Court Opinion

ID: 2648120
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-01-03 19:07:49.338428+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:27:45.374828
License: Public Domain

Filed 1/3/14 Marriage of Caldwell CA4/2

                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

                    COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                  DIVISION ONE

                                           STATE OF CALIFORNIA

In re the Marriage of GINNY L.
CALDWELL and MICHAEL J.
CALDWELL.
                                                                 D060879
GINNY L. EDMUNDS,

         Appellant,                                              (Super. Ct. No. D537320)
                                                                 (Super. Ct. No. ED047912)
         v.

MICHAEL J. CALDWELL,

         Respondent.

         APPEAL from orders of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Evan P. Kirvin,

Judge. Affirmed.

         Ginny L. Edmunds, in pro. per; and Katherine Winn for Appellant.

         Stephen Temko for Respondent.
       Appellant Ginny L. Edmunds appeals from orders modifying her child support and

dividing omitted marital assets. Ginny1 contends the trial court erred in making the child

support award retroactive to 2010 instead of 2009, by imputing additional income to her,

and by not attributing additional income to her ex-husband, Michael Caldwell. She also

contends the court erred in dividing omitted assets by awarding Michael his business at

zero value and by concluding that Ginny failed to meet her burden with regard to a

residence and firearms. We affirm.

                  FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

       A. The Marriage and Dissolution

       Ginny and Michael married on July 14, 1990, and had four children together

during their marriage. The couple separated in January 2000, and Ginny filed a petition

for dissolution in April 2000. In May 2000 the trial court made pendente lite orders

directing Michael to pay Ginny $2,433 per month in child support and $575 per month in

spousal support. The couple reconciled the following month, but separated again—this

time permanently—in May 2003.

       In November 2003 Ginny and Michael executed a marital settlement agreement

(MSA) that divided their property and resolved custody and support issues.2 The MSA

1      We refer to the parties by their first names for convenience and clarity and intend
no disrespect. (In re Marriage of Smith (1990) 225 Cal. App. 3d 469, 475, fn. 1.)

2     The MSA is not in the record before us, but was the subject of a prior appeal in
which our unpublished decision quoted portions of the MSA. Our quotations herein from
the MSA are taken from the quoted passages as they appear in our earlier decision. (In re
Marriage of Caldwell (July 14, 2010, D055762).)
                                             2
states that the "parties . . . agree that there will be no payment of child support," and both

parties waived "any and all rights to spousal support." In December 2008, upon

Michael's motion, the court entered the MSA as a judgment nunc pro tunc to November

26, 2003 (the date of the last signature on the agreement). A few months later, Ginny

hired a new attorney who sought to set aside the judgment based on the MSA. The trial

court denied Ginny's challenge and we affirmed after Ginny appealed.

       B. Ginny's Order To Show Cause To Modify Child Support

       Ginny filed an order to show cause (OSC) on January 21, 2009, seeking to modify

child support. Before the court heard Ginny's OSC, the parties agreed that Michael

would pay $1,200 per month in child support. The court entered the stipulation as an

order in August 2009. About a month later, Michael filed his own OSC to modify child

support. Before the court heard Michael's OSC, the parties agreed that Michael's child

support payments would be reduced to $600 per month. The court entered that

stipulation as an order in September 2009.3

       The court set a mandatory settlement conference for December 8, 2010. Due to

the contentiousness of the case, however, the parties agreed to participate in a private

mediation instead.

3      The record does not contain Ginny's OSC, the August 2009 stipulation, the August
2009 order, Michael's OSC, the September 2009 stipulation, or the September 2009
order. The record does, however, contain declarations that refer to these documents. We
have based our recitation of facts on those declarations.

                                              3
          At a December 15, 2010 case management conference, the court—in light of the

upcoming private mediation and the intervening support awards entered in 2009—took

Michael and Ginny's 2009 OSC's off calendar. The court directed the parties to file a

new OSC if they wished to modify the existing support award. Ginny did so five days

later.4

          The parties conducted their private mediation in February 2011, during which they

reached certain interim agreements that the court later entered as an order. The terms of

the agreed-upon order included (1) continuing the hearing on Ginny's December 2010

OSC to no later than August 2011; (2) Michael paying $2,000 per month in child support

until the earliest of August 31, 2011, the hearing on Ginny's December 20 OSC, or the

agreement of the parties; (3) appointing an independent accountant, Chris Summers, to

prepare an analysis of both parties' incomes; and (4) "reserv[ing] jurisdiction to set future

child support awards effective retroactive to December 20, 2010, the date [Ginny] filed

her Order to Show Cause." The order expressly provided that "[e]ach party's claim to

request retroactivity to February, 2009 is preserved."

          Ginny's OSC was set to be heard on August 25, 2011. Three days before the

scheduled hearing, the court heard Michael's ex parte application seeking to (1) continue

the hearing date on the OSC, (2) extend the $2,000 per month support payments in the

interim, and (3) set December 20, 2010, as the date for retroactivity of the eventual

support award. The court continued the OSC hearing to January 6, 2012, and ordered

4      Ginny's December 20, 2010 OSC is not in the record, but declarations in the
record refer to it. Again, we base our recitation of facts on those declarations.
                                              4
Michael to continue paying $2,000 per month in child support until then. Regarding

retroactivity, the order stated that the court "shall be making child support orders

retroactive to December 20, 2010, the date of [Ginny's] motion to modify child support.

An earlier date for retroactivity may be argued for at the hearing on January 6, 2012."

(Italics added.)

       Accountant Summers provided a report on Michael's income. Summers concluded

Michael's income was derived from his employment at CSIdentity Corporation and his

sole proprietorship, MJC Enterprises (MJC). Summers concluded MJC had "required

operating expenses in excess of its revenues and does not make a profit." Accordingly,

Summers opined that Michael "should be attributed zero income from this business."

       Summers was unable to provide an analysis of Ginny's income because he was

"not provided with any financial records upon which to base the analysis." Michael

therefore hired accountant Robert Huntoon to prepare an analysis of Ginny's income,

including cash flow generated by businesses owned and operated by Ginny and her

family. Based on Summers's and Huntoon's reports, Michael argued in his response to

Ginny's OSC that Ginny's income available for support include $3,250 in W-2 income

and $5,890 in tax-free income provided in the form of personal expenses paid by the

family business.

       The court heard Ginny's OSC on January 6, 2012. The court received

declarations, heard live testimony from Ginny and Huntoon, and heard argument from

Ginny and from Michael's counsel. The court issued its findings and order after hearing

on January 9, 2012. The court determined that Ginny had gross monthly income from

                                              5
wages and salary of $2,200 and gross monthly nontaxable income of $5,890. The court

found that Michael had gross monthly income from wages and salary of $12,465. Based

on those findings, the court ordered Michael to pay child support of $2,009 per month

retroactive to December 21, 2010, and denied Ginny's request for need-based attorney

fees.

        Ginny filed a notice of appeal on March 2, 2012.

        C. Ginny's OSC To Divide Omitted Assets

        On July 19, 2011, Ginny filed an OSC seeking to divide omitted assets. Of the 12

categories of assets she contended were omitted, only three are at issue here: (1) equity

from a residence, (2) the value of firearms, and (3) "[a]ll of Michael's shares of [Ginny's

family-owned business] Ecobaby in exchange for all of [Ginny's] share of [MJC]."

        Michael and Ginny purchased a residence in August 2002 for approximately

$530,000. They borrowed a down payment of approximately $109,000 from Michael's

parents, subject to certain conditions. Title was held jointly by Ginny, Michael, and

Michael's parents. When Ginny and Michael separated permanently in May 2003, they

had not yet repaid Michael's parents or satisfied certain of the other conditions of that

loan. Consequently, in June 2003, Michael and Ginny transferred their interest in the

residence to Michael's parents by quitclaim deed.

        Ginny argued that the value of the residence had increased $100,000 between

August 2002 and June 2003 and that the resulting equity was an omitted asset. Michael

argued that the residence was not an omitted asset because he and Ginny had disposed of

                                              6
all their interest in it in June 2003—five months before the MSA and resulting nunc pro

tunc judgment.

        Ginny also identified as omitted assets "[n]umerous rifles of unknown value" and

a handgun, the value of which she "ha[d] no idea." Ginny estimated the value of the

rifles to be $9,000. Michael responded that there were about 10 50-year-old rifles worth

about $100 each, but added that he had given them away when "Ginny made an issue of

the rifles during the custody proceedings."

        Ginny and Michael agreed that MJC was an omitted asset, but disagreed on its

value.5 Ginny argued the company was profitable, while Michael argued it operated at a

loss.

        Michael filed a companion motion to adjudicate omitted debts. He requested that

the court order Ginny to reimburse him for half of the approximately $92,000 in debts

that were omitted from the 2003 MSA.

        The court heard the parties' OSC's on September 1, 2011, and issued its findings

and order after hearing on September 8. The court awarded MJC to Michael at zero

value, but otherwise found that neither party had met its burden with regard to

establishing omitted assets or debts.

        Ginny filed a notice of appeal on November 4, 2011; Michael has not appealed the

denial of his OSC.

5      Ginny's request for an exchange of ownership interests in MJC and Ecobaby is not
an issue on appeal. Therefore, we will only address the valuation of MJC.
                                              7
                                        DISCUSSION

                                      I. CHILD SUPPORT

       Ginny contends the trial court erred by (1) making the child support award

retroactive to December 2010 instead of January 2009; (2) imputing nontaxable income

of $5,890 per month to her; (3) failing to find that Michael had additional income beyond

his W-2 income from CSIdentity; and (4) denying her request for need-based attorney

fees. We disagree.

       A. Standard of Review

       We review a child support order for abuse of discretion and, in doing so,

determine whether substantial evidence supports the factual findings made in connection

with the order. (In re Marriage of Alter (2009) 171 Cal. App. 4th 718, 730.) In applying

the abuse of discretion standard, we do not substitute our judgment for that of the trial

court; we consider only whether any judge reasonably could have made the order. (Id. at

pp. 730-731.) The court must, however, follow established legal principles in exercising

its discretion, and we apply the independent or de novo standard of review in determining

whether it did so. (Id. at p. 731.)

       Under the substantial evidence standard of review, we review the entire record to

determine whether there is substantial evidence supporting the fact finder's factual

determinations (Bowers v. Bernards (1984) 150 Cal. App. 3d 870, 873-874), viewing the

evidence and resolving all evidentiary conflicts in favor of the prevailing party and

indulging all reasonable inferences to uphold the judgment (Jordan v. City of Santa

Barbara (1996) 46 Cal. App. 4th 1245, 1254-1255). The issue is not whether there is

                                             8
evidence in the record to support a different finding, but whether there is some evidence

that, if believed, would support the findings of the trier of fact. (Rupf v. Yan (2000) 85
Cal. App. 4th 411, 429, fn. 5.) Credibility is an issue of fact for the trier of fact to resolve

(Johnson v. Pratt & Whitney Canada, Inc. (1994) 28 Cal. App. 4th 613, 622), and the

testimony of a single witness, even a party, is sufficient to provide substantial evidence to

support a factual finding (In re Marriage of Mix (1975) 14 Cal. 3d 604, 614).

         B. Retroactivity of the Award

         Ginny contends the trial court erred when it did not make the child support award

retroactive to January 2009 because that was when she initially filed her OSC to modify

support.6 Michael contends Ginny forfeited this issue by failing to raise it at the January

2012 hearing, as instructed by the trial court. We agree that Ginny has forfeited this

issue.

         The court's February 2011 order following the parties' mediation provided that a

subsequent support award would be made retroactive to December 2010, but expressly

preserved "[e]ach party's claim to request retroactivity to February, 2009. . . ." Similarly,

at the August 22, 2011 ex parte hearing to continue the date of the OSC hearing, the court

advised the parties that it would be making any award retroactive to December 2010, but

that Ginny could argue for an earlier date: "You can argue that when we get to the

hearing. You can argue why it should go back even more." The court reiterated in its

6      Family Code section 3653, subdivision (a), provides that "[a]n order modifying or
terminating a support order may be made retroactive to the date of the filing of the notice
of motion or order to show cause to modify or terminate, or to any subsequent date . . . ."
All further section references are to the Family Code unless otherwise specified.
                                               9
order following that hearing that the court "shall be making child support orders

retroactive to December 20, 2010, the date of [Ginny's] motion to modify child support.

An earlier date for retroactivity may be argued for at the hearing on January 6, 2012."

(Italics added.) Thus, the court made clear the fact that it would only make the award

retroactive to 2009 if Ginny requested that relief at the January 6, 2012 hearing.

       Ginny testified and argued at the January 6, 2012 hearing, but never addressed

retroactivity. Even after Michael's counsel asserted during her closing argument that the

support award should be retroactive to December 2010, Ginny did not address

retroactivity in her rebuttal argument. Because Ginny did not request retroactivity to

January 2009 during the January 6, 2012 hearing, she has forfeited the issue on appeal.

(In re Marriage of Davenport (2011) 194 Cal. App. 4th 1507, 1528 ["Preliminarily, we

note that [appellant's] argument as to the Judicial Council form was not made below, and

thus is waived or forfeited."]; City of San Diego v. D.R. Horton San Diego Holding Co.,

Inc. (2005) 126 Cal. App. 4th 668, 685 ["Contentions or theories raised for the first time

on appeal are not entitled to consideration."]; Amato v. Mercury Casualty Co. (1993) 18
Cal. App. 4th 1784, 1794 ["It must appear from the record that the issue argued on appeal

was raised in the trial court. If not, the issue is waived."].)

       Even if we were to find that Ginny did not forfeit her right to argue retroactivity to

2009, we would nonetheless find the deficiencies in the record—particularly the absence

of Ginny's 2009 and 2010 OSC's and the two stipulations and orders modifying support

in 2009—so substantial as to preclude our meaningful review of the trial court's exercise

of its discretion. (E.g., In re Marriage of Lusby (1998) 64 Cal. App. 4th 459, 470 ["[I]t is

                                               10
the burden of the party challenging the order or judgment on appeal to provide an

adequate record to assess error. [Citation.] Where parties fail to do so, their claims must

be resolved against them."]; Estrada v. Ramirez (1999) 71 Cal. App. 4th 618, 620, fn. 1

["It is the burden of appellant to provide an accurate record on appeal to demonstrate

error. Failure to do so precludes an adequate review and results in affirmance of the trial

court's determination."]; Hernandez v. California Hospital Medical Center (2000) 78
Cal. App. 4th 498, 502 ["Failure to provide an adequate record on an issue requires that the

issue be resolved against plaintiff.].)

       On the record before us, we are unable to conclude that the trial court abused its

discretion in declining to make the child support award retroactive to January 2009.

       C. Imputing Income to Ginny

       Ginny's attacks on the trial court's imputation to her of $5,890 per month in

nontaxable income focus primarily on accountant Huntoon's analysis of Ecobaby's books

and records. Michael, on the other hand, contends the imputation is supported by

Huntoon's analysis and reasonable inferences drawn from Ecobaby's poor recordkeeping.

The record supports Michael's contentions.

       1. General principles governing child support awards

       "California has a strong public policy in favor of adequate child support." (In re

Marriage of Cheriton (2001) 92 Cal. App. 4th 269, 283.) "That policy is expressed in

statutes embodying the statewide uniform child support guideline." (Ibid., citing

§§ 4050-4076.) "The guideline seeks to place the interests of children as the state's top

priority." (§ 4053, subd. (e).) "In setting guideline support, the courts are required to

                                             11
adhere to certain principles, including these: 'A parent's first and principal obligation is

to support his or her minor children according to the parent's circumstances and station in

life.' " (Marriage of Cheriton, supra, 92 Cal.App.4th at p. 283, quoting § 4053, subd.

(a).) "Each parent should pay for the support of the children according to his or her

ability." (§ 4053, subd. (d).)

       "Section 4058 sets forth the manner by which a trial court is to ascertain a parent's

income for purposes of determining the guideline child support amount." (In re

Marriage of Sorge (2012) 202 Cal. App. 4th 626, 641.) This section provides as follows:

          "(a) The annual gross income of each parent means income from
          whatever source derived, except as specified in subdivision (c) and
          includes, but is not limited to, the following:

          "(1) Income such as commissions, salaries, royalties, wages,
          bonuses, rents, dividends, pensions, interest, trust income, annuities,
          workers' compensation benefits, unemployment insurance benefits,
          disability insurance benefits, social security benefits, and spousal
          support actually received from a person not a party to the proceeding
          to establish a child support order under this article.

          "(2) Income from the proprietorship of a business, such as gross
          receipts from the business reduced by expenditures required for the
          operation of the business.

          "(3) In the discretion of the court, employee benefits or self-
          employment benefits, taking into consideration the benefit to the
          employee, any corresponding reduction in living expenses, and other
          relevant facts.

          "(b) The court may, in its discretion, consider the earning capacity
          of a parent in lieu of the parent's income, consistent with the best
          interests of the children.

                                              12
          "(c) Annual gross income does not include any income derived from
          child support payments actually received, and income derived from
          any public assistance program, eligibility for which is based on a
          determination of need. Child support received by a party for
          children from another relationship shall not be included as part of
          that party's gross or net income." (§ 4058.)

       "In determining a parent's income for purposes of calculating guideline child

support, a trial court may choose to follow the guidance of subdivision (a) of section

4058, by utilizing the factors identified in subdivision (a)(1) through (3) to determine a

parent's actual income, or the court may, in its discretion, impute to that parent an income

different from his or her actual income—i.e., an income amount that corresponds with

that parent's earning capacity." (In re Marriage of Sorge, supra, 202 Cal.App.4th at p.

642.) "Thus, a trial court may ultimately calculate the guideline child support amount by

using, as the income factor in its support calculation, either (1) the parent's actual income,

as calculated under section 4058, subdivision (a) or (2) the parent's imputed income, as

authorized by section 4058, subdivision (b), if the court determines that imputing income

to the parent would be more appropriate and would better serve the child's best interests."

(In re Marriage of Sorge, at pp. 642-643.)

       2. Analysis

       Accountant Huntoon reviewed Ecobaby's books and records from 2006 to 2011.

He testified that he "had substantial data for 2006, '07, '08 and most of that in 2009, but

                                             13
2010 and '11 . . . was lacking." Based on his review of Ecobaby's and Ginny's records,7

Huntoon prepared a report and "Summary of Report Results."8

       Huntoon characterized Ecobaby's recordkeeping as "very sloppy accounting" that

failed to comply with the "generally accepted [accounting] principles" that "the major

accounting firms utilize in reporting." A "princip[al] problem" in Ecobaby's

recordkeeping was what Huntoon characterized as "a large incestuous movement of

cash." For example, Huntoon identified nearly $86,000 in ATM withdrawals between

2006 and 2010 and more than $312,000 in other withdrawals during those same years.

       Huntoon testified that his review of Ecobaby's records reflected that the company

made numerous payments of Ginny's personal expenses. For example, Ecobaby made

more than $90,000 in rent payments and more than $23,000 in car payments on Ginny's

behalf. Huntoon's review of Ginny's tax returns indicated that Ginny did not report those

payments to the Internal Revenue Service. The company also paid Ginny's personal

utility bills. Huntoon also reported that Ecobaby paid corporate credit card bills that

reflected personal use by Ginny, including charges incurred at a casino, a drug store, and

a grocery store.

       Although Ginny admitted that Ecobaby made some rent, auto, and utility

payments on her behalf, she nonetheless contends the court erred in imputing income to

7     We note that the most recent income and expense declaration in support of Ginny's
OSC to modify support did not attach the required documentation concerning Ginny's
income. According to Michael, Ginny "rarely provided" the required backup.

8     We grant Michael's request to augment the record to include Exhibits AA, BB, and
CC to Huntoon's report, which were before the trial court at the January 6, 2012 hearing.
                                             14
her at all or, in the alternative, in determining the amount to be imputed. We are

unpersuaded.

       Ginny's threshold challenge is that Huntoon's opinions do not support the trial

court's imputation of income to her at all because Huntoon "wasn't told to find income,"

he "was told to find the cash flow." We find this distinction immaterial under the

circumstances. Section 4058, subdivision (a)(3) expressly authorizes the trial court, in its

discretion, to include as income "employee benefits . . . , taking into consideration the

benefit to the employee, any corresponding reduction in living expenses, and other

relevant facts." (See also In re Marriage of Chakko (2004) 115 Cal. App. 4th 104, 107-

108 [husband's company paid $13,000 per month of personal expenses, including home

mortgage and car payments].) Moreover, despite the scope of his assignment, Huntoon

testified that corporate reimbursement of personal expenses "would probably be

considered salary." Thus, the trial court did not err in imputing income to Ginny based

on Ecobaby's payment of her personal expenses.

       Ginny argues next that the amount of income the court imputed to her is

unsupported in several ways. First, Ginny argues the $5,890—which is an average based

on years 2006 through 2009—is unsupported because Huntoon's own analysis showed

that the amounts of her personal expenses paid by Ecobaby in 2010 and 2011 declined

dramatically. This argument ignores the fact that Huntoon described Ecobaby's records

for 2010 and 2011 as "lacking." The trial court could also have properly inferred that

Ginny's income declined in 2010 and 2011 because she admittedly chose to spend less

                                             15
time working so she could "spend[] 60 hours a week on this" litigation.9 (§ 4058, subd.

(b) ["[t]he court may, in its discretion, consider the earning capacity of a parent in lieu of

the parent's income"]; In re Marriage of Sorge, supra, 202 Cal.App.4th at pp. 642-643.)

       Next, Ginny argues the court should not have imputed certain specific business

expenditures as income to her. For example, Ginny testified that ATM withdrawals

should not have been attributed to her because her mother made all of them to recover on

a loan she made to Ecobaby. The trial court was not required to accept Ginny's

explanation, particularly because Huntoon's analysis showed that the amount of ATM

withdrawals was twice the amount of the purported loan from Ginny's mother.

Moreover, Huntoon testified that the "loan" from Ginny's mother to Ecobaby could also

properly have been considered a capital contribution for which her mother did not expect

to be reimbursed. We will not second guess the trial court's credibility determinations.

(Johnson v. Pratt & Whitney Canada, Inc., supra, 28 Cal.App.4th at p. 622.)

       Ginny also quibbles over specific credit card charges she contends were for

business use and should not have been attributed to her. But it is not clear from the

record that the court imputed all credit card charges to Ginny. Rather, it is possible that

the court attributed only some of those charges to Ginny, but also attributed to her a

portion of the approximately $312,000 in "customer withdrawals in even amounts" from

Ecobaby's bank accounts that Huntoon identified. Given Ginny's lack of cooperation

with the court-appointed accountant, omission of financial backup from her income and

9      The trial court subsequently declared Ginny a vexatious litigant in March 2013.
                                              16
expense declarations, and Ecobaby's "very sloppy accounting," Ginny "is in no position

to complain that the trial court drew adverse inferences in modifying child support." (In

re Marriage of Calcaterra & Badakhsh (2005) 132 Cal. App. 4th 28, 38 [basing income on

statement in loan application that contradicted income tax return]; (In re Marriage of

Chakko, supra, 115 Cal. App. 4th 104 at p. 109 ["A spouse who is the owner of a

successful business and who has control of his or her income can structure income and

the payment of expenses to depress income. This is not fair if it inures to the detriment of

children. Here, the trial court drew the inference that Father's structuring of income and

expenses was an attempt to minimize child support obligations."].)

       D. Attributing Income to Michael

       Ginny contends "[t]here was sufficient evidence to support [her] claim that

Michael had income above and beyond that which he was paid on a W2 by CSIdentity."

This misstates our standard of review: "'So long as there is "substantial evidence," the

appellate court must affirm . . . even if the reviewing justices personally would have ruled

differently had they presided over the proceedings below, and even if other substantial

evidence would have supported a different result.'" (Rupf v. Yan, supra, 85 Cal.App.4th

at p. 429, fn. 5.) Under this properly articulated standard, we conclude Ginny's attacks on

the sufficiency of the evidence are without merit.

       For example, Ginny's assertion that Michael's Judicial Council form income and

expense declaration filed on December 23, 2011, did not disclose a 2 percent partnership

interest in Internet Megameeting ignores the fact that Michael's contemporaneous

narrative declaration did disclose it. Importantly, accountant Summers was aware of this

                                             17
partnership interest because his report references it.10 The narrative also explained that

Michael "ha[s] never actually worked for Internet Megameeting" or "received standard

income such as wages or bonuses or income for contract work." Michael further

explained that although he may have received K-1 forms documenting checks written to

cover his tax liabilities arising from his partnership interest in Internet Megameeting, he

never actually received the funds listed on the K-1's.

       We also reject Ginny's claim that "payments made by MJC Enterprises for

Michael's personal benefit should have been imputed as income to him." Summers's

report directly addressed those benefits and MJC's other operating expenses and

concluded that Michael "should be attributed zero income from this business."

       Ginny also takes issue with Summers's conclusion that Michael did not exercise

any of the stock options he was granted in CSIdentity.11 She argues Summers's

conclusion is wrong because the underlying premise—Summers's belief (as paraphrased

by Ginny) "that the stock options . . . had not yet vested"—is also

10     Although Summers's report references an interest in "Internet Mega Marketing,
LLC," our review of the record suggests this was a typographical error and that Summers
intended to refer to Internet Megameeting.

11    Ginny cites no evidence in the record to establish that Michael actually exercised
any options; she only challenges Summers's conclusion to the contrary.

                                             18
wrong.12 But the record does not support this argument. Summers did not state that

Michael's options "had not yet vested," he stated that they "were not fully vested." (Italics

added.) We are unable to determine from the record whether this is a material distinction

and, therefore, resolve the issue in favor of the court's order. (Hernandez v. California

Hospital Medical Center, supra, 78 Cal.App.4th at p. 502 ["Failure to provide an

adequate record on an issue requires that the issue be resolved against plaintiff."].)13

         E. Attorney Fees

         Ginny contends the court's errors in determining the parties' income mandate

reversal of its decision denying Ginny's request for need-based attorney fees. Because

we have concluded the court did not err in determining the parties' income, we likewise

conclude the court did not err in denying Ginny's request for attorney fees.

                                    II. OMITTED ASSETS

         Ginny contends the trial court abused its discretion by (1) failing to find the equity

from the residence was an omitted asset, (2) failing to find the value of the rifles was an

omitted asset, and (3) awarding MJC to Michael at zero value. None of these claims has

merit.

12     Ginny argues Summers was wrong because she claims 12,500 options vested in
January 2011. We are unable to evaluate that claim, however, because it is based on an
exhibit purportedly lodged with the trial court but which is not in the appellate record.

13    Ginny's additional challenges to the court's determination are similarly
unsupported by the record and we reject them on that basis.
                                               19
       A.      Summary of Applicable Legal Principles

       Section 2556, which governs the disposition of omitted marital assets, provides:

            "In a proceeding for dissolution of marriage, for nullity of marriage,
            or for legal separation of the parties, the court has continuing
            jurisdiction to award community estate assets or community estate
            liabilities to the parties that have not been previously adjudicated by
            a judgment in the proceeding. A party may file a postjudgment
            motion or order to show cause in the proceeding in order to obtain
            adjudication of any community estate asset or liability omitted or not
            adjudicated by the judgment. In these cases, the court shall equally
            divide the omitted or unadjudicated community estate asset or
            liability, unless the court finds upon good cause shown that the
            interests of justice require an unequal division of the asset or
            liability."

       "[T]he family court's power under section 2556 is limited to assets which have not

been previously adjudicated. The family court's power is also limited to community

property and community liabilities; the statute gives the court no power to make an award

with respect to a party's separate property or separate liabilities." (In re Marriage of

Hixson (2003) 111 Cal. App. 4th 1116, 1123.)

       "On appeal we review a ruling dividing property under the abuse of discretion

standard." (In re Marriage of Quay (1993) 18 Cal. App. 4th 961, 966.) "Factual findings

are upheld if supported by substantial evidence." (Ibid.)

       B. The Residence and Rifles

       Ginny contends the equity from the residence and the value of rifles were omitted

assets because the "judgment in this case was based upon [the November 2003 MSA],"

which "did not address the Residence or the antique rifles." Michael contends neither

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were omitted assets because they were disposed of prior to the MSA and judgment. We

conclude the trial court did not err in finding that Ginny had not met her burden.

       It is undisputed that Ginny and Michael transferred their interest in the residence

to Michael's parents by quitclaim deed in June 2003—five months before the effective

date of the MSA and resulting judgment. "It is well recognized that a quitclaim deed is a

distinct form of conveyance and operates like any other deed inasmuch as it passes

whatever title or interest the grantor has in the property." (In re Marriage of Broderick

(1989) 209 Cal. App. 3d 489, 496; see also City of Manhattan Beach v. Superior Court

(1996) 13 Cal. 4th 232, 239 [" 'A quitclaim deed transfers whatever present right or

interest the grantor has in the property.' "], quoting Westlake v. Silva (1942) 49
Cal. App. 2d 476, 478.].) Thus, substantial, undisputed evidence established that the

residence was no longer a marital asset at the time of the judgment.

       Additionally, Michael stated in a declaration that "[w]hen Ginny made an issue of

the rifles during the custody proceedings, [he] gave the rifles away." Custody was at

issue as early as May 2000, when Michael sought primary custody. There is no other

evidence in the record regarding when the rifles were acquired or disposed of, and the

parties did not discuss the rifles during the hearing on Ginny's OSC. Thus, the trial court

could reasonably have inferred that Michael disposed of the rifles as early as 2000 such

that they were no longer marital assets at the time of the 2003 judgment.

       C. Valuation of MJC Enterprises

       Ginny contends that although the trial court properly found MJC to be an omitted

asset, the court erred in awarding it to Michael at zero value. We are not persuaded.

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       To begin with, Ginny admits that "on paper the business was showing a loss" for

2003 and further concedes she offered no evidence of valuation to the trial court.14

       By contrast, Michael submitted a declaration explaining the profitability and value

of MJC as follows:

          "[MJC] is my internet provider business. I am the only employee.
          At the time Ginny and I signed the MSA, the business was operating
          at a loss. . . . [¶] . . . The revenue for MJC dropped when I stopped
          consulting and began working for CSIdentity. [¶] . . . [¶] . . . I am
          requesting that MJC Enterprises be awarded to me at zero value."

       Additionally, in 2011, accountant Summers observed that MJC "reported

significant tax losses in each of the latest three calendar years" and has "required

operating expenses in excess of its revenues and does not make a profit." Although we

examine valuation of an omitted asset at the time of judgment, Summers's conclusions in

2011 are at least consistent with the court's determination of MJC's value in 2003.

       On this record, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion in

concluding that Ginny failed to meet her burden regarding the valuation of MJC.

14     Perhaps Ginny presented no evidence of MJC's valuation because the remedy she
sought from the trial court was "for Michael to retain ownership of MJC Enterprises and
[Ginny] to retain ownership of Ecobaby." Ginny claimed Ecobaby "overall has not made
a profit." If Ginny was proposing an even exchange of interests, the court could
reasonably have inferred that MJC also "has not made a profit."
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                                   DISPOSITION

     The orders are affirmed. Appellant to pay costs on appeal.

                                                                  NARES, J.

WE CONCUR:

McCONNELL, P. J.

AARON, J.

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