Opinion ID: 1210888
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Credit Union Account

Text: The circuit court awarded the defendant the balance of a credit union account. Neither the recommended order of the family law master, nor the circuit court's final order disclosed the value of this account. Further, the circuit court's order does not explain the basis for awarding the account to defendant, other than as the recommendation of the family law master. A review of the financial statements submitted by both parties does not disclose the existence of a credit union account. Pursuant to Rule 11, of the Rules of Practice and Procedure for Family Law, as well as West Virginia Code § 48-2-33 (1993) a full and complete disclosure of finances is required in all divorce actions. Thus, it is incumbent that a clear, concise and complete financial record for both parties be required by the family law master and lower court in order for this Court to establish meaningful review of the issues presented. In addressing the issue of the sufficiency of a final order in a divorce proceeding, this Court stated in Province v. Province, 196 W.Va. 473, 483, 473 S.E.2d 894, 904 (1996) that [t]he order must be sufficient to indicate the factual and legal basis for the family law master's ultimate conclusion so as to facilitate a meaningful review of the issues presented. Where the lower tribunals fail to meet this standardi.e. making only general, conclusory or inexact findingswe must vacate the judgment and remand the case for further findings and development. Moreover, we held in syllabus point 6 of Wood v. Wood (I), 184 W.Va. 744, 403 S.E.2d 761 (1991) that `[a]n order directing a division of marital property in any way other than equally must make specific reference to factors enumerated in Sec. 48-2-32(c), and the facts in the record that support application of those factors.' Syllabus Point 3, Somerville v. Somerville, 179 W.Va. 386, 369 S.E.2d 459 (1988). We cannot conduct a meaningful review of whether the credit union account was properly awarded to the defendant. We would also note that, although the plaintiff assigned this issue as error, the defendant did not address the matter in his brief. We therefore reverse and remand this issue for proper findings. F.