Opinion ID: 2625856
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Procedural Issue Form of Decree

Text: [¶ 25] The Decree of Divorce fails to set forth the $25,000 cash award to the husband for his share of the business as described in the decision letter. The appropriate procedure for drafting and approving orders is provided in W.R.C.P. 58(a) (emphasis added): (a) Presentation. Subject to the provisions of Rule 55(b) and unless otherwise ordered by the court, written judgments or orders shall be presented to the court within 20 days after its decision is made known. Before submitting the judgment or order, the party drafting it shall seek to secure the written approval as to form of the other parties. If, within 10 days, approval as to form is not obtained, the party drafting the form of judgment or order may forward the original to the court and serve a copy on the other parties with a notice advising objections must be made within 10 days. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may sign the judgment or order. If objection is filed, the court will resolve the matter with or without a hearing. A party objecting shall submit an alternative form of judgment or order with the objection. [¶ 26] The decision letter indicates the court asked the wife's attorney to prepare the order, though we cannot discern the author from the face of the document nor does the document have a place for the parties to sign to indicate their approval as to form. The findings and conclusions must be contained in an order signed by the judge and entered upon delivery to the clerk of court. W.R.C.P. 58(c). The decree awards the business to the wife without mentioning the $25,000 payment to the husband for his share of the value of the business. The provisions of W.R.C.P. 58(a) are intended, at least in part, to avoid just this kind of procedural gaffe by ensuring both parties review and approve the proposed order before it is sent on to the trial court for signature. If there is an objection, the court can resolve it with notice to all parties. In this instance, the parties do not raise and, we presume, inadvertently overlooked the omission of the $25,000 award from the Decree of Divorce. The trial court undeniably intended for the husband to receive that amount for his one-half interest in the pathology business. For this reason, we remand the case to the trial court with instructions the Decree of Divorce be conformed to include the $25,000 award to the husband. [¶ 27] Affirmed in all substantive respects and remanded for conformation of the Decree of Divorce consistent with this opinion.