithstandingwhatthestateofthelawmayhavebeenatsomeearliertime, H thetrialcourtssubjectmatterjurisdictiondependsupontheexistingstatutesandconstitutional  provisions.D   7           Overtwodecadesago,theTennesseeGeneralAssemblydivestedcountycourtsandcounty t judgesoftheirprobatejurisdictioninresponsetoWatersv.Stateexrel.Schmutzer,583S.W.2d756 ` (Tenn.1979). d   8      ׀InTenn.CodeAnn.1616201(a)(1994),*   9      ׀theGeneralAssemblyvestedprobate L  jurisdictioninthechancerycourts [i]nallcountieswherenototherwisespecificallyprovidedby 8  public,private,specialorlocalacts....TheGeneralAssemblyalsoexplicitlyprovidedinTenn. $ t CodeAnn.1616201(c)thatappealsfromachancerycourtsdecisionwhileexercisingitsprobate  ` jurisdictionshouldbetakentothiscourt.,@    10        L    BothbeforeandaftertheenactmentofTenn.CodeAnn.1616201,anumberofcounties $  vestedprobatejurisdictionintheirgeneralsessionscourts.Bynecessaryimplication,Tenn.Code   Ann.1616201(c)appliestothesecourts.Accordingly,wehaveheldthatgeneralsessionscourts   exercisingprobatejurisdictionarecourtsofrecordandthatappealsfromthedecisionsofthese   courtswhileexercisingtheirprobatejurisdictionshouldbetakentothiscourt.Ayersv.McLemore,   No.13,1989WL9534,at*1(Tenn.Ct.App.Feb.10,1989);InreEstateofWilliams,MadisonLaw p No.1,slipop.at7,1985Tenn.App.LEXIS2889,at*1213(Tenn.Ct.App.May23,1985),perm. \ app.grantedandjudgmentamended(Tenn.Nov.18,1985)(holdingbytheTennesseeSupreme H Courtthat appealsfromtheprobatedivisionoftheGeneralSessionsCourtofMadisonCounty 4 shouldbetakentotheCourtofAppealsratherthantheCircuitCourt).  p   In1973,theprobatejurisdictionofthecountyjudgeforGilesCountywastransferredtothe H GilesCountyGeneralSessionsCourt.C    11      ׀Byvirtueofthisprivateact,theGilesCountyGeneral 4 SessionsCourthassubjectmatterjurisdictionoverallprobatematterswithinitsjurisdiction.It   necessarilyfollowsthatappealsfromthedecisionsoftheGilesCountyGeneralSessionsCourtwhen   itisexercisingprobatejurisdictionmustbefiledinthiscourtratherthantheChanceryCourtfor   GilesCounty.Accordingly,thetrialcourtcorrectlydeterminedthatitlackedappellatejurisdiction  toreviewthedecisionsoftheGilesCountyProbateCourtwithregardtotheprobateofMr.Whites  February4,1998will.     However,thetrialcourterredbydismissingtheportionofMs.Whitespetitionseeking t appellatereviewoftheprobatecourtsdecisions.Whenacasehasbeenappealedtothewrong ` appellatecourt,Tenn.CodeAnn.164108(a)(2)providesthatitshouldbe transferredtothecourt L  havingjurisdictionthereof.Relyingonthisstatute,theTennesseeSupremeCourtvacateda 8  judgmentaffirmingacircuitcourtsdismissalofanappealfromaprobatecourtandthenremanded $ t thecasewithdirectionsthatitbetransferredtothiscourt.InreEstateofWilliams,MadisonLaw  ` (OrdergrantingTenn.R.App.P.11applicationandamendingjudgment)(Tenn.Nov.18,1985).  L  Accordingly,onremand,thetrialcourtisdirectedtoenteranordertransferringMs.Whitespetition  8  forappellatereviewtothiscourtforfurtherproceedings. $  @^^( III.    @  Ms.WhitesFraudulentConveyanceClaim      Inadditiontoanappellateremedy,Ms.Whitealsoassertedtwootherclaimsthatfallwithin p thetrialcourtssubjectmatterjurisdiction.ThefirstclaimsoughttosetasidetheFebruary4,1998 \ deedconveyingthe.80acretracttoMr.Whitessixsonsonthegroundthatitwasafraudulent H conveyance.Asbestwecandetermine,Ms.Whiteassertedthisclaimintheprobateproceeding,in 4 anearliersuitfiledintheChanceryCourtforGilesCounty,andinthepresentproceeding.During  p theNovember22,2000hearing,Ms.Whiteslawyerconcededthatshehadfiledanothersuitinthe  \ ChanceryCourtforGilesCountyseekingtosetasidetheFebruary4,1998deedasafraudulent H conveyanceandthatthiscomplaintwasdismissedonitsmerits.Therecordinthiscasecontainsno 4 indicationthatMs.Whiteattemptedtoappealthisdecision,andourrecordscontainnoindication   ofsuchanappeal.     Resjudicataisaclaimpreclusiondoctrinethatbarsasecondsuitbetweenthesameparties  ortheirprivieswithregardtoissuesthatwereraisedorcouldhavebeenraisedintheearlier  proceeding.Richardsonv.TennesseeBd.ofDentistry,913S.W.2d446,459(Tenn.1995);Stateex l rel.Cihlarv.Crawford,39S.W.3d172,178(Tenn.Ct.App.2000).BecauseMs.White X  unsuccessfullyassertedherfraudulentconveyanceclaiminanearlierproceeding,thedoctrineofres D! judicatapreventsherfromrelitigatingthesameissueinthisproceeding.Shecannotusethisappeal 0"  asasubstitutefortheappealfromtheearlierdecisionthatshenevertook.Accordingly,thetrial #l! courtproperlydeclinedtoconsiderMs.Whitesfraudulentconveyanceclaim. $X" @dd) IV.  %0!$ @ Ms.WhitesPartitionClaim  &"%   ThesecondclaimthatfallswithinthetrialcourtsjurisdictionwasMs.Whitesrequestthat (#' the.80acretractbesoldforpartitionandthatherwidowsshareandoneyearssupportbededucted )$( fromtheproceeds.ThetrialcourtdismissedthisclaimonthegroundthatMs.Whitelacked |*%) standingtodemandthatthepropertybesoldforpartition.Thetrialcourtbaseditsdecisiononthe h+&* factthatMs.Whitecouldnotestablishthatshepossessedaninterestintheproperty. T,'+ Ї  Onlypersonswithanownershipinterestinrealpropertycanforceapartitionsale.They  derivethisright,notfromthecommonlaw,butfromthestatutescreatingtheright.Administration  &TrustCo.v.Catron,171Tenn.268,270,102S.W.2d59,60(1937).Accordingly,partitionclaims  aregovernedbyTenn.CodeAnn.2927101(2000)whichprovides: t 8  8`   Anypersonhavinganestateofinheritance,orforlife,orforyears,in L  lands,andholdingorbeinginpossessionthereof,astenantin 8  commonorotherwise,withothers,isentitledtopartitionthereof,or $ t saleforpartition.... `` x` x Underthisstatute,personsseekingapartitionsaleofpropertymustdemonstrate(1)thattheyhave  8  apresentinterestinthepropertyand(2)thatotherpersonsalsohaveaninterestintheproperty. $  Thisisconsistentwiththegeneralrule.       Ms.Whitecorrectlyidentifiedtheapplicablelawbutfailedtoacknowledgeitsimpactonher   claim.Shecouldhavetherighttoapartitionsaleonlyifsheownedaninterestinthe.80acretract.   ClearlyshedoesnotbecausetheMarch14,1985deedvestedsoleownershipofthepropertyinMr. p White.Accordingly,thetrialcourtproperlydismissedMs.Whitespetitionforapartitionsale. \ @) V.  4   WeaffirmthedismissaloftheportionsofMs.Whitespetitionseekingtosetasidethe  \ February4,1998deedasafraudulentconveyanceandapartitionoftheproperty.Wevacatethe H dismissalofMs.Whitespetitionforappellatereviewandremandthecasetothetrialcourtfor 4 furtherproceedingsinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.164108(a)(2).Wealsofindthatthis   appealisfrivolousanddirectthetrialcourt,followingtheremand,toconductahearingtoassess   damagesinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.271122(2000).Finally,wetaxthecostsofthis  appealtoMableWhiteandhersuretyforwhichexecution,ifnecessary,mayissue.     `     h     _____________________________ D!    `     h     WILLIAMC.KOCH,JR.,JUDGE