FILED

October 1, 1996

Cecil Crowson, Jr.

Appellate Court Clerk

I N THE COURT OF APPEALS

DEBRA J EWELL YOUNG FORD, ) BRADLEY CHANCERY

 ) C. A. NO. 03A01- 9606- CH- 00197

 )

 Pl a i ntif f - Appe lle e )

 )

 )

 )

 )

 )

vs . ) HON. EARL H. HENLEY

 ) CHANCELLOR

 )

 )

 )

 )

 )

DENNI S CLI FFORD FORD, ) AFFI RMED AND REMANDED

 )

 De f e nda nt - Appe l l a nt )

STEPHEN DAVI S CRUMP, Cha nc e y, Ka na vos & Cr ump, Cl e ve l a nd, f or

Appe l l a nt .

ROGER E. J ENNE, J e nne , Sc ott & Br ya nt, Cl e ve l a nd, for a ppe lle e .

O P I N I O N

Mc Mur r a y, J .

Thi s a ppe a l a r i s e s f r om t he j udgme nt of t he t r i a l c our t whi c h,

a mong ot he r t hi ngs , a wa r de d a di vor c e t o t he de f e nda nt , pr ovi de d
2

f or c us t ody of t he pa r t i e s ' mi nor c hi l dr e n a nd ma de a di vi s i on of

t he ma r ita l e s t a t e . We a f f i r m the judgme nt of the tr i a l c our t .

The a ppe l l a nt ha s pr e s e nt e d t wo i s s ue s f or our c ons i de r a t i on:

1. Di d t he c ha nc e l l or e r r i n a wa r di ng Mr s . For d t hr e e

a nnua l pa yme nt s of f i f t e e n t hous a nd dol l a r s a s a

por t i on of ma r i t a l pr ope r t y whe n t he pa yme nt s woul d

ha ve t o be pa i d f r om Dr . For d' s f ut ur e i nc ome ?

2. Di d t he cha ncel l or er r i n a wa r di ng c us t ody of t he

pa r tie s ' t hr e e mi nor c hi l dr e n t o Mr s . For d whe r e

t he evi de nce est a bl i s he d t ha t s he wa s s uf f e r i ng

from a me nt a l c ondition t ha t , a c c or di ng t o t he

pr oof , r e qui r e d e xt e nde d i n- pa t i e nt t r e a t me nt , a nd

t ha t s he ha d l e f t t he c hi l dr e n wi t h va r i ous ba by

s itte r s on s e ve r a l oc c a s i ons i n or de r t o c a r r y on

t wo ext r a ma r i t a l af f a i r s ?

Our r e vi e w of t he case i s de novo upon the r ecor d, accompa ni e d

by a pr e s umpt i on of t he c or r e c t ne s s of t he f i ndi ngs of f a c t by t he

t r i a l c our t , unl e s s t he pr e ponde r a nc e of t he evi de nce i s ot he r wi s e .

Rul e 13( d) , T. R. A. P. No pr e s umpt i on a t t a c he s t o c onc l us i ons of

l a w. Se e Ada ms v. De a n Roof i ng Co., 715 S. W. 2d 341, 343 ( Te nn. Ct .

App. 1986) .

As t o t he f i r s t i s s ue , t he c our t i n i t s me mor a ndum opi ni on

ma ke s the f ollowi ng s t a t eme nt : "Thi s c our t a l s o a wa r ds c a s h

i ns t a llme nt s f or a pe r i od of t hr e e ye a r s a t $15, 000. 00 pe r ye a r .

Thi s pa yme nt i s de e me d a por t i on of t he a s s e t s a nd i s not t o be

c ons t r ue d a s a l i mony i n f ut ur o or i n s ol i do. " The appe l l a nt cl a i ms
1

No is sue i s ma d e a s t o t h e amount of t h e awa r d but onl y t h e me t hod of

p a y me n t .

3

t ha t t hi s a wa r d i s a n i mpr ope r di vi s i on of pr ope r t y i n t ha t t he

i ns t a l l me nt a wa r ds mus t be pa i d out of f ut ur e i nc ome .

1

We a gr e e t ha t a n a wa r d f r om f ut ur e i nc ome i s a n i mpr ope r

me t hod of di vi di ng ma r i t a l a s s e t s in a di vor c e c a s e . T. C. A. § 36-

4- 121( b) ( 1) ( A) de f i ne s ma r i t a l pr ope r t y a s " a l l r e a l a nd pe r s ona l

pr ope r t y, bot h t a ngi bl e a nd i nt a ngi bl e , a c qui r e d by e i t he r or bot h

s pous e s dur i ng t he c our s e of t he ma r r i a ge up t o t he da t e of t he

f i na l di vor c e he a r i ng a nd owne d by e i t he r or bot h s pous e s a s of t he

da t e of f iling of a compl a i nt f or di vor c e .. . " Cl e a r l y, fut ur e

i nc ome doe s not f a l l wi t hi n t he de f i ni t i on of ma r i t a l pr ope r t y.

I n our di s pos i t i on of t hi s i s s ue , howe ve r , we mus t not e t ha t

t he i ssue i s f r a me d i naccur a t e l y. The i s s ue as s t a t e d i s ba s e d

upon t he a s s umpt i on t ha t t he i ns t a l l me nt s mus t be pa i d f r om f ut ur e

i nc ome . Thi s i s a n i nc or r e c t a s s umpt i on. I t a ppe a r s f r om t he

r ecor d t ha t t he t ot a l a wa r d t o t he a ppe l l a nt i s va l ue d i n e xc e s s of

$360, 000. 00, i nc l udi ng hi s r e t i r e me nt pl a n va l ue d a t a ppr oxi ma t e l y

$300, 000. 00 a nd c a s h of a ppr oxi ma t e l y $15, 816. 00. I t i s c l e a r t ha t

t he a ppe lla nt ha s in hi s por tion of ma r ita l a s s e t s , s uf f i c i e nt

liqui d a s s e t s t o pa y $45, 000. 00 t o t he appe l l ee i mme di a t e l y.

The r e f or e , we do not c ons i de r t he a wa r d a s a n a wa r d t ha t mus t be

pa i d out of f ut ur e e a r ni ngs but s i mpl y a de l a ye d t r a ns f e r of

a sse t s . We a r e not pr i vy t o t he c our t ' s r e a s oni ng i n or de r i ng t ha t
4

t he a wa r d be pa i d i n a nnua l i ns t a l l me nt s . I t ma y or ma y not be

a dva nt a ge ous f r om a t a x vi e wpoi nt t o pa y t he a wa r d i n a nnua l

i ns t a llme nt s . I n a ny e ve nt t he $45, 000. 00 a wa r d i s , wi t hout

que s t i on, i nt e nde d by t he t r i a l j udge a s a pa r t of t he di vi s i on of

pr e s e nt ma r ita l a s s e t s . The a ppe lla nt is not r e qui r e d to di s t r i -

but e tha t pa r t of the ma r ita l a s s e t s to the a ppe lle e in lump s um.

He ma y ma ke t he di s t r i but i on i n i ns t a l l me nt s or he ma y pa y t he

di s t r i bution imme di a t e l y. We f i nd no me r it in thi s is s ue .

We wi l l ne xt t ur n our a t t e nt i on t o t he i s s ue r e ga r di ng c us t ody

of t he pa r t i e s ' mi nor c hi l dr e n. As not e d, c us t ody wa s gi ve n t o t he

mot he r . The a ppe lla nt ins i s t s tha t the f a t he r is the mor e fi t

pa r e nt t o ha ve c us t ody of t he c hi l dr e n. I n c ons i de r i ng t hi s i s s ue ,

we mus t be a r i n mi nd t ha t i n nonj ur y c a s e s whe r e t he t r i a l j udge

s a w a nd he a r d t he wi t ne s s e s a nd obs e r ve d t he i r ma nne r a nd de me a nor

on t he s t a nd, he wa s i n a muc h be t t e r pos i t i on t o j udge t he we i ght

a nd va l ue of t he i r t e s t i mony t ha n we . De c i s i ons by t he t r i a l j udge

r e ga r di ng the c r e di bility of witne s s e s a r e e ntitle d to gr e a t we i ght

on a ppe a l. Wilde r v. Wilde r , 863 S. W. 2d 707, 713 ( Te nn. App.

1992) . Whe r e t he e vi de nc e i s c onf l i c t i ng, t he we i ght a nd c r e di -

bility of t he t e s t i mony i s f or t he f i nde r of f a c t , a nd t he f i ndi ng

of the Tr i a l J udge in thi s r e s pe c t, a nonj ur y ma tte r , will not be

di s t ur be d on appeal unl e s s r eal evi de nce compe l s a cont r a r y

c onc l us i on. Se e Sc hl a t e r v. Ha yni e , 833 S. W. 2d 919 ( Te nn. App.
5

1991) . Thi s pr i nc i pl e ha s l ong be e n a ppl i e d t o c hi l d c us t ody

cas e s . 

I n c hi l d c us t ody c a s e s , t he we l f a r e a nd be s t i nt e r e s t of t he

c hild is the pa r a mount c onc e r n, a nd t he de t e r mi na t i on of t he

c hild' s be s t i nt e r e s t mus t t ur n on t he pa r t i c ul a r f act s of each

cas e . Hol l owa y v. Br a dl e y, 190 Te nn. 565, 230 S. W. 2d 1003 ( 1950) .

I t i s not ne c e s s a r y t o f i nd t ha t one pa r e nt i s unf i t i n or de r

t o a wa r d c us t ody t o t he ot he r pa r e nt . Whe r e bot h pa r e nt s a r e f ound

t o be f it t hi s Cour t ha s r e s or t e d t o a c ompa r a t i ve f i t ne s s t e s t ,

Ba h v. Ba h, 668 S. W. 2d 663 ( Te nn. App. 1983) , i n whi c h, c ons i de r i ng

a l l t he r e l e va nt ci r c ums t a nces , t he Cour t pl aces t he pr i nc i pa l

r e s pons i bility f or r e a r i ng t he mi nor c hi l d wi t h t he pe r s on mos t f i t

t o be a r tha t r e s pons i bi l i t y. I d. a t 666. I t c a n be i nf e r r e d f r om

t he t r i a l c our t ' s me mor a ndum t ha t t he c our t a ppl i e d t he compa r a t i ve

f itne s s te s t a s s e t out in Ba h, s upr a . Ne i t he r pa r e nt wa s f ound t o

be unf i t a nd t he c our t de t e r mi ne d t ha t t he be s t i nt e r e s t s of t he

c hi l d r e qui r e d c us t ody t o be gi ve n t o t he mot he r .

The r e i s e vi de nc e i n t he r e c or d t ha t bot h pa r t i e s s uf f e r f r om

s ome pr obl ems . A the r a pi s t, Mr . Rona l d As hl e y te s tif i e d tha t he

ha d c ouns e l e d wi t h t he a ppe l l a nt , t he a ppe l l e e a nd t he t wo ol de r

c hildr e n. He te s tif i e d tha t in hi s opi ni on the a ppe lle e s uf f e r e d

from de pr e s s i on a nd ha d a n e a t i ng di s or de r , bul i mi a ne r vos a . I n

a ddi t i on, he te s t i f i e d tha t t he a ppe l l e e wa s a " l ove a ddi c t." He
6

de s c r i be d "l ove addi c t " as "s ome one who, whe n t he y' r e i n a

r e l a t i ons hi p, t r i e s t o ge t unc ondi t i ona l pos i t i ve r e ga r d f r om t he

pe r s on who t he y' r e i n t he r e l a t i ons hi p wi t h t o t he e xc l us i on of

t a ki ng car e of the ms e l ve s withi n a r e l a tions hi p .. . . " He f ur t he r

t e s t i f i e d t ha t t he a ppe l l a nt s uf f e r e d f r om " ma j or de pr e s s i on. "

Dr . J a ne t Snoddy, a phys i c i a n, t e s t i f i e d t ha t s he wa s we l l

acqua i nt e d wi t h t he a ppe l l e e on a s oc i a l r a t he r t ha n a pr of e s s i ona l

ba s i s a nd ha d be e n a ne i ghbor . She de s c r i be d, f r om he r pe r s ona l

obs e r va t i ons , the wa y a nd ma nne r i n whi c h t he a ppe l l e e f ul f i l l e d

he r r ol e as a pa r e nt . She wa s ve r y compl i me nt a r y and s t a t e d t ha t

t he appe l l ee ha d a ve r y c l os e r e l a t i ons hi p wi t h he r c hi l dr e n. She

f ur t he r r e l a t e d t ha t t he appe l l ee wa s a f i t and pr ope r pe r s on, i n

he r opi ni on, t o be a c us t odi a l pa r e nt . She ma de no de r oga t or y

s t a t e me nt s c onc e r ni ng t he a ppe l l a nt a s a c us t odi a l pa r e nt. She

s t a t e d tha t the a ppe lla nt s pe nt le s s time with the c hildr e n be c a us e

he wor ke d.

The a ppe lla nt ins i s t s tha t t he appe l l ee wa s de f i c i e nt as a

c us t odi a l pa r e nt becaus e s he l e f t t he chi l dr e n wi t h ba bys i t t e r s .

Mr . Loc kha r t, a n inve s tiga t or f or the a ppe lla nt te s tif i e d tha t he

ha d ke pt t he a ppe l l e e unde r s ur ve i l l a nc e f or s ome f our hundr e d

hour s . He te s tif i e d tha t the a ppe lle e di d us e ba bys i t t e r s

f r e que nt l y, howe ve r , t he r e i s not hi ng i n t he r e c or d t o i ndi c a t e
7

t ha t t he ba bys i t t e r s we r e i na ppr opr i a t e l y us e d. He f ur t he r

t e s t i f i e d on c r os s e xa mi na t i on a s f ol l ows :

Q. And is n' t it t r ue a nd di d you not t e l l me i n t he

de pos i t i on, Mr . Loc kha r t , t ha t dur i ng a l l of t he s e

hour s of obs e r va t i on a nd s ur ve i l l a nc e , you ne ve r

s a w a ny i na ppr opr i a t e c onduc t out of t hi s l a dy

i ns of a r a s — or a ny i na ppr opr i a t e c onduc t a t a l l ?

A. No ext r a - ma r i t a l af f a i r s wha t s oe ve r .

Q. No i na ppr opr i a t e c onduc t wa s wha t I a s ke d you i n

de pos i t i on a nd t ha t ' s wha t you t ol d me . Is tha t

not tr ue , s i r ?

A. We ll, I thi nk a t tha t time you we r e re f e rri ng t o

e xt r a - ma r ita l a f f a i r s , a nd tha t ' s tr ue .

Q. We l l , di d you s e e a ny i na ppr opr i a t e c onduc t out of

t hi s l a dy dur i ng t hi s t hr ee or f our hundr e d hour s

of s ur ve i l l a nc e ?

A. Tha t ' s a ma t t e r of opi ni on. I pe r s ona l l y c ons i de r ,

you know, l e a vi ng t he c hi l dr e n a l one f or l ong

pe r i ods of t i me wi t h ba bys i t t e r s .

Q. Tha t ' s wha t you s a w a nd t ha t ' s wha t you' r e he r e t o

t e s tif y to.

A. Ri ght . You know, t ha t woul d j us t be my opi ni on,

Mr . J e nne .

Q. Now is n' t it tr ue , Mr . Loc kha r t, tha t you don' t

know i f t he pe r s on i n t he hous e wa s a ba bys i t t e r or

hous e ke e pe r ?

A. Corre c t .

The r e i s no e vi de nc e i n t he r e c or d t ha t t he ba bys i t t e r s or

hous e ke e pe r s we r e i na ppr opr i a t e pe r s ons to s upe r vi s e the a c tivitie s

of t he c hi l dr e n. The i nve s t i ga t or t e s t i f i e d t ha t ove r a s i x- mont h

pe r i od hi s onl y obs e r va t i on of i na ppr opr i a t e c onduc t wa s t ha t t he
8

a ppe l l e e wa s a wa y f r om he r c hi l dr e n mor e t ha n he t hought wa s

a ppr opr i a t e .

The r e wa s fur t he r te s timony e lic ite d tha t t he a ppe l l a nt ha d a

ve r y c l os e r e l a t i ons hi p wi t h hi s c hi l dr e n. The r e i s no s ugge s t i on

t ha t t he a ppe l l a nt woul d not ha ve be e n a n a ppr opr i a t e c us t odi a l

pa r e nt .

Compa r i ng the f itne s s of the two pa r e nt s i s a f unc t i on t ha t i s

pecul i a r l y withi n the pr ovi nc e of t he t r i a l j udge . He wa s pr e s e nt

dur i ng a ll the pr oc e e di ngs , h e a r d a ll the te s timony, s a w a ll the

witne s s e s a nd judge d the i r c r e di bility. He the r e a f t e r de t e r mi ne d

t ha t t he mot he r , t he a ppe l l e e he r e , s houl d be t he c us t odi a l pa r e nt .

The pr e s umpt i on of c or r e c t ne s s whi c h or di na r ily a tta c he s to

t he tr i a l j udge ' s f i ndi ngs i n a be nc h t r i a l a ppl i e s t o i s s ue s of

c hild c us t ody. Ba h v. Ba h, s upr a ; Sc a r br ough v. Sc a r br ough, 752

S. W. 2d 94 ( Te nn. App. 1988) . Addi t i ona l l y, t r i a l c our t s a r e ve s t e d

with wi de di s c r e t i on i n ma t t e r s of c hi l d c us t ody a nd r e vi e wi ng

c our t s wi l l not i nt e r f e r e e xc e pt upon a s howi ng of a n a bus e of

di s c r e tion. Gr a nt v. Gr a nt , 39 Te nn. App. 539, 286 S. W. 2d 349

( 1954) . We s houl d not e pa r e nt he tic a l l y, t ha t an "abus e of

di s c r e t i on" s t a nda r d i s not i nc l ude d i n t he s t a nda r d of r e vi e w a s

f ound i n Rul e 13( d) of t he Te nne s s e e Rul e s of Appe l l a t e Pr oc e dur e .

Howe ve r , whe n t he r e i s s uf f i c i e nt e vi de nc e t o do s o, t he c our t ma y
9

de t e r mi ne tha t, ba s e d upon t he ma t e r i a l evi de nce, abus e or abs e nc e

of a bus e of di s c r e t i on ma y be de t e r mi ne d as a ma t t e r of l a w. I n

t hi s c a s e we f i nd no a bus e of di s c r e t i on. We f i nd no r e ve r s i bl e

e r r or i n gr a nt i ng c us t ody of t he c hi l dr e n t o t he a ppe l l e e .

I n thi s c a s e the a ppe lle e ha s f ile d a motion to di s mi s s thi s

a ppeal ba s e d upon our de c i s i on i n Cobb v. Be i e r , an as ye t

unr e por t e d opi ni on of t hi s c our t by J udge Fr a nks , opi ni on f i l e d

J ul y 3, 1996, whe r e i n i t wa s he l d t ha t a f a i l ur e t o f i l e a not i c e

of appeal wi t h t he appe l l a t e cour t cl e r k wa s a f a t a l de f ect . I n

vi e w of our di s pos i t i on of t hi s c a s e , t he i s s ue i s moot . We ,

t he r e f or e , de c l i ne t o r ul e on t he mot i on.

Thi s cas e i s af f i r me d i n al l r e s pect s . Cos t s ar e t a xe d t o t he

a ppe l l a nt and t hi s cas e i s r e ma nde d t o t he t r i a l cour t f or t he

c olle c tion the r e of .

______________________________

 Don T. Mc Mur r a y, J .

CONCUR:

___________________________________

Hous t on M. Godda r d, Pr e s i di ng J udge

___________________________________

Cha r l e s D. Sus a no, J r . , J udge
I N THE COURT OF APPEALS

DEBRA J EWELL YOUNG FORD, ) BRADLEY CHANCERY

 ) C. A. NO. 03A01- 9606- CH- 00197

 )

 Pl a i ntif f - Appe lle e )

 )

 )

 )

 )

 )

vs . ) HON. EARL H. HENLEY

 ) CHANCELLOR

 )

 )

 )

 )

 )

DENNI S CLI FFORD FORD, ) AFFI RMED AND REMANDED

 )

 De f e nda nt - Appe l l a nt )

ORDER

Thi s a ppeal ca me on t o be he a r d upon t he r e c or d f r om t he

Cha nc e r y Cour t of Br a dl e y Count y, br i e f s a nd a r gume nt of c ouns e l .

Upon c ons i de r a t i on t he r e of , t hi s Cour t i s of opi ni on t ha t t he r e wa s

no r e ve r s i bl e e r r or i n t he t r i a l c our t .

Thi s cas e i s af f i r me d i n al l r e s pect s . Cos t s ar e t a xe d t o t he

a ppe l l a nt and t hi s cas e i s r e ma nde d to the tr i a l c our t f or the

c olle c tion the r e of .

 PER CURI AM