Opinion ID: 1136028
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Whether the Chancellor erred in ordering Sally Weathersby to convey her one-half interest in the marital home to John Weathersby.

Text: Regarding the marital home, the divorce settlement provided: Wife will convey to Husband now her undivided one-half interest therein, for thirty percent of the present fair market value of said property as determined by appraisal. The method of appraisal shall be that each party shall select one appraiser, which two appraisers shall then select a third appraiser, with the parties to be bound by the fair market value figure finally arrived at by said three appraisers. At trial, it was shown that this procedure for determining the value of the residence was not utilized by the parties. Instead, John obtained the services of two appraisers, who appraised the property at $125,000 and $130,000, respectively. Sally never selected an appraiser. John testified that he accepted the higher appraisal, $130,000, the thirty percent of which he owed to Sally thus being $39,000. At trial, Sally testified that she believed the fair market value of the property to be $165,000, and thus she was entitled to $49,500 from John. The Chancellor adopted Sally's appraisal and ordered her to convey her one-half interest in the home to John. Sally argues that since the terms in the settlement agreement providing for the appraisal of the fair market value of the property were not complied with, the Chancellor erred in ordering Sally to convey her interest in the home to John. John urges that the clear language of the agreement, Wife will convey to Husband now her undivided one-half interest therein (emphasis added), provided the Chancellor with the necessary authority to order Sally to convey her interest in the property to John. We must determine exactly what the settlement agreement required, which interpretation shall be under a de novo standard. Webster v. Webster, 566 So.2d 214, 216 (Miss. 1990). Leaving aside for the moment the issue of the noncompliance with the appraisal method set out in the agreement, a final appraisal of the property was not a condition precedent to Sally's conveyance of her interest therein. John was to pay thirty percent of the fair market value of the property in monthly payments over five years, beginning on the 15th day of the month immediately following the date of the conveyance. It was therefore necessary only that the appraisal be done sometime before the 15th day of the month immediately following the conveyance. Also, the language, Wife will convey to Husband now  (emphasis added), indicates that Sally was to convey her interest in the property immediately. It was not error for the Chancellor to order Sally to convey her interest in the marital home to John. Property settlement agreements are fixed and final, and may not be modified absent fraud or contractual provision allowing modification. Mount v. Mount, 624 So.2d 1001, 1005 (Miss. 1993); Brown v. Brown, 566 So.2d 718, 721 (Miss. 1990); East v. East, 493 So.2d 927, 931-32 (Miss. 1986). However, the parties may waive specific provisions by failing to carry out their own responsibilities. Such waiver occurred here where Sally failed to choose an appraiser, and as provided in the agreement, and then offered her own appraisal at trial over the objection of John. She has now lost the right to object to the Chancellor's reliance on her appraisal at trial.