Court Opinion

ID: 1042908
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-02 16:47:59.114703+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:22:23.477307
License: Public Domain

Cite as 2013 Ark. App. 543

                 ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
                                        DIVISION I
                                      No. CV-12-1112

                                                  Opinion Delivered   October 2, 2013
SHANNA BAKER
                                APPELLANT         APPEAL FROM THE WHITE
                                                  COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
V.                                                [NO. DR-2010-277-3]

MATTHEW A. BAKER                                  HONORABLE CRAIG HANNAH,
                                 APPELLEE         JUDGE

                                                  AFFIRMED

                              BILL H. WALMSLEY, Judge

       Appellant Shanna Baker and appellee Matthew Baker married in 2005 and had one

son, K.B. (DOB: 7-23-2008). The parties separated in 2010, and Shanna filed for divorce.

Shanna appeals from the White County Circuit Court’s divorce decree, arguing that the trial

court erred in its distribution of property and allocation of debt and in awarding custody of

their son to Matt. We affirm.

       In its August 28, 2012 order, the trial court awarded five acres upon which the marital

home sat to Matt because the land had been given to him as a gift from his parents prior to

marriage. The trial court also awarded Matt the marital home given that a sale was impractical,

considering that the house was located only a few feet from Matt’s parents’ property and the

septic system was on his parents’ property. Because marital funds were used to pay the

principal of the mortgage in the amount of $4,084.43, Matt was ordered to pay Shanna

$2,042.22.
                                 Cite as 2013 Ark. App. 543

       The trial court divided several items of personal property, including a 1905 gold coin

that once belonged to Shanna’s great-grandmother. The trial court determined that the coin

was marital property.

       The trial court found that the parties had $22,672.37 in outstanding marital debt for

which they should be equally liable. While the divorce was pending, Matt made payments on

the parties’ credit cards, and the trial court ordered Shanna to reimburse him for one-half of

the payments made or $9,001.46. Offsetting an overpayment of child support by Matt ($860),

which Shanna was ordered to repay, and Matt’s obligation to pay Shanna one-half of the

mortgage principal ($2,042.22), Shanna was ordered to pay Matt $7,819.24

($9,001.46–$1,182.22) at 6% interest.

       The trial court ruled that Rose Bud Heating and Cooling was Matt’s separate property

and that he was responsible for $10,000 in business-related expenses owed on a Citibank

credit card.

       In awarding custody of K.B. to Matt, the trial court determined that Shanna and her

witnesses were less credible than Matt and his witnesses and that Matt would provide more

stability for the child.

                                     I. Marital Property

       Matt testified that, when he was a teenager, his parents promised to give him a five-

acre tract of land and that they deeded the property to him on the day before the parties’

wedding. According to Matt, the marital home had been appraised at $96,565. There was

evidence that the mortgage balance was $96,511.54.

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       Shanna argues that Matt “regifted” the five acres to the marital estate when he told her

as his new bride that they now had land upon which to build their home. Shanna also contends

that title to the five acres became clouded due to the fact that the mortgage on the house that

they built on the land was in both of their names. According to Shanna, this commingling

created a presumption that Matt intended to make the five acres a gift to the marital estate.

       Shanna also complains that she was awarded only $2,042.22, while Matt received 100%

of the marital home. According to Shanna, the house was clearly marital property and, since

the house alone appraised at $96,565, she should have been awarded one-half, or $48,282.50.

Shanna further contends that the trial court should have valued the reduction in principal at

the time of the divorce, instead of the separation, because Matt was essentially awarded a

credit for marital funds he used to pay down the debt.

       All marital property shall be distributed one-half to each party unless the court finds

such a division to be inequitable. Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-315(a)(1)(A) (Supp. 2011). Arkansas

Code Annotated section 9-12-315 defines “marital property” as all property acquired by

either spouse subsequent to the marriage, subject to certain exceptions, including property

acquired prior to marriage or by gift. Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-315(b)(1). There is a

presumption that all property acquired during a marriage is marital property. McKay v. McKay,

340 Ark. 171, 8 S.W.3d 525 (2000). Once property, whether real or personal, is placed in the

names of both spouses without specifying the manner in which they take, there is a

presumption that they own the property as tenants by the entirety, and clear and convincing

evidence is required to overcome that presumption. Cole v. Cole, 53 Ark. App. 140, 920

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S.W.2d 32 (1996). A trial court’s findings of fact with respect to division of property will be

affirmed unless clearly erroneous or clearly against the preponderance of the evidence. Barnes

v. Barnes, 2010 Ark. App. 821, 378 S.W.3d 766. A finding is clearly erroneous when the

reviewing court, on the entire evidence, is left with the definite and firm conviction that a

mistake has been made. Id.

       We disagree with Shanna’s argument that Matt’s use of plural pronouns resulted in his

making a gift of the five acres to her or the marital estate. The property was given to Matt as

a gift prior to marriage, so it was not marital property and, in any event, it would have

qualified as an exception. In reviewing the trial court’s findings, this court gives due deference

to the trial court’s superior position to determine the credibility of witnesses and the weight

to be accorded to each witness’s testimony. Barnes, supra. The trial court clearly believed the

testimony of Matt and his parents with regard to the five acres. Furthermore, Shanna’s name

was not put on the deed, which is further proof that Matt never intended to give the acreage

to Shanna or the marital estate. The trial court did not clearly err in awarding the five acres

to Matt as his separate property.

       With regard to the marital home, Shanna’s claim that she should be awarded one-half

its value is unreasonable given that only approximately $4,000 had been paid on the

mortgage.1 We cannot say that the trial court clearly erred in awarding Matt the marital home,

       1
         We note that there was no specific directive in the trial court’s order that Matt
refinance the mortgage debt in his name only and hold Shanna harmless. We believe this
omission was inadvertent. In his brief on appeal, Matt asserts that Shanna has been relieved
of any responsibility for the debt through his refinancing. If that is not the case, we urge the
trial court to clarify the matter because Shanna should not be obligated to repay the mortgage

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                                   Cite as 2013 Ark. App. 543

along with its debt, considering the trial court’s reasons set forth in the order.2 Shanna also

argues for the first time on appeal that the trial court should have valued the reduction in

principal at the time of the divorce, and not the parties’ separation. It is incumbent upon the

parties to raise arguments initially to the trial court and to give that court an opportunity to

consider them. Roberts v. Yang, 2010 Ark. 55, 370 S.W.3d 170 (holding that appellant failed

to preserve argument that trial court erred by not valuing and dividing accounts at time of

divorce decree). Because Shanna’s argument was not preserved below, we do not address it.

       As for the gold coin, Shanna maintains that the evidence does not support the trial

court’s finding that it was marital property. According to Shanna, Matt’s testimony concerning

how the parties acquired the coin was “contradictory and not believable.” Matters of

credibility are for the trial court to determine. Barnes, supra. Testimony regarding the coin was

conflicting, and the trial court obviously believed Matt’s testimony. We hold that there was

no clear error in the trial court’s decision.

                                        II. Marital Debt

       Although the division of marital debt is not addressed in Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-315,

the trial court has authority to consider the allocation of debt in a divorce case. Williams v.

Williams, 82 Ark. App. 294, 108 S.W.3d 629 (2003). In fact, we have stated that an allocation

of the parties’ debt is an essential item to be resolved in a divorce dispute and that it must be

on the marital home awarded to Matt.
       2
        The trial court must state its basis and reasons for not dividing the marital property
equally between the parties, and the basis and reasons should be recited in the order entered
in the matter. Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-315(a)(1)(B).

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considered in the context of the distribution of all of the parties’ property. Id. Section 9-12-

315 does not apply to the division of marital debts; hence, in Arkansas, there is no

presumption that an equal division of debts must occur. Id. A judge’s decision to allocate debt

to a particular party or in a particular manner is a question of fact and will not be reversed on

appeal unless clearly erroneous. Id.

       Shanna argues that the trial court essentially ordered her to pay approximately ninety

percent of the marital debt in that the trial court ordered her to pay $11,336.19 (half of

$22,672.37) and $9,001.46 (half of what Matt paid on credit cards), totaling $20,337.65.

       The trial court determined that the parties’ outstanding debt at the time of the hearing

was $22,672.37, not including the minimum payments Matt had made over the course of the

parties’ twenty-six months’ separation, totaling $18,002.92. Thus, although an equal division

was not required, Shanna is liable for approximately one-half of the marital debt. We cannot

say that the trial court clearly erred in its allocation.

       Next, Shanna contends that she was required to repay part of Matt’s business debt

because the trial court refused to admit detailed credit-card statements into evidence, which

would have showed individual purchases for Matt’s heating-and-air business.

       Because Shanna failed to provide the statements in discovery, the trial court ruled that

they would not be admitted at trial, which is a permissible sanction for a discovery violation

pursuant to Arkansas Rule of Civil Procedure 37. The imposition of sanctions for the failure

to make discovery rests in the trial court’s discretion. Matthews v. Matthews, 2009 Ark. App.

400, 322 S.W.3d 15. Because Shanna did not provide the statements in advance of the

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hearing, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion.

       We further note that Shanna did not proffer the credit-card statements that she sought

to have admitted. The failure to proffer evidence so we can see if prejudice results from its

exclusion precludes review of the evidence on appeal. Jones v. Runsick, 2013 Ark. App. 356.

In any event, in a posttrial brief, Shanna put before the trial judge a summary of debt from

various credit cards that she claimed was related to Matt’s business. Because Shanna provided

the contents of the credit-card statements for the trial court’s consideration, she essentially

received the relief she requested and cannot now complain on appeal. Wilson v. Fullerton, 332

Ark. 111, 964 S.W.2d 208 (1998). We hold that there was no clear error in the trial court’s

allocation of credit-card debt.

       Shanna also argues that the trial court erred in not allocating her debt, specifically, her

student loans acquired during marriage and her credit-card debt of between $7,400 and

$8,400, which she incurred in purchasing marital property.

       Although Shanna mentioned having a student loan and gave an estimate of what she

thought she owed in credit-card debt, she did not introduce any evidence of these debts. In

Shanna’s brief, she asserts that the trial court “was silent” with regard to allocation of her debt.

This court will not consider arguments on appeal when the party has failed to obtain a ruling

from the trial court. Thompson v. Thompson, 2012 Ark. App. 296. It was Shanna’s burden to

bring up a record sufficient to demonstrate that the trial court erred. McCormick v. McCormick,

2012 Ark. App. 318, ___ S.W.3d ___. We cannot say that the trial court clearly erred when

the trial court was not presented with any evidence of the debts.

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                                      III. Child Custody

       With regard to custody, the primary consideration is the welfare and best interest of

the children involved; all other considerations are secondary. Bamburg v. Bamburg, 2011 Ark.

App. 546, 386 S.W.3d 31. The factors a trial court may consider in determining what is in

the best interest of the child include the psychological relationship between the parents and

the child, the need for stability and continuity in the relationship between parents and the

child, the past conduct of the parents toward the child, and the reasonable preference of the

child. Id. On appeal, we conduct a de novo review, but we will not reverse unless the findings

are clearly erroneous. Id. This necessarily turns in large part on credibility determinations, and

we give special deference to the superior position of the trial judge to evaluate the witnesses,

their testimony, and the child’s best interest. Id. There are no cases in which the superior

position, ability, and opportunity of the trial judge to observe the parties carry as great a

weight as those involving children. Id.

       Shanna was asked about her relationships with three men, and she denied dating or

living with any of them. Two private investigators hired by Matt contradicted her testimony.

In addition, Shanna’s former coworker testified that Shanna referred to one of the men as her

live-in boyfriend. Shanna testified that she was aware that one of her male companions had

been in prison for drugs. Also, Shanna conceded that several members of her family and

friends were felons with drug-related convictions.

       Matt testified that he and Shanna had abused various drugs together in the past and

that, while he had gotten “clean,” Shanna had not. Shanna denied having a drug problem.

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                                  Cite as 2013 Ark. App. 543

Matt testified that he regularly attended Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings and was an

officer of NA. According to Matt, Shanna attended NA meetings and introduced herself as

an addict. Shanna, however, insisted that she went to NA meetings only to support Matt.

Later, Shanna admitted that she was also an officer of NA, and she was confronted with a

sign-in sheet on which she had written “one year, two weeks” under a section entitled “Clean

Time.”

       The attorney ad litem stated that she was concerned about Shanna’s truthfulness. On

the other hand, she was “comforted” by the involvement of Matt’s parents in caring for K.B.

       On appeal, Shanna argues that the trial court failed to consider that she was K.B.’s

primary caregiver since birth. She further contends that, given both parties’ history, it was “a

wash” as to which parent was better suited to have custody of K.B.

       The trial court made credibility determinations that were not favorable to Shanna.

There was evidence that Shanna lived with various men. Unmarried cohabitation with a

romantic partner, or a parent’s promiscuous conduct or lifestyle, in the presence of a child

cannot be abided. Bamburg, supra. Moreover, it was apparent that Shanna surrounded herself

and, more importantly, K.B., with convicted felons. In addition, Shanna was in denial with

regard to her drug addiction. The trial court determined that Matt could provide more

stability for K.B., especially considering that he had the support of his parents. There is no

indication that the trial court failed to take any relevant factors into consideration. We cannot

say that the trial court clearly erred in awarding custody to Matt.

       Affirmed.

       PITTMAN and VAUGHT, JJ., agree.

       Quincy W. McKinney, for appellant.
       Robert Hudgins, for appellee.

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