[Cite as Yarosz v. Montgomery, 2024-Ohio-652.]

Atty. Jane M. Hanlin, Bruzzese, Hanlin & Bruzzese, LLC, for Plaintiff-Appellee and

Atty. Aaron M. Meikle, for Defendant-Appellant.

Dated: February 20, 2024

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO 

SEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

JEFFERSON COUNTY

RONALD A. YAROSZ,

Plaintiff-Appellee,

v.

LISA R. MONTGOMERY,

Defendant-Appellant.

OPINION AND JUDGMENT ENTRY

Case No. 23 JE 0006

Domestic Relations Appeal from the

Court of Common Pleas of Jefferson County, Ohio

Case No. 2021-DR-182

BEFORE:

William A. Klatt, Retired Judge of the Tenth District Court of Appeals,

Sitting by Assignment, 

Cheryl L. Waite, Mark A. Hanni, Judges.

JUDGMENT:

Affirmed.
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Case No. 23 JE 0006

KLATT, J.

{¶1} Appellant, Lisa R. Montgomery, appeals from the January 19, 2023 

judgment of the Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas, granting her and Appellee, 

Ronald A. Yarosz, a divorce and awarding the marital residence to Appellee. On appeal, 

Appellant asserts the trial court erred in awarding Appellee the full amount of his 

contributions to the house and failing to recognize any premarital interest she had in the 

property. Finding no reversible error, we affirm. 

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

{¶2} In 2005, Appellant purchased the marital residence, 559 Township Road 

376, Toronto, Jefferson County, Ohio, for $100,000. In 2006, the parties began living 

together before marrying on November 6, 2015. No children were born as issue of the 

marriage.

{¶3} On July 2, 2021, Appellee filed a complaint for divorce. Appellee alleged 

Appellant had been guilty of gross neglect of duty, extreme cruelty, financial misconduct, 

and the parties were otherwise incompatible. Appellee claimed Appellant had abandoned 

the marriage and moved to the State of Indiana. On August 27, 2021, Appellant filed an 

answer and counterclaim. Appellant alleged Appellee had been guilty of gross neglect of 

duty, financial misconduct, alcohol abuse, extreme cruelty, and the parties were otherwise 

incompatible. 

{¶4} A final evidentiary hearing was held on March 10, 2022. 

{¶5} As stated, the parties were married on November 6, 2015. They lived at the 

marital residence prior to the date of the marriage, from approximately 2006 until late 

2011. (3/10/2022 Evidentiary Hearing Tr., p. 10). Appellee moved out in 2011 and moved 

back into the home in 2015. (Id. at p. 10-11).

{¶6} Appellee began paying the mortgage and other expenses when he first 

moved in with Appellant. (Id. at p. 11). Appellee made those payments for about five 

years, until the parties ended their relationship for a period of time. (Id.) Appellee 

resumed paying the entire mortgage as early as January 2015. (Id. at p. 14-15). Appellee 
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made the monthly mortgage payment from January 2015 through the date of the final 

evidentiary hearing, March 10, 2022. (Id. at p. 15). 

{¶7} When Appellee sold his prior residence, he used the proceeds from that 

sale to improve the marital residence. (Id.) Appellee provided written documentation 

regarding the sale proceeds of his prior home ($101,741) as well as the exact dollar 

amount from those proceeds ($75,257.79) that he invested into the marital residence. 

(Id. at p. 16-26). Appellant agreed to add Appellee’s name to the deed so that he would 

receive the property if something unfortunate were to happen to her. (Id. at p. 15-16). 

{¶8} Appellant resided in the marital residence until February 23, 2021 when she 

moved to the State of Indiana. (Id. at p. 27-28). Appellee said Appellant did not contribute 

to any expenses associated with the home, including mortgage payments, utility 

payments, or other expenses. (Id.) Appellee stated he was the only one paying the home 

improvement loan attached to the residence and that he received no contributions from 

Appellant whatsoever. (Id. at p. 28-30). 

{¶9} On cross-examination, Appellee confirmed he did not believe the marital 

residence had any equity in 2012. (Id. at p. 81-82). Appellee explained he was seeking 

credit for the money that he invested in the home and that the parties would equally divide 

any remaining equity that existed at the time of the final hearing. (Id. at p. 85). 

{¶10} Appellant testified she purchased the home in 2005 and made a $23,000 

down payment. (Id. at p. 139-141). When Appellant refinanced in 2012, the residence 

was worth $120,000. (Id.) Appellant incorrectly asserted she had $120,000 in equity in 

the home. (Id.) In fact, at that time, there was an $80,000 mortgage on the home. (Id. 

at p. 141). Appellant said she had pictures showing improvements to the residence but 

provided no documentation. (Id. at p. 142). Appellant also claimed, without 

documentation, that she withdrew $5,000 from her premarital IRA for the home. (Id. at p. 

143). 

{¶11} Following the hearing, the magistrate issued a decision recommending the 

parties be granted a divorce due to incompatibility and stating in part:

5. Both Parties wish to retain ownership of the residence located at 559 

Township Road 376, Toronto, Ohio. The testimony indicated that 

[Appellant] purchased the residence in 2005 for $100,000.00 and 
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refinanced the mortgage in 2012 when the house was appraised for 

$120,000.00

6. Once the Parties were married [Appellee] sold his home and invested 

$75,257.79 into the marital residence. The Parties stipulated and agreed 

that the real estate now has an appraised value of $190,000.00. The 

testimony indicated that [Appellee] has been solely responsible for payment 

of the mortgage and the home improvement loan since the date of the 

marriage.

7. At the time [Appellant] left the State of Ohio the mortgage balance was 

$36,511.98 and the remaining balance on the home improvement loan was 

$15,964.90. As of the date of separation the equity in the residence was 

$137,523.12. After subtracting the $75,257.79 in separate funds that 

[Appellee] invested in the residence * * *, the remaining equity is 

$62,265.33. [Appellant’s] share is $31,132.66.

(4/4/2022 Magistrate’s Decision, p. 1-2). 

{¶12} On April 14, 2022, Appellant filed objections to the magistrate’s decision. 

Specifically, Appellant claimed “[t]he Court erred by awarding [her] pre-marital real estate 

to [Appellee].” (4/14/2022 Objections to Magistrate’s Decision, Objection 2, p. 3). In that 

objection, Appellant claimed she purchased the property and put $24,000 down as a 

down payment in 2005 (which contradicted her testimony at the final evidentiary hearing); 

claimed she spent $30,000 renovating the house prior to the marriage (but submitted no 

receipts); and claimed she spent $10,000 of her pre-marital IRA on the residence (as 

opposed to the $5,000 that she claimed at the hearing in which she provided no receipts). 

(Id.)

{¶13} On August 15, 2022, Appellee filed a response to Appellant’s objections to 

the magistrate’s decision. Specifically, regarding Objection 2, Appellee stated in part:

[Appellant] makes much of the fact that she lived in the marital residence 

prior to the date of the marriage; however, she ignores the undisputed 

testimony during the final evidentiary hearing that [Appellee] had been 
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Case No. 23 JE 0006

residing in the house as early as 2006, despite the fact that the parties were 

not married until 2015. (The parties lived in that residence from 2006 to 

2011, split up and were then reunited in 2015.) (TR 10) Additionally, 

[Appellant] ignores the fact that the undisputed testimony at the hearing that 

[Appellee] began paying the mortgage and other expenses at the residence 

well-prior to the date of the marriage. (TR 11) 

[Appellee] introduced evidence that he began paying the mortgage 

associated with the marital residence exclusively in January 2015 and 

continued to make it through the date of the final hearing. (TR 14-15) 

[Appellee] also testified that when he sold his prior residence, [Appellant] 

added his name to the marital residence. * * *

[Appellee] further testified that he then used the proceeds from the sale of 

his former residence to improve the marital residence. (TR 15) [Appellee] 

testified that he cleared $101,741.00 from the sale of his prior residence 

and invested that money into upgrades to the marital residence. (TR 16-26) 

In fact, [Appellee] traced, with written documentation, that he had 

contributed $75,257.79 to the marital residence – all of which came from 

the sale of his prior home. (TR 26-27) [Appellant] did not dispute that. (TR 

203-204)

At the hearing, [Appellee] testified that [Appellant] last resided in the marital 

residence on February 23, 2021 and that she never resided there again 

after that date. (TR 27) He further testified that, once [Appellant] left the 

marital residence, she never made any contribution whatsoever to any of 

the expenses associated with the marital residence after that date. (TR 27-

28) Further, [Appellee] testified that he was the only one to pay the home 

improvement loan with Valley One and that [Appellant] never made any 

contributions to that debt once she left the marital residence in February 

2021. (TR 28-29)
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Case No. 23 JE 0006

[Appellee] testified that he had absolutely no intentions on selling the 

residence and had no intention of living any place else. (TR 30) * * *

Finally, [Appellee] testified and provided written documentation that he had 

been approved and qualified to refinance the debt associated with the 

marital residence so as to release [Appellant] from the same. (TR 31-32)

Conversely, [Appellant] admitted that she had been living in West Lafayette, 

Indiana since February 23, 2021 and that she had not lived in the State of 

Ohio since then. (TR 186) She admitted that she had secured employment 

in the State of Indiana and continued to hold that position as of the date of 

the final hearing. (TR 186)

* * *

In this second Objection, [Appellant] claims that she put down $24,000.00 

as a down payment on the marital residence in 2005, that she spent 

$30,000.00 renovating the house and spent $10,000.00 of her premarital 

IRA on the residence. Unfortunately for [Appellant], she provided proof of 

none of this.

While [Appellee] could trace every single dollar of his premarital funds that 

went to the house, [Appellant] failed to do the same. She claimed she spent 

$30,000.00, plus $10,000.00 from a premarital IRA renovating the house in 

2005, but she provided no proof whatsoever and conceded that “most of the 

work and the completion of the house – I have pictures – was done in 2017. 

And that’s when we took out that home loan.” (TR 142)

* * * [Appellant] simply failed to meet her burden to prove any premarital 

interest in the property.

(Emphasis sic) (8/15/2022 Appellee’s Response to Appellant’s Objections to Magistrate’s 

Decision, p. 3-6). 
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{¶14} A hearing on the objections was held on two separate dates, August 22, 

2022 and October 21, 2022. Appellee again explained that he had traced all of the 

premarital monies invested into the marital residence and that he had done so with written 

documentation, which demonstrated the exact amount of his contributions. 

{¶15} Addressing the objections as raised and argued, the trial court found and 

concluded in pertinent part:

OBJECTION 2 – [Appellant’s] argument regarding the character of the real 

property and the value of her separate property is supported in that she 

purchased the property prior to the marriage; however, there was a 

mortgage and [Appellee] provided evidence tracing his contribution to the 

same as stated in the Magistrate’s decision. Further, although [Appellant] 

claims it is her sole, pre-marital property, she provided no supporting 

documentation or convincing evidence in support of her claim. [Appellee], 

however, was able to prove that he sold his pre-marital home and through 

accounting and receipts demonstrate that some proceeds of that sale were 

used toward [Appellant’s] real estate (addition and remodeling) as well as 

other purchases such as the Parties’ wedding, vacations, and the 

engagement ring. In fact, the record demonstrates that [Appellee] resided 

there as early as 2006. The Court recognizes that the Parties were not 

married at that time. The Court further finds that the Parties stipulated to the 

value of the real estate and to [its] appreciation. The Court further finds that 

although [Appellant] claims she spent $30,000.00 and then an additional 

$10,000.00 of her separate monies on the marital residence, other than her 

testimony provided no evidence of the same. [Appellant] is not in a financial 

position to buy out [Appellee’s] interest. Although she claims she was 

approved for a loan, again, other than her testimony provided no additional 

evidence of the same. Therefore, the Court overrules [Appellant’s] objection 

and finds that the Magistrate’s decision was appropriate and consistent with 

Ohio law. Objection 2 is OVERRULED.

(1/3/2023 Judgment Entry, p. 3).
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Case No. 23 JE 0006

{¶16} On January 19, 2023, a judgment decree of divorce was filed granting the 

parties a divorce based upon incompatibility. The trial court ordered, inter alia, that the 

marital residence be awarded to Appellee free and clear of any claim of Appellant. 

(1/19/2023 Divorce Decree, p. 2)1. 

{¶17} Appellant filed a timely appeal and raises one assignment of error. 

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY AWARDING MR. YAROSZ THE FULL 

AMOUNT OF HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HOUSE AND FAILING TO 

RECOGNIZE ANY PREMARITAL INTEREST MS. MONTGOMERY HAD 

IN THE PROPERTY.

{¶18} In her sole assignment of error, Appellant argues the trial court erred in 

awarding Appellee the full amount of his contributions to the residence. Appellant further 

claims the court failed to distinguish between marital and separate property, pursuant to 

R.C. 3105.171, and failed to recognize her premarital interest in the property. Appellant 

asserts the court erred in awarding her only $31,132.66. See (1/19/2023 Divorce 

Decree). 

A trial court has broad discretion when allocating marital assets. Neville v.

Neville, 99 Ohio St.3d 275, 791 N.E.2d 434, 2003-Ohio-3624, at ¶ 5; 

Stevens v. Stevens (1986), 23 Ohio St.3d 115, 120, 492 N.E.2d 131. 

Generally, we would review the overall appropriateness of the trial court’s 

property division in divorce proceedings under an abuse of discretion

standard. Cherry v. Cherry (1981), 66 Ohio St.2d 348, 355, 421 N.E.2d 

1293. However, the characterization of property as separate or marital is a 

mixed question of law and fact and the characterization must be supported 

1 The decree lists that Appellee contributed $75,257.79 to the residence; the outstanding balance on the 

mortgage was $36,511.98; and the balance on the home improvement loan is $15,964.90. When 

determining Appellant’s share of the equity in the property, the trial court started with the stipulated appraisal 

value of $190,000, subtracted the balance of the mortgage and the home improvement loan to determine 

a total equity of $137,523.12. The court then subtracted Appellee’s contributions of $75,257.79 and 

determined the remaining equity to be $62,265.33. The court then divided the remaining equity between 

the parties and awarded Appellant $31,132.66. (Id.)
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by sufficient, credible evidence. Sanor v. Sanor, 7th Dist. No. 2001 CO 37, 

2002-Ohio-5248, at ¶ 53; see also Middendorf v. Middendorf, 82 Ohio St.3d 

397, 401, 1998-Ohio-0403. Once the characterization has been made, the 

actual distribution of the asset may be properly reviewed under an abuseof-discretion standard. Id.

Teaberry v. Teaberry, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 07 MA 168, 2008-Ohio-3334, ¶ 13.

An appellate court reviews a trial court’s determination of property division 

under a manifest weight of the evidence standard. Martin v. Martin (1985), 

18 Ohio St.3d 292, 480 N.E.2d 1112. A judgment of a trial court will not be 

reversed as being against the manifest weight of the evidence if the court’s 

judgment is supported by some competent, credible evidence. C.E. Morris

Co. v. Foley Constr. Co. (1978), 54 Ohio St.2d 279, 376 N.E.2d 578, 

syllabus. This standard of review is highly deferential and even “some” 

evidence is sufficient to sustain the judgment and prevent a reversal. 

Barkley v. Barkley (1997), 119 Ohio App.3d 155, 159, 694 N.E.2d 989. 

However, the trial court’s decisions are unreasonable if no sound reasoning 

process exists to support that decision. AAAA Ent., Inc. v. River Place

Community Urban Redevelopment Corp. (1990), 50 Ohio St.3d 157, 553 

N.E.2d 597. A reviewing court should be guided by a presumption that the 

findings of a trial court are correct, since the trial judge is able to view the 

witnesses and observe their demeanor, gestures, and voice inflections, and 

use those observations in weighing the credibility of the testimony. In re

Jane Doe I (1990), 57 Ohio St.3d 135, 566 N.E.2d 1181; Seasons Coal Co.

v. Cleveland (1984), 10 Ohio St.3d 77, 461 N.E.2d 1273.

Hippely v. Hippely, 7th Dist. Columbiana No. 01 CO 14, 2002-Ohio-3015, ¶ 6.

{¶19} “A domestic relations court is required, when granting a divorce, to equitably 

divide and distribute the marital property.” Teaberry, supra, at ¶ 14, citing R.C. 

3105.171(B). “In order to do this, the trial court must determine what constitutes marital 

property and what constitutes separate property.” Id. 
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{¶20} R.C. 3105.171, “Division of marital property; separate property,” states in 

part:

(3)(a) “Marital property” means, subject to division (A)(3)(b) of this section, 

all of the following:

(i) All real and personal property that currently is owned by either or both of 

the spouses, including, but not limited to, the retirement benefits of the 

spouses, and that was acquired by either or both of the spouses during the 

marriage;

(ii) All interest that either or both of the spouses currently has in any real or 

personal property, including, but not limited to, the retirement benefits of the 

spouses, and that was acquired by either or both of the spouses during the 

marriage;

(iii) Except as otherwise provided in this section, all income and appreciation 

on separate property, due to the labor, monetary, or in-kind contribution of 

either or both of the spouses that occurred during the marriage;

(iv) A participant account, as defined in section 148.01 of the Revised Code, 

of either of the spouses * * *.

(b) “Marital property” does not include any separate property.

(4) “Passive income” means income acquired other than as a result of the 

labor, monetary, or in-kind contribution of either spouse.

(5) “Personal property” includes both tangible and intangible personal 

property.

(6)(a) “Separate property” means all real and personal property and any 

interest in real or personal property that is found by the court to be any of 

the following:
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Case No. 23 JE 0006

(i) An inheritance by one spouse by bequest, devise, or descent during the 

course of the marriage;

(ii) Any real or personal property or interest in real or personal property that 

was acquired by one spouse prior to the date of the marriage;

(iii) Passive income and appreciation acquired from separate property by 

one spouse during the marriage;

(iv) Any real or personal property or interest in real or personal property 

acquired by one spouse after a decree of legal separation issued under 

section 3105.17 of the Revised Code;

(v) Any real or personal property or interest in real or personal property that 

is excluded by a valid antenuptial or postnuptial agreement;

(vi) Compensation to a spouse for the spouse’s personal injury, except for 

loss of marital earnings and compensation for expenses paid from marital 

assets;

(vii) Any gift of any real or personal property or of an interest in real or 

personal property that is made after the date of the marriage and that is 

proven by clear and convincing evidence to have been given to only one 

spouse.

(b) The commingling of separate property with other property of any type 

does not destroy the identity of the separate property as separate property, 

except when the separate property is not traceable.

(B) In divorce proceedings, the court shall, and in legal separation 

proceedings upon the request of either spouse, the court may, determine 

what constitutes marital property and what constitutes separate property. In 

either case, upon making such a determination, the court shall divide the 

marital and separate property equitably between the spouses, in 

accordance with this section.
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* * *

(D) Except as otherwise provided in division (E) of this section or by another 

provision of this section, the court shall disburse a spouse’s separate 

property to that spouse. If a court does not disburse a spouse’s separate 

property to that spouse, the court shall make written findings of fact that 

explain the factors that it considered in making its determination that the 

spouse’s separate property should not be disbursed to that spouse.

* * *

(H) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the holding of title to 

property by one spouse individually or by both spouses in a form of coownership does not determine whether the property is marital property or 

separate property.

R.C. 3105.171(A)(3)-(6), (B), (D), and (H).

{¶21} Appellant cites to Sicilia v. Sicilia, 7th Dist. Columbiana No. 99-CO-66, 2001 

WL 1126664 (Sept. 17, 2001), for the proposition that a case must be remanded when a 

trial court fails to determine whether proceeds from the sale of the home were marital or 

separate. Appellant’s reliance on Sicilia is misplaced. In the case at bar, the trial court 

properly determined which party proved a separate property interest. The record reveals 

Appellee did and Appellant did not. 

{¶22} Appellant complains Appellee deposited his separate property into what 

later would become a joint account. However, this did not convert the property to marital 

property as it was properly found to be traceable. See R.C. 3105.171(6)(b) (“The 

commingling of separate property with other property of any type does not destroy the 

identity of the separate property as separate property, except when the separate property 

is not traceable.”) The trial court complied with R.C. 3105.171(B) because it properly 

determined “what constitutes marital property and what constitutes separate property.” 

{¶23} “‘The party seeking to have a particular asset classified as separate 

property has the burden of proof, by a preponderance of the evidence, to trace the asset 
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Case No. 23 JE 0006

to separate property.’” Pettit v. Pettit, 12th Dist. Fayette No. CA2011-08-018, 2012-Ohio1801, ¶ 50, quoting Pruitt v. Pruitt, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 84335, 2005-Ohio-4424, ¶ 70.

{¶24} Here, Appellee met his tracing burden and Appellant failed to produce any 

evidence challenging that traceability. See, e.g., Victor v. Kaplan, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 

108252, 2020-Ohio-3116 (Once a party to a divorce proceeding has met his or her burden 

in tracing property as separate, the burden shifts to the other spouse to show that the 

particular funds were not separate.); see also Estate of Reed v. Reed, 9th Dist. Medina 

Nos. 16CA0063-M, 16CA0068-M, 16CA0069-M, 2017-Ohio-8350, ¶ 8, quoting 

Eikenberry v. Eikenberry, 9th Dist. Wayne No. 09CA0035, 2010-Ohio-2944, ¶ 28 

(“‘merely claim(ing) that the property (* * *) constitutes (* * *) separate property does not 

make it so.’”) The record establishes and the trial court properly found that Appellant 

failed to demonstrate any separate property interest. 

{¶25} Based on the facts presented, the trial court’s decision does not go against 

the manifest weight of the evidence. As stated, Appellee provided written documentation 

regarding the sale proceeds of his prior home ($101,741) as well as the exact dollar 

amount from those proceeds ($75,257.79) that he invested into the marital residence (his 

separate funds). As of the date of separation, the equity in the residence was 

$137,523.12. The trial court properly subtracted the $75,257.79 in separate funds that 

Appellee invested in the residence, revealing the remaining equity as $62,265.33, thereby 

making Appellant’s share $31,132.66.

{¶26} The trial court did not err in awarding Appellee the full amount of his 

premarital and separate interest in the marital residence and, in turn, did not err in denying 

Appellant’s request for the same since she failed to prove her premarital or separate 

interest. While Appellee traced his entire separate property interest, Appellant failed to 

do the same and did not produce any evidence challenging the traceability that Appellee 

demonstrated. We fail to find any error. 
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CONCLUSION

{¶27} For the foregoing reasons, Appellant’s sole assignment of error is not welltaken. The January 19, 2023 judgment of the Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas, 

granting the parties a divorce and awarding the marital residence to Appellee is affirmed. 

Waite, J., concurs.

Hanni, J., concurs.
[Cite as Yarosz v. Montgomery, 2024-Ohio-652.]

For the reasons stated in the Opinion rendered herein, the assignment of error 

is overruled and it is the final judgment and order of this Court that the judgment of the 

Court of Common Pleas of Jefferson County, Ohio, is affirmed. Costs to be taxed 

against the Appellant.

A certified copy of this opinion and judgment entry shall constitute the mandate 

in this case pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. It is ordered that 

a certified copy be sent by the clerk to the trial court to carry this judgment into 

execution.

NOTICE TO COUNSEL

This document constitutes a final judgment entry.