ÿWPC  ÿmýQ‰Ïñ«ˆ7-•Cʼnša‘h•Ô<¦ª9˜?½ŠbþÊ"BSÆDÇ;øãS‘áukAÝ* ØÑÉ›šy¹§öºT»ýjÉ´ò€nyˆGUÍÊ À¼¿ZUñž~­ÊŸiˆÃÔÍ;˜ AUíÙ•Jˆ -nQ¸‹ß±Qnî;ìׇI¹–¼ó÷ƒeÇ_<5qÔtË'Ç|ïf’߯hÁzKChÆ•öy“Q­2ò3 ) W¤9pAD À‚ ½Ò¾sß³ˆZ)mdÁdˆ€tïm²´ÁCs £ÉürQnUd5¶dÿF½Kø/ªc‚Y^¼ØbPjr.ñÓ÷ÕÉPÊ2ûû%žížzñbÜÛœ1!k“L_])¡ßicmzÀqsü0îá[þ=§~Ñar“³ø·”ã&½eqh>ŸÚü 0Õ³&ø¿J. Mývíí<iü½÷äq3LýøÕR¶êõ)},mU2¬D¡3Þït,·%KÔ#:-ÎeÀÃMlmü_¥y×-£i"ãƒÄ¶c†{‚ÈgJ77‰åÏÉ(Ë_þ¨&z´^ù›wÙ°óŒV÷Xž\нEÔé!³fÿ› IPQǨ7°:SÛcZ¸¸ÒŒ…Òl9In2EÑÌ*# LUNW %¥ 0(«bÓw@Û4/>FU:IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII AQƒÆÔ 0Dš 0DÞ 0D" " D/f B• B² D3Ï ˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡- ù- ‰=Š=E‹=Œ=D=DŽ=D=D=D‘=Ó€›=ìu[%3|x›= ùÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€ XÌ XXXÔÔ€  X XÌ ÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€ XÌ X  ÔÐ  ÐÌNovember€3,€1998ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó(('÷ÿ dxd düÿP Pd'''''ÿÿdxdÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýñ‘=ñ›ñ‘=ñѰÑÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ€ÑÑ7€†gXXdìdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÑ  Ñò òñ›=ññ‘=ñßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@Eô ` 8ttxP,ð  rßñ‘=ññ›=ññ›=ññ›=ññ›=ññ‘=ñ›ñ‘=ññ›=ññ›=ññ›=ññ›=ñ›ñ›=ññ›=ñßt€ )>.*jxk` `€€@E_` 8ttxP—ð  tß›ñ›=ñSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE€ex€rel.,à À àà  à)à p àFentress€JuvenileÐ  ÐDEBORAH€D.€WILLIS,à h àà À àà  à)à p àNo.€J„898Ð ôì Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìà ` àPetitioner/Appellee,à h àà À àà  à)Ð Ì Ä Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àAppeal€No.Ð ¸ ° ÐVS.à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p à01A01„9804„JV„00175Ð ¤ œ Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àÐ  ˆ ÐCECIL€WILLIS,€JR.,à h àà À àà  à)€Ð | t Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àÐ h` Ðà ` àRespondent/Appellant.à À àà  à)à p àÐ TL  ÐÌÌà@C C ®àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÌà@¼¼(®àAT€NASHVILLEˆÌÌà@Ê Ê ®àAPPEAL€FROM€THE€JUVENILE€COURT€OF€FENTRESS€COUNTYˆÌà@ùù#®àAT€JAMESTOWN,€TENNESSEEˆÌÌÓ  ÓHONORABLE€WILLIAM€J.€CAMPBELL,€JUDGEó óÐ  ˜ ÐÓæÓÌÌWilliam€B.€LawsonÌP.O.€Box€16Ì112€Gay€StreetÌErwin,€Tennessee€37650ÌATTORNEY€FOR€DEFENDANTS/APPELLEES,ÌÌÌKimberly€M.€FraynÌ2nd€Floor,€Cordell€Hull€Bldg.Ì425€Fifth€Avenue,€NorthÌNashville,€Tennessee€37243„0499ÌATTORNEY€FOR€PLAINTIFF/APPELLANTÌÌÌÌÓ  Óò òREVERSED€AND€VACATED.ó óÐ 8(0!$ ÐÓ5 ÓÌÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àHENRY€F.€œTODDÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€MIDDLE€SECTION›Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌœCONCUR:ÌBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€JUDGE›ÌWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€JUDGEÌÌÐ ”;Œ49 М‡ò òSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE€ex€rel.,à À àà  à)à p àFentress€JuvenileÐ  ÐDEBORAH€D.€WILLIS,à h àà À àà  à)à p àNo.€J„898Ð ôì Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìà ` àPetitioner/Appellee,à h àà À àà  à)Ð Ì Ä Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àAppeal€No.Ð ¸ ° ÐVS.à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p à01A01„9804„JV„00175Ð ¤ œ Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àÐ  ˆ ÐCECIL€WILLIS,€JR.,à h àà À àà  à)€Ð | t Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àÐ h` Ðà ` àRespondent/Appellant.à À àà  à)à p àÐ TL  ÐÌó óÌÓÓÓÓà@88(®àòòò òÔ‡„[ý„XXÔO€P€I€N€I€O€NÔ#†X†gX„„[ýN#Ôó óóóˆÐ   ÐÓ$ÓÌÓ  Óà ` àThis€case€involves€the€efforts€of€the€State€of€Tennessee€on€relation€of€Deborah€D.€Willis,Ïformer€wife€of€Cecil€Willis,€Jr.,€to€obtain€the€revocation€of€a€surrender€executed€by€himÏsurrendering€his€three€children,€Deborah€May,€Pamela€R.€and€Andrew€V.€for€adoption.€€TheÏJuvenile€Judge,€who€witnessed€the€surrenders,€later€entertained€the€petition€to€revoke€and€orderedÏthe€surrenders€to€be€revoked.€€The€respondent,€Cecil€Willis,€Jr.,€has€appealed€to€this€Court,Ïpresenting€the€following€issue:ÌÓÐÓÓ  ÓÒ` „ÒÒ¸ ÒÓÓà  àI.à h àWhether€a€Trial€Court€has€authority€to€revokeÐ ` X Ða€ð ðsurrender€of€Childðð€by€the€natural€father€directly€to€theÏnatural€mother€and€stepfather€almost€four€(4)€years€after€itsÏexecution.€€Furthermore,€whether€a€surrender€simply€becomesÏvoid€after€the€passing€of€120€days€when€an€adoption€has€notÏyet€occurred.ÌÓçÓÓ  ÓÒ¸ ÒÒ„` óÒÓÓÌà ` àIt€is€obvious€from€the€present€record€that€a€divorce€preceded€this€proceeding,€but€theÏdivorce€proceedings€are€not€included€in€this€record.ÌÌà ` àOn€August€9,€1993,€the€following€document€was€executed,€acknowledged€and€filed€withÏthe€Juvenile€Clerk€on€August€11,€1993.ÌÓ”ÓÒ` „ÒÒ¸ ÒÓÓò òÓ  ÓÌSURRENDER€OF€A€CHILD€BY€THE€NATURALÏFATHER€DIRECTLY€TO€THE€NATURAL€ÌMOTHER€AND€STEPFATHERó óÐ ¼3´,0 ÐÓ<ÓÓÓÌI,€the€undersigned€father,€deeming€it€for€the€best€interest€ofÏmy€child,€Pamela€Rebecca€Willis,€female,€born€February€15,Ï1985,€in€Hardin€County,€Kentucky,€in€wedlock,€herebyÏexecute€the€surrender€of€all€parental€rights€and€responsibilitiesÏand€consent€for€the€child€to€be€legally€adopted€by€CharlesÏWilliam€Keeley,€Jr.Ð 0:(37 Ðà  àI€have€the€legal€right€to€surrender€this€child€forÏadoption€as€the€childððs€legal€parent€by€birth€of€this€child€thatÏwas€born€in€wedlock.ÌÌà  àI€understand€that€by€signing€this€surrender,€all€myÏrights€and€responsibilities€with€respect€to€this€child€areÏterminated.ÌÌà  àI€agree€not€to€attempt€to€disrupt€this€childððs€futureÏrelationship€by€visiting,€attempting€to€communicate€withÏPamela€Rebecca€Willis,€or€attempting€her€removal€eitherÏphysically€or€through€legal€proceedings.ÌÌÌÓCÓÓ  Óò òSIGNATURE€OF€NATURAL€FATHERó óÐ ðè  ÐÓºÓÓÓÌFather:€Cecil€Willis,€Jr.;€Race:€White;€Marital€Status:€Married€ÏD.O.B.:€8„4„62;€Permanent€Address:€1537€Devilððs€Fork€Road,ÏFlag€Pond,€Tennessee€37657ÌÌà  àà h àà À àà  àSigned:€€òò€€€€Signature€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ xp Ðà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à€€Cecil€Willis,€Jr.ÌÌÌSTATE€OF€TENNESSEEÌCOUNTY€OF€FENTRESSÌÌà  àBefore€me,€the€undersigned€authority€in€and€for€theÏstate€and€county€aforesaid,€this€day€personally€appeared€CecilÏWillis,€Jr.,€the€bargainor,€with€whom€I€am€personallyÏacquiainted€and€acknowledged€the€execution€of€the€aboveÏinstrument€for€the€purposes€therein€contained,€as€witness€myÏhand€and€official€seal,€this€09€day€of€August,€1993.€ÌÌà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àòò€€€Frank€Smith€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ `&X" Ðà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àNotary€PublicÌMy€Commission€expires:Ìòò€€€€€€€9€„€94€€€€€€€€óóÐ $)"% ÐÌÓ ÓÓ  Óò òAGREEMENT€OF€NATURAL€MOTHER€ANDÐ ü*ô#' ÐADOPTING€STEPFATHERÌó óÓÓÓÓÌà  àWe,€the€natural€mother€and€the€prospective€adoptingÏfather,€understand€that€by€affixing€our€signatures€to€thisÏsurrender,€we€hereby€agree€to€assume€responsibility€for€theÏcare,€custody,€financial€support,€medical€care,€education,Ïmoral€and€spiritual€training€of€Pamela€Rebecca€Willis.ÌÌò òÓÓÓ  ÓSIGNATURE€OF€ADOPTING€PARENTÐ H3@,0 ÐÓÍÓÓ"Óó óÌFather:€Charles€William€Keeley,€Jr.;€Race:€White;€MaritalÏStatus:€Married;€D.O.B.:€7„21„59;€Permanent€Address:€RouteÏ1,€Box€212,€Jamestown,€Tennessee€38556ÌÌà  àà h àà À àòòà  à€€€€€€€€€Signature€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ Ð8È16 Ðà  àà h àà À àà  àCharles€William€Keeley,€Jr.Ð ¼9´27 ЇÓÓÓ  Óò òSIGNATURE€OF€NATURAL€MOTHERó óÐ  ÐÓ¦ÓÓÓÌMother:€Deborah€Deloris€Keeley;€Race:€White;€MaritalÏStatus:€Married;€D.O.€B.:€5„12„64;€Permanent€Address:€RouteÏ1,€Box€212,€Jamestown,€Tennessee€38556ÌÌà  àà h àà À àSigned:€€òò€€€€€€€€€€€€Signature€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ  ˆ Ðà  àà h àà À àà  à€€Deborah€Deloris€KeeleyÌÌÓøÓÓ  Óò òWITNESS€OF€SURRENDERó óÐ TL  ÐÓi!ÓÓ!ÓÌà  àCecil€Willis,€Jr.€personally€appeared€before€me€on€theÏ9th€day€of€August,€1993,€at€the€courthouse€in€FentressÏCounty,€Tennessee,€for€the€purpose€of€surrendering€toÏDeborah€Deloris€Keeley€and€Charles€William€Keeley,€Jr.€forÏadoption€and€stated€that€he€is€the€father€of€Pamela€RebeccaÏWillis€and€accepts€full€responsibility€for€this€free€andÏvoluntary€act.ÌÌà  àThis€August€9,€1993.ÌÌà  àà h àà À àà  àòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€Signature€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ d\ Ðà  àà h àà À àà  àWilliam€J.€CampbellÌà  àà h àà À àà  àJuvenile€Judge€for€FentressÌà  àà h àà À àà  àCounty,€TennesseeÌÌÌÒ¸ ’ÒÒ„` „ÒÓ Óà ` àIdentical€documents€were€executed,€acknowledged€and€filed€in€respect€to€Deborah€andÏPamela.ÌÌà ` àThe€record€contains€no€evidence€that€the€proposed€adoptions€were€ever€properlyÏperfected.ÌÌà ` àThe€brief€of€the€State€asserts€that€the€mother€sought€and€obtained€AFDC€benefits€for€theÏchildren,€but€these€facts€do€not€appear€in€the€record€before€this€Court.ÌÌà ` àOn€March€4,€1997,€a€motion€was€filed€in€the€Juvenile€Court€reading€as€follows:ÌÓÓÌÒ¸ ÒÒ` „ÒSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE€ex€rel.,ÌDEBORAH€D.€WILLIS,ÌPetitionerÌÓ³&ÓÓ«&ÓÌversusÌÌCECIL€WILLIS,€JR.ÌRespondentÐ ¼9´27 ЇÓ´!ÓÓ  ÓMOTION€TO€REVOKE€SURRENDERÌAND€NOTICE€OF€HEARINGÌÓ“'ÓÓ!ÓÌà  àThe€IV„D€Division€of€the€District€Attorney€GeneralððsÏOffice€on€behalf€of€the€STATE€OF€TENNESSEE€ex€rel.ÏDEBORAH€D.€WILLIS€would€show€that:ÌÌà  à1.à h àOn€August€9,€1993,€the€Respondent€appearedÐ | t Ðbefore€Juvenile€Court€Judge€William€J.€Campbell€andÏsurrendered€his€parental€rights€to€the€following€children:€(1)ÏAndrew€V.€Willis,€born€November€8,€1988.€€(2)€Deborah€MaeÏWillis,€born€August€24,€1982,€and€(3)€Pamela€R.€Willis,€bornÏFebruary€15,€1985.ÌÌà  à2.à h àThe€purpose€of€the€surrender€was€to€allow€theÐ ðè  Ðchildren€to€be€adopted€by€their€step„father€Charles€W.€Keeley,ÏJr.,€who€at€that€time€was€married€to€Deborah€Willis.ÌÌà  à3.à h àAn€adoption€proceeding€was€never€filed€byÐ  ˜ ÐDeborah€Willis€and€Charles€W.€Keeley,€Jr.,€as€they€laterÏdivorced.ÌÌà  à4.à h àThe€children€have€been€wards€of€the€State€ofÐ PH ÐTennessee€since€November€1,€1995,€when€AFDC€benefitsÏresumed.€€It€is€in€their€best€interest€that€the€surrender€ofÏparental€rights€of€the€Respondent€be€revoked.ÌÌà  àTHEREFORE,€THE€PETITIONER€requests€that:ÌÌà  àA.à h àThe€Respondentððs€surrender€of€parental€rightsÐ Ä!¼ Ðas€to€the€three€(3)€children€be€revoked€effective€the€date€ofÏfiling€of€this€motion;ÌÌà  àB.à h àThe€State€be€awarded€any€other€relief€whichÐ t%l! Ðthe€Court€deems€the€State€to€be€entitled;ÌÌà  àC.à h àCourt€costs,€if€any,€be€taxed€to€the€Respondent.Ð 8(0!$ ÐÌà  àNOTICE€IS€HEREBY€GIVEN€that€this€motion€will€beÏheard€by€Judge€William€J.€Campbell€in€the€JuvenileÏCourtroom€of€the€Fentress€County€Courthouse€in€Jamestown,ÏTN€at€2€p.m.€on€Monday,€March€17,€1997.ÌÌÌà  àà h àà À àà  àòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€(Signature)€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ ˜/(, Ðà  àà h àà À àà  àPAMELA€A.€KISSELÌà  àà h àà À àà  àAssistant€District€AttorneyÌà  àà h àà À àà  àP.O.€Box€310,€Huntsville,€ALÌà  àà h àà À àà  à37756Ìà  àà h àà À àà  à(423)€663„2532Ìà  àÌÒ¸ Æ&ÒÒ„` Ô&ÒÓ2'ÓÌà ` àOn€May€22,€1997,€the€Juvenile€Judge€entered€the€following€order:ÌÒ` „ÒÒ¸ ÒÓÓÐ ¼9´27 ÐSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE€ex€rel.ÌDEBORAH€D.€WILLIS,à  àà p àNo.€€909Ð ôì ÐPetitionerà h àà À àà  àà p àIV„D€#2548640„01Ð àØ ÐÌversusÌÌCECIL€WILLIS,€JR.ÌRespondentÌÌÌÒ¸ P1ÒÒ„` B1ÒÓà'ÓÓ^1ÓÒ` „ÒÒ¸ ÒÓÓÓ  Óò òORDER€REVOKING€SURRENDER€Ð @8  ÐOF€PARENTAL€RIGHTSÌó óÓæ2ÓÓÓÌà  àThis€cause€came€to€be€heard€on€May€5,€1997€beforeÏJudge€William€J.€Campbell€on€the€MOTION€TO€REVOKEÏSURRENDER,€statements€by€the€assistant€district€attorneyÏand€counsel€for€respondent€and€the€entire€record,€from€all€ofÏwhich€the€Court€finds€that:ÌÌà  à1.à h àOn€August€9,€1993,€the€respondent€appearedÐ Œ„ Ðbefore€the€Juvenile€Court€Judge€William€J.€Campbell€andÏsurrendered€his€parental€rights€to€the€following€children:€(1)€ÏAndrew€V.€Willis,€born€November€8,€1988,€(2)€Deborah€MayÏWillis,€born€August€24,€1982,€and€(3)€Pamela€R.€Willis,€bornÏFebruary€15,€1985.ÌÌà  à2.à h àThe€purpose€of€the€surrender€was€to€allow€theÐ ø Ðchildren€to€be€adopted€by€their€step„father,€Charles€W.ÏKeeley,€Jr.,€who€at€the€time€was€married€to€their€mother,ÏDeborah€Willis.ÌÌà  à3.à h àAn€adoption€proceeding€was€never€filed€byÐ œ#” ÐDeborah€Willis€and€Charles€W.€Keeley,€Jr.€as€they€laterÏdivorced.ÌÌà  à4.à h àThe€children€have€been€wards€of€the€State€ofÐ L'D # ÐTennessee€since€November€1,€1995,€when€AFDC€benefitsÏresumed.€€It€is€in€their€best€interest€that€the€surrender€ofÏparental€rights€of€the€respondent€be€revoked.ÌÌà  àIT€IS,€THEREFORE,€ORDERED,€ADJUDGED€andÏDECREED€that:ÌÌà  àA.à h àThe€surrender€of€parental€rights€of€theÐ ¬.¤'+ Ðrespondent,€Cecil€Willis,€Jr.,€is€revoked€effective€March€1997Ïwhen€the€Stateððs€motion€was€filed.ÌÌà  àB.à h àCourt€costs€are€taxed€to€Cecil€Willis,€Jr.,€2537Ð \2T+/ ÐDevils€Fork€Rd.,€Flag€Pond,€TN€37657.ÌÌÌÌÌÌâ âÐ Ð8È16 Ðà  àENTERED€on€this€14th€day€of€May,€1997,€NUNCÏâ âPRO€TUNC€TO€May€5,€1997.ÌÌÌà  àà h àà À àà  àòò€€€€€€€€€€€Signature€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð ¸ ° Ðà  àà h àà À àà  àóóJudge€William€J.€CampbellÐ ¤ œ ÐÌAPPROVED€FOR€ENTRY:ÌÌòò€€€€€Signature€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ TL  ÐPamela€A.€KisselÌAssistant€District€Attorneyà  àThe€undersigned€hereby€Ð ,$  Ð(423)€663„2532à À àà  àcertifies€that€a€true€and€Ð   Ðà  àà h àà À àà  àcorrect€copy€of€this¹Ò¸ Æ2ÒÒ„` ¸2ÒÓÔ2ÓÒ¸ ÒÒ „ÒÓÓà  àà h àà À àà  àpleading€has€been€served€Ìà  àà h àà À àà  àby€delivery,€or€throughà x àÐ ÜÔ  Ðà  àà h àà À àà  àthe€U.S.€Mail€with€Ìà  àà h àà À àà  àsufficient€postage€to€à  àà x àÐ ´¬ Ðà  àà h àà À àà  àcarry€it€to€its€destination,€Ìà  àà h àà À àà  àupon€all€parties€to€this€à x àÐ Œ„ Ðà  àà h àà À àà  àaction.€€May€7,€1997.ÌÌà  àà h àà À àà  àSigned:€òòPamela€A.€KisselóóÐ PH ÐÓ«<ÓÓÓà  àà h àà À àÌà  àà h àà À àà  àTo:€(1)€Deborah€Willis€Ìà  àà h àà À àà  àand€(2)€William€Lawson,€à x àÐ   Ðà  àà h àà À àà  àattorney€for€Cecil€Willis,€Jr.,€Ìà  àà h àà À àà  àP.O.€Box€16,€Erwin,TN€37650.ÌÒ¸ <ÒÒ„ <ÒÓž?ÓÓI3ÓÓ  ÓÒ°jE„ÒÌà ` àOn€appeal,€the€appellant,€Mr.€Willis,€insists€that€the€Juvenile€Court€had€no€authorityÏto€revoke€the€surrenders.€€The€resolution€of€this€issue€depends€upon€legislation€in€effect€atÏthe€time€of€the€surrenders€and€at€the€time€of€the€attempted€judicial€revocation.ÌÌà ` àOn€May€22,€1997,€the€date€of€the€revocation€order,€T.C.A.€ðð€36„1„103(b)€(1966)Ïprovided:ÌÒ„°zAÒÒ` „ÒÒ¸ ÒÓÓà  àAdoptions€and€terminations€of€parental€rights€pendingÏon€January€1,€1996,€and€surrenders€and€consents€executedÏprior€to€January€1,€1996,€shall€be€governed€by€prior€existingÏlaw.ÌÓnAÓÓ(ÓÒ¸ (CÒÒ„` CÒÓ6CÓÒ°+„ÒÌð ðPrior€existing€lawðð€included€T.C.A.€ðð€36„1„117€which€provided:ÌÒ„°`DÒÒ` „ÒÒ¸ ÒÓÓà  àò ò36„1„117.€€€Revocation€of€surrender€„€Formó ó.€„€(a)(1)Ð  5.2 ÐNo€surrender€shall€be€revoked€after€the€time€herein€provided.ÌÌà  à(2)à h àNo€surrender€shall€be€revoked€after€theÐ è7à05 Ðâ âentering€of€an€interlocutory€decree€or€a€final€order€of€adoptionÐ Ô8Ì16 Ðwhen€entering€of€an€interlocutory€decree€has€been€waived€inÏaccordance€with€the€provisions€in€this€part.Ìâ âÌò òà  à36„1„117€„€Domestic€Relations.ó ó€€(b)à È àProvided€aÐ Ì Ä Ðpetition€to€adopt€has€not€been€filed,€any€parent(s)€who€hasÏsurrendered€a€child€for€adoption€shall€have€the€absolute€rightÏto€revoke€the€surrender€within€fifteen€(15)€days€from€the€dateÏof€the€execution€of€the€surrender€by€appearing€in€chambersÏbefore€the€chancellor€or€circuit€judge€before€whom€theÏsurrender€was€executed,€or€his€successor€in€office,€andÏpresenting€to€him€the€original€and€two€(2)€copies€of€theÏrevocation€of€the€surrender.ÌÒ¸ ÜDÒÒ„` ÎDÒÓêDÓÒ°Ç.„Òà ` àà ¸ àÌÒ„°IÒÒ°„Òà ` àTennessee€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„114€(Supp.€1993),€provides€the€form,€criteria€for,€andÏinquiries€to€be€made€by€the€Court€during€a€surrender.€€In€relevant€portion,€said€provision€alsoÏspecifically€provided€that€ð ð...the€child€so€surrendered€shall€become€a€ward€of€the€court€untilÏthe€filing€of€the€petition€for€adoption.€€During€this€time,€the€court€shall€have€jurisdiction€ofÏall€matters€pertaining€to€the€child.ðð€ÌÒ„°QIÒÒ°2„Òà ` àÌà ` àIn€the€present€case,€on€August€9,€1993,€the€three€children€were€surrendered€by€a€fatherÏwho€lost€the€power€to€revoke€the€surrender€15€days€later€on€August€24,€1993.€€At€that€time,€Ïif€the€person€to€whom€the€children€were€surrendered,€decided€not€to€adopt€the€children,€thatÏperson€was€empowered€to€surrender€the€children€to€a€licensed€child„placing€agency.€ÏApparently,€this€second€surrender€did€not€take€place.€€Instead,€application€was€made€byÏsomeone€to€the€State€to€supply€support€to€the€children,€and€such€support€was€grantedÏresulting€in€the€present€effort€of€the€state€to€force€the€surrendering€father€to€perform€hisÏresponsibilities€to€the€children€despite€the€above€cited€statutory€provisions.ÌÌà ` àThe€record€contains€a€brief€narrative€statement€of€the€evidence€containing€theÏfollowing:ÌÒ„°KÒÒ` „ÒÒ¸ ÒÓÓà  àThe€respondent€has€had€no€contact€with€either€theÏminor€children€nor€the€petitioner€herein€nor€with€theÏchildrensðð€prospective€step„father€since€executing€theÏsurrenders.€€On€or€about€March€4,€1997,€the€State€ofÏTennessee,€ex.€rel.,€Deborah€D.€Willis„Keeley,€filed€a€motionÏin€this€Court€alleging,€inter€alia,€that€the€petitioner€Charles€W.ÏKeeley,€Jr.,€were€divorced€and€that€Mr.€Keeley,€Jr.,€had€neverÏadopted€the€children.Ð À9¸27 Їà  àThe€State€further€alleged€that€the€petitioner,€DeborahÏD.€Willis„Keeley€had€resumed€receiving€AFDC€benefits€andÏmoved€the€Court€to€revoke€the€surrenders€alleging€that€theÏrevocation€was€in€the€best€interests€of€the€minor€children.ÌÒ¸ NÒÒ„` ‚NÒÓžNÓÒ°ž4„ÒÌà ` àIt€is€obvious€that,€before€the€inception€of€this€unfortunate€situation,€Mr.€and€Mrs.ÏWillis€were€divorced€by€a€court€which€thereby€acquired€continuing€jurisdiction€of€the€minorÏchildren€of€the€parties.€€It€is€therefore€surprising€that€the€parties€would€go€to€a€different€courtÏto€effectuate€their€plans€for€transfer€of€responsibility€for€the€welfare€of€the€children.€ÌÌà ` àIt€is€also€surprising€that€the€State€agency€did€not€appeal€to€the€divorce€court€to€enforceÏits€orders€for€support€and€custody€of€the€children.ÌÌà ` àIn€òòKillion€v.€Tenn.€Dept.€Of€Human€Servicesóó,€Tenn.€1992,€845€S.W.2d€212,€theÐ PH Ðquestion€before€the€Supreme€Court€was€whether€a€mother€could€revoke€a€surrender€threeÏyears€after€its€execution€by€invoking€T.R.C.P.€Rule€60.€€The€Court€ruled€that€she€could€notÏbecause€T.C.A.€ðð€36„1„117€limited€the€time€for€revocation€to€fifteen€days.€€The€Court€alsoÏheld€that€Rule€60€does€not€authorize€later€revocation€ð ðbecause€it€is€in€the€best€interest€of€theÏchild.ððÌÌà ` àIn€two€unpublished€opinions,€this€Court€has€held€that€a€surrender€does€not€relieve€theÏsurrendering€parent€of€liability€for€child€support€until€such€liability€is€fully€placed€upon€theÏadoptive€parent€by€adoption€decree.ÌÌà ` àThe€Supreme€Court€has€held€that€contract€for€adoption€should€not€be€enforced,Ïbecause€the€final€decision€as€to€the€best€interest€of€the€child€is€for€the€adoption€court.€€In€re:€ÏPetition€to€Adopt€Glenda€Sue€Clements.€€201€Tenn.€98,€296€S.W.2d€875€(1956).ÌÌà ` àThe€appellant€contends€that€a€court€has€no€power€to€revoke€a€surrender€which€has€notÏbeen€revoked€by€the€surrendering€parent€within€the€time€allowed€by€T.C.A.€ðð€36„1„112Ð Ð8È16 Ð(1996).€€We€agree.€€ñˆ=ñNñˆ=ññ‰=ñWñ‰=ññŠ=ññ‰=ñ4e€ñ‰=ññŠ=ññ‹=ñe€see€nñ‹=ñothing€in€the€adoption€statutes€that€gives€the€state€the€authorityÏto€seek€€a€revocation€of€the€surrender.€€The€statutes€in€effect€in€1993€only€gave€theÏsurrendering€parents€a€fifteen€day€period€in€which€to€revoke€„„€if€a€petition€for€adoption€hadÏnot€been€filed€in€the€meantime.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„117(b).€€If€a€petition€had€been€filed,Ïthe€court€had€the€power€to€determine€what€was€for€the€best€interest€of€the€child.€€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðð€36„1„117(e)(1).ÌÌà ` àUnder€the€circumstances,€the€Juvenile€Court€erred€in€revoking€the€surrender,€and€theÏorder€of€revocation€is€vacated.€€Since€the€question€of€the€fatherððs€liability€for€continuingÏsupport€has€not€been€litigated,€that€question€is€not€before€us.€€It€must€first€be€decided€by€aÏcourt€having€jurisdiction€of€the€parties€and€the€subject€matter.€ÌÌà ` àIn€its€discretion,€this€Court€taxes€one„half€of€all€costs,€both€trial€and€appellate€to€theÏappellant,€and€the€remainder€of€said€costs€to€the€appellee.ÌÌà ` àThe€judgment€of€the€Juvenile€Court,€revoking€the€surrender€of€parental€rights€of€CecilÌWillis,€Jr.,€is€reversed€and€vacated,€and€the€motion€or€petition€filed€by€the€State€of€TennesseeÏseeking€revocation€of€said€surrender€is€overruled/denied,€without€prejudice€to€any€properÏapplication€made€to€a€court€of€competent€jurisdiction€to€enforce€the€payment€of€child€supportÏfrom€the€appellant.ÌÒ„°«QÒÓDÓÓ KÓÒ°$™„Òò òÓ  ÓÔ‡¼l.¼XXF ÔREVERSED€AND€VACATEDÔ#†XF X¼¼l.™^#Ôó ó.Ð è+à$( ÐÓ^ÓÓÓÌà « àà  àà [ àà ³ àà  àà c à___________________________ñ‡=ñ_______ñ‡=ñÌà « àà  àà [ àà ³ àà  àà c àHENRY€F.€TODDÌà « àà  àà [ àà ³ àà  àñ‚=ñà c àñ‚=ññƒ=ññ‚=ñpñ‚=ññƒ=ññƒ=ñPñƒ=ññ…=ññ„=ñresidñ„=ññ…=ññ†=ñRESIDING€JUDGE,€MIDDLE€SECTIONñ†=ñÌÓ Kj^ÓÒ„°x^Òñ=ñÒ` ÀX„Òñ=ñÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌ___________________________ÌBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€JUDGEÌÌÌ___________________________ÌWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€JUDGEñŒ=ñÐ :ø27 ÐñŒ=ñÓ_Óñ=ñÓÓñ=ññŒ=ñÐ :ø27 ÐñŒ=ññ=ñÐ :ø27 Ðñ=ññŽ=ñÐ :ø27 ÐñŽ=ññ=ñÐ :ø27 Ðñ=ññ=ññ=ñÐ :ø27 Ðñ=ññ=ññ=ñÐ :ø27 ÐÒ„` Î`Òñ=ññŒ=ñÌÌñŒ=ññ=ñÌñ=ññ=ñÓ‘aÓñ=ñ