Opinion ID: 885206
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Whether the District Court erred in considering the parties' premarital cohabitation in apportioning the marital estate.

Text: ¶ 31 David contends that the District Court erroneously included a period of premarital cohabitation within the term of the marriage in making its property division and that Montana law does not permit consideration of premarital living arrangements in an action for dissolution of marriage. David points to the fact that in its April 2, 1999 Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Decree of Dissolution, the District Court stated: 14. The parties established a marital relationship as early as June, 1995 when they co-habitated in the Florence home, brought David's children to Montana to reside as a family, and did not correct the impression given to friends and neighbors that they were husband and wife. David argues that roughly four pages of the District Court's April 2, 1999 findings are concerned with the period of premarital cohabitation and that it had an impact upon the ultimate findings and conclusions of the court regarding the property division. ¶ 32 Christine contends, on the other hand, that premarital actions and contributions may be relevant in an appropriate case. She maintains that her history of involvement in David's business venture in Arizona prior to and during the marriage, her contributions as a homemaker, and her outside employment during the premarital relationship, are all useful in helping the court to understand the parties' marital relationship. ¶ 33 Contrary to David's assertions, the District Court did not find that a common law marriage had been established. Rather, the court noted that [w]hile this relationship might not rise to the level of a common law marriage beginning June, 1995, it would be wholly inequitable for the Court to disregard the relationship of the parties as it existed from February of 1994 and especially from June, 1995 when the parties relocated to Florence, Montana. ¶ 34 Section 40-4-202, MCA, sets forth the guidelines a district court must follow in distributing property as part of a marriage dissolution and lists the factors the court shall take into consideration in making an equitable distribution. This statute provides in relevant part: In a proceeding for dissolution of a marriage... the court ... shall ... finally equitably apportion between the parties the property and assets belonging to either or both, however and whenever acquired and whether the title thereto is in the name of the husband or wife or both. In making apportionment, the court shall consider the duration of the marriage and prior marriage of either party; the age, health, station, occupation, amount and sources of income, vocational skills, employability, estate, liabilities, and needs of each of the parties; custodial provisions; whether the apportionment is in lieu of or in addition to maintenance; and the opportunity of each for future acquisition of capital assets and income. The court shall also consider the contribution or dissipation of value of the respective estates and the contribution of a spouse as a homemaker or to the family unit. Section 40-4-202, MCA. ¶ 35 The District Court's findings in this case reflect that the court considered, among other things, the duration of the marriage as well as the length of the parties' relationship; the extent of the parties' assets; their health, occupation, amount and sources of income; the needs of each of the parties; the opportunity of each for future acquisition of capital assets and income; and Christine's contributions as a homemaker, all of which are consistent with § 40-4-202, MCA. ¶ 36 Moreover, while it would be inappropriate to consider the parties' premarital cohabitation as part of the term of the marriage itself, it was necessary in this case for the District Court to consider the parties' premarital history to aid in determining which party brought what assets into the marriage. ¶ 37 Accordingly, we hold that the District Court did not err in considering the parties' premarital cohabitation in apportioning the marital estate.