Marriage of Aanenson, In re

• Decision Date: 15 August 1979
• Docket Number: No. 14553,14553
• Parties: In re the MARRIAGE of Robin Jay and Denise Ann AANENSON. Robin Jay AANENSON, Plaintiff and Appellant, v. Denise Ann AANENSON, Respondent and Respondent.
• Court: Montana Supreme Court

Page 1120

598 P.2d 1120

183 Mont. 229

In re the MARRIAGE of Robin Jay and Denise Ann AANENSON.

Robin Jay AANENSON, Plaintiff and Appellant, v. Denise Ann AANENSON, Respondent and Respondent.

No. 14553.

Supreme Court of Montana.

Submitted March 20, 1979.

Decided Aug. 15, 1979.

Brown, Pepper & Kommers, Gene I. Brown, argued, Bozeman, for plaintiff and appellant.

A. Michael Salvagni, argued, Bozeman, for respondent and respondent.

SHEA, Justice.

Husband appeals from the judgment of the Gallatin County District Court dissolving his marriage and making provisions for property distribution, maintenance award, and an award of attorney fees.

The parties were married on August 16, 1975. No children were born as issue of the marriage. On May 23, 1978, the husband filed a petition seeking a dissolution of the marriage and an equitable property distribution. On July 14, 1978, the wife filed a cross-petition seeking dissolution of the marriage, a property distribution, maintenance award, and attorney fees. The husband and wife were the only witnesses who testified at the hearing.

Husband is a 21 year old maintainer for the Milwaukee Railway, and has a high school education. At the time this action was tried, he was earning $1,300 a month, and he netted approximately $800 a month after deductions. He testified that he spent approximately $200 a month for living expenses.

The wife is 22 years old, and is employed by the Manhattan State Bank as a bookkeeper-teller. She has a high school education and one year of vocational training as a medical assistant. At the time this action was tried, she was taking home approximately $445 a month. She testified that she had approximately $260 in expenses each month, excluding housing. She further testified that she would not be able to remain in the couple's mobile home unless she was provided with at least $100 a month maintenance.

The testimony of the parties established that the marital estate consisted of the following assets:

1. Four unimproved lots in Three Forks, Montana. Parties owed $6,100 on these lots, the valuation of which was not established at trial.

2. A 1976 Mercury valued at $4,795, with $500 left to be paid on this car.

3. A 1964 Ford pickup valued at $1,000. The truck was free and clear.

4. A 1975 mobile home, on which there was a balance of $11,000 due on the purchase price. Monthly payments of $178.81 were required on the purchase price for the next seven years. Petitioner testified that the equity in the mobile home was approximately $4,000.

5. Various items of personal property.

In addition to entering a decree dissolving the marriage, the District Court ordered the 1964 Ford pickup to the husband and the 1976 Mercury to the wife. The four unimproved lots were to be sold, and the proceeds of the sale were to be used to pay the $6,100 loan at the bank. The court also ordered that if the proceeds from the sale produced an excess after payment of the loan, the excess be first applied to the balance owing on the 1976 Mercury with the remainder to be divided equally between the parties. The parties stipulated to the distribution of the various items of personal property. With respect to the mobile home and the wife's request for maintenance, the Court rendered the following conclusion of law:

"That the Respondent be awarded the mobile home subject to the condition that the Petitioner pay to the Respondent the amount of $100.00 per month of which $89.40 shall be applied to the monthly payment of $178.81 and the remainder to be used by the Respondent for her maintenance, and further subject to Petitioner's continuous equity in the mobile home to be paid Petitioner by Respondent in the event of the following: Upon Respondent's remarriage, upon Respondent's sale of the mobile home, upon the balance owing on the mobile home being paid in full by Respondent or until further order of this Court and upon the happening of any said event the Petitioner shall not be further required to pay to Respondent the sum of $100.00 per month."

The court further ordered the petitioner to pay the wife's reasonable attorney fees.

The husband contends first, that the District Court abused its discretion and erred in the distribution of the marital assets; second, that the District Court erred in the award of $100 a month for maintenance; and third, that the District Court erred in the award of reasonable attorney fees to the wife.

Section 40-4-202 MCA, controls District Courts in the equitable apportionment of marital assets.

Section 40-4-203 MCA, controls District Courts on the issue of whether or not to grant a maintenance award.

Under section 40-4-202 MCA, the District Court is authorized to equitably apportion the marital assets between the parties. The statute requires the District Courts to consider the criteria expressly enumerated in the statute. Under section 40-4-203(1) MCA, maintenance may be awarded if the spouse seeking maintenance lacks sufficient property to provide for his reasonable needs and is unable to support himself through appropriate employment. Section 40-4-203(2) MCA establishes a list of guidelines or factors that the District Court is required to consider.

Husband first contends that the District Court made a completely one-sided distribution of the marital assets. He argues that the wife received the 1976 Mercury and the mobile home, while he received only the 1964 Ford pickup. He argues that an equitable distribution of the marital assets should have resulted in an equal division of the assets. In essence, husband contends that the assets, including the mobile home, should have been reduced to cash and then divided equally between the parties. He cites no authority.

Although the District Court may equally divide the marital assets, such a distribution is not mandated by section 40-4-202 MCA. See Kuntz v. Kuntz (1979), Mont. 593 P.2d 41, 36 St.Rep. 662. Section 40-4-202 is flexible and it vests a good deal of discretion in the District Court. In Re Marriage of Jorgensen (1979), Mont., 590 P.2d 606, 609, 36 St.Rep. 233, 237. We have stated, before and after the adoption of the statute, that each case must be looked at individually, with an eye to its unique circumstances. Jorgensen, 590 P.2d at 609; Cook v. Cook (1972),159 Mont. 98, 495 P.2d 591.

A District Court has far-reaching discretion in resolving property divisions, and its judgment will not be altered unless a clear abuse of discretion is shown. Kaasa v. Kaasa (1979), Mont., 591 P.2d 1110, 1113, 36 St.Rep. 425, 428; Kramer v. Kramer (1978), Mont., 580 P.2d 439, 35 St.Rep. 700; Eschenburg v. Eschenburg (1976), 171 Mont. 247, 557 P.2d 1014. The test for reviewing the District Court's discretion is: Did the District Court in the exercise of its discretion act arbitrarily without employment of conscientious judgment, or exceed the bounds of reason in view of all the circumstances? Kuntz, 593 P.2d at 43; Jorgensen, supra; Kramer,supra; Zell v. Zell (1977), Mont., 570 P.2d 33, 34 St.Rep. 1070; Berthiaume v. Berthiaume (1977), Mont., 567 P.2d 1388, 34 St.Rep. 921.

The duty of the District Court was to consider the statutory criteria and equitably apportion the marital assets. We find that the District Court did so. The District Court considered the duration of the marriage, the age, occupation, amount and sources of income, vocational skills, employability, estate, and the liabilities and needs of each of the parties.

The distribution of one asset, the mobile home, lies at the heart of the husband's argument. He claims that the Court allowed the wife to retain possession of the mobile home, in which there was $4,000 equity at the time this action was tried, for such time as she desired. He further argues that by virtue of the $100 a month maintenance award, he is required to pay...