Davis v. Davis, 74--262

• Decision Date: 01 April 1975
• Docket Number: No. 74--262,74--262
• Citation: 35 Colo.App. 447,534 P.2d 809
• Parties: In re the Marriage of Mary Ann DAVIS, Petitioner-Appellee, and Donald L. DAVIS, Respondent-Appellant. . III
• Court: Colorado Court of Appeals

Page 809

534 P.2d 809

35 Colo.App. 447

In re the Marriage of Mary Ann DAVIS, Petitioner-Appellee and Donald L. DAVIS, Respondent-Appellant.

No. 74--262.

Colorado Court of Appeals, Div. III.

April 1, 1975.

Bradley, Campbell & Carney, William J. Campbell, Golden, for petitioner-appellee.

William Pehr, Perry W. Fox, Westminster, for respondent-appellant.

RULAND, Judge.

In an action for dissolution of marriage initiated by Mary Ann Davis (Wife), Donald L. Davis (Husband) appeals from amended permanent orders relative to child support, maintenance, division of property, and attorney fees. We affirm.

After 19 years the marriage of the parties was dissolved on December 7, 1973. Three children were born as issue of the marriage, and during the course of the proceedings on permanent orders, the parties stipulated that Husband would have custody of their 16-year-old son and Wife would have custody of the two daughters, aged 12 and 11.

Following hearings held on three separate occasions, the trial court entered permanent orders. Subsequent thereto Husband employed new counsel. His motion for a new trial was granted, and after presentation of evidence, the court reinstated its original orders. Thereafter the court, on its own motion, amended the original orders on the basis that indebtedness against certain of the motor vehicles owned by the parties had not been properly considered, thereby giving Wife an inequitable share of the assets.

By its original order, the court awarded the parties' residence to Wife, directing Wife to pay the first mortgage and Husband the second mortgage on the residence. With the exception of the parties' camp trailer and automobile insurance proceeds of $1,150, the remaining vehicles were awarded to Husband. In addition, the court ordered that: (1) Wife receive the furniture and fixtures in the parties' residence; (2) each party receive other items of personal property either as designated by the court, by agreement of the parties, or decision of a third party; (3) Husband receive most of the parties' jointly owned stock and his stock in his business; (4) Husband pay all of the parties' debts, except a reserve bank account of $351 and payments on the camp trailer; (5) Husband pay a portion of Wife's attorney fees in the amount of $800; (6) Husband pay $300 per month support for the two children in Wife's custody; (7) Husband pay $1 per year in maintenance.

The court amended the original order to the extent that it directed the immediate sale of four of the parties' motor vehicles with the proceeds to be divided equally between the parties. The residence was ordered held by the parties as tenants in common and sold when all of the children reached majority or had been emancipated, Wife remarried, or the court determined it to be in the best interest of the children that the house be sold. Upon sale thereof, Wife is to receive credits for all payments of principal after the effective date of the original order, and the remaining proceeds are to be divided equally. Additional time was also granted to Husband to pay Wife's attorney fees.

In summary, the record amply reflects that the trial court devoted substantial time, effort, and diligence to resolving the issues in this case.

I. Division of Property, Child Support, and Attorney Fees

The trial court's orders relative to division of property, child support, maintenance, and attorney fees are interrelated in most cases and generally must be reviewed together. See Carlson v. Carlson, 178 Colo. 283, 497 P.2d 1006; Krall v. Krall, 31 Colo.App. 538, 504 P.2d 681. In the present case, maintenance awarded was nominal and that issue is treated separately.

On this appeal, Husband first contends that the trial court abused its discretion in awarding a disproportionate amount of the marital assets to Wife and ordering Husband to assume a disproportionate amount of the parties' liabilities. Husband also contends that the award of child support was excessive. Finally, Husband asserts that the trial court's findings were insufficient to meet the requirements of C.R.C.P. 52 on these issues. We disagree.

Division of property and the award of child support are subjects peculiarly within the discretion of the trial court, and its decision relative thereto will not be disturbed upon review except for clear abuse of that discretion. Liggett v. Liggett, 152 Colo. 110, 380 P.2d 673; Ferguson v. Ferguson, 32 Colo.App. 145, 507 P.2d 1110. Here, the court's findings relative to division of property reflect consideration of (a) the contributions of each spouse, (b) value of the property set apart to each spouse, and (c) the economic circumstances of each spouse. See § 14--10--113(1), C.R.S.1973 (1971 Perm.Supp., C.R.S.1963, 46--1--13(1)).

Although the trial court did not place a dollar value on the contributions of each party to the acquisition of the marital estate, contrary to Husband's contention here such specific findings are not a prerequisite to the validity of property division orders. See Thompson v. Thompson, 30 Colo.App. 57, 489 P.2d 1062. In addition, as regards a personal injury award received by Wife and used to make home improvements, to purchase an automobile and stocks, and to invest in Husband's business, we find no error in the determination that such award should be treated as a contribution toward acquisition of the marital estate. See Shapiro v. Shapiro, 115 Colo. 505, 176 P.2d 363. Even assuming the assets awarded to Wife exceeded those awarded Husband when consideration is given to the indebtedness Husband is obligated to pay, equitable division of property does not necessarily require an equal division. See Thompson v. Thompson, Supra. Finally, while the trial court did not place a value on each of the assets subject to division, the court found and Husband concedes, in...