Opinion ID: 1791270
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Dissipation

Text: We begin by analyzing the Court of Appeals' conclusions with regard to dissipation. The Court of Appeals held that the trial court incorrectly used a comparative fault analysis to determine whether Mr. Broadbent dissipated Ms. Langhi's separate assets. We are unpersuaded that the trial court's inappropriate use of the term comparative fault is fatal to the trial court's analysis. Moreover, we are unable to conclude that the trial court's ruling was based upon a dissipation analysis. In equitably dividing marital property, the trial court must consider the contribution of each party to the acquisition, preservation, appreciation, depreciation, or dissipation of the parties' marital or separate property. Tenn.Code Ann. § 36-4-121(c)(5) (2001). Although this statute does not define dissipation, the term typically refers to the use of funds after a marriage is irretrievably broken. See, e.g., Altman v. Altman, 181 S.W.3d 676, 681-82 (Tenn.Ct.App.2005) (observing that dissipation of marital property occurs when the marriage is breaking down). Thus, dissipation generally occurs in contemplation of the dissolution of a marriage. Dissipation of separate property may be relevant to the equitable division of marital property in at least two circumstances. First, the appreciation of separate property during the course of the marriage may be classified as marital property if each party substantially contributed to its preservation and appreciation. Tenn.Code Ann. § 36-4-121(b)(1)(B) (2001). The dissipation of separate property may therefore affect the total value of the marital property to be equitably divided. Second, dissipation of separate property may affect the separate assets of one spouse. The separate assets of each party are factors to consider in the equitable division of marital property. Id. at (c)(6). In the present case, the loss of a portion of Ms. Langhi's separate funds occurred while the parties were planning to purchase a dream home, not during a time when the marriage was irretrievably broken. Even if dissipation would be proper to consider, the parties have no marital property to divide. Pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-4-121(c)(5) (2001), dissipation, whether of marital or separate property, must be considered only in the context of the division of marital property. After a thorough review of the record and the trial court's ruling in this case, however, we find no reference to dissipation as the basis for the trial court's award of alimony in solido. The trial court considered the responsibility of each party for the loss of a portion of Ms. Langhi's separate assets. As explained below, this consideration is appropriate to take into account in determining the type and amount of alimony to be awarded to a disadvantaged spouse.