Court Opinion

ID: 4109603
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-12-21 17:08:38.260667+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:37:15.531310
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

                                      No. 15-2145
                               Filed December 21, 2016

IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF DIANE K. BJORNSTAD
AND EDWARD W. BJORNSTAD

Upon the Petition of
DIANE K. BJORNSTAD n/k/a HEGGESTAD,
      Petitioner-Appellee,

And Concerning
EDWARD W. BJORNSTAD,
     Respondent-Appellant.
________________________________________________________________

       Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Dickinson County, John D. Ackerman,

Judge.

       The husband appeals from the district court’s interpretation of the parties’

dissolution decree. AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART, AND REMANDED.

       Gina C. Badding of Neu, Minnich, Comito, Halbur, Neu & Badding, P.C., Carroll,

for appellant.

       Timothy J. Kramer of Kramer Law Firm, P.L.C., Sioux Center, for appellee.

       Considered by Potterfield, P.J., and Mullins and McDonald, JJ.
                                              2

MCDONALD, Judge.

       Edward Bjornstad appeals from the district court’s interpretation of the decree

dissolving his marriage to Diane Bjornstad n/k/a Heggestad. Bjornstad maintains the

district court wrongly concluded that his ongoing obligation to pay the mortgages on the

family residence, in which Heggestad was residing, was part of the property settlement

rather than spousal support. In the alternative, he maintains even if the payments are

part of the property settlement, the district court’s conclusion he is required to satisfy the

mortgage obligations in full from his own proceeds when Heggestad sells the home is

inequitable.

                                              I.

       In April 2011, Heggestad filed a petition for dissolution.        At the time of the

petition, the parties had been married almost thirty years and had no minor children. In

December, the parties filed a stipulation and property settlement with the court. Under

paragraph 6, entitled “alimony,” the parties stipulated, “Edward shall pay to Diane the

sum of $1,000.00 per month until Diane dies or remarries or turns age 66, whichever

occurs first, at which time alimony shall cease.”          The alimony was to begin on

December 1, 2011. Under paragraph 7, entitled “division of property and debts,” the

parties stipulated that Heggestad would be awarded the marital residence. Paragraph 7

further provided:

       In lieu of additional alimony, Edward shall be responsible for the first and
       second mortgage payment for the family residence, including real estate
       taxes and insurance. Edward shall hold harmless and indemnify Diane for
       any expenses related to the first and second mortgage, taxes and
       insurance. Edward shall be entitled to the interest deduction for mortgage
       payments made. This shall be considered support and shall be non-
       dischargeable in bankruptcy.
                                              3

The district court adopted the stipulation into the decree: “It is further ordered that the

Stipulation of Settlement filed herein and executed by the parties and their attorneys is

incorporated as if fully set forth herein.”

       In 2014, Heggestad filed a petition for declaratory judgment. She asked the court

to declare and confirm Bjornstad’s “obligation to make the first and second mortgage

payments does not terminate at the time his alimony obligation expires” and “to pay the

first and second mortgage in full from his own resources and not from the real estate

proceeds should [she] sell the Okoboji real estate prior to loan maturity.” She also

requested interpretation of other provisions of the decree not involved in this appeal.

The court treated Heggestad’s petition as a motion requesting the court to construe the

terms of the decree. The court concluded:

               [T]he payments [for the mortgages, taxes, and insurance] are part
       of the property settlement and are not alimony payments.
               Therefore, in the event that Diane chooses to sell the marital home,
       [Bjornstad] would be responsible for paying off the first and second
       mortgages if the lender, at its option, exercises its right to declare the
       unpaid balance due and payable. [Bjornstad] could obtain alternative
       financing arrangements with a new lender or make arrangements with the
       current lender to continue the payments as under the mortgage and notes.
       In either event, none of the sale proceeds would have to be used to satisfy
       the first and second mortgages.

                                              II.

       We review the district court’s interpretation of the marital decree de novo. See In

re Marriage of Brown, 776 N.W.2d 644, 647 (Iowa 2009).

                                              A.

       “A stipulation and settlement in a dissolution proceeding is a contract between

the parties.” In re Marriage of Jones, 653 N.W.2d 589, 593 (Iowa 2002). However, the

parties’ stipulation is not binding on the court. See id. “[T]he court has the responsibility
                                              4

to determine ‘whether the provisions upon which the parties have agreed constitute an

appropriate and legally approved method of disposing of the contested issues.’” Id.

(citations omitted).   Consequently, once the court enters a decree adopting the

stipulation, “[t]he decree, not the stipulation, determines what rights the parties have.

Therefore, in ascertaining the rights of the parties after final judgment, it is the intent of

the district court that is relevant, not the intent of the parties.” Id. at 594 (citations

omitted).

       We interpret and construe the terms of a dissolution decree “like any other

written instrument.” In re Marriage of Lawson, 409 N.W.2d 181, 182 (Iowa 1987).

       “The decree should be construed in accordance with its evident intention.
       Indeed the determinative factor is the intention of the court as gathered
       from all parts of the decree. Effect is to be given to that which is clearly
       implied as well as to that which is expressed.” Of course, in determining
       this intent, we take the decree by its four corners and try to ascertain from
       it the intent as disclosed by the various provisions of the decree.

In re Roberts’ Estate, 131 N.W.2d 458, 461 (Iowa 1964) (citations omitted).

                                         B.
       We first address whether the decretal provision requiring Bjornstad to make the

payments on the first and second mortgages against the family residence should be

considered alimony or part of the property division. We conclude the evident intention

of the decree, as determined from the text thereof, was to treat the mortgage obligations

as part of the property settlement and not alimony.

       We first look to the structure of the decree. See Passamano v. Passamano, 634

A.2d 891, 895 (Conn. 1993) (stating when characterizing a dissolution order “an

analysis of the structure of the dissolution decree is highly instructive”); Howard v.

Moore, 580 N.E.2d 999, 1003–04 (Ind. Ct. App. 1991) (stating the “structure of the
                                            5

terms of the final decree” is used in determining “whether an obligation stemming from a

divorce decree is in the nature of alimony, support or maintenance, or whether it is in

fact a property settlement”); In re Marriage of Kimm, No. 14-2149, 2015 WL 5579914, at

*3 (Iowa Ct. App. Sept. 23, 2015) (“When interpreting the language of the decree, we

look not to the intent of the parties when entering the stipulation; we look to the

document as it expresses the intent of the court.”). Paragraph 6 of the decree is entitled

“alimony.”   The mortgage payment provision is contained in paragraph 7, entitled

“division of debt and property.” The subject matter of paragraph 6 is alimony, and the

subject matter of paragraph 7 is the property division.       The intentional division of

Bjornstad’s payment obligations into these separate-subject-matter paragraphs

demonstrates the payment obligations were to be different in kind. See Passamano,

634 A.2d at 92 (finding the organization of the decree to be important in interpreting the

document and concluding obligation to pay mortgage on the family home was part of

the property settlement because the obligation was set forth in a paragraph related to

property settlement). It is of no consequence the payments were to be made on a

periodic basis. See Farrand v. Farrand, 67 N.W.2d 20, 23 (Iowa 1954) (holding periodic

payments were property settlement and not alimony).

      Second, the specific terms used demonstrate the mortgage-payment obligation

was not intended to be alimony. In paragraph 6, the decretal court specifically used the

term “alimony” to identify Bjornstad’s payment obligation. In contrast, the district court

denominated the mortgage obligation “support.” We must assume the decretal court

intended different meanings when it used different terms to identify the different

payment obligations. Cf. Miller v. Marshall County, 641 N.W.2d 742, 749 (Iowa 2002)
                                             6

(“We assume the legislature intends different meanings when it uses different terms in

different portions of a statute.”).

       Third, and related, interpreting the mortgage payments to be additional alimony

fails to give force and effect to every word of the decree. See Marriage of Brown, 776

N.W.2d at 650 (“In construing a dissolution decree, we give force and effect to every

word, if possible, in order to give the decree a consistent, effective and reasonable

meaning in its entirety.”) (citing Lawson, 409 N.W.2d at 182–83). Here, the decree

provides Bjornstad shall be responsible for the mortgages “[i]n lieu of additional

alimony.” “‘In lieu of’ means ‘in the place of’ or ‘instead of.’” Conroy v. Keith Cty. Bd. of

Equalization, 846 N.W.2d 634, 641 (Neb. 2014) (quoting Webster's Third New

International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged 1306 (1993)). The plain

meaning of “in lieu of” is mutually exclusionary. First Alex Bancshares, Inc. v. United

States, 830 F. Supp. 581, 585 (W.D. Okla. 1993). To hold the mortgage payment

obligation is additional alimony “instead of” alimony reads the phrase “in lieu of” out of

the decree.

       Fourth, the mortgage payment obligation does not possess the hallmarks of an

alimony award.       The district court specifically limited the tax deductibility of the

mortgage payment obligation to only the interest paid versus the entire amount paid. If

the obligation were alimony, the entirety of the payment would be tax deductible. See In

re Marriage of Murray, 213 N.W.2d 657, 660 (Iowa 1973). Further, the decretal court

did not provide an explicit discharge date for the mortgage payment obligation but did

provide explicit discharge dates for the alimony award. See In re Marriage of Von Glan,
                                            7

525 N.W.2d 427, 430 (Iowa Ct. App. 1994) (“We believe the fact that payments are

terminable upon a spouse’s death buttresses a conclusion the payments are alimony.”).

       The decree “means what it says,” and the payment obligations set forth in the

paragraph relating to the property division must be interpreted and construed to be part

of the property division. Id.; see, e.g., Tilley v. Jessee, 789 F.2d 1074, 1077–78 (4th

Cir. 1986) (“In this instance, the agreement did more than simply label payments as

alimony or property settlement. It exhibited a structured drafting that purported to deal

with separate issues in totally distinct segments of the document. Indeed . . . if this

agreement does not reveal an intent to separate alimony from a property settlement, it

is virtually impossible to envision a written agreement that could do so.”); In re Lepley,

2007 WL 2669128, at *5 (Bankr. W.D. Mo. Sept. 6, 2007) (holding award was property

and not support where support and property division were in separate parts of decree);

In re Rice, 94 B.R. 617, 618 (Bankr. W.D. Mo. 1988) (holding payment obligation was

property settlement “because of the placement of that particular clause in the decree, as

well as considering the amount of marital property each party received,” and because

“the state court awarded specific spousal maintenance”). We affirm the district court on

this issue.

                                           C.

       We next address whether Heggestad or Bjornstad was required to satisfy the

loan obligations upon Heggestad’s sale of the family residence. The district court held

Heggestad was not required to satisfy the loan obligations from the sale proceeds but

instead Bjornstad was required to satisfy the loan obligations with his own funds. This

was error.
                                           8

      The plain language of the decree supports the conclusion Bjornstad was

responsible only for the monthly mortgage payment and not the entirety of the loan

balances upon sale. Paragraph 7 provides Bjornstad shall be responsible for the first

and second “mortgage payment.” Generally, the term “mortgage payment” refers to the

periodic payments called for by the terms of the notes and mortgages securing the

notes. See, e.g., Conn. Gen. Stat. § 8-302(k) (2015) (“‘Mortgage payments’ means

periodic payments called for by a mortgage, and may include, but is not limited to,

interest, installments of principal, taxes and assessments, mortgage insurance

premiums and hazard insurance premiums”); Ind. Code § 5-28-31-17 (2015)

(“‘[M]ortgage payments’ means periodic payments called for by the mortgage that cover

interest, installments of principal, taxes and assessments, mortgage insurance

premiums, and hazard insurance premiums.”); 42 R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-34-6(12) (2015)

(“Mortgage payments” means periodic payments by the mortgagor to the mortgagee

required by the mortgage.”); Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 10 § 212(13) (2016) (“‘Mortgage

payments,’ as used in subchapter 2, means the periodic payments called for by a

mortgage which shall cover lease land rentals, if any, mortgage insurance premiums,

interest, installments of principal, taxes and assessments, hazard insurance payments,

and any other payments called for in the mortgage.”). If the decretal court intended for

Bjornstad to make a lump sum payment to satisfy the notes and mortgages upon the

sale of the property, it could have inserted such a requirement into the text of the

decree. Cf. Cherry v. Cherry, 422 So. 2d 784, 785 (Ala. Civ. App. 1982) (noting decree

required husband to pay monthly mortgage and satisfy the mortgage in full).
                                             9

       The text of paragraph 7 imposes a further limitation on Bjornstad’s payment

obligation.   Paragraph 7 provides Bjornstad shall be responsible for the mortgage

payments for “the family residence.” This evidences the district court’s intent to award

Heggestad the “family residence” to be used for herself and for the parties’ children to

visit with her. However, upon rental of the home or sale of the home, it no longer serves

as the “family residence.” From this, it can be inferred the decretal court intended

Bjornstad’s obligation to make payments ceased upon the sale of the property.

       The financial condition of the parties provides further insight into the decretal

court’s intent. “Property to be divided between the parties is divided in an equitable

manner in light of the particular circumstances of the parties.” In re Marriage of Nelson,

No. 15-0492, 2016 WL 3269573, at *2 (Iowa Ct. App. June 15, 2016); see also In re

Marriage of Sullins, 715 N.W.2d 242, 247 (Iowa 2006). Here, the parties’ respective

financial statements show Bjornstad left the marriage with very little in liquid assets.

More likely than not, he would not have been able to satisfy the notes and mortgages on

the “family residence” without obtaining financing. It seems unlikely the district court

would impose upon Bjornstad the obligation to obtain financing on short notice from his

former spouse without explicitly stating as much. This is particularly true given that it is

uncertain whether Bjornstad would have had sufficient collateral to secure the required

financing or whether a lender would have extended an unsecured loan to fund the

payoff of the existing loan obligations.

       Further, the conclusion Heggestad is entitled to the entirety of the sale proceeds

of the “family residence” while Bjornstad is solely responsible for the obligations results

in an inequitable property division. Specifically, under the district court’s resolution of
                                             10

the issue, Heggestad would have been awarded approximately $258,000 in marital

property and Bjornstad would have been awarded approximately -$80,000 in marital

property. In contrast, by construing the decree to require Heggestad to satisfy the loan

obligations with the sale proceeds, the parties are awarded an equitable—not equal—

amount of marital property. Our courts have long held a writing “will not be construed

so as to give one party an unfair, oppressive or inequitable advantage over the other.”

Holden v. Constr. Machinery Co., 202 N.W.2d 348, 361 (Iowa 1972). We should “not

hesitate to indulge in inferences which will avoid unfair or inequitable results.” Id.

       While we are not at liberty to modify the property division to reach a resolution to

the dispute, see In re Marriage of Hazen, 778 N.W.2d 55, 59–60 (Iowa Ct. App. 2009)

(“A property division divides the property at hand and is not modifiable.”), we

“[n]evertheless . . . retain[] authority to interpret and enforce [the] prior decree.” In re

Marriage of Morris, 810 N.W.2d 880, 886 (Iowa 2012). Paragraph 7 provides Bjornstad

shall be required to make the monthly “mortgage payments” related to the “family

residence” so long as the property remains “the family residence.”             Paragraph 7

contains a necessary corollary that Bjornstad has no responsibility to satisfy the entirety

of the loan obligations upon the sale of the “family residence.” See Alta Vista Props.,

L.L.C. v. Mauer Vision Ctr., P.C., 855 N.W.2d 722, 729 (Iowa 2014) (discussing

necessary corollary conditions in writings).      Instead, the loan obligations must be

satisfied by the sale proceeds of the “family residence.” We reverse the judgment of the

district court on this issue.
                                              11

                                              III.

       For the above-stated reasons, we affirm in part and reverse in part the judgment

of the district court. We remand this matter for the entry of judgment consistent with this

opinion.

       AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART, AND REMANDED.

       Mullins, J., concurs; Potterfield, P.J., dissents partially.
                                             12

Potterfield, Presiding Judge (concurring in part and dissenting in part).

       I respectfully dissent in part. While I agree with the majority that the intent of the

decretal court was not to require Bjornstad to pay the full amount of the note when

Heggestad sells the house, I disagree with the conclusion of the majority and the district

court that the payments should be characterized as property settlement rather than

alimony.

       In determining whether the mortgage payments were meant to be alimony or part

of the property settlement, we are to consider all the relevant factors, “including the

provisions of the agreement between the parties, the circumstances under which the

agreement was made, the nature and value of the property owned by and to be divided

between the parties, the original divorce proceedings, and the terms of the dissolution

decree sought to be modified.” In re Marriage of Von Glan, 525 N.W.2d 427, 430 (Iowa

Ct. App. 1994). Listing the obligation to pay the mortgages, taxes, and insurance under

the section entitled “division of property and debts,” and introducing it with the phrase “in

lieu of additional alimony” supports the interpretation that such payments are part of the

property settlement.

       But unlike the majority, I am not convinced the use of the word “support”—as

opposed to “alimony”—suggests property settlement. See Iowa Code § 598.21A (2013)

(“Orders for spousal support”); see also In re Marriage of Ales, 592 N.W.2d 698, 702 n.2

(Iowa Ct. App. 1999) (“Spousal support and alimony are used interchangeably by the

courts, however the term “alimony” was formally replaced by our statutory law in 1980

and replaced by ‘spousal support.’”). Moreover, “[i]t is not what the arrangement is

called, but what it is that fixes its legal status.” Von Glan, 525 N.W.2d at 430. Here, the
                                            13

stipulation incorporated into the district court’s decree stated that the payments “shall be

considered support and shall be non-dischargeable in bankruptcy.”            “A debt to a

spouse, former spouse, or child of the debtor for alimony, maintenance, or support

which arose from a dissolution decree is nondischargeable in bankruptcy.” Ziegenhorn

v. Iowa Dist. Ct., 510 N.W.2d 894, 896 (Iowa Ct. App. 1993) (citing 11 U.S.C. §

523(a)(5)). However, “[a] debt arising from a dissolution decree which merely divides

marital property is dischargeable.” Id. (citing In re Coil, 680 F.2d 1170, 1171 (7th Cir.

1982)).

       Additionally, Bjornstad’s obligation to pay the mortgages, as well as any future

insurance and taxes, is not a “fixed or determinable sum,” as is characteristic of

property awards. See Knipfer v. Knipfer, 144 N.W.2d 140, 144 (Iowa 1966). While the

amount due on the mortgages and the number of payments to be made were known

terms at the time the court entered the decree, it is fair to assume the taxes and

insurance could and would change during the life of Bjornstad’s obligation to pay them.

And the periodic nature of the payments is more in line with the typical idea of alimony.

See, e.g., Danley v. Danley, 163 N.W.2d 71, 74 (Iowa 1968) (“Alimony in gross, or in a

lump sum, is in the nature of a final property settlement, and hence in some jurisdictions

is not included in the term ‘alimony,’ which in its strict or technical sense contemplates

money payments at regular intervals.”).

       I believe Bjornstad’s obligation to pay the mortgages, insurance, and taxes each

month is properly considered alimony rather than part of the property settlement, and I

would interpret the decree as such. I otherwise concur in the majority’s opinion.