MacLeod v. MacLeod

• Decision Date: 30 March 2012
• Docket Number: No. 4D10–697.,4D10–697.
• Citation: 82 So.3d 147
• Parties: Robert Malcolm MACLEOD, Appellant, v. Brenda Rose MACLEOD, Appellee.
• Court: Florida District Court of Appeals

82 So.3d 147

Robert Malcolm MACLEOD, Appellant,

v.Brenda Rose MACLEOD, Appellee.

No. 4D10–697.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.

Feb. 22, 2012.Rehearing Denied March 30, 2012.

Robert Malcolm Macleod, Riviera Beach, pro se.

Jane Kreusler–Walsh and Barbara J. Compiani of Kreusler–Walsh, Compiani & Vargas, P.A., West Palm Beach, and Melinda P. Gamot of The Gamot Law Firm, P.L., Palm Beach Gardens, for appellee.

DAMOORGIAN, J.

Appellant, Robert Macleod (“Former Husband”), appeals a final judgment of dissolution of marriage, raising issues related to equitable distribution, alimony, and attorney's fees. On cross-appeal, Appellee, Brenda Macleod (“Former Wife”), assigns error to an inconsistency between the attorney's fee award and the equitable distribution schedule. Finding merit to Former Husband's issue on appeal regarding the equitable distribution of a non-marital asset, we reverse and remand, concluding that the designation of the Nova Scotia cottage as a marital asset was not authorized by the parties' post-marital agreement. We find no error in connection with the other issues raised by Former Husband and Former Wife, and affirm on those issues without further comment.

The Nova Scotia cottage was built by Former Husband's family. Former Husband and his three siblings each inherited a 25% interest in the cottage. Thereafter, Former Husband withdrew approximately $61,000 from his non-marital trust to purchase his siblings' respective interests. Throughout the marriage, title to the cottage remained in Former Husband's name. The parties spent over $62,000 in marital funds to pay for the annual taxes, insurance and improvements to the cottage. The parties also enjoyed the use of the cottage during the marriage.

Former Husband and Former Wife entered into a post-marital agreement. The agreement provided that “any assets obtained by either of the parties through inheritance or parental gift, investments acquired from the proceeds of such assets, and any value accruing as a result of the use or investment of such assets [defined as protected assets] would be retained as each party's separate assets.” However, under one exception to the agreement, protected assets “which are converted into tangible assets and used by Brenda and Malcolm shall no longer be protected.”

The trial court concluded that the cottage “lost its non-marital status” because the parties had used the cottage and improved it with marital funds. Once the court determined that the cottage was a marital asset, it equitably distributed it to Former Wife.

Former Husband argues that under the terms of the agreement, the cottage remained a non-marital “protected asset” because the cottage was never converted into a tangible asset. Former Wife counters that due to the family's use of the cottage as well as the expenditure of marital funds to maintain and improve it, the cottage lost its status as a protected asset under the terms of the parties' agreement.

“A postnuptial agreement is subject to interpretation like any other contract,” and a court's interpretation of a contract is subject to de novo review. Chipman v. Chipman, 975 So.2d 603, 607 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008) (citations omitted).

We begin our analysis by noting that “[w]here the terms of a marital settlement agreement are clear and unambiguous, the parties' intent must be gleaned from the four corners of the document.” Jones v. Treasure, 984 So.2d 634, 636 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008) (citation omitted). According to the plain language of the agreement, the cottage was not only required to be used, it also needed to be converted into a tangible asset before it lost its non-marital “protected asset” status. Conversion is defined as “[t]he act of changing from one form to another; the process of being exchanged.”...