Opinion ID: 2068198
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Use of Marital Home.

Text: Steve also argues that the trial court abused its discretion when it awarded the use of the marital home to Paulette until the youngest child is emancipated. [2] The trial court's judgment and decree reads in part that [t]he parties (sic) real estate shall be held in an undivided interest one-half (½) to each party. [Paulette] shall be awarded the use of the real estate until the youngest child attains the age of eighteen years or graduates from high school whichever event occurs later, but in no event past the youngest child's nineteenth birthday. The house, with a fair market value of $70,000, represents the parties' major marital asset. [3] Where the welfare and best interests of the children require ... [the trial] court may assign the use and possession of the marital home to the custodial parent[.] Johnson v. Lowary, 81 S.D. 202, 206, 132 N.W.2d 823, 825 (1965). Paulette argues that it would be a major disruption to the children's lives to force them to move due to a sale of the home. We are not persuaded. The oldest child is emancipated. An affidavit in the record shows an intent on the part of the middle child to move out. There is little in the record to indicate that a move would be more disruptive to the youngest child than to any child. During the marriage of these parties, they purchased three marital homes. Their contributions to the purchase of the first home were approximately equal. A second home was acquired with assistance from Paulette's father in the form of $5,000 for the downpayment, $4,000 of which has apparently been repaid. These two homes were sold; the proceeds and $35,000 borrowed from a bank were used for the purchase of the home and small acreage here at issue. There was testimony that the bank mortgage on the marital home was paid off in a lump sum with money borrowed from Steve's mother. Both parties acknowledge the money was not a gift and Steve was making $400/month house payments to his mother until Steve became unemployed. Steve testified his father had drawn up some type of a repayment schedule to which Steve and Paulette agreed, although there was no formal promissory note between the Bells and Steve's mother. Steve further testified, and presented an exhibit at trial in support of his testimony, that he owed his mother in excess of $14,000 on that loan. Steve had also been making additional payments to his mother against other borrowed sums of money totaling in excess of $24,000. All payments stopped by December, 1990, after this divorce proceeding was commenced and Steve was no longer employed. Undisputed testimony shows a minimum of $14,000 is still owing to Steve's mother on the house loan. Paulette received substantial sums of money from Paulette's father in addition to the downpayment on the second home. The court noted in its memorandum opinion that it could not determine the amounts of the loans from Steve or Paulette's parents. Though this may be true, the court's subsequent finding that the debts of the parties were only $5,830 is clearly erroneous and must be set aside, Tate, 394 N.W.2d at 310, as the evidence clearly shows a substantial sum of money is still owed on the home. Although the trial court need not be perfect in its valuations, the findings of the court must at least be within the range of evidence before it. Moser v. Moser, 422 N.W.2d 594, 597 (S.D.1988). See also Cole v. Cole, 384 N.W.2d 312, 314 (S.D.1986); Goehry v. Goehry, 354 N.W.2d 192, 194 (S.D.1984). In light of the substantial under-evaluation of the parties' debt on the home, to allow Paulette free use of this home was an abuse of discretion. We therefore remand for a redetermination of marital assets and debts and their proper division. [4] If, after reconsideration, the trial court again determines that it is appropriate that Paulette have the use and occupancy of the home until the youngest child reaches majority, Steve would be entitled to have h[is] interest in the real property protected by suitable provisions ... requiring the payment of taxes, incumbrance, and the cost of upkeep and repair by [Paulette] during the period of its occupancy by [Paulette] and the minor children. Lowary, 81 S.D. at 206, 132 N.W.2d at 825. [5]