Court Opinion

ID: 1076113
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 20:17:41.258371+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:17:19.563322
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present: Judges Baker, Bray and Overton
Argued at Norfolk, Virginia

GLORIA ANN NORTHCRAFT DeWALD
                                          MEMORANDUM OPINION * BY
v.           Record No. 0388-97-1         JUDGE RICHARD S. BRAY
                                             FEBRUARY 3, 1998
ANDREW ALFRED DeWALD

         FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH
                       Frederick B. Lowe, Judge
            Henry M. Schwan for appellant.

            Moody E. Stallings, Jr. (Kevin E.
            Martingayle; Stallings & Richardson, P.C., on
            brief), for appellee.

     Gloria DeWald (wife) appeals a decree of the trial court

adjudicating the issues of spousal support and equitable

distribution, complaining that the court erroneously failed to

consider all factors specified by Code § 20-107.1 in fixing

support and denied wife a marital interest in the savings plan of

her husband, Andrew DeWald (husband).    Because we are unable to

fully determine the classification and valuation of relevant

property interests of the parties, we must reverse and remand for

further consideration by the trial court.
          There are three basic steps that a trial
          judge must follow in making an equitable
          distribution of property. "The court first
          must classify the property as either
          [separate, marital, or part separate and part
          marital property]. The court then must
          assign a value to the property based upon
          evidence presented by both parties. Finally,
     *
      Pursuant to Code § 17-116.010 this opinion is not
designated for publication.
           the court distributes the property to the
           parties, taking into consideration the
           factors presented in Code § 20-107.3(E)."

Alphin v. Alphin, 15 Va. App. 395, 403, 424 S.E.2d 572, 576

(1992) (citation omitted).    "The burden is always on the parties

to present sufficient evidence to provide the basis on which a

proper determination can be made and the trial court . . . must

have that evidence . . . before determining to grant or deny a

monetary award."   Hodges v. Hodges, 2 Va. App. 508, 517, 347

S.E.2d 134, 139 (1986).
     "In reviewing an equitable distribution award on appeal, we

recognize that the trial court's job is a difficult one.

Accordingly, we rely heavily on the discretion of the trial judge

in weighing the many considerations and circumstances that are

presented in each case."     Artis v. Artis, 4 Va. App. 132, 137,

354 S.E.2d 812, 815 (1987) (citing Rexrode v. Rexrode, 1 Va. App.

385, 394-95, 339 S.E.2d 544, 550 (1986)).    However, "[i]n making

an equitable distribution award, formulating the award must go

beyond mere guesswork.    There must be a proper foundation in the

record to support the granting of an award and the amount of the

award."   Stumbo v. Stumbo, 20 Va. App. 685, 693, 460 S.E.2d 591,

595 (1995) (citations omitted).

     Here, the commissioner's report fails to fully specify the

marital, separate and hybrid interests of the parties in all

properties in dispute, with attendant values, including

particulars of the savings plan and residence and related

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transmutation/tracing issues.   Indeed, the commissioner declared

it "impossible to determine what is the marital value of the

[savings] plan," funds from which enhanced the value of the home.

 Nevertheless, both the commissioner and the trial court

concluded that an equitable distribution award was appropriate,

disagreeing on the correct sum.   Under such circumstances, we are

unable to conduct a proper appellate review of the disputed award

and must reverse the decree and remand for further consideration

by the court, guided by Code § 20-107.3. 1

     Because factors pertinent to spousal support are related to

any equitable distribution award, we likewise reverse and remand

the decree of spousal support for adjudication in accordance with

Code § 20-107.1.   See Stumbo v. Stumbo, 20 Va. App. 685, 694, 460

S.E.2d 591, 595 (1995) (citation omitted).

                                         Reversed and remanded.

     1
      Our disposition does not presuppose that the present award
is erroneous but results only from our inability to conduct a
proper appellate review.

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