Opinion ID: 878932
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: allocation of the marital estate

Text: Eloise, on cross-appeal, contests the allocation of the marital estate by the trial judge. Basically, Eloise contends that the trial judge erred in his application of Montana's public policy in favor of preserving the family ranch and in failing to consider the effect of her handicap on her ability to acquire future earnings when allocating the marital estate. Eloise's initial contention is based on finding of fact # 26, where the trial judge states in part: 26. The court finds that Montana is still primarily an agricultural region, and because the family held ranch is a form of business worth encouraging, that it is a desirable and declared policy in this state to preserve the integrity and continuation of the family farm and ranch operation, if reasonably possible. Therefore, to give the respondent husband herein a chance to keep the family ranch and to purchase the wife's interest in the marital estate over a period of time, and because he contributed several years of effort and labor to the ranch operation before the parties married and one year after the parties separated, because the wife's possibility of inheritance from her parents appears commensurate with the husband's potential inheritance from his parents, and because the husband will also be obligated for child support for another three or four years, the marital estate should not be divided equally, but that the husband should receive 60% thereof and the wife 40%.  (emphasis supplied). Eloise correctly contends that the trial judge erred in considering Montana's policy in favor of preserving family ranches when allocating the marital estate between the parties. This policy is not included as a criteria to be considered when dividing marital property under § 40-4-202(1), MCA, Montana's equitable property distribution statute. Rather, the policy is only to be considered upon distribution of the marital property, after it has been allocated. However, in light of the other statutory reasons given for the 60-40 split, we find this error to be harmless. [T]he policy of keeping a family ranch intact cannot be used to deprive a spouse of his or her equitable share of the marital estate. In re the Marriage of Garst (Mont. 1983), 669 P.2d 1063, 1067, 40 St.Rep. 1526, 1531. Eloise has not been deprived of her equitable share of the marital estate. Keeping in mind Eloise's handicap, employment situation, contribution to the family ranch, potential inheritance and needs, the trial judge awarded her 40 percent of the marital estate. Further, conclusions of law J and M insure that, pursuant to In re the Marriage of Jacobson (1979), 183 Mont. 517, 525, 600 P.2d 1183, 1188, the policy against splitting up the ranch or forcing its sale will yield to Eloise's right to an equitable share of the property. Conclusion of law J provides that Eloise's interest in the ranch shall be secured by a judgment lien. Conclusion of law M states: That in the event the husband fails, neglects or refuses to make the payments herein provided for to the wife, the Charles Glass & Sons partnership should be legally wound up and liquidated, the assets sold, and any balance due the wife paid to her. There is absolutely no merit to Eloise's second contention that the trial judge failed to consider her handicap. The trial judge states in finding of fact # 10: That the wife is now about 39 years old, has suffered from cerebral palsy since birth, and is impaired by an asthmatic condition and a degenerated cervical disk, all of which severely limits and restricts her employability and the type of work she can do. The cerebral palsy affects her fine motor skills and precludes effectively performing tasks such as writing and typing. Prior to the marriage, however, Eloise finished about two years of college at MSU in Bozeman, Montana, afterwards she performed volunteer work with church and youth groups and did a little babysitting, and in the last few years she has sought vocational rehabilitation, but she has no work experience outside the ranch and home, and no skills or educational certification that would assist her in finding employment, especially in the small town and rural area of Denton. Due to petitioner's physical condition and lack of vocational experience, she would require substantial training or education in order to function in the job market, and even then her ability to hold steady employment and become self-supporting is highly questionable. This finding is supported by the testimony of Eloise's vocational rehabilitation counselor, Bob Morgan. Eloise's physical condition and its effect on her ability to earn a living is again considered by the trial judge in conclusion of law H: H. That by reason of the length of the marriage, the wife's contributions to the husband's farming and trucking business and their accumulation of property, her contributions as a homemaker and mother to the parties [sic] two children, and her severe physical disabilities and limitations for employment, the wife is entitled not only to maintenance for herself until her receipt of the first lump sum toward property settlement as herein specified, but also to a substantial portion of the husband's partnership interest in Charles Glass & Sons as herein set forth. (emphasis supplied) We find no basis for Eloise's complaint concerning this matter. The allocation of the marital estate between the parties is affirmed. Affirmed. TURNAGE, C.J., and WEBER, SHEEHY and GULBRANDSON, JJ., concur.