Court Opinion

ID: 7618020
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-29 14:05:22.016625+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:25:01.636721
License: Public Domain

RENDERED: JULY 22, 2022; 10:00 A.M.
                         NOT TO BE PUBLISHED

                Commonwealth of Kentucky
                           Court of Appeals

                              NO. 2021-CA-1054-MR

ROBERT STACY HALL                                                    APPELLANT

                APPEAL FROM JOHNSON CIRCUIT COURT
v.            HONORABLE JANIE MCKENZIE-WELLS, JUDGE
                       ACTION NO. 19-CI-00121

HEATHER LEIGH HALL
N/K/A HEATHER LEIGH FANNIN                                             APPELLEE

                                    OPINION
                                   AFFIRMING

                                   ** ** ** ** **

BEFORE: GOODWINE, JONES, AND MAZE, JUDGES.

MAZE, JUDGE: Robert Stacy Hall (Hall) appeals from findings of fact,

conclusions of law, and judgment of the Johnson Family Court dissolving his

marriage to Heather Leigh Hall, now Fannin (Fannin). He argues that the family

court abused its discretion in its award of maintenance to Fannin and in its division
of certain marital property. Finding no such abuse of discretion in either instance,

we affirm.

             Hall and Fannin were married in 1992 and separated in 2019. The

children born of the marriage had attained the age of majority by the time of

separation. After filing of the petition, the family court granted Fannin temporary

maintenance in the amount of $1,000.00 per month and temporary use of the

marital residence located near Prestonsburg, Kentucky. While this matter was

pending, Hall purchased a residence in Salyersville, Kentucky.

             The family court issued a decree of dissolution of the marriage on

March 11, 2021, reserving for later adjudication the contested issues regarding

division of marital property and debt, and Fannin’s claim for maintenance. On

May 13, 2021, the family court issued findings of fact, conclusions of law, and a

judgment on these matters. In pertinent part, the family court awarded the former

marital residence to Fannin and the Salyersville residence to Hall. The court also

ordered each party to assume the existing mortgage on the respective properties.

After assigning the other personal property, the family court awarded Fannin one-

half of the marital portion of Hall’s retirement account, to be procured through a

Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO).

             The family court also awarded maintenance to Fannin, essentially

extending the temporary maintenance order of $1,000.00 per month for six months

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until Fannin could obtain her equitable interest in the retirement account under the

QDRO. Both parties filed motions to alter, amend, or vacate pursuant to CR1

59.05. Hall also requested additional findings on maintenance pursuant to CR

52.04. The family court modified several provisions and findings on matters

relating to the division of property but denied both motions to alter its prior orders

regarding maintenance. This appeal followed. Additional facts will be set forth

below as necessary.

                Hall first argues that the family court abused its discretion in awarding

maintenance to Fannin. KRS2 403.200 provides that a court may grant

maintenance to either party in a divorce action only if it finds that the party seeking

maintenance “[l]acks sufficient property, including marital property apportioned to

him, to provide for his reasonable needs; and . . . [i]s unable to support himself

through appropriate employment[.]” KRS 403.200(1). Under this statute, the

court must first make relevant findings of fact and then determine maintenance

considering those facts. Perrine v. Christine, 833 S.W.2d 825, 826 (Ky. 1992).

“In order to reverse the trial court’s decision, a reviewing court must find either

that the findings of fact are clearly erroneous or that the trial court has abused its

discretion.” Id. Once the trial court finds that maintenance is appropriate, the

1
    Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure.
2
    Kentucky Revised Statutes.

                                            -3-
amount and duration of maintenance is left to the sound discretion of the trial

court. Gentry v. Gentry, 798 S.W.2d 928, 937 (Ky. 1990).

             Hall first contends that the family court clearly erred in its initial

determination that Fannin was eligible to receive maintenance under the threshold

conditions in KRS 403.200(1). Since Fannin admitted that she was able to meet

her reasonable and necessary expenses without maintenance, Hall argues that she

cannot satisfy either of the conditions for maintenance. However, the family court

did not base maintenance only on Fannin’s current income and expenses, but also

on the lifestyle established during the marriage.

             In its August 20, 2021, order denying Hall’s CR 59.05 motion, the

family court set forth additional findings regarding the maintenance award:

             The Petitioner [Fannin] was seeking a maintenance
             award in the amount of $1,500.00. While [Fannin]
             admitted that she was able to meet her reasonable and
             necessary needs without maintenance, she testified that
             she would have to modify her standard of living to which
             she had been accustomed during the marriage in order to
             do so. In determining maintenance, the Court
             specifically applied KRS 403.200(1) and determined
             under the Judgment, Paragraph 18, that [Fannin] met the
             requirements. The Court considered the financial
             resources of the parties as set forth in KRS 403.200(2),
             and her ability to meet her independent needs and the
             time necessary to acquire education and training, as well
             as the standard of living established during the marriage
             and the duration of the marriage. This marriage was
             quite lengthy, that being approximately thirty-six (36)

                                          -4-
               years [sic].3 Also, the Court took into account the
               amount to which [Fannin] would be receiving from the
               [Hall’s] retirement account, that being $59,316.11, which
               is one-half of the equity in the retirement account. The
               Court therefore only awarded maintenance for an
               additional six (6) months in the amount of $1,000.00 per
               month to allow [Fannin] time to obtain her equitable
               interest therein. After such time, the Court found that she
               would have sufficient property to provide for her
               reasonable needs and to support herself in the lifestyle to
               which she had become accustomed.

               In determining maintenance, KRS 403.200(1) and (2) both permit the

court to consider the standard of living established during the marriage as a factor

in assessing a spouse’s “reasonable needs.” “The statute, as did the law before, . . .

simply recognizes that what might be ample for a scullery maid is not necessarily

sufficient for one accustomed to the lifestyle of a duchess, and it seems to us that

the same is true with respect to what is ‘support.’” Casper v. Casper, 510 S.W.2d

253, 255 (Ky. 1974). See also Powell v. Powell, 107 S.W.3d 222, 224 (Ky. 2003);

and Lovett v. Lovett, 688 S.W.2d 329, 332 (Ky. 1985). Consequently, the family

court properly considered Fannin’s reasonable needs in light of the standard of

living established during the marriage.

3
  As Hall notes, the family court’s recitation of a 36-year marriage is incorrect. From the date of
the marriage to the entry of the dissolution decree, the parties were married slightly more than 28
years. However, we do not consider the miscalculation to be controlling to the outcome of this
appeal.

                                               -5-
             The question in this appeal is whether Fannin established the amount

of those needs with reasonable certainty. At a hearing on February 27, 2020,

Fannin testified that she obtained her bachelor’s degree in 2010 and still owed

approximately $600 toward her student loans. In her current position, Fannin earns

$17.00 per hour, with a gross monthly income of about $3000.00 per month. She

testified that she had started in this position only three months earlier, with a

significantly higher salary than her previous position.

             Fannin listed specific expenses of about $2,640.00. She had listed

additional expenses in her preliminary disclosure. On cross-examination, Fannin

admitted that these other expenses were not strictly necessary. She further stated

that she is able to meet her other needs without maintenance but it is “paycheck to

paycheck” and that “it is not the way I lived before he left.” Fannin added that she

relied upon the temporary maintenance to meet her mortgage and car payments,

and that she had cut back on many things while money was tight. The parties do

not identify any evidence showing that Fannin’s circumstances changed between

the time of the hearing and the judgment.

             The family court’s findings did not identify which of Fannin’s

additional expenses were reasonably necessary in light of the standard of living

established during the marriage. Nevertheless, we conclude that the family court’s

findings are supported by substantial evidence of record. Although Fannin

                                          -6-
conceded that she could barely meet her minimal needs without maintenance, she

emphasized that she could not afford to live near the lifestyle she enjoyed during

the marriage. Her testimony and listing of expenses bear out this claim.

Furthermore, Fannin is not required to liquidate assets in order to maintain the

standard of living established during the marriage. Perrine, 833 S.W.2d at 827.

Under the circumstances, we conclude that the family court did not clearly err in

determining that Fannin was eligible to receive maintenance under the standards

set forth in KRS 403.200(1).

             Upon finding that a spouse is entitled to maintenance, KRS

403.200(2) directs the court to determine the amount and duration of such

maintenance, “after considering all relevant factors” including:

             (a) The financial resources of the party seeking
             maintenance, including marital property apportioned to
             him, and his ability to meet his needs independently,
             including the extent to which a provision for support of a
             child living with the party includes a sum for that party as
             custodian;

             (b) The time necessary to acquire sufficient education or
             training to enable the party seeking maintenance to find
             appropriate employment;

             (c) The standard of living established during the
             marriage;

             (d) The duration of the marriage;

             (e) The age, and the physical and emotional condition of
             the spouse seeking maintenance; and

                                         -7-
             (f) The ability of the spouse from whom maintenance is
             sought to meet his needs while meeting those of the
             spouse seeking maintenance.

             Hall argues that the family court failed to properly apply these factors

in determining the amount and duration of the maintenance award. With respect to

the (a), (b), and (e) factors, he again points to Fannin’s income, expenses, and

property allocated to her. Hall also notes that Fannin obtained a degree during the

marriage, which enabled her to advance in her career. However, Fannin still earns

considerably less than Hall and has a much shorter work-history as well. Under

the circumstances, we cannot find that the family court failed to properly consider

these factors.

             Hall also focuses on factor (f), specifically taking the position that he

is unable to meet his own reasonable needs while paying maintenance to Fannin.

At the hearing, Hall testified that he is employed full-time earning $19.00 per hour.

But he testified that his position is seasonal, with limited hours during the winter

months. Hall reported gross yearly income in 2019 in the amount of $58,280.54,

which works out to $4,856.72 per month. But in 2021, he reported gross monthly

income of $4,560.00. Hall testified that his monthly expenses are $4,684.00. Both

Hall and his girlfriend testified that she assists him with paying household

expenses, and he would be unable to meet his needs without her assistance. Based

on this evidence, Hall maintains that the family court clearly erred in finding that

                                          -8-
he is able to meet his own reasonable needs while paying $1,000.00 per month in

maintenance to Fannin.

             We agree with Hall that this factor would weigh against an award of

maintenance. However, the family court had the discretion to consider any and all

factors it deemed relevant and to assign degrees of weight to each. In this case, the

family court focused on Fannin’s lesser income and earning capacity. Given their

respective incomes, it seems likely that neither party will be able separately to

maintain the same standard of living which they enjoyed during the marriage.

Furthermore, both parties are struggling to meet their respective expenses.

             But the family court noted that Fannin would be eligible to receive her

share of Hall’s retirement in six months. The court found that this resource would

enable her to improve her standard of living to a level closer to what she enjoyed

during the marriage. While a different court might have reached another

conclusion, we cannot say that the family court in this case abused its discretion by

awarding Fannin maintenance in the amount of $1,000.00 per month for the

limited period of six months.

             Hall also raises several issues with respect to the family court’s

division of marital property. KRS 403.190(1) directs the court to divide the marital

assets in “just proportions,” considering all relevant factors including: “(a)

[c]ontribution of each spouse to acquisition of the marital property, including

                                         -9-
contribution of a spouse as homemaker; (b) [v]alue of the property set apart to each

spouse; (c) [d]uration of the marriage; and (d) [e]conomic circumstances of each

spouse when the division of property is to become effective[.]” However, the

statute does not specify how much weight should be given to each factor.

Furthermore, a “just” division is not necessarily an equal division. Stipp v. St.

Charles, 291 S.W.3d 720, 726 (Ky. App. 2009); and Lawson v. Lawson, 228

S.W.3d 18, 21 (Ky. App. 2007). The family court has broad discretion to divide

marital assets, and its determination of what constitutes a just division will not be

disturbed absent an abuse of that discretion. Hempel v. Hempel, 380 S.W.3d 549,

553 (Ky. App. 2012).

             Hall objects to the family court’s allocation of the marital equity in the

Salyersville residence. Hall concedes that all property acquired by either spouse

subsequent to the marriage is marital property under KRS 403.190(3). So even

though he acquired that residence after he separated from Fannin, he admits that

the family court properly characterized it as marital. However, he argued that

since Fannin made no contribution to the acquisition of that property, the family

court abused its discretion by awarding any equity in that property to her.

             In support of this argument, Hall relies on Stallings v. Stallings, 606

S.W.2d 163 (Ky. 1980). In that case, the Kentucky Supreme Court held that

property acquired during separation but prior to entry of the decree was clearly

                                         -10-
marital property under the KRS 403.190(2). Stallings, 606 S.W.2d at 164. The

Court went on to suggest that such property need not be divided on the same basis

as property acquired prior to separation. The Court noted the language in KRS

403.190(1) that a trial court may consider the “contribution of each spouse to

acquisition of the marital property, including contribution of a spouse as

homemaker.” Id. But the Court went on to explain that “the ‘contribution of a

spouse as a homemaker’ does not necessarily cease when the other spouse

leaves[.]” Id.

             As previously discussed, the family court had wide discretion in

dividing marital property based upon a proper consideration of these factors, and

we may not disturb its ruling on property division issues absent an abuse of that

discretion. Davis v. Davis, 777 S.W.2d 230, 233 (Ky. 1989). Although Fannin did

not directly contribute to the acquisition of the Salyersville residence, Hall

contributed his income at least to the mortgage payments. His income during this

period would still be presumed marital. Hall claimed that his girlfriend contributed

to the down payment for the residence, but he did not claim that this should be

considered a non-marital contribution. Under the circumstances, we cannot find

that the family court abused its discretion by including the equity in this property

as part of its division of the marital property.

             Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the Johnson Family Court.

                                          -11-
            ALL CONCUR.

BRIEF FOR APPELLANT:       BRIEF FOR APPELLEE:

James Brandon May          Jennifer Burke Elliott
Paintsville, Kentucky      Prestonsburg, Kentucky

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