Opinion ID: 888956
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: standard of review

Text: ¶ 16 We review the valuation and allocation of marital property to determine whether the district court's findings are clearly erroneous. Findings are clearly erroneous if they are not supported by substantial evidence, the court misapprehends the effect of the evidence, or this Court's review of the record convinces us that a mistake has been made. Absent clearly erroneous findings, this Court will affirm a district court's division of property unless we identify an abuse of discretion. In a dissolution proceeding, the test for an abuse of discretion is whether the district court acted arbitrarily without employment of conscientious judgment or exceeded the bounds of reason resulting in a substantial injustice. In re Marriage of Stoneman and Drollinger, 2008 MT 448, ¶ 21, 348 Mont. 17, 199 P.3d 232 (citations omitted). ¶ 17 In reviewing an award or denial of maintenance, our role is limited to determining whether the district court's findings are clearly erroneous. In re Marriage of Dirnberger, 2007 MT 84, ¶ 21, 337 Mont. 56, 154 P.3d 1227. ¶ 18 We review a district court's grant or denial of a request for attorney fees for an abuse of discretion. In re Marriage of Swanson, 2004 MT 124, ¶ 13, 321 Mont. 250, 90 P.3d 418.