In TN Child Support Suits for Contempt, There Can Be a Jury Trial

Tennessee child support law on right to a jury trial for contempt for failure to pay child support from the Supreme Court of Tennessee.

Susan L. Brown vs. Fred De Loach Latham and Patricia Peebles Walker vs. Clint Monroe Walker, Sr. – Tennessee child support law

Two cases were consolidated on appeal because both involved issues of contempt for failure to make child support payments.  The question that arose is whether someone accused of contempt can request a jury trial.  The Supreme Court affirmed that there is indeed a right to a jury trial when one is defending against criminal contempt charges, even when done in the context of a civil child support enforcement proceeding.

The first matter concerned Fred De Loach Latham, against whom his former wife, Susan Latham (Brown), had taken a judgment for child support arrears.  She requested he be incarcerated, and he requested a jury trial.  No case details were provided in the opinion as to the amount or duration of arrears claimed or the income of the Father.

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In Tennessee Child Support Law, Courts Can Prorate as Children Turn 18

Tennessee child support law on proration of child support in Tennessee family law from the Supreme Court of Tennessee.

Sarah Avalon Myatt Clinard (Brown) vs. James Edward Clinard – Tennessee child support law – proration as children grow up

With three children in common, Sarah Clinard Brown and James Edward Clinard were divorced in 1969.  The Mother was awarded custody, and the Father was directed to pay $60 per week as child support.  Less than a year later, the Father began paying $25 per week, prorated for a child having turned 18.  The Mother accepted this $25 per week for 15-years, until the youngest child turned 18-years of age.  No court cases were filed during the entire of the children’s minority.

Then, in 1993, eight years after the youngest child was emancipated, the Mother filed a petition to reduce child support arrearages to a judgment, interest, and for contempt.  The Father conceded he owed arrears, but disputed the amount.

Special Education Needs Can Require Private School Tuition in Tenn.

Special Education Needs Can Require Private School Tuition & Tennessee Mother Not Required to Consult with Father

Special Education Needs Can Require Private School Tuition & Tennessee Mother Not Required to Consult with Father

Judi Richardson vs. George Kevin Spanos – Special Education and Private School Tuition in Tennessee Child Support Law

This case stands for the principle that a primary residential parent may unilaterally seek the special education services a child needs, including enrollment in a private school, and compel the other parent to provide the necessary financial support, which may be in addition to the standard child support obligation.

The child at the center of this case was an 11-year old boy named Lewis, who had special education needs.  His Father, Dr. George Kevin Spanos, was a physician, who had little to do with his son.  The Court of Appeals noted that at the time of trial, the Father had not visited Lewis for four years, and that their last visit was an hour spent at a bowling alley.

Tennessee Father Must Pay the College Tuition He Agreed to Pay

Jeannea Lynn Jones vs. Kenneth Dale Jones – College Tuition in Tennessee Family Law. Case law summary.

Tennessee Father Must Pay the College Tuition He Agreed to Pay

The Parents were divorced in 2003 through a decree that incorporated a provision for a Marital Dissolution Agreement that said “The parties agree to equally divide the expense for college tuition and books for the parties’ daughters, Jennifer Page Jones and Jerrica L. Jones.”  The Father, Kenneth Dale Jones, also obligated himself to provide medical insurance plus half of the out-of-pocket medical costs.At the time of the court case, the Mother, Jeannea Lynn Jones, worked at Oral Roberts University in Oklahoma.  She testified that she moved from Tennessee to Oklahoma and took the job for the sole purpose of helping to pay for her daughters’ college educations.  In making the move, the Mother left a job at Murray Corporation in Tennessee and took a $10,000 per year pay cut.

In Tennessee Child Support Law Deviations Must Be Explained In Writing

Child Support Award Twice Sent Back to the Trial Court for Recalculation – Under Tennessee Child Support Guidelines Any Deviation Must Contain Trial Court’s Reasoning

Anderton v. Anderton – Tennessee child support case law summary discussing the amount of child support determination and deviations.

In Tennessee Child Support Law Deviations Must Be Explained In Writing

Father appealed the child support award given by the trial court, arguing that it was too high and inconsistent with the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines.  The Appeals court sent the case back to the trial court for further consideration, finding that the child support awarded was too low. Any deviation (upward or downward) from the Child Support Guidelines must be in a written finding by the court.

Including Bonuses for Child Support Awards in Tennessee Child Support

Including or Excluding Bonuses for Child Support Awards in Tennessee Child Support

Simmons v. Simmons – Tennessee Court of Appeals case summary on income determination for child support.

Including or Excluding Bonuses for Child Support Awards in Tennessee Child Support

Allison Lyn Simmons and Richard Lee Simmons were married for seven years and had three children together.  The children were six, five, and two years old at the time of the divorce hearing.  The Father and Mother previously both worked as flight attendants when they were married, but the Father was the sole provider since the first year of marriage.  During the marriage the parents went deeply into debt, in part due to the Mother’s spending, and filed for bankruptcy.

Tennessee Courts Can Order Private School Tuition as Child Support

Is Private School Tuition an Extraordinary Educational Expense in Tennessee Child Support Law?

Barnett v. Barnett – Supreme Court of Tennessee decides private school tuition can be awarded as child support.

Paula Lynn Barnett (the Mother) and Robert McAlister Barnett, III (the Father) were divorced in 1986 after a fourteen-year marriage. At the time of the divorce, the parties’ son, Joshua, was three years old and their daughter, Katie, was an infant. The divorce decree required the Father to pay $2,167 per month in child support for both children.  In March, 1996, Ms. Barnett filed a petition to modify the child support award.    Based on the Father’s gross income of $209,206, the trial court set child support at $3,700 per month but ordered the Mother to pay private school tuition from that support award.   The trial court found that the son’s  tuition at a private school, was an extraordinary educational expense but ruled that the tuition be paid by the Mother from the $3,000 monthly child support.