Court Opinion

ID: 4398526
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-05-20 14:42:11.247012+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:52:18.155413
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Estate of Parkins v. Parkins, 2019-Ohio-1941.]

                       IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                           THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                ALLEN COUNTY

ESTATE OF JON PARKINS,

        PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,                               CASE NO. 1-18-50

        v.

VALERIE PARKINS, NKA MICHAEL,                             OPINION

        DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

                   Appeal from Allen County Common Pleas Court
                             Domestic Relations Division
                            Trial Court No. DR 2015 0022

                                      Judgment Affirmed

                              Date of Decision: May 20, 2019

APPEARANCES:

        William C. Emerick for Appellant

        Richard W. Miller, III for Appellee
Case No. 1-18-50

PRESTON, J.

       {¶1} Defendant-appellant, Valerie Parkins (“Valerie”), appeals the July 31,

2018 judgment of the Allen County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations

Division granting plaintiff-appellee, the Administrator of the Estate of Jon Parkins

(the “Estate”), a declaratory judgment stating that Valerie owes the Estate

$87,703.43 as set forth in the divorce decree of Valerie and Jon Parkins (“Jon”).

For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

       {¶2} Jon and Valerie were married on May 11, 1984. (Doc. No. 20). On

January 16, 2015, Jon filed a complaint for divorce with the Allen County Court of

Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division. (Doc. No. 1). On June 30, 2015, the

trial court issued a divorce decree granting Jon’s request for divorce. (Doc. No. 20).

In the divorce decree, the trial court accepted and adopted the parties’ separation

agreement in which the parties divided all their debts, assets, and liabilities. (Id.).

As part of the separation agreement, Jon was awarded a sum of $87,703.43 to be

paid through a partial lump sum option payment (“PLOP”) from Valerie’s Ohio

Public Employees Retirement System (“OPERS”) account upon her retirement from

her employment with the State of Ohio. (Id.).

       {¶3} Jon died on May 13, 2016. (Doc. Nos. 50, 62, 67). On August 1, 2016,

Valerie retired. (Doc. No. 61). To date, she has not paid Jon or the Estate any

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portion of the $87,703.43 contemplated in the June 30, 2015 divorce decree and

separation agreement. (Id.).

       {¶4} On September 8, 2016, Jon’s trial counsel filed a motion for citation in

contempt against Valerie for failing to divide her OPERS account upon her

retirement and pay the Estate the sum of $87,703.43. (Doc. No. 22). On November

16, 2016, Jon’s trial counsel filed a motion to stay any further disbursements from

Valerie’s OPERS account. (Doc. No. 27). That same day, Jon’s trial counsel filed

a motion for citation in contempt, which was identical to the September 8, 2016

motion for citation in contempt except for the addition of an affidavit in support

signed by Jon’s trial counsel. (Doc. Nos. 28, 29). (See Doc. No. 22). On February

3, 2017, the trial court issued a judgment entry granting Jon’s trial counsel’s motion

to stay any further disbursements from Valerie’s OPERS account. (Doc. No. 35).

On March 15, 2017, Jon’s trial counsel filed a motion for relief from judgment under

Civ.R. 60(B) asking the trial court to vacate the June 30, 2015 judgment entry and

separation agreement. (Doc. No. 38). That same day, Valerie filed a motion to

vacate the February 3, 2017 judgment entry staying further disbursements from her

OPERS account. (Doc. No. 39). On March 17, 2017, Phil Parkins, Administrator

of the Estate of Jon Parkins (the “Administrator”), requested to be joined as a party.

(Doc. No. 40). The Administrator was joined as a party on March 27, 2017. (Doc.

No. 41). On March 29, 2017, the trial court vacated its February 3, 2017 judgment

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staying further disbursements from Valerie’s OPERS account and granted Jon’s trial

counsel’s oral motion to dismiss the September 8, 2016 motion for citation in

contempt against Valerie. (Doc. No. 44). On April 5, 2017, the trial court amended

its March 27, 2017 judgment entry to reflect that the Estate would be substituted as

the party in interest for Jon, rather than joined as a party. (Doc. No. 46).

       {¶5} On April 11, 2017, Jon’s trial counsel filed an amended motion for relief

from judgment under Civ.R. 60(B). (Doc. No. 47). In support of the amended

motion for relief from judgment, Jon’s trial counsel argued that the June 30, 2015

divorce decree should be vacated in part because it was impossible to accomplish

the property equalization using the method chosen by the parties, the PLOP from

Valerie’s OPERS account, and an alternative method of achieving the equalization,

a division of property order (“DOPO”), was no longer available due to Jon’s death.

(Id.). On August 29, 2017, the trial court filed a judgment entry dismissing the April

11, 2017 amended motion for relief from judgment under Civ.R. 60(B) for being

untimely filed, but found that the impossibility of complying with the PLOP

provision of the parties’ divorce decree did not negate Valerie’s underlying

obligation to the Estate. (Doc. No. 54).

       {¶6} On September 21, 2017, the Estate filed a complaint for declaratory

judgment requesting the trial court to declare that the Estate is entitled to the sum of

$87,703.43 as a valid property interest from Valerie. (Doc. No. 56). On November

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9, 2017, Valerie filed an answer to the Estate’s complaint for declaratory judgment.

(Doc. No. 59). On January 19, 2018, the Estate filed its brief in support of its

complaint for declaratory judgment. (Doc. No. 62). That same day, Valerie filed

her motion for summary judgment as to the Estate’s complaint for declaratory

judgment. (Doc. No. 63). On January 25, 2018, Valerie filed her response to the

Estate’s brief in support of its complaint for declaratory judgment. (Doc. No. 64).

On January 26, 2018, the Estate filed its memorandum in opposition to Valerie’s

motion for summary judgment. (Doc. No. 66).

       {¶7} On July 31, 2018, the trial court dismissed Valerie’s motion for

summary judgment for being untimely filed because the trial court had previously

set a hearing date and Valerie did not move for leave to file the motion for summary

judgment. (Doc. No. 67). The July 31, 2018 judgment entry also granted the

Estate’s complaint for declaratory judgment, finding that the amount of $87,703.43

due and owing to the Estate as set forth in the parties’ divorce decree is a “valid,

separate obligation” that was not extinguished by Jon’s death. (Id.).

       {¶8} Valerie filed her notice of appeal on August 30, 2018. (Doc. No. 69).

She raises two assignments of error, which we will address together.

                           Assignment of Error No. I

       The trial court erred and acted contrary to law when it
       determined that a specific sum certain distribution from an Ohio
       Public Employees Retirement System survives the death of the
       alternate payee.

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                            Assignment of Error No. II

       The trial court erred and acted contrary to law without
       jurisdiction and abused its discretion when it determined that an
       amount was still due and owing from the defendant/appellant
       when the court had previously ruled that a Civ. R. 60(B) motion
       as well as a citation for contempt were unavailable to alter the
       terms of the separation agreement agreed to between the parties.

       {¶9} In her assignments of error, Valerie argues that her obligation to pay the

$87,703.43 sum referenced in the parties’ divorce decree was extinguished upon

Jon’s death because the divorce decree referenced payment from Valerie’s OPERS

account in the form of a PLOP. Valerie contends that under R.C. 3105.86, Jon’s

rights to her OPERS account terminated, and with it, any right to the $87,703.43

contemplated in the parties’ divorce decree. Moreover, Valerie argues that the trial

court erred when it granted the declaratory judgment in favor of the Estate because

the $87,703.43 referenced in the property agreement does not survive Jon’s death

and does not represent an underlying obligation. In support of her position, Valerie

argues that the trial court dismissed the Estate’s motion for citation in contempt and

amended motion for relief from judgment under Civ.R. 60(B) and had therefore

determined that such actions were not available to alter the terms of the divorce

decree. Valerie asserts that because the Estate’s motion for citation in contempt and

amended motion for relief under Civ.R. 60 were dismissed, the trial court erred

when it granted the Estate’s request for declaratory judgment.

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       {¶10} “A declaratory judgment action provides a means by which parties can

eliminate uncertainty regarding their legal rights and obligations.” Mid-American

Fire & Cas. Co. v. Heasley, 113 Ohio St.3d 133, 2007-Ohio-1248, ¶ 8, citing

Travelers Indemn. Co. v. Cochrane, 155 Ohio St. 305, 312 (1951). “The purpose

of a declaratory judgment action is to dispose of ‘uncertain or disputed obligations

quickly and conclusively,’ and to achieve that end, the declaratory judgment statutes

are to be construed ‘liberally.’” Id., quoting Ohio Farmers Indemn. Co. v. Chames,

170 Ohio St. 209, 213 (1959).

       {¶11} A trial court’s determination of matters of law in a declaratory

judgment action are reviewed under a de novo standard of review. Brown v. Brown,

3d Dist. Hardin No. 6-17-10, 2017-Ohio-8938, ¶ 20, citing Arnott v. Arnott, 132

Ohio St.3d 401, 2012-Ohio-3208, ¶ 13.

       {¶12} Jon and Valerie’s separation agreement, which was incorporated into

the parties’ divorce decree, contains the following provisions:

                                STUDENT LOANS

       The Wife shall assume and pay and hold the Husband harmless from

       liability as to the student loan debt owed to Navient.

                       RETIREMENT ACCOUNT/ DOPO

       The parties agree that the Wife is a participant in the Public

       Employees Retirement System through her place of employment. The

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         parties further agree that the Wife’s current value for her OPERS

         Account is valued at $231,542.28. The parties further agree that the

         Husband’s Retirement Account is valued at $22,811.41, and that the

         Husband’s interest in the OPERS shall be reduced by the Wife’s

         interest in the Husband’s Retirement Account. In order to equalize

         the distribution of marital assets, the parties agree that the Wife owes

         to the Husband the sum of $104,365.43, less the sum of $16,662.00,

         which amount represents the Husband’s one-half (1/2) share of the

         debt owed to Navient, for a net balance due and owing from1 [sic] the

         Husband in the amount of $87,703.43. Said sum shall be payable to

         the Husband through a Partial Lump Sum Option Payment (PLOP)

         upon the Wife’s retirement. The Husband shall assume and pay any

         tax liabilities owed in conjunction therewith. Any remaining interest

         in the OPERS account shall be the separate property of the Wife, free

         and clear of any claims of the Husband.

1
  The divorce decree states that there is a “net balance due and owing from the Husband in the amount of
$87,703.43.” (Doc. No. 20). However, in context, it is clear that the parties intended the balance to be due
and owing to Jon (“the Husband”), rather than from Jon, and the phrase cited above should read “from the
Wife” or, alternatively, “to the Husband.” The parties do not dispute that the $87,703.43 referenced in the
divorce decree was to be paid from Valerie rather than Jon. As noted by the trial court, “[i]t is clear from the
tenor of the Judgment Entry and all other matters associated with the pleadings of these parties that the sum
of $87,703.43 was owed to the husband and not from the husband.” (Doc. No. 67).

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       The parties further agree that a Division of Property Order shall issue

       against the Wife’s OPERS Account in favor of the Husband in order

       to perfect the Agreement and intent of the parties. * * *

       The Husband shall have as his separate property, free and clear of any

       claims of Wife, all interest in retirement benefits, profit sharing and

       stock ownership, and 401(k) plans incidental to his employment with

       Tower Automotive.

       The Wife shall have as her separate property, free and clear of any

       claims of the Husband, all interest in the State of Ohio Deferred

       Compensation Plan.

       ***

(Doc. No. 20).

       {¶13} As the overall equitable division of property was to be carried out by

a PLOP paid to Jon from Valerie’s OPERS account upon her retirement, the parties

set out to effectuate its implementation following the journalization of the parties’

divorce decree.    However, the parties quickly discovered that a PLOP from

Valerie’s OPERS account, as referenced in the divorce decree, would not suffice to

carry out the equitable division of property.

       {¶14} The record demonstrates that following the journalization of the

divorce decree on June 30, 2015, Jon’s trial counsel contacted representatives from

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OPERS regarding the property settlement and was informed that a PLOP from

Valerie’s account would not satisfy the $87,703.43 obligation set forth in the

parties’ divorce decree. (Joint Ex. 1). Thereafter, Jon’s trial counsel contacted

Valerie’s trial counsel with the information he received from the OPERS

representative regarding the impossibility of carrying out the property settlement

via a PLOP from Valerie’s OPERS account. (Id.). Jon’s trial counsel submitted a

proposed DOPO to OPERS for preapproval in an attempt to satisfy Valerie’s

obligation to Jon under the June 30, 2015 property settlement. (Joint Exs. 2, 3).

However, counsel for OPERS informed Jon’s trial counsel in writing on February

9, 2016 that the proposed DOPO could not be preapproved because (1) the name,

date of birth, address, or Social Security number of the Participant did not match

OPERS’s records and (2) the proposed order had selected two methods of payment

when only one payment method should have been selected. (Joint Ex. 3). On

February 23, 2016, Jon’s trial counsel submitted another DOPO to OPERS for

preapproval. (Joint Exs. 4, 5). However, counsel for OPERS informed Jon’s trial

counsel in writing that the proposed DOPO could not be preapproved because the

proposed order once again had two methods of payment selected. (Joint Ex. 5).

       {¶15} On May 3, 2016, just ten days before Jon’s death, Valerie’s trial

counsel wrote to Jon’s trial counsel with a proposed resolution. (Joint Ex. 6). In

her letter, Valerie’s trial counsel informed Jon’s trial counsel that he had been in

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contact with an OPERS representative who informed him that under the provisions

of Valerie’s OPERS plan, the alternate payee is only able to receive one-half of any

lump sum payment. (Id.). Valerie then proposed paying Jon a lump sum of

$50,000.00 prior to her retirement to satisfy a portion of the property settlement.

(Id.). To satisfy the remaining balance, Valerie proposed paying Jon $250.00 per

month for ten years commencing on the first month following her retirement. (Id.).

       {¶16} Jon died on May 13, 2016. That same day, counsel for OPERS sent a

letter to Valerie informing her that pursuant to R.C. 3105.86, an alternate payee’s

rights under an approved DOPO terminate upon the death of the alternate payee.

(Joint Ex. 7).

       {¶17} Valerie Parkins retired on or about August 1, 2016. (Doc. No. 61).

The parties stipulated that other than an unidentified amount paid by Valerie toward

a marital debt, Valerie has not paid toward the $87,703.43 owed to Jon under the

June 30, 2015 divorce decree. (Id.). (See Joint Ex. 10).

       {¶18} Valerie contends that the trial court erred by determining that an

underlying obligation for $87,703.43 exists because the language of the parties’

divorce decree specifies that the amount “shall be payable to the Husband through

a * * * [PLOP] upon the Wife’s retirement.” (Appellant’s Brief at 8). Valerie opines

that because Jon died prior to her retirement, Jon’s interest in her OPERS account

terminated. (Id.). Moreover, Valerie argues that the trial court is unable to retain

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jurisdiction over property distributions in order to permit the Estate to recover funds

in another manner. (Id.).

       {¶19} In support of her argument, Valerie relies on Hipp v. Hipp, 6th Dist.

Huron No. H-08-027, 2009-Ohio-3209. In that case, under the terms of the parties’

divorce decree, the Husband was to assign to the Wife one-half of the value of his

OPERS account. Id. at ¶ 5. The parties’ divorce decree also required the parties to

maintain a term life insurance policy equal to the value of one-half of the Husband’s

OPERS account. Id. However, the Husband died prior to retirement, and the parties

never obtained the life insurance policy referenced in the divorce decree. Id. at ¶ 3,

7. After her claim against the Husband’s estate for half of the retirement benefits

was rejected, the Wife and the Husband’s estate both petitioned the trial court for

summary judgment. Id. at ¶ 4. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor

of the Husband’s estate. Id. The appellate court found that the trial court did not

err in awarding summary judgment in favor of the Husband’s estate because “the

divorce decree awarded [Wife] an assignment of a portion of the future benefits in

the decedent’s retirement account” and “sought to counterbalance” the uncertainty

of the contingent property settlement with a term life insurance policy on the life of

the Husband. Id. at ¶ 11. The trial court noted that “the divorce decree set forth an

alternative method of payment to [Wife] in the event of the [Husband’s] death prior

to attaining the age of eligibility for retirement benefits.” Id. at ¶ 7. The trial court

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granted summary judgment in favor of the Husband’s estate because the Wife was

aware of the contingent nature of the Husband’s retirement benefits at the time of

the divorce and failed to employ the safeguards contained in the divorce decree.

       {¶20} Under the circumstances in Hipp, it was appropriate for the trial court

to grant summary judgment in favor of the Husband’s estate. It is clear that the

parties in Hipp understood at the time of the divorce decree that the Wife’s

entitlement to one-half of the Husband’s OPERS account was entirely contingent

on the Husband surviving until he was able to retire. Thus, the parties contemplated

securing Wife’s contingent interest through the insurance policy. Therefore, when

the Husband died prior to retirement, the Wife’s contingent interest in one-half of

his OPERS account was extinguished.

       {¶21} However, Hipp is readily distinguishable from the present case. First,

the parties’ roles in the action are reversed, with the alternate payee, Jon,

predeceasing the participant instead of the participant predeceasing the alternate

payee. Here, unlike in Hipp, the participant retired and is presently receiving

retirement benefits. Moreover, in Hipp, the parties’ divorce decree divided the

participant’s retirement benefit with an additional provision of insuring the payment

of the retirement benefit with a life insurance policy, a provision not present in Jon

and Valerie’s divorce decree. Additionally, in Hipp, it appears that the division of

the retirement benefit was simply a division of a retirement asset, independent of

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the division of the other marital assets and debts, whereas, here, the divorce decree

indicates that the division of Valerie’s OPERS account was part of the overall

division of marital property. Thus, the instant case can be distinguished from Hipp.

       {¶22} Valerie argues that benefits under a public retirement system, such as

OPERS, do not vest until the retirement is granted. (Appellant’s Brief at 10). See

R.C. 3105.80; R.C. 3105.83; Cosby v. Cosby, 96 Ohio St.3d 228, 2002-Ohio-4170,

¶ 12; Schrader v. Schrader, 4th Dist. Hocking No. 03CA20, 2004-Ohio-4104, ¶ 21.

However, Valerie’s argument is misplaced as, here, the participant retired and thus,

her retirement benefits vested.

       {¶23} Valerie also cites to Hiscox v. Hiscox, 7th Dist. Columbiana No. 07

CO 7, 2008-Ohio-5209 in furtherance of her argument that under R.C. 3105.86, the

potential benefits of an alternate payee terminate at the death of the retiree or the

alternate payee and that the parties could have secured Jon’s right in the property

with an additional security for the amount of the property division, such as an

insurance policy. However, Valerie’s reliance on Hiscox v. Hiscox is misplaced.

The court in Hiscox cited to the Revised Code for the proposition that potential

benefits terminate upon the death of the retiree or the alternate payee and that the

divorce decree could have required the parties to secure the rights of the contingent

beneficiary through an insurance plan. However, in the instant case, the parties do

not dispute that under R.C. 3105.86 the alternate payee’s benefits terminate upon

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the death of the alternate payee and the Estate is not arguing that OPERS should be

required to carry out the division of the retirement benefits. Rather, the Estate is

requesting that the court recognize the underlying property settlement.

       {¶24} Here, in dispute is not the modification or clarification of a retirement

asset, but rather the enforcement of a property division. The parties’ divorce decree

states that “[i]n order to equalize the distribution of marital assets, the parties agree

that the Wife owes the Husband the sum of $104,365.43, less the sum of $16,662.00,

which amount represents the Husband’s one-half (1/2) share of the debt owed to

Navient, for a net balance due and owing from [sic] the Husband in the amount of

$87,703.43.” (Doc. No. 20). Thus, the language of the divorce decree is explicit

that the $87,703.43 owed from Valerie to Jon is to equalize the distribution of

marital assets, and not simply to divide the retirement asset. The $87,703.43

referenced in the divorce decree was arrived at after dividing the parties’ other assets

and debts, including Jon’s retirement account through his employer and the debt

owed to Navient.

       {¶25} In addition, Valerie argues that the trial court erred in granting

declaratory judgment in favor of the Estate because the trial court had previously

ruled that relief under Civ.R. 60(B) and a citation for contempt were not available

to the Estate. However, Valerie’s arguments are without merit.

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       {¶26} First, the trial court did not make a substantive ruling on Jon’s motion

for citation in contempt. Rather, Jon’s trial counsel orally moved to withdraw the

motion for citation in contempt without prejudice, and the same was granted by the

trial court. (Doc. No. 44). Thus, contrary to Valerie’s contention, the trial court did

not rule that a citation for contempt was unavailable to the Estate and did not decide

the merits of the motion for citation in contempt filed by Jon’s trial counsel.

       {¶27} Second, Valerie’s argument also fails as it relates to the Civ.R. 60(B)

motion. Civ.R. 60(B) states:

       On motion and upon such terms as are just, the court may relieve a

       party or his legal representative from a final judgment, order or

       proceeding for the following reasons:

       (1) mistake, inadvertence, surprise or excusable neglect[.]

Civ.R. 60(B)(1).

       {¶28} Here, the parties were mistaken as to Jon’s ability to receive payment

from the retirement account under a PLOP, as the parties both believed that a DOPO

could be issued for a lump sum payment under a PLOP. However, the parties were

mistaken that they could secure a PLOP from Valerie’s OPERS account large

enough to satisfy the $87,703.43 sum referenced in the divorce decree. Moreover,

Jon’s death modified the availability of a DOPO to effect payment of the OPERS

benefits to Jon. Thus, the applicable provision of Civ.R. 60(B) was Civ.R. 60(B)(1).

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However, under Civ.R. 60(B), “[a] motion [under Civ.R. 60(B)] shall be made

within a reasonable time, and for reasons (1), (2) and (3) not more than one year

after the judgment [or] order * * * was entered * * *.” Jon’s motion for relief from

judgment under Civ.R. 60(B) was filed on March 15, 2017, more than one year after

the parties’ divorce decree and separation agreement was journalized on June 30,

2015. Thus, Jon’s motion for relief from judgment was untimely filed.

       {¶29} Moreover, because the motion for relief from judgment was based

upon a mutual mistake of the parties, Jon was not able to seek relief from judgment

under Civ.R. 60(B)(4)-(6), as those provisions cannot be substituted as grounds for

relief from judgment in order to avoid the one-year limitation on filing motions for

relief from judgment under Civ.R. 60(B)(1)-(3). Thus, the trial court denied Jon’s

motion for relief from judgment under Civ.R. 60(B). However, the trial court

recognized in the judgment entry that “the impossibility of complying with the

PLOP payment provision does not negate the obligation owed” and noted that “the

[trial court] would find [sic] with recognizing the amount owed, the counsel

representing the Estate of Jon Parkins may determine their remedies to enforce the

payment of the $87,703.43 by all legal means available.” (Doc. No. 54).

       {¶30} Thus, in dismissing Jon’s motion for relief from judgment, the trial

court did not reach the merits of the motion, but rather resolved the motion on

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procedural grounds. Moreover, the dismissal of Jon’s motion for relief from

judgment is independent of the Estate’s complaint for declaratory judgment.

       {¶31} Despite Valerie’s objections, a complaint for declaratory judgment is

an acceptable method to determine the rights and obligations of the parties in the

present case. A complaint for declaratory judgment is valid in domestic relations

actions. See In re Kuntz, 183 Ohio App.3d 154, 2009-Ohio-3316, ¶ 11 (3d Dist.).

As noted in In re Kuntz, “once a court has made an equitable property division, it

has no jurisdiction to modify its decision.” Id., citing R.C. 3105.171(I), Knapp v.

Knapp, 4th Dist. Lawrence No. 05CA2, 2005-Ohio-7105, ¶ 40, and Ricketts v.

Ricketts, 109 Ohio App.3d 746, 751 (12th Dist.1996), abrogated on other grounds,

Erb v. Erb, 91 Ohio St.3d 503 (2001). “However, the trial court does retain

jurisdiction to ‘“clarify and construe its original property division so as to effectuate

its judgment.”’” Id., quoting Knapp at ¶ 40, quoting McKinley v. McKinley, 4th

Dist. Athens No. 99 CA 52, 2000 WL 897994, *4 (June 27, 2000). Therefore, a

trial court is able to clarify the meaning of a decree if it is ambiguous. Id., citing

McKinney v. McKinney, 142 Ohio App.3d 604, 608 (2d Dist.2001).

       {¶32} Determining whether an ambiguity exists in a prior decree is a

question of law. Pierron v. Pierron, 4th Dist. Scioto Nos. 07CA3153 & 07CA3159,

2008-Ohio-1286, ¶ 8. Thus, potential ambiguity in a prior decree is reviewed by

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the appellate court de novo. Adams v. Crawford Cty. Bd. Of Commrs., 3d Dist.

Crawford No. 3-07-19, 2007-Ohio-6966, ¶ 16.

       {¶33} Here, the divorce decree is not ambiguous. The parties’ divorce decree

provides that “[i]n order to equalize the distribution of marital assets, the parties

agree that the Wife owes the Husband the sum of $104,365.43, less the sum of

$16,662.00, which amount represents the Husband’s one-half (1/2) share of the debt

owed to Navient, for a net balance due and owing [to] the Husband in the amount

of $87,703.43. Said sum shall be payable to the Husband through a [PLOP] upon

Wife’s retirement.” (Doc. No. 20). Thus, the divorce decree is not ambiguous as it

provides for the amount owed ($87,703.43) and the time that payment is due (“upon

the Wife’s retirement”) and is not otherwise unambiguous. Therefore, the trial court

did not retain the jurisdiction to “clarify and construe its original property division

so as to effectuate its judgment.” Knapp at ¶ 40. However, a declaratory judgment

action may still be used, even when there is no ambiguity.

       {¶34} Valerie contends that the trial court is making an impermissible

modification of a division or disbursement of property or a distributive award by

determining that the underlying obligation in the divorce decree remains due and

owing. In support of her proposition, Valerie cites to R.C. 3105.171(I) which

prohibits “future modification by the court” of “[a] division or disbursement of

property or a distributive award” “except upon the express written consent or

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agreement to the modification by both spouses.” However, here, the trial court did

not modify the divorce decree by determining that the underlying obligation remains

due and owing.

          {¶35} Here, the parties chose Valerie’s OPERS account as the vehicle to

effectuate the parties’ division of property; however, the division of property could

have been carried out in an alternative fashion. In fact, as evidenced by their actions

following the filing of the divorce decree, both parties acknowledged the validity of

the underlying property settlement.       The parties were informed on or about

December 9, 2015 that a PLOP from Valerie’s OPERS account would not satisfy

the $87,703.43 referenced in the divorce decree. (See Joint Ex. 1). Thus, the parties

were aware that a PLOP from Valerie’s OPERS account, as referenced in the

divorce decree, would not suffice to effectuate the division of property. Yet, the

parties continued to negotiate and work together to effectuate the property

settlement. (See Joint Exs. 2-6). In fact, on May 3, 2016, just ten days prior to Jon’s

death, Valerie proposed paying Jon a lump sum of $50,000 prior to her retirement

and monthly payments of $250.00 for the ten years following her retirement to

“satisfy the remaining balance due on the sharing of the retirement benefits.” (Joint

Ex. 6).

          {¶36} Thus, although Valerie argues that the impossibility of carrying out

the division of property via a PLOP from her OPERS account negates the validity

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of the underlying obligation, her actions are inconsistent with this position, as the

parties knew since December, 2015 that the vehicle used to carry out the property

settlement would not be a PLOP, as contemplated in the divorce. Yet, Valerie

continued to acknowledge the validity of the underlying obligation, even knowing

that the division of property would necessarily be carried out through alternative

means. Although Jon’s death terminated the ability of OPERS to carry out the

division of property, it did not change the fact that the parties had previously

acknowledged that the division of property was necessarily going to have to proceed

by other means than the PLOP contemplated at the time of the divorce.

       {¶37} While Jon’s death may have terminated the right to use a DOPO to

collect money from Valerie, it did not affect the viability of the underlying property

settlement. A DOPO “is an order that creates or recognizes the existence of an

alternate payee’s right to, or assigns to an alternate payee the right to, receive all or

a portion of the benefits payable with respect to a participant under a plan.” State

ex rel. Sullivan v. Ramsey, 124 Ohio St.3d 355, 2010-Ohio-252, ¶ 18. “[T]he

divorce decree is a final, appealable order and actually divides the property,”

whereas a QDRO or DOPO “is merely a tool used to execute the divorce decree.”

Wilson v. Wilson, 116 Ohio St.3d 268, 2007-Ohio-6056, ¶ 19; Taylor v. Taylor, 10th

Dist. Franklin No. 17 AP-763, 2018-Ohio-2530, ¶ 7. Moreover, “[a] QDRO does

not in any way constitute further adjudication on the merits of the pension division,

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as its sole purpose is to implement the terms of the divorce decree. Therefore, it is

the decree of divorce that constitutes the final determination of the court and

determines the merits of the case.”      Wilson at 16.     Thus, the denial of the

implementation of a DOPO does not alter the provision of a divorce decree and the

reference to a PLOP or DOPO does not extinguish the underlying obligation.

Therefore, the trial court did not err in granting Jon’s motion for declaratory

judgment as the underlying obligation remains valid, even if the vehicle for carrying

out the division of property may have changed.

       {¶38} Valerie’s assignments of error are overruled.

       {¶39} Having found no error prejudicial to the appellant herein in the

particulars assigned and argued, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

                                                               Judgment Affirmed

ZIMMERMAN, P.J. and WILLAMOWSKI, J., concur.

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