Opinion ID: 2382096
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Property Issues

Text: In 2004 Ken's parents gave Kattaryna and Ken $44,000 to finance the purchase of their home. [5] Ken's parents issued gift letters of $22,000 each to Kattaryna and Ken. These letters purported to require no repayment. Nonetheless, Kattaryna made monthly payments to Ken's parents from October 2005 until February 2007, writing home loan on each check. Ken and his mother testified that the expectation was for both $22,000 payments to be paid back, but with no interest and without a deadline for repayment. Kattaryna argued the $22,000 payment was a gift and that her monthly payments were made out of moral obligation only. In its August 2008 oral ruling, the court found that Ken's parents loaned $44,000 to the parties. The court credited Kattaryna $4,200 for payments she had made on her loan and ordered her to repay the remaining $17,800. After accounting for Kattaryna's loan payments, Ken's home improvements, and the amount owing on the mortgage, the court found Kattaryna's share of the home equity to be $50,132, and Ken's share to be $78,883.75. The court ordered that the parties refinance the home to remove Kattaryna from the mortgage obligation, and that they equally share the cost of refinancing. Ken appeals the superior court order crediting only Kattaryna for payments she made to Ken's parents. Kattaryna cross-appeals the superior court's order requiring that she repay a loan she received from Ken's parents.