Scott Thomas McNamee v. Sharon Jones McNamee ( 2011 )


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  •                                    COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA
    Present: Judges Humphreys, Kelsey and Haley
    Argued at Richmond, Virginia
    SCOTT THOMAS McNAMEE
    MEMORANDUM OPINION * BY
    v.         Record No. 1070-10-2                                  JUDGE ROBERT J. HUMPHREYS
    FEBRUARY 1, 2011
    SHARON JONES McNAMEE
    FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF HENRICO COUNTY
    Catherine C. Hammond, Judge
    Shannon S. Otto (Locke Partin DeBoer & Quinn, on briefs), for appellant.
    F. Byron Parker, Jr. (Parker & McMakin Law Group, on brief), for
    appellee.
    Scott Thomas McNamee (“husband”) appeals a ruling of the Circuit Court of Henrico
    County (“the circuit court”) denying his motion to amend spousal support to Sharon Jones
    McNamee (“wife”). On appeal, husband argues the trial court erred in 1) relying on Code
    § 20-109(A) to evaluate husband’s motion to amend support; 2) denying husband’s motion to
    amend support; 3) concluding that husband owed spousal support arrearages to wife;
    4) calculating the parties’ gross incomes for purposes of determining child support and, as a
    result, erred in calculating child support; and 5) taking evidence and ruling on the issue of
    husband’s alleged failure to pay the unreimbursed medical expenses for the parties’ minor child.
    For the following reasons, we affirm in part, reverse and remand in part, and reverse and vacate
    in part.
    *
    Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication.
    I. ANALYSIS
    Spousal support decisions are within the broad discretion of the trial court, and this
    Court’s “review is limited to determining whether the trial court clearly abused its discretion.”
    Miller v. Cox, 
    44 Va. App. 674
    , 679, 
    607 S.E.2d 126
    , 128 (2005) (citing Gamble v. Gamble, 
    14 Va. App. 558
    , 574, 
    421 S.E.2d 635
    , 644 (1992)). “We will not disturb the trial court’s decision
    where it is based on an ore tenus hearing, unless it is ‘plainly wrong or without evidence in the
    record to support it.’” Furr v. Furr, 
    13 Va. App. 479
    , 481, 
    413 S.E.2d 72
    , 73 (1992) (quoting
    Schoenwetter v. Schoenwetter, 
    8 Va. App. 601
    , 605, 
    383 S.E.2d 28
    , 30 (1989)). Finally, it is the
    trial court’s duty, when sitting as the finder of fact, to resolve conflicts in the evidence. City of
    Bedford v. Zimmerman, 
    262 Va. 81
    , 86, 
    547 S.E.2d 211
    , 214 (2001).
    A. Issues Procedurally Defaulted
    Husband’s contentions that the trial court erred in relying on Code § 20-109(A) to
    evaluate husband’s motion to amend support and in calculating the parties’ gross incomes for
    purposes of determining child support and, as a result, erred in calculating child support, were
    not timely objected to with the grounds stated at a point in time when the circuit court could
    properly act upon husband’s contentions. 1 Scialdone v. Commonwealth, 
    279 Va. 422
    , 437, 
    689 S.E.2d 716
    , 724 (2010) (“To satisfy [Rule 5A:18], ‘an objection must be made . . . at a point in
    the proceeding when the trial court is in a position, not only to consider the asserted error, but
    also to rectify the effect of the asserted error.’” (quoting Johnson v. Raviotta, 
    264 Va. 27
    , 33, 
    563 S.E.2d 727
    , 731 (2002))). Thus, pursuant to Rule 5A:18, we do not consider the merits of either
    1
    Effective July 1, 2010, Rule 5A:18 was revised to state that “[n]o ruling of the trial
    court . . . will be considered as a basis for reversal unless an objection was stated with reasonable
    certainty at the time of the ruling . . . .” Because the proceedings below were completed prior to
    this revision taking effect, we will rely on the language of Rule 5A:18 that was then in effect.
    See Fails v. Va. State Bar, 
    265 Va. 3
    , 5 n.1, 
    574 S.E.2d 530
    , 531 n.1 (2003) (applying the Rule
    of Court in effect at the time of the proceedings below).
    -2-
    argument on appeal. Lee v. Lee, 
    12 Va. App. 512
    , 515-17, 
    404 S.E.2d 736
    , 738-39 (1991) (en
    banc).
    Although Rule 5A:18 allows exceptions for good cause or to meet the ends of justice,
    appellant does not argue that we should invoke these exceptions. See Redman v.
    Commonwealth, 
    25 Va. App. 215
    , 221, 
    487 S.E.2d 269
    , 272 (1997). We will not consider such
    an argument sua sponte. Edwards v. Commonwealth, 
    41 Va. App. 752
    , 761, 
    589 S.E.2d 444
    ,
    448 (2003) (en banc).
    B. Motion to Amend Support
    Husband contends that the circuit court erred in denying his motion to amend spousal
    support because the evidence established material changes in circumstances not contemplated by
    the parties at the time of the initial award and these changes justified modification of the support.
    Because we hold that husband did not timely object to the circuit court’s application of the
    standard provided in Code § 20-109(A), we analyze this issue in light of the standard set forth in
    Code § 20-109(A) pursuant to the Property Settlement Agreement (“PSA”). 2
    “Upon the petition of either party the court may increase . . . spousal support and
    maintenance . . . as the circumstances may make proper.” Code § 20-109(A). ‘“In a petition for
    modification of . . . spousal support, the burden is on the moving party to prove [by a
    preponderance of the evidence] a material change in circumstances that warrants modification of
    support.’” Roberts v. Roberts, 
    41 Va. App. 513
    , 528, 
    586 S.E.2d 290
    , 297 (2003) (second
    alteration in original) (quoting Richardson v. Richardson, 
    30 Va. App. 341
    , 347, 
    516 S.E.2d 726
    ,
    729 (1999)). “Whether a change of circumstances exists is a factual finding that will not be
    2
    The PSA provides the following with regard to modification of spousal support: “It is
    hereby agreed that the spousal support provisions herein may be modified by written agreement
    of the parties upon a material financial change of circumstances for either party, or as otherwise
    decided by a competent court of jurisdiction.” (Emphasis added).
    -3-
    disturbed on appeal if the finding is supported by credible evidence.” Ohlen v. Shively, 
    16 Va. App. 419
    , 423, 
    430 S.E.2d 559
    , 561 (1993) (quoting Visikides v. Derr, 
    3 Va. App. 69
    , 70,
    
    348 S.E.2d 40
    , 41 (1986)).
    With regard to any material change in circumstances, “[t]he petitioner must demonstrate
    a material change in circumstances from the most recent support award,” 
    id.
     (citing Antonelli v.
    Antonelli, 
    242 Va. 152
    , 154, 
    409 S.E.2d 117
    , 119 (1991)), and “[t]he material change must relate
    to either the need for support or the ability to pay,” Barton v. Barton, 
    31 Va. App. 175
    , 177-78,
    
    522 S.E.2d 373
    , 374 (1999) (citations omitted). “Courts must make support awards based upon
    ‘current circumstances and what the circumstances will be within the immediate or reasonably
    foreseeable future.’” Id. at 178, 
    522 S.E.2d at 375
     (quoting Srinivasan v. Srinivasan, 
    10 Va. App. 728
    , 735, 
    396 S.E.2d 675
    , 679 (1990)). “What is ‘reasonably foreseeable’ depends on the
    circumstances of the particular case.” Furr, 13 Va. App. at 482, 
    413 S.E.2d at 74
    . Thus, “[i]n
    considering a denial of a request for a reduction of support payments, courts must look to
    ‘objective evidence available at the time of the previous award in order to assess what increases
    in expenses might reasonably have been expected.’” Barton, 
    31 Va. App. at 179
    , 
    522 S.E.2d at 375
     (quoting Furr, 13 Va. App. at 482, 
    413 S.E.2d at 74
    ). “In doing so, we avoid assessing such
    increases in light of evidence that these increases have, in fact, occurred.” Furr, 13 Va. App. at
    482, 
    413 S.E.2d at 74
    .
    In its letter opinion, the circuit court found that there had been no material change in
    circumstances that were not within the contemplation of the parties when they entered into the
    PSA and denied the motion to amend spousal support. While the circuit court found that
    husband’s income had decreased, it found that the parties knew at the time they entered into the
    PSA that husband’s Rhode Island disability retirement pay would go down if he earned over a
    certain amount, that inflation existed impacting the true value of spousal support, that husband’s
    -4-
    employment with the United States Coast Guard (“USCG”) was not permanent, and that wife
    would begin a full-time job that paid her more. Thus, the issue is whether there is credible
    evidence supporting the circuit court’s finding that the material changes in circumstances were
    within the contemplation of the parties when they entered into the PSA.
    1. Wife’s Job
    Husband states that the circuit court’s finding that the parties “knew that [w]ife would
    begin a job that paid” was unsupported because the evidence established that she had a paying
    job at the time they entered into the PSA and at the time the final decree of divorce was entered.
    He argues further that there is no evidence that husband knew that wife was in college, or that
    the parties contemplated that wife would graduate from college and would subsequently obtain
    full-time employment receiving a significant increase in her income. However, wife contends
    that the increase in wife’s income was not a sufficient change in circumstances because the
    parties “knew [w]ife would begin a job that paid” because she already had a part-time paying
    position at the time they entered into the PSA and divorced. Wife further contends that the
    circuit court’s statement was intended to mean that everyone expected wife to obtain a full-time
    job with a full-time salary after she graduated from college.
    Our review of the record in this case does not support the circuit court’s finding that the
    fact wife would start a “job that paid” was foreseeable and in the contemplation of the parties at
    the time they entered into the PSA in September 2005. In 2005, wife began attending college
    full time, and graduated in 2008. In 2006, wife received $14,463.50 from her part-time job,
    which was generally consistent with her 2005 income from six months of part-time work
    measured on a monthly basis. There is nothing in the record that indicates that the parties
    contemplated she would begin “a job that paid” since she already had a paying job, or that she
    would obtain a full-time position with a significant increase in her income upon graduating from
    -5-
    college. Thus, there is no credible evidence in the record supporting the circuit court’s finding,
    and the circuit court erred in finding otherwise.
    2. Husband’s Employment with the USCG
    Husband next contends that the circuit court’s conclusion that the parties knew husband’s
    employment with the USCG was not permanent is not established by the evidence. Yet, husband
    asserts on brief that “[w]hile it is true that the parties knew that [h]usband’s employment with the
    [USCG] was not permanent – as no employment position is ever permanent – there is absolutely
    no evidence in the record that the parties knew when [h]usband would leave active duty with the
    [USCG].”
    Husband testified that when the USCG had a contract they could not fill, they activated
    reservists to fill the position. When that contract ended, if there were no other contracts
    available, the USCG would then remove the individual from active duty and return him to
    reserve status. In addition, wife testified that the parties knew that husband’s job with the USCG
    was not permanent. Thus, the evidence supports the circuit court’s finding that the parties knew
    that husband’s employment with the USCG was not permanent and reasonably foreseeable at the
    time they entered into the PSA.
    3. Inflation
    Husband asserts that the circuit court’s finding that the parties knew that inflation existed
    when they entered into the PSA is unsupported by any evidence in the record. He specifically
    argues that the parties did not and in fact could not have known in 2006 whether economic
    inflation or deflation would occur between 2006 and 2010, and to what extent it would occur.
    Our review of the record reveals no evidence concerning monetary inflation or the
    amount thereof that supports the circuit court’s conclusion that inflation was actually within the
    contemplation of the parties or reasonably foreseeable when they entered into the PSA. In
    -6-
    addition, the fact that an accountant testified that inflation actually occurred between January
    2006 and December 2009 and the extent to which it occurred has no bearing on whether those
    facts were within the contemplation of the parties at the time they entered into the PSA or were
    reasonably foreseeable at that time. 3 Thus, the circuit court erred in finding that the parties
    contemplated the impact of inflation on the provisions of the PSA at the time they executed the
    PSA.
    4. Rhode Island Disability Pension
    Husband concedes that the parties clearly contemplated that husband’s Rhode Island
    disability pension might terminate based on the language in the PSA. The PSA provides, “[w]ife
    will also receive fifty percent (50%) of [h]usband’s Rhode Island disability pension benefits and
    if the husband gains employment that prohibits the payment of his retirement then he will
    compensate the wife for her loss of the 50% payment from Rhode Island . . . .” Thus, there is
    evidence supporting the circuit court’s finding that the parties knew the Rhode Island pension
    might terminate.
    In light of the lack of credible evidence supporting several of the factual findings made
    by the circuit court in its determination of whether material changes in circumstances were
    within the contemplation of the parties, the circuit court erred in finding that no material changes
    in circumstances occurred that were not within the contemplation of the parties and denying the
    modification of spousal support. Therefore, we reverse and remand to the circuit court with
    direction that it reconsider whether the amount of spousal support should be modified in light of
    3
    While the husband alleges that the testimony was given by an expert, the accountant
    was never tendered or accepted as an expert witness in this case even though he testified that he
    had been previously qualified as one in other courts regarding tax calculations and the impact of
    inflation on spousal support awards.
    -7-
    the changes in circumstances that were reasonably foreseeable or within the contemplation of the
    parties at the time they entered into the PSA.
    C. Spousal Support Arrearages
    Husband claims that the circuit court erred in concluding that he owed spousal support
    arrearages to wife in the amount of $8,100 as a result of the parties entering into a written
    agreement to reduce spousal support, consistent with the provisions of the PSA.
    Code § 20-109(A) provides that “[u]pon the petition of either party the court may
    increase . . . spousal support and maintenance . . . as the circumstances may make proper.”
    However, if the parties contract regarding the amount of spousal support, and the contract is filed
    before the final decree, “no decree or order directing the payment of support . . . for the spouse
    . . . shall be entered except in accordance with the . . . contract.” Code § 20-109(C).
    This provision of the statute thus “limits the authority of a trial
    court to make or modify spousal support awards when an
    agreement exists. ‘In such cases, the intent of the parties as
    expressed in the agreement controls, and the agreement is treated
    as a contract and construed in the same manner as all contracts.’
    White v. White, 
    257 Va. 139
    , 144, 
    509 S.E.2d 323
    , 325 (1999).
    The statute was enacted to require that decrees for support honor
    agreements made by the parties; it prevents a court from rewriting
    the parties’ contract.”
    Doering v. Doering, 
    54 Va. App. 162
    , 171-72, 
    676 S.E.2d 353
    , 357 (2009) (quoting Smith v.
    Smith, 
    41 Va. App. 742
    , 751, 
    589 S.E.2d 439
    , 443 (2003)). “Simply put, ‘Code § 20-109(C)
    expressly limits the court’s authority to modify an agreed upon spousal support award according
    to the terms of a stipulation or contract signed by the parties.’” Brown v. Brown, 
    53 Va. App. 723
    , 727, 
    674 S.E.2d 597
    , 599 (2009) (quoting Blackburn v. Michael, 
    30 Va. App. 95
    , 100, 
    515 S.E.2d 780
    , 783 (1999)). Accordingly, because the parties have a contract that was incorporated
    into the final decree of divorce, the circuit court does not have the authority to modify the
    -8-
    spousal support except in accordance with the terms of modification in the PSA. Parrillo v.
    Parrillo, 
    1 Va. App. 226
    , 228, 
    336 S.E.2d 23
    , 24 (1985). 4
    Therefore, the issue is whether the e-mail wife sent to husband on December 28, 2008,
    reducing spousal support from $1,450 to $550 from January – September 2009, constitutes a
    “written agreement by the parties,” and was executed with the same formalities as the PSA. The
    circuit court implicitly found that the e-mail was not a contract or written agreement between the
    parties when it awarded wife $8,100 in spousal support arrearages. Yet, husband contends that it
    is undisputed that the parties had a written agreement based on wife’s testimony at the ore tenus
    hearing at which the following occurred:
    Q: Was there ever any written agreement to modify the alimony?
    [Wife]: We had the e-mail, but the whole intent was to avoid
    court.
    In contravention, wife contends that the e-mail was not a contract in that it merely constituted an
    offer and nothing more, and did not follow the same formalities as required by Code § 20-153
    and the PSA.
    [M]odification of a contract must be shown by “clear, unequivocal
    and convincing evidence, direct or implied.” Stanley’s Cafeteria,
    Inc. v. Abramson, 
    226 Va. 68
    , 73, 
    306 S.E.2d 870
    , 873 (1983).
    4
    Wife cites to Capell v. Capell, 
    164 Va. 45
    , 
    178 S.E. 894
     (1935), and Richardson v.
    Moore, 
    217 Va. 422
    , 
    229 S.E.2d 864
     (1976), to support her claim that parties cannot modify
    spousal support without obtaining a court order. However, neither case includes a property
    settlement agreement specifically providing that the parties can modify support by written
    agreement. Capell, 
    164 Va. at 49
    , 178 S.E. at 895 (“The case is entirely different from that in
    which the parties, pending a final decree, enter into an agreement respecting their property rights
    which the court adopts and approves.” (citing Barnes v. American Fertilizer Co., 
    144 Va. 692
    ,
    
    130 S.E. 902
     (1925))); Richardson, 217 Va. at 422, 
    229 S.E.2d at 865
     (“Richardson was ordered
    [by decree] to pay appellant $75 per month ‘for the support of herself and the said infant child
    . . . until the further order of Court but with the right to both of said parties to petition the Court
    to increase, decrease, or cause to cease, such alimony, as the circumstances may make proper
    . . . .”). Thus, neither cited case is applicable to the facts of this case, and husband and wife
    could modify spousal support pursuant to the PSA. See Shoup v. Shoup, 
    37 Va. App. 240
    , 
    556 S.E.2d 783
     (2001) (holding the agreement’s provisions allowing modification of child support
    without a court order were valid and enforceable).
    -9-
    We have also held that contracting parties, through a course of
    dealing, may evince a mutual intent to modify the terms of their
    contract. The circumstances surrounding the conduct of the parties
    must be sufficient to support a finding of mutual intention that the
    modification be effective and such intention must be shown by
    clear, unequivocal, and convincing evidence, direct or implied. 
    Id.
    Reid v. Boyle, 
    259 Va. 356
    , 369, 
    527 S.E.2d 137
    , 145 (2000). The Virginia Uniform Electronic
    Transactions Act provides, “[a] contract may not be denied legal effect or enforceability solely
    because an electronic record was used in its formation.” Code § 59.1-485. With regard to the
    same formalities, the PSA was signed by both parties, witnessed and notarized by a public
    notary, and dated.
    First, wife’s contention that Code § 20-153 applies to the subsequent modification of the
    spousal support through Code § 20-155 is misplaced. Code § 20-155 applies to marital
    agreements between married persons, and sets forth that married persons can enter into an
    agreement settling their rights and obligations subject to the conditions for agreements between
    prospective spouses. However, the modification to the spousal support is not an agreement
    between married persons, but rather is an agreement between two individuals who are no longer
    married nor prospective spouses. In addition, husband and wife were not amending or revoking
    the PSA, but were modifying it pursuant to the terms of the PSA. Thus, Code § 20-153 setting
    forth the requirements for amendments or revocations to agreements between prospective
    spouses is not applicable to this case.
    In turning to the e-mail modification, the PSA and the final decree of divorce in this case
    both provide for modification of the spousal support provisions “by written agreement of the
    parties upon a material financial change of circumstances for either party, or as otherwise
    decided by a competent court of jurisdiction.” The PSA also provides a general modification
    provision that “no portion hereof may be modified or waived unless in writing executed with the
    same formality as this Agreement.” “In reconciling . . . [contractual] provisions, any apparent
    - 10 -
    inconsistency between a clause that is general and broadly inclusive in character, and a clause
    that is more specific in character, should be resolved in favor of the latter.” Chantilly Constr.
    Corp. v. Commonwealth, 
    6 Va. App. 282
    , 294, 
    369 S.E.2d 438
    , 445 (1998) (citations omitted);
    see also Bott v. N. Snellenburg & Co., 
    177 Va. 331
    , 339, 
    14 S.E.2d 372
    , 375 (1941) (“‘[W]here
    there is a repugnancy, a general provision in a contract must give way to a special one covering
    the same ground.’” (quoting Harrity v. Cont’l-Equitable Title & Trust Co., 
    124 A. 493
    , 495 (Pa.
    1924))).
    Here, the clauses are not repugnant to each other and can easily be harmonized. Thus,
    the parties could modify spousal support by a written agreement as the specific provision in the
    PSA sets forth, but the modification must be executed with the same formality as the PSA in
    compliance with the general provision formality requirement.
    In turning to the facts, the evidence in the record does not establish that the e-mail
    modified the spousal support by clear, unequivocal, and convincing evidence. The e-mail from
    the wife begins by noting that “I will accept . . .” and concludes with “Please submit any
    questions or objections to these terms in writing by reply email.” These provisions are not clear
    and unequivocal statements such that the written agreement evinces a contract. Wife did not
    specifically state that the amount was reduced, but merely stated that she would accept $900 less
    in alimony. Furthermore, the record does not evince whether husband agreed to and accepted the
    specific terms in the e-mail or if he had any objections to the terms. All we have on the record is
    that he paid the lesser amount January – September 2009 which does not constitute clear,
    unequivocal, and convincing evidence that there was a mutual intention of modification.
    With regard to the formalities, the e-mail was not executed with the same formalities as
    the PSA. The e-mail merely contains the wife’s first name as her “signature,” and is lacking
    both the husband’s signature and a notary witnessing both parties’ signatures with the date the
    - 11 -
    modified agreement was signed. Accordingly, we hold that the trial court did not err in finding
    husband’s spousal support in arrears due to the absence of a written agreement with the same
    formalities as the PSA between the parties modifying the spousal support, and affirm.
    D. Unreimbursed Medical Expenses
    Lastly, husband argues that the circuit court erred in taking evidence and ruling on the
    issue of husband’s alleged failure to pay K.M.’s unreimbursed medical expenses because wife
    had not filed a motion or notice alleging the same, and, therefore, husband had no notice that this
    was an issue in this case.
    “‘Fundamental rules of pleading provide that no court can base its judgment or decree
    upon a right which has not been pleaded and claimed.’” Fadness v. Fadness, 
    52 Va. App. 833
    ,
    843, 
    667 S.E.2d 857
    , 862 (2008) (quoting Boyd v. Boyd, 
    2 Va. App. 16
    , 18, 
    340 S.E.2d 578
    , 580
    (1986)). “‘Pleadings are as essential as proof, the one being unavailing without the other. A
    decree can not be entered in the absence of pleadings upon which to found the same, and if so
    entered it is void.’” Fadness, 
    52 Va. App. at 843
    , 
    667 S.E.2d at 862
     (quoting Potts v. Mathieson
    Alkali Works, 
    165 Va. 196
    , 207, 
    181 S.E. 521
    , 525 (1935)); see also Reid v. Reid, 
    24 Va. App. 146
    , 150, 
    480 S.E.2d 771
    , 773 (1997) (“[T]he absence of a specific request for an adjudication of
    spousal support [precludes courts] from obtaining jurisdiction over that subject matter.” (citing
    Rogers v. Damron, 
    23 Va. App. 708
    , 
    479 S.E.2d 540
     (1997))). “This well established principle
    recognizes that the ‘office of pleadings is to give notice to the opposing party of the nature and
    character of the claim, without which the most rudimentary due process safeguards would be
    denied.’” Reid, 
    24 Va. App. at 149
    , 
    480 S.E.2d at 772
     (quoting Boyd, 2 Va. App. at 19, 
    340 S.E.2d at 580
    ).
    At the ore tenus hearing, the circuit court responded to husband’s objection to the
    medical expenses by ruling, “I have a motion filed February 3 claiming unpaid support and so I
    - 12 -
    think it’s enough notice.” Yet, the only pleading by wife addressed a request for additional
    spousal support and a request to establish husband’s spousal support arrearages. Wife’s motion
    did not raise the issue of child support arrearages or husband’s failure to pay unreimbursed
    extraordinary medical expenses, and thus the husband had no notice that these issues would be
    addressed at trial. In addition, wife concedes on brief that her February 3 motion to the circuit
    court alleges only unpaid spousal support and did not give husband notice that she was also
    claiming arrears in unreimbursed medical expenses. She then concedes that the circuit court
    erred by ordering husband to pay the arrears because husband did not receive notice. Therefore,
    the circuit court erred in accepting evidence and making a determination with regard to the
    unreimbursed extraordinary medical expenses.
    However, wife claims the circuit court error was harmless because the husband did not
    present evidence that the amount was not actually owed and also because the amount of time
    spent in the circuit court, this Court, and potentially the circuit court again on this issue is
    materially greater than the sum at issue, $266.82. Rule 5A:20(e) provides, in part, that the
    opening brief shall include “[t]he principles of law, the argument, and the authorities relating to
    each question presented.” “‘Statements unsupported by argument, authority, or citations to the
    record do not permit appellate consideration.’” Shiembob v. Shiembob, 
    55 Va. App. 234
    , 242,
    
    685 S.E.2d 192
    , 197 (2009) (quoting Parks v. Parks, 
    52 Va. App. 663
    , 664, 
    666 S.E.2d 547
    , 548
    (2008)). “If the parties believed that the circuit court erred, it was their duty to present that error
    to [the Court of Appeals] with legal authority to support their contention.” Fadness, 
    52 Va. App. at 851
    , 
    667 S.E.2d at 866
    . Because wife failed to provide the legal authority to support her
    argument that the error was harmless, and because this failure to adhere to the mandates of Rule
    5A:20(e) is significant, we are unable to consider it.
    We reverse and vacate the trial court’s ruling on this issue.
    - 13 -
    E. Appellate Attorney Fees
    Wife moves for an award of attorney’s fees and costs for matters relating to this appeal.
    Upon consideration of the entire record in this case, we hold that wife is not entitled to attorney’s
    fees and costs incurred in this appeal and deny her request.
    “The rationale for the appellate court being the proper forum to
    determine the propriety of an award of attorney’s fees for efforts
    expended on appeal is clear. The appellate court has the
    opportunity to view the record in its entirety and determine
    whether the appeal is frivolous or whether other reasons exist for
    requiring additional payment.”
    Andrews v. Creacey, 
    56 Va. App. 606
    , 637, 
    696 S.E.2d 218
    , 232-33 (2010) (quoting O’Loughlin
    v. O’Loughlin, 
    23 Va. App. 690
    , 695, 
    479 S.E.2d 98
    , 100 (1996)). After consideration of the
    entire record, we find “‘the litigation addressed appropriate and substantial issues . . . .’” 
    Id.
    (quoting Estate of Hackler v. Hackler, 
    44 Va. App. 51
    , 75, 
    602 S.E.2d 426
    , 438 (2004)).
    II. CONCLUSION
    For the foregoing reasons, we affirm in part, reverse and remand in part, and reverse and
    vacate in part.
    Affirmed in part, reversed and remanded in part,
    and reversed and vacated in part.
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