Opinion ID: 2082836
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The parties' income.

Text: [¶ 18] The court's determination of the parties' income is a finding of fact that we review pursuant to the clearly erroneous standard. Ramsdell v. Ramsdell, 1997 ME 14, ¶ 5, 688 A.2d 918, 921 (citing Quin v. Quinn, 641 A.2d 180, 181 (Me.1994)). Deborah's testimony, and her M.R. Civ. P. 80(C) financial statement, shows that, at the time of the hearing, she was earning $500 per week plus fringe benefits. In light of the less-than-exact evidence, we cannot say that the trial court was clearly erroneous in its determination of Deborah's income. [¶ 19] Roger also asserts that the court erred in not imputing additional income to Deborah for (1) income that she may earn as a result of Roger's payment to her for her marital interest in Safe Approach, Inc., and (2) her receipt of the life insurance proceeds. Contrary to Roger's contentions, the District Court did not err in refusing to impute additional income to Deborah. To impute such income would be purely speculative. Deborah's only source of earnings at the time of the divorce hearing was derived from her employment by Professional Graphics. [¶ 20] Roger also challenges the District Court's finding that his income is approximately $65,000 per year. To assist the court in its determinations, Roger had an obligation to provide the court with clear and complete evidence of his earning capacity. Beattie v. Beattie, 650 A.2d 950, 953 (Me.1994). Roger is a fifty-percent (50%) owner of Safe Approach. He receives a base salary of $1,000 per week and employment benefits that include the free use of a 1998 Ford Expedition, health insurance benefits, vacation pay, and a liberal expense account. Roger is also the owner of two patents, the Hatch Net 120 and Hatch Net 121. Prior to the divorce hearing, he received royalties from Safe Approach for its use of the patents through 1998. Although Roger no longer receives royalties on account of his patents, Safe Approach continues to benefit from the use of his patents. [¶ 21] Roger's income from the Hatch Net royalties has steadily increased over the years, with Roger receiving $8,957 in royalties from Safe Approach in 1998. Roger's 1998 tax return also shows that he received a $10,000 bonus from Safe Approach. Roger testified, however, that he has received only one bonus from Safe Approach during the history of the company. In total, Roger's 1998 adjusted gross income was $72,550. [¶ 22] Based on the evidence presented at trial and the parties' financial affidavits, the trial court did not commit a clear error in determining that Roger's income was in the vicinity of approximately $65,000. See Ramsdell, 1997 ME 14, ¶ 5, 688 A.2d at 921 (citing Quin, 641 A.2d at 181).