My question involves child support in the State of: Tennessee

Man took woman to court to reduce child support. Woman disagreed to reduction in court. Court referee (not judge) said she would sign off on judgment to reduce child support in five days, UNLESS one of the parties filed an appeal before the end of five days. Man was told by court referee to continue to pay the original amount, not the adjusted amount because there was no signed judgment.

Man received a letter from woman's attorney stating an appeal has been filed on the judgment. Appealed was filed within two days after the court date.

There is NO judgment signed as far as man knows. Clerk's office has no record of judgment. DA's office has no record of judgment. Both of these offices have the appeal.

Question 1: How can an appeal be filed against a non-existent judgment?
Question 2: If a judgment does exist, then shouldn't man be paying the adjusted amount in that judgment until the outcome of the appeal?