Burt v. Burt

• Decision Date: 28 August 2002
• Docket Number: No. 01-109.,01-109.
• Citation: 2002 WY 127,53 P.3d 101
• Parties: Robert L. BURT, Appellant (Defendant), v. Charlene D. BURT, Appellee (Plaintiff).
• Court: Wyoming Supreme Court

53 P.3d 101

2002 WY 127

Robert L. BURT, Appellant (Defendant), v. Charlene D. BURT, Appellee (Plaintiff).

No. 01-109.

Supreme Court of Wyoming.

August 28, 2002.

Robert L. Burt, Pro Se, Representing Appellant.

Charlene D. Burt, Pro Se, Representing Appellee.

Before HILL, C.J., and GOLDEN, LEHMAN¹, KITE, and VOIGT, JJ.

HILL, Chief Justice.

[¶ 1] Appellant, Robert L. Burt (Burt), seeks review of a provision of the district court's divorce decree granting a divorce to him and his wife. The divorce proceedings were resolved upon Burt's default. Although no record was developed in the district court, and the issue that Burt wishes to pursue was not raised there, he asks this Court to review the district court's division of his military pension. Burt's wife did not file a brief or otherwise appear in this court.

[¶ 2] We will affirm.

[¶ 3] Burt poses his issue in these words:

A military divorce has some additional factors that revolve around Federal law, military retired pay jurisdiction of state court. First of all, military retired pay is treated separately by state courts as property and it will be dealt with in some manner by state divorce court. As per the wording in the Decree of Divorce, retirement funds ..., Federal law, specifically the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act², give the state divorce courts limited power regarding military retired pay and gives the military pay centers the ability to enforce a divorce decree such [as] was ordered by District Court, Fifth Judicial District ... of Wyoming. The pay centers can enforce the above order if it is in compliance with requirements and limitations described in ... Federal law.

I feel the judge didn't follow ... Federal law when he awarded Charlene Burt (former spouse) $400.00 .... I'm told there is no tape recording or transcript on the hearing done in open court at the Park County Annex, Powell, Park County, Wyoming on the 6th of April, 2001. Since I was not there, I have no knowledge if any Federal law was used in the decision of the decree. The disposable retired pay was not defined in accordance with Federal law. In my case I get VA disability pay. The amount of disposable pay is figured, gross pay minus VA pay and withholding tax. The Federal law will not allow more than 50% of the disposable to be awarded. In my case, it would be less than $400.00 and this can change. My cancer, which may be caused by Agent Orange, would give me more disability pay, thus, my disposable income would be less.

I am not appealing the whole of the Decree of Divorce, but only my retirement fund to have the award follow Federal law. I pray the court will give me relief on my disposable income. [Footnoted added.]

[¶ 4] We need not set out the factual background because there is really none to set out. On November 7, 2000, Burt's wife filed a complaint seeking a divorce from Burt. Burt was served with the complaint on November 29, 2000. Burt did not answer and default³ was entered on February 23, 2001. The decree of divorce was entered on April 6, 2001. That decree included this provision:

7. RETIREMENT FUNDS: WIFE shall receive $400.00 per month alimony paid directly from HUSBAND'S military retired pay. HUSBAND shall retain any other retirement funds he owns. WIFE shall retain as her separate property any retirement funds she owns.

[¶ 5] Burt filed a timely notice of appeal on May 3, 2001, but his brief was not filed here until February 27, 2002. Burt was granted generous extensions by this Court because he was imprisoned at the Wyoming State Penitentiary and then was, for a time, incarcerated in Montana awaiting disposition of a criminal matter. This case was assigned to the expedited docket by order entered on April 23, 2002.

[¶ 6] The decree of divorce states that the divorce was considered by the district court based on the testimony and evidence presented by Burt's former wife, and without Burt being present in court. It is apparent that the hearing was not reported, and the record on appeal does not include a transcript or the documentary evidence received by the district court, if any. Burt did not undertake to settle the record below by other means. See W.R.A.P. 3.03. Burt's claim that the district court erred in dividing his military retirement benefit depends on the state of the record and the condition of the evidence in that regard.

[¶ 7] When this Court does not have a properly authenticated transcript before it, it must accept the trial court's findings of fact upon which it bases any decisions regarding evidentiary issues. Capshaw v. Schieck, 2002 WY 54, ¶ 21, 44 P.3d 47, ¶ 21 (Wyo.2002). The failure to provide a transcript does not necessarily require dismissal of an appeal, but our review is restricted to those allegations of error not requiring inspection of the transcript. Lacking a transcript, or a substitute for the transcript, the regularity of the trial court's judgment and the competency of the evidence upon which that judgment is based must be presumed. Stadtfeld v. Stadtfeld, 920 P.2d 662, 664 (Wyo.1996); Combs v. Sherry-Combs, 865 P.2d 50, 55 (Wyo.1993); and see Wood v. Wood, 865 P.2d 616 (Wyo.1993)

(dismissing appeal for lack of record, rather than affirming). Therefore, we will presume that the district court had a proper basis for...