Opinion ID: 1704367
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether the trial court abused its discretion in awarding wife thirty-five percent of the farm land husband inherited?

Text: Husband inherited one-hundred-sixty acres of farm land in March of 1991. Probate of the estate was finalized in March of 1992, some six months after Wife had filed for divorce. In dividing the marital property, the trial court awarded Wife thirty-five percent of the inherited farm property. Husband claims the trial court abused its discretion by awarding wife any of the inherited farm property. A trial court has broad discretion in making a division of property and this court will not modify or set it aside unless there is a clear abuse of discretion. Prentice v. Prentice, 322 N.W.2d 880, 882 (S.D.1982); Clement v. Clement, 292 N.W.2d 799, 801 (S.D. 1980). The decision whether to include inherited property as part of the marital property to be divided is within the discretion of the trial court. Laird v. Laird, 322 N.W.2d 254, 256 (S.D.1982). Although the trial judge should consider the fact that the defendant inherited certain property, he is not bound to set it aside for the defendant and may consider it as part of the property to be divided. Clement, 292 N.W.2d at 801. The factors to be considered in dividing property are the (1) duration of the marriage, (2) value of the property owned by the parties, (3) ages of the parties, (4) health of the parties, (5) competency of the parties to earn a living, (6) the contribution of each party to the accumulation of property, and (7) the income-producing capacity of the assets owned by the parties. Johnson v. Johnson, 471 N.W.2d 156, 159 (S.D.1991); Ryken v. Ryken, 461 N.W.2d 122, 123 (S.D.1990); Clement, 292 N.W.2d at 801. During this nine-year marriage, both of the parties worked and contributed to the family finances. Aside from the property Husband inherited, the only substantial marital asset accumulated was the home, which was awarded to Wife. Both parties are in their mid-thirties and in good health, except for Wife's alcohol abuse. Both parties have the ability to earn a living and support themselves. When he was growing up, Husband helped his father farm this property. Wife had no involvement with the land. She did nothing to contribute to the accumulation of the property. Cf. Garnos v. Garnos, 376 N.W.2d 571, 573 (S.D.1985) (reversing for abuse of discretion for failure to consider property inherited during 15-year marriage where wife contributed her entire teaching income to marriage and performed domestic duties); Prentice, 322 N.W.2d at 882-83 (reversing property award for failure to consider inherited property where wife's work on the ranch increased the size and value of inheritance); Laird, 322 N.W.2d at 257 (noting wife's income and domestic duties, along with husband's inheritance, contributed to acquisition of marital property). Probate of the estate was completed some six months after the Voelkers separated and four months before they were divorced. None of the income from the land was ever commingled with marital monies. None of the income was used to purchase marital property. None of the income from the inherited property was used to pay marital debts. Wife had no involvement with the property and made no contribution in acquiring the land. Considering the above factors, the award to Wife of thirty-five percent of the inherited farm was clearly excessive and an abuse of discretion by the trial court. We therefore reverse and remand the division of marital property for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. Due to our reversal of the division of marital property, child support should be reconsidered upon remand.