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Judge grants default divorce to Jeri Lynn Smith, awards residence and QDRO share of retirement
Summary
A default judgment was entered for Jeri Lynn Smith after the respondent failed to answer; the court awarded her the marital home at 954 Eli Road, the Chevy Equinox and a portion of a retirement account subject to a QDRO; the respondent did not contest and the judge signed the order.
Hickman County Chancery Court entered a default divorce for petitioner Jeri Lynn Smith and approved a stipulated division of assets the parties presented to the court, the judge said on the record.
Why it matters: Default judgments close uncontested matters and implement agreed property divisions; here the order divests the respondent of rights in a known dwelling and establishes the QDRO route for retirement funds accumulated during the marriage.
On the record, petitioner Jeri Lynn Smith testified she and the respondent were married in September 1993 and had separated in July 2022. Counsel told the court the respondent had been served but had not filed a responsive pleading, and the petitioner offered testimony describing the proposed division.
Judge Wolfe accepted the petitioner’s sworn account and signed an order granting the absolute divorce. The court adopted the proposed property split: Ms. Smith will retain the home at 954 Eli Road in Bon Aqua, Tenn., keep the 2021 Chevy Equinox and household furnishings located there, and the respondent will keep property he owns out of state. The parties also asked the court to split the respondent’s PPG retirement account by QDRO for the marriage-period portion; the judge approved that approach and directed counsel to prepare a QDRO for implementation.
The petitioner asked for attorney fees and asked that the respondent pay her filing costs; the judge accepted the evidentiary showing and said he would sign an order reflecting the requested relief.
Practical effect: The decree severs the marriage, transfers possession of the listed personal property to the petitioner, and requires the QDRO process to split the retirement account accrued during the marriage. The clerk will issue the signed order and counsel will handle the QDRO mechanics.
