Opinion ID: 1800579
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: equitable property division

Text: A determination that a particular division of property is equitable is appropriately dealt with on appeal as a finding of fact. See Ferguson v. Ferguson, supra . In the instant case the parties failed to comply with Rule 8.3, N.D.R.O.C., which provides: In all contested divorce cases the parties and their attorneys, prior to trial, shall jointly prepare a complete listing of their property and debts. The parties shall then assign values to the property either as an agreed value or if not agreed a plaintiff's estimate and defendant's estimate. The document must be dated and signed by both attorneys and plaintiff and defendant. It must be filed with the clerk of court at least one day prior to trial. Although no explicit sanction for non-compliance is specified, one should not be heard to complain about his own errors. It probably would have been more provident for the trial court to have declared a recess until the appropriate document was available. We have no way of knowing whether or not a different determination would have been made or justified. The determination made by the trial court was that the river lot be sold and the proceeds equally divided. If the lot was overvalued by the court, it will likely have to be sold for less. Only if Virgil elects to buy Dorothy's interest is the court's evaluation significant. The finding is not clearly erroneous.