Vanover v. Vanover

• Decision Date: 04 May 1972
• Docket Number: Nos. 1505,1512,s. 1505
• Citation: 496 P.2d 644
• Parties: Gladys E. VANOVER, Appellant, v. Harold C. VANOVER, Appellee. Harold C. VANOVER, Cross-Appellant, v. Gladys E. VANOVER, Cross-Appellee.
• Court: Alaska Supreme Court

Page 644

496 P.2d 644

Gladys E. VANOVER, Appellant, v. Harold C. VANOVER, Appellee.

Harold C. VANOVER, Cross-Appellant, v. Gladys E. VANOVER, Cross-Appellee.

Nos. 1505, 1512.

Supreme Court of Alaska.

May 4, 1972.

James K. Tallman, Anchorage, for appellant and cross appellee.

J. Randall Luffberry and Edward J. Reasor, Anchorage, for appellee and cross appellant.

Before RABINOWITZ, CONNOR and ERWIN, JJ.

RABINOWITZ, Justice.

The principal questions raised in these appeals concern the trial court's division or property in conjunction with a decree of divorce. Essentially, both parties contend that the trial court misinterpreted and misapplied AS 09.55.210(6).

Prior to 1968, AS 09.55.210(6) provided that:

In a judgment in an action for divorce or action declaring a marriage void or at any time after judgment, the court may provide

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(6) for the division between the parties of their joint property or the separate property of each, in the manner as may be just, and without regard as to which of the parties is the owner of the property . . ..

We have consistently held that this statute vested the trial court with broad discretion in the matter of division of the parties' properties and that on appeal we would not disturb the trial court's determination unless it is shown that the property division was clearly unjust. These standards were articulated in Crume v. Crume, 378 P.2d 183, 186 (Alaska 1963), where we said in part:

(W)ith respect to the judicial division of the property in this case, that is a matter left by statute to the broad discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed on appeal unless an abuse of such discretion is shown. To establish an abuse of discretion the aggrieved party must show that the property division was clearly unjust. (Footnotes omitted.) ¹

In Merrill v. Merrill, 368 P.2d 546, 547-548 n. 4 (Alaska 1962), this court set forth the principal factors which the trial court should consider in resolving property division questions. In Merrill we said that

the principal factors . . . are the respective ages of the parties; their earning ability; the duration and conduct of each during the marriage; their station in life; the circumstances and necessities of each; their health and physical condition; their financial circumstances, including the time and manner of acquisition of the property in question, its value at the time and its income producing capacity if any.

In 1968 the Alaska Legislature amended AS 09.55.210(6), drawing a distinction between assets acquired prior to coverture and those acquired subsequently. AS 09.55.210(6) now provides:

In a judgment in an action for divorce or action declaring a marriage void or at any time after judgment, the court may provide

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* * * (6) for the division between the parties of their property, whether joint or separate, acquired only during coverture, in the manner as may be just, and without regard to which of the parties is in fault; however, the court, in making the division, may invade the property of either spouse acquired before marriage when the balancing of the equities between the parties requires it . . . .

These appeals present our first opportunity to address property division questions arising under AS 09.55.210(6) as amended in 1968. In his appeal Harold Vanover argues that the trial court misapplied AS 09.55.210(6) by invading property he acquired before marriage and awarding a portion of this property to his wife Gladys. In her appeal Gladys contends that the trial court abused its discretion in that it awarded her an inadequate share of Harold's property.

The record, in its salient portions, shows that at the time the matter was tried to the superior court Gladys Vanover was 56 years old and Harold Vanover was 53 years of age. They had been married for 15 years and one son was born of their marriage. At the time of trial, Gladys was employed as a waitress earning a take home pay of approximately $400 per month. During the marriage Gladys worked a total of eight years, earning annually from $5,000 to $6,500. From these earnings Gladys contributed to the upkeep of the family, buying groceries, and paying utilities, taxes on her home and Harold's homestead lands, and other marital expenses. Prior to the marriage Gladys owned seven apartment rental units, which after her marriage to Harold, she sold for $14,000. Out of the proceeds of this sale she made available the sum of $6,000 to enable Harold to purchase a dump truck for his gravel hauling business. Harold additionally used $1,800 of the $14,000 to pay certain tax indebtednesses. Gladys also owned a home prior to the marriage which, by party stipulation, was valued at $16,000. Harold, Gladys, and their son lived in this house during the marriage of the parties. Although Harold lived in Gladys' house, he made extensive repairs and renovations to the house and grounds over the years they were married.

Harold Vanover had come to Alaska in 1947 and homesteaded 160 acres in 1948. He received a patent for these lands in 1951. In 1953 he obtained a divorce from his first wife who was awarded a portion of these homestead lands. ² At the time he remarried, Harold had approximately 70 acres of the original homestead left. After marrying Gladys, Harold sold 20 acres of the remaining 70 for approximately $20,000. This money was used in payment of family expenses and equipment. Regarding the remainder of Harold's homestead lands, the parties stipulated to the following values of the remaining lots in Van's Subdivision and of Harold's interests in various executory contracts of sale pertaining to other portions of the subdivision:

At the conclusion of the trial, the superior court divided the property of the parties in the following manner: Gladys received the family home, furniture and fixtures; one-half of the proceeds from the sale of a Public Service Commission Permit which Harold used in connection with his gravel hauling business; $3,000 in cash from the Kocurek contract, plus $326 monthly for 15 years from the monthly installments payable under the Kocurek contract once the balance of this contract is reduced to $84,000; two fairly old vehicles; her personal effects; and certain cemetery lots. Harold was awarded the $17,500 down payment payable under the Kocurek contract, all payments made thereunder until the balance reached $84,000, and 60 percent of the payments thereafter; the entire balances of the Miller, Watts, and Carr executory contracts of sale; sole title to the seven remaining lots in Van's Subdivision; one-half of the proceeds from the sale of a Public Service Commission Permit; and one 1968 Cadillac automobile.

In arriving at this property division, the trial judge, in his oral opinion, advised counsel that he was fully aware of the provisions of AS 09.55.210(6), stating that he felt

that because (Gladys') efforts helped to save (Harold's homestead lands), because her efforts helped to support the family she must now therefore be allowed to share in the bounty resulting from the retention of the land until it did become so valuable.

In his oral decision the trial judge further stated that he was

going to make no effort to divide the property equally. I feel . . . (Harold) here should have the substantial portion. I'm looking rather at the needs of the parties, bearing in mind what I do know about their respective contributions both before and during the marriage . . ..

The trial judge concluded his oral opinion with the statement that he felt the division he had decided upon would meet Gladys' needs 'without unduly depriving (Harold) of any of the fruits of his . . . blood, sweat, and tears that went into his homesteading.'

Turning first to Harold's appeal, we are of the view that on this record the superior court did not...