FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, GOBEI L and PI NSON, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

https ://w w w

. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

June 7, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 2 A0 41 3 . CLAYBROOKS v . CLAYBROOKS.

P I N S O N

, J u d g e.

Aft er l o si n g h er jo b

, Yo l an da Cl ay b ro o k s s t o p p ed m ak i n g h er co u rt -o rd ered

ch i l d -s u p p o rt p ay m en t s t o h er fo rm er s p o u s e, J o h n Cl ay b ro o k s. Jo h n s u ed Yo l an d a

fo r co n t em

p t

. Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d Yo l an d a i n wi l l f u l c o n tem

pt an d o rd ered h er to

p ay t h e p as t -d u e ch il d s u p p o rt

, p l us at t o rn ey fees an d in t eres t. W e affi rm th e fi n d i n g

o f wi l l fu l co nt em

p t

, b ecau s e ev i d en ce su p po rt ed t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d in g t h at Yo l an d a

fai l ed to p ay ch i l d s u p p o rt ev en t h ou g h s h e h ad en o u gh m o n ey i n h er 4 0 1 (k ) acco u nt

t o d o so

. B u t w e m

u s t v a cat e t h e award s o f at t o rn ey fees an d i nt eres t

. Th e at t o rn ey

fees were award ed u nd er OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2 8 (a), b ut t h at st at u t e d o es n o t au t h o ri ze t h e

award o f at t orn ey fees in a co nt em p t act i o n

. An d t h e i n t eres t was award ed u n d er

OCGA § 7 -4 -1 2

. 1

, b u t t h at s t at u t e req u i res co u rt s t o co ns i d er fo u r s p eci fi c fact o rs ind eci d i n g wh et her an d h o w t o ap p ly i n t eres t

, an d t h e reco rd s h ows t h at t he t ri al co u rt

d i d n o t co n s id er t h o s e s t at u t o ry fact o rs

. So we v acat e t h es e award s an d rem an d t h e

cas e fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s co n s i s t en t wi t h t hi s o p i n i o n

.

Back gro u n d

J o h n an d Yo l an da Cl ay

b ro o k s are th e d i v o rced p aren t s of a d au g h t er, M

. C. In

2 0 1 6

, th e p art i es en t ered i n to a co n s en t o rd er m o di fy i n g th ei r d i v o rce d ecree, wh i ch

p ro v id ed

, am o n g o th er t h i n g s

, t h at J o h n wo u l d hav e p ri m a r y p h ys ical cu s t o d y o f

M . C. an d t h at Yo l an da wo u ld p ay $ 7 00 p er m o nt h i n ch il d s u pp o rt

.

Ab o u t f o u r y ears l at er, i n 2 0 20

, J oh n fi led a co m p l ai n t fo r co n t em

p t ag ai n s t

Yo l an d a. Th e co m

pl ai n t al l e g ed t h at Y o l an d a was b eh i n d i n h er ch i l d -s u p p o rt

p ay m en t s b y m o re t h an $ 8 ,4 0 0 an d as k ed t h e t ri al co u rt t o fi n d her i n wi l l fu l co n t em pt

o f t he 2 0 1 6 ch i l d -s u p p o rt o rd er. Fo r rel ief, t h e co m p lai n t req u es t ed t h at Yo l an d a p ay

al l “ al l m o n i es o wed p u rs u an t t o t h e 20 1 6 Ord er,” as wel l as Jo h n ’ s at t o rn ey fees an d

l i ti g at i o n ex p en s es an d “ s uch o t h er an d fu rt h er rel i ef as t h i s Co u rt m ay deem ju s t an d

eq u it ab l e.” Yo l an d a res p o n d ed t o t h e co m pl ai n t

, ex p l ai n i n g t h at s h e h ad lo s t h er jo b

i n 2 0 1 9 an d t h at sh e h ad n ot b een ab l e t o fi n d an ot h er o n e, p art i cu l arl y d u r i n g t h e

COVID-1 9 p an d em i c.

2Th e co u rt hel d a h eari n g

. Du ri n g o p en i n g s tat em en t s, Y o l an d a’ s co u ns el

ex p lai n ed th at Yo l an d a h ad ab o u t $ 5 0

, 0 0 0 i n h e r 4 0 1 (k ) acco u nt an d t h at s h e h ad

recen t l y o ffered t o pay h er u n p ai d ch i l d s u p p o rt o ut o f t h at acco un t by t h e en d o f t h at

week

. Th e tri al co u rt as k ed : “ So we’ re ju s t real l y h ere t o arg u e ab o ut [at t o rn ey ] fees ? ”

Co u n s el ag reed t h at th e q u es t i o n o f fees was “ b as i cal l y i t.” Bo th s i d es t h en p res en t ed

arg u m en t an d t es t i m o n y ab o u t t wo rem ai n in g is s u es : t h e reas o n ab l en es s o f t h e

am ou n t o f at t o rn ey fees t h at J o h n was s eek i n g ($ 6 ,2 0 0 )

, an d Yo l an d a’ s co n t en t i o n

t h at s h e h ad al read y m ad e a s eri es o f $ 2 5 p ay m en t s

, t o tal i n g $ 5 7 5, wh i ch s ho u l d b e

cred i t ed ag ai n s t t h e am o u nt o f ch i l d s u p po rt s h e o wed

.

Th e t ri al co u rt fo un d t h at Yo l an d a was i n wi l l fu l c o n t e m p t o f t h e 2 0 1 6 ch i ld

s u p p ort o rd er: “ I m ean

, s h e’ s o bv i o u s l y i n co nt em p t

. It ’ s o b v i o u s l y wi l l fu l. Sh e h ad

t h e m o ney

. Sh e ju s t d i d n ’ t pay i t .” Th e t ri al co urt d i d

, h owev er, fi nd th at Y o l an d a’ s

arrearag e s ho u l d b e red u ced b y t h e $ 5 7 5 s h e h ad al read y p ai d

. Th e t ri al co u rt as k ed

J o h n ’ s co u n s el t o p rep are an o rd er o f p ay m en t

, leav i n g b l an k th e am o u n t s o f fees an d

i n t eres t s o t h at t h e co u rt co ul d d et erm i n e wh at am o un t s were reas o n ab le.

Th e nex t day t h e t ri al co u rt i s s u ed i t s fi n al o rd er. T he co urt fo u n d t h at Yo l an d a

o wed $ 7,8 2 5 i n ch i l d s u p p o rt

, g i v i n g h er cred i t fo r t he $ 5 7 5 sh e h ad al read y p ai d

. Th e

co u rt fu rt h er fo u n d t h at Yo lan d a was i n wi l l fu l co n t em p t o f h er ch i l d s u p p o rt

3o b l i g at i o n, s i n ce sh e h ad a 4 0 1 (k ) acco u n t wi t h en o u g h fu n ds t o co v er t h e u n p ai d

a m o u n t

. Bas ed on t h at fi n d in g

, t h e co u rt as s es s ed $ 1

, 0 24 i n i n t eres t o n t h e u n p a i d

ch i l d s u p p o rt u n d er OCGA § 7 -4 -1 2 .1

. Al s o b as ed o n t hat fi n di n g

, t h e co u rt o rd ered

Yo l an d a t o p ay $ 3 ,1 2 5 i n at t orn ey fees u n d er OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2 8 (a), h av i ng red u ced

t h e fee am o u n t fro m

t h e $ 6

, 2 0 0 t h at J o h n h ad o ri g i n al l y req u es t ed

.

Yo l an d a ap p l i ed fo r a d is cret i o nary ap p eal , wh i ch we g ran t ed

.

Di s cu ss i o n

1

. Yo l an d a co n t en ds t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred by fi n d i n g h er i n wi l l fu l co n t em pt

o f h er ch i l d s u pp o rt o b l i g at i on s.

“ In o rd er t o h o l d a p art y i n co n t em p t

, a t ri al co u rt m

u s t fi n d t h at t h e p a r t y

wi l l f u l l y d i s ob ey ed a co urt o rd er.” W a l l v. Ja mes

, 3 5 8 G a

. A p p

. 1 2 1, 12 3 (1 ) (8 5 3

SE2 d 8 8 1 ) (2 0 2 1 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n c t u at i on o m it t ed ; em p h as i s i n o ri g i n al ). A t ri al

co u rt h as b ro ad d i s cret i o n in ap p l y i n g t h at s t an d ard

. Su l l i va n v. Ha r p er

, 3 5 2 Ga. Ap p.

4 2 7

, 4 3 3 (2 ) (8 3 4 SE2 d 9 2 1 ) (2 0 1 9 ). An d i n rev i ewi n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ap p l i cat i o n

o f t h at s t an d ard

, “ i f t h ere i s an y ev i d en ce t o s up p o rt [t he] co u rt ’ s d et erm i n at i o n t h at

a p art y h as wi l l fu l l y d is o b ey ed i t s o rd er, th e fi n d i n g o f co n t em p t wi l l b e affi rm ed .”

Da r ro ch v. W

il l is , 2 8 6 Ga. 5 6 6 , 5 6 8 (2 ) (6 9 0 SE2 d 4 1 0 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

4Th e tri al co u rt ’ s fi n di n g of wi l l fu l co n tem p t here was wi t h i n i ts d i s cret i o n

. Th e

co u rt fo un d t h at Y o l a n d a wi l l fu l l y d ecl in ed to co m p l y w i t h t h e 2 0 16 ch i l d s u p p o rt

o rd er b ecau s e s h e h ad en o u g h m o n ey in h er 4 0 1(k ) acco u n t t o p ay wh at s h e owed

, y et

d i d n o t p ay i t

. Y o lan d a co n t en d s t h at her fai l u re t o p ay was n ot wi l l fu l

, becau s e s h e

was o u t o f wo rk an d becau s e s he wo u l d in cu r a pen al t y fo r wi t h d rawi n g fu n d s fro m

h er 4 0 1 (k ) acco u n t

. Bu t “ [i ] n ab i l i t y t o p ay i s a d efen s e o n l y wh e r e t h e co n t em n o r

d em o n s t rat es t hat [s h e] h a s e x h a u s t ed al l res o u rces an d as s et s av ai l ab l e an d i s s t i l l

u n a b l e t o s ecu re t h e fu n d s n eces s ary t o en ab l e co m p l i an ce wi th t h e co u rt ’ s o rd er.”

Da r ro ch

, 2 8 6 Ga. at 56 9 (2 ). A 4 0 1 (k ) acco u n t i s ju s t s u ch an av ai l ab l e res o u rce. See

i d

. (u p h o ld i n g fi n d i ng o f wi l l fu l co n t em p t wh ere fo rm er s p o u s e fai l ed to refi n an ce t h e

m o rt g ag e o n t h e m ari tal h o m e, as d i rec t ed in a Mari t al Di s s o lu t i o n Ag reem en t

,

d es p it e h av i n g av ai l ab le res o urces

, in cl u di n g a 4 0 1 (k ) acco u n t an d m ul t i p l e way s to

b o rro w m o n ey ). An d th ere i s n o d i s p u te t hat Y o l an d a h ad a 4 0 1 (k ) acco u n t

, o r t h at

s h e co u l d h av e wi t h d rawn f u n d s f r o m i t t o co m

p l y w i t h t h e ch i l d -s u p p o rt o rd er.

Becau s e t h i s ev i den ce s u p p o rt s t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g o f wi l l fu l co n t em p t

, t h at

fi nd i ng m u st be affi rm ed

. Id .; s ee al s o Ber n a r d v. B er n a r d

, 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p

. 4 2 9

, 4 3 5 -3 6

(3 ) (8 19 SE2 d 6 8 8 ) (2 0 1 8 ) (affi rm i n g fi n d i n g of wi l l fu l co n tem pt wh er e e v i d en ce

s u p p ort ed t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g t h at fo rm er sp o us e wh o fai led t o p ay ch i l d s u p p o rt h ad

5acces s t o cas h acco u nt s, ret i rem en t acco un t s, an d t h e as s et s o f h i s cu rren t wi fe, an d

h ad n o t at t em

p t ed t o b o rro w m o n ey

o r red u ce h i s s p en di n g ).

2

. “ Gen eral l y

, an award o f at t o rn ey fees i s n o t av ai l ab l e i n Geo rg ia u n l es s

au t h o ri zed b y s t at u te o r co n t rac t

. ” O’Keef e v. O’Keef

e

, 2 8 5 Ga. 8 0 5

, 8 0 5 -0 6 (6 8 4

SE2 d 2 6 6 ) (2 0 0 9) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). Yo l an d a co n t e n d s t h a t t he t ri al co u rt erred by

award i n g at t o rn ey fees u n d er OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2 8 (a), rat h er t h an u n d er OCGA § 1 9 -6

-

2 . Bu t we co n cl u d e t h at n ei t h er s tat u t e au t h o ri zed t h e fee award

.

(a) Th e tri al co u rt award ed at t o rn ey fees un d er O C G A § 1 9

- 6

- 2 8 (a), b u t n o

p art o f t h at p ro v i s i o n au t h o ri zed t h at award

. T h e fi rs t p art o f th at p ro v i s i o n g i v es

c o u r t s t h e p o wer t o i m

p o s e “ t erm s an d co n d i t i o ns ” t h ey “ d eem p ro p er to a s s u r e

co m p l ian ce” wi t h d i v o rce, ch i l d su p p ort

, o r al i m o ny o rd ers

. A s a g en eral m at t er, i t

i s n o t cl ear wh en

, i f ev er, at t o rn ey fees award ed at t h e cl o s e o f l i t i g at i o n wo u l d s erv e

as a m ech an i s m fo r “ as s u r[i n g] co m p l i an ce” w i t h an o rd er. Bu t i n an y ev en t

, t h ere i s

n o i n d i cat i o n i n th e co u rt ’ s ord er o r o th erwi s e t hat t h es e part i cu lar at to rn ey s fees were

award ed t o as s ure co m

p l i an ce wi t h t h e m o di fi cat i o n o rd er at is s u e. In s t ead

, t h ey were

award ed i n a co n t em

p t pro ceed i n g

, wh i ch i s m ean t to p u n i sh a fai l u re t o co m p l y wi th

t h at o rd er. So § 1 9 -6 -2 8 (a)’ s p o wer to s et “ t erm s an d co n d i t i o ns ” d o es n o t au t h o ri ze

t h i s fee award

.

6Nei t her are at t orn ey fee award s au t h o ri zed b y t h e p art o f 1 9 -6 -2 8 (a) t h at d eal s

wi t h co n t em

p t

. Th at p art o f t h e p ro v i s i o n ex t en d s t h e co n tem pt p o wer t o t ri al co u rt s

t h at h av e i s s ued d iv o rce, ch i l d s u p p o rt

, or al i m o n y o rd ers

. It d o es t h i s b y g i v i n g t h es e

co u rt s t h e “ p o wer t o p u ni sh ” a p art y fo r v i o l at i ng s uch o rd ers “ t o t h e s a me ext en t as

i s p ro v i d ed b y

l aw fo r co n t em

pt o f t h e co u rt in an y o t h er act i on o r p ro ceed i n g .” Id

.

(em p h as i s s u p p l i ed ). Bu t i t i s wel l s et t l ed t h at t h e co nt em p t p o wer d o es no t i n h eren t l y

i n cl u d e a p o w e r t o award at t o rn ey fees

. Mi n o r v. Mi n o r

, 2 5 7 G a. 7 0 6

, 7 0 9 (2 ) (3 6 2

SE2 d 2 0 8 ) (1 98 7) (“ No au th o ri t y ex i s t s t o award at t o r n ey fees m erel y becau s e an

act i on i s fo r co nt em

p t .”). Acco rd Co o k v. Ca mp b el l -Co o k

, 34 9 Ga. Ap p

. 3 2 5, 3 3 2 (3 )

(b ) (8 2 6 SE2 d 1 55 ) (2 0 1 9 ); Ta t e v. Ta t e

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. 3 6 1

, 3 64 (3 ) (7 9 7 SE2 d 2 2 7 )

(2 0 1 7); St ewa r t v. Tr i co rd

, LLC

, 2 9 6 Ga. A p p

. 8 3 4, 8 3 5 (1 ) (6 76 SE2 d 2 2 9 ) (2 0 0 9 );

s ee al s o S

a mp s o n v. Cu r et o n

, 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. 4 66

, 4 7 3 (2 ) (8 0 7 SE2 d 4 6 5 ) (2 0 1 7 )

(“ s u p eri o r co u rt s d o n ot h av e au t h o ri t y t o req u ire t h e pay m e n t o f at t o rn ey fees as

p u n i s h m en t fo r co n t em

p t ”). If t h e co n t e m

p t p o wer d o es n o t g en eral l y i ncl u d e t h e

p o wer t o award at t o rn ey fees

, t hen t h e co n t em pt p o wer th at § 1 9-6 -2 8 (a) ex t en d s to

co u rt s “ to t h e s am e ex t en t” t h at i t i s av ai l ab l e i n o t her act i on s al s o d o es n o t i n cl u d e

7t h e p o wer t o award at t o rn ey fe e s

. 1 S o OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2 8 (a) d o es n o t au t ho ri ze t h e

at t o rn ey fee award h ere.

(b ) Co d e Sect i on § 1 9 -6 -2 al so d oes n o t au t h o ri ze t he at t orn ey fee award

. T h at

p ro v is i o n au t h o ri zes at t o rn ey fees i n an “ act i o n

... fo r al i m o n y

, d i v o rce an d al i m o n y

,

o r co n tem

p t o f co u rt ari si n g o u t o f ei t h er an al i m o n y cas e o r a d i vo rce an d al i m o ny

cas e.” OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2 (a). Th i s i s a co n t em p t act i o n t hat al l eg ed a fai l u re t o co m p l y

wi t h a co n s en t o rd er t h at m o di fi ed cu s to d y

, v i s i t at i o n

, an d ch i l d -s u pp o rt ri g h t s an d

o b l i g at i o ns

. Al t h ou gh on e m ig h t arg u e t h at s uch an act i on n ev ert h el es s “ ar[o s e] o ut

o f” t he Cl ay

b ro o k s es ’ di vo rce cas e, o u r p reced en t sq u arel y f o r e cl o s es award i n g

at t o rn ey fees i n t h es e ci rcu m st an ces : Sect i o n 1 9 -6 -2 “ d o es n o t ap p l y t o a p et i t i o n fo r

m o di fi cat i o n o f ch i l d cu s t o d y o r t o co n t em

p t p ro ceed i n gs u nl es s t h e al leg at i o n s are

fo r fai l u re t o co m

pl y wi t h t he or i

g i n a l al i m o n y o r d i v o rce decre e

. ” M o o r e v.

1 Nei t her cas e t h at J o h n ci t es s u p po rt s h i s co n t en t i on th at OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2 8 (a)

au t h o ri zes at t o rn ey fees b ecau s e n ei t h er c a s e i n v o l v ed an award o f at t orn ey fees

u n d er OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2 8 (a). In Br o wn v. Ki n g

, o ur S u p rem e Co u rt h el d t h at a

co n tem p t act i o n t o en fo rce ch i l d s u p p ort p ay m en t s i s an i n d ep en den t pro ceed i n g ; t h e

Co u rt t h en ci t ed t h e p ort io n o f OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2 8 th at d es cri b es t h e p ro ces s fo r s erv i n g

t h e co n t em

p t m o t io n an d ru l e n i s i

. 2 6 6 G a

. 8 9 0

, 89 0 (1 ) n .7 (4 7 2 SE2 d 6 5 ) (1 9 9 6 ).

In Br i d ges v. W o o t en

, w e co n cl u d ed t h at a p l ai n t i ff h ad n o p ri vat e ri g h t o f act i o n fo r

d am ag es fo r cri m i n al ab an d o n m en t b as ed o n t h e fai lu re t o p ay ch i l d s u p p o rt

, n o t i n g

t h at OCGA § 1 9-6 -2 8 p ro v i d ed t h e p l ai n t i ff wi t h a ci v i l co n t em p t rem ed y

. 3 0 5 Ga.

Ap p . 6 8 2 , 6 8 4 -8 5 (1 ) (7 0 0 SE2 d 6 7 8 ) (2 0 1 0).

8Hu l la n d

er

, 3 4 5 Ga. Ap p

. 5 6 8

, 5 7 1 ( 2 ) (8 1 4 SE2 d 42 3 ) (2 0 1 8 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ; em

p h as i s i n ori g i n al ); s ee al s o Ha ll v. Ha l l

, 33 5 Ga. Ap p

. 2 0 8,

2 1 1 -1 2 (2 ) (7 8 0 SE2 d 7 8 7 ) ( 2 0 1 5 ) ( O CGA § 1 9 -6 -2 n o t av ai l ab l e fo r at t o rn ey fees

i n act i o n fo r m o di fi cat i o n o f ch i l d s u p p o rt ); Co t h ra n v. Meh o sky

, 2 86 Ga. A p p

. 6 4 0,

6 4 1 (2 ) (6 4 9 S E2 d 8 3 8 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (“ [w] h ere t h e act i o n seek s so l el y t o m o d i fy t h e

al i m o n y o r d i v o rce d ecree .

. . s u ch as an act i o n fo r m o d i fi cat i o n o f ch i l d s u p p o rt

. .

. an d d o es n o t co nt ai n an y co n t em p t al l eg at i o n s fo r fai l u re t o co m p l y w i t h t h e o ri g i n al

al i m o n y o r d i v o rce d ecree, i t fal l s o u t s i d e t h e p aram et ers o f OCGA § 1 9-6 -2 ”).

(c) In s h o rt

, n ei t h er OCGA § 1 9-6 -2 8 n o r 1 9 -6 -2 au th o r i z e d t h e at t o rn ey fee

award h ere, s o we m

u s t v acat e t h e award

. W e l eav e fo r rem an d t h e q ues t i o n wh et h er

s o m e o t h er s t at u te au t h o ri zes an award o f at to rn ey fees

. Cf. Vi s ku p v. Vi s ku p

, 2 9 1 Ga.

1 0 3

, 1 0 6-0 7 (3 ) (7 2 7 SE2 d 9 7 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (affi rm i n g at t o rn ey fee award th at d i d n o t s t at e

i t s s t at u t o ry b as i s b ecau s e t he l an g u ag e o f t h e ord er t rack ed OCGA § 1 9-9 -3 (g ) an d

t h e cas e fel l wi t h i n t h at s ect i o n ’ s p aram et ers ).

3

. Acco rd i n g t o OCGA § 7 -4 -1 2 .1 (a), “ [a] ll ” award s an d j u d gm en t s ren d ered

u n d er Ti t l e 1 9 o f t h e G e o r g i a Co d e— w h i ch d eal s w i t h d o m es t i c rel at i o n s

— ”s h al l

accru e i nt eres t at t h e r a t e o f 7 p ercen t p er an n u m

. ” Th e s tat u te g iv es t ri al co u rt s

“ d i scret i o n ” t o ap p l y or wai v e t h at i n t eres t

, or to red uce t h e am o u n t o wed

, an d i t s et s

9o u t fo u r fact o rs t h at t h e co u rt “ s h al l co n s i der” i n m ak i n g t h at d eci s i o n

. Id . Yo l an d a

co n ten d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y award i n g i n t eres t u n d er th at s t at u t e fo r h er

u n p ai d ch i l d s u p p o rt

, b o t h becau s e J o h n d i d n o t sp eci fi cal l y r e q u e s t i nt eres t i n h i s

co m p l ai n t an d b ecau s e t h e co u rt fai l ed t o co ns i d er t he s t at u t o ry fact o rs

. W e rev i ew

t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s i n t eres t award fo r ab u s e o f d i s cret io n

. M cCa r t h y v. A sh men t

, 3 5 3 Ga.

Ap p . 2 7 0 , 2 7 6 (5 ) (8 3 5 SE2 d 7 4 5 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

(a) Th e co u rt d i d n o t err i n g ran t i n g i n t eres t wi t h ou t a sp eci fi c req u es t fo r t h at

rel i ef. As an i n i t ial m at t er, J o hn ’ s co m p l ai nt fo r co n t em

p t req u es ted “ s u ch o t h er an d

fu rt her rel i ef as th i s Co u rt m ay d eem ju s t an d eq u i t ab l e.” Bu t ev en p ut t i n g t h at cat ch

a l l r e qu es t as i d e, OCGA § 7 -4 -1 2 .1 (a) bu i l d s t h e i nt eres t q u es t i on i n t o e a c h

d o m es t ic-rel at io n s act io n b y d efau l t : it s tat es t h at “ [a] l l ” award s a n d j u d g m en t s in

d o m es t ic rel at io ns act i on s “ s h al l accru e in t eres t at t h e rat e o f 7 p ercen t p er an n u m ,”

an d i t g i v es t ri al co u rt s d i s cret i o n t o d eci d e wh et h er an d h o w t o ap p l y i n t eres t i n each

cas e. Id . So J oh n d i d n o t n eed t o ex p res s l y req u es t i n t eres t fo r t h e co u rt t o co n s i d er

wh et h er t o ap p l y

i t

.

(b ) Th at sai d, we ag ree wi t h Yo l an d a t h at t h e co u rt erred b y n o t co n s i d eri n g t h e

s t at u to ry fact o rs

. Co d e Sect i o n 7 -4 -1 2 .1 (a) s t at es t h at t ri a l co u rt s “ sh al l co n s i d er”

fo u r s p eci fi c fact o rs i n d et erm i n i n g w h et h er an d ho w t o ap p l y in t eres t, i n cl u d i n g

10wh et h er t h ere was “ g o o d cau se” fo r n o np ay m en t o f ch i l d s u p p o rt

, h ard s h i p t o each

p art y

, an d t h e effect o f ap p l y i n g i n t eres t o n t h e ab i li t y t o p ay ch i l d s u p p o rt

. Here, t h e

o rd er “ m ak es n o m en ti o n o f t h e fact o rs an d co n t ai n s n o fi n d i n gs wi t h reg ard t o t h em .”

S p i r n a k v. Mea d

o ws

, 3 5 5 Ga. Ap p

. 8 5 7, 8 6 8 (6 ) ( a ) (8 4 4 SE2 d 4 82 ) (2 0 2 0 ).” An d

wh en Yo l an d a’ s co u n s el n o t ed at t h e co n t em p t h eari n g t h at “ t h e i n t eres t is

, o f co u rs e,

n o t m an d at o ry

, ” t h e co u rt res p o n d ed

, “ [w] el l, I gen eral l y award i n t eres t .” In s u m

, as

b es t we can t el l

, i n t eres t was award ed h ere as a m at ter o f co u rs e rat h er t h an b as ed o n

ap p li cat io n o f t he s t at u t o ry fact o rs

. Un d e r t h e s e ci rcu m s t an ces

, we m u s t v acat e t h e

i n t eres t award an d rem an d fo r co n s id erat i o n o f t h e fact o rs s et o u t i n OCGA § 7

- 4

-

1 2 .1 (a). See S

pi rn a k

, 3 5 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 6 9 (6 ) (a); cf. McCa r t h y

, 3 5 3 Ga. A p p

. at 2 7 6

(5 ) (affi rm i n g award o f i n t eres t wh ere t ri al co u rt “ m ad e s e v e r a l fi n d i n g s o f fact

reg ard i n g t h e fi n an ci al ci rcu m s t a n ces o f b o t h p art i es ” befo re award i n g i n t eres t o n

ch i l d s u p p o rt an d at t o rn ey fees ).

*

To s u m u p : W e affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n di n g t h at Yo l an d a was in wi l lfu l

co n tem p t o f t h e 2 0 16 o rd er. Bu t we v acat e t he t ri al co urt ’ s award s o f at t o rn e y f e es

an d i n teres t on Yo l an d a’ s u n p ai d ch i l d s u p po rt an d rem an d fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i ng s

co n si s t en t wi t h t h i s o p i ni on

.

11Ju d

g men t a f fi r med i n pa r t a n d va ca t ed i n p a rt

, a n d ca s e r ema n d

ed i n p ar t

.

McFa d den , P. J., a n d Go b ei l, J., co n cu r

.

12