Opinion ID: 1826721
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: Ronald B. Holloman and Joan Williams Holloman were granted a divorce on the grounds of irreconcilable differences, ending a second marriage to each other on May 8, 1989. Both parties were represented by separate counsel throughout the proceedings. The Holloman's settlement agreement was approved and accepted by the chancellor and incorporated into the divorce decree. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Ronald agreed to pay Joan one half of his monthly retirement benefits that he would accrue prior to retirement. Ronald had two separate retirement plans with his employer, Union Camp Corporation. One known as the Union Camp Corporation Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees and the other as a Savings and Investment Plan. After the divorce decree was entered, Joan inquired of Ronald what accounts were involved concerning his retirement funds. Ronald only advised her of his employer's Retirement Income Plan. The Hollomans had a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) entered naming Joan as the payee under that Retirement Income Plan. Subsequent to the entry of that order, Joan discovered that the Retirement Income Plan did not contain the total assets that Ronald had accumulated toward retirement. Ronald had another account, a 401-K account called a Savings and Investment Plan. Joan contended that this account was governed by the settlement agreement. Ronald refused to comply with Joan's request. Joan filed a motion to cite Ronald for contempt, and thereafter amended, to have the 401-K incorporated into a revised QDRO in conformity with the settlement agreement. The chancellor determined that the parties contracted themselves to an acceptable termination of their marriage and fair distribution of their marital assets. He treated the agreement as a contract, noted that contracts are construed against the preparer, and since Joan's attorney had prepared the document, any knowledge of marital assets attributed to her was imputed to her attorney. He found that the separation agreement failed to show the specificity required to modify the Final Decree of Divorce and the Qualified Domestic Relations Order. He also determined that Ronald was current in his payment of support and had supplied adequate financial information to Joan. He therefore, denied her relief on her request that Ronald be held in contempt. Following denial of all relief and Joan's timely Motion For New Trial, which was overruled, this appeal followed.