Terry Shawn Lee v. Shannon Snider Lee

Syllabus

This case primarily concerns the interpretation of a legal separation agreement that was approved by the trial court as part of a decree of legal separation. After the husband failed to pay child and spousal support, the wife filed a petition for contempt and modification. The husband responded by, among other things, requesting a divorce. The trial court granted the parties a divorce, reformed the provisions of the legal separation agreement, awarded a judgment for child and spousal support arrearages, and held the husband in criminal contempt. On appeal, the husband argues that the trial court erred in its interpretation of the legal separation agreement in awarding the wife a judgment for child and spousal support arrearages in granting his request for a divorce and in holding him in criminal contempt. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand this case for further proceedings.