Opinion ID: 901900
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Russell's support

Text: [¶ 26.] Denice presented evidence and testimony at the hearings which would indicate that all of her living expenses have been met by Russell without any expectation of reimbursement. As the moving party, she failed to show why John should be required to pay greater alimony when her living expenses are, in reality, being voluntarily met by Russell. [¶ 27.] In the absence of any direct evidence of Russell's contributions, we find the greatest indicator of his support is the increase of Denice's net wealth, and, in particular, the manner by which she has increased her assets. At the modification hearing, Denice's net assets totaled $179,737, an increase of almost $57,000 since the divorce. [8] Her assets have increased, in large part, from her monthly investment in $500 certificates of deposit (CDs). These CDs were funded by the monthly $100 alimony payments from John, $262 received by her in payment on a contract for deed from a property in Council Bluffs, Iowa, that Denice received in the divorce settlement, and an additional $138 per month provided by Russell. [¶ 28.] The sources of this funding reflect several inconsistencies in Denice's financial claims. First, she has not used the alimony payments to support herself or to defer her living expenses. [9] Second, this circumstance and the evidence as a whole suggest that Russell has paid Denice's living expenses without the expectation of repayment or reimbursement. While in control of Denice's finances, Russell did not allocate the alimony or contract for deed monies to reimburse himself to defer living expenses. To the contrary, he provided additional financial support toward the purchase of these CDs. This history strengthens John's argument that Denice's financial position has been enhanced by cohabitation, precluding such a significant increase in alimony. [¶ 29.] Records indicate that Denice was the owner of the CDs as of December 31, 2007. Less than three weeks later, at the modification hearing on January 17, 2008, Denice claimed to have transferred the CDs to Russell as reimbursement for medical expenses paid by him. Only Denice's testimony was presented to explain or substantiate this transfer. [10] No evidence was presented to indicate which medical expenses Russell had paid. Even so, Finding of Fact § 20 provides, [Denice] has cashed in all but one of the CD's held solely in her name to reimburse Russell Dulany for part of the medical care costs he had paid. Under these circumstances, without reliable and persuasive proof, we cannot accept that this asset transfer is worthy of consideration. The moving party's actions must be scrutinized for any attempts to hide or minimize assets, increase their financial needs, etc. We believe that the trial court put no such burden on Denice to explain this eleventh hour transfer.