Marilyn De Cora appeals from a judgment of divorce. The issues are whether the trial court erred in dividing the couple's property and denying her request for maintenance and contribution to attorney's fees. We affirm as to property division, but reverse as to maintenance and attorney's fees. De Cora first argues that the court erred in dividing their property. The trial court decided to leave the parties in possession of the assets and debts each possessed at the time of the divorce.
Division of property is a discretionary determination.
We agree with De Cora that the court's statement of the reasons underlying its decision is sparse. But we have held that where a trial court fails to adequately set forth its reasoning in reaching a discretionary decision, we will search the record for reasons to sustain that decision. The record shows that the parties had been separated for several years before the divorce, and during that time certain marital assets were liquidated. De Cora received a greater share of those assets than Sanchez. On that evidence, a reasonable judge could conclude that it would be appropriate to leave each party with the property they had themselves divided in the years of their separation.