Court Opinion

ID: 9724310
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 10:52:32.293054+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:59.214856
License: Public Domain

SCHLEGEL, Judge.
Kieth Van Doren and Mary Van Doren were married in 1964. A decree of dissolution was entered for the parties in October 1986. They had three children during the marriage: Chris, born in 1965; Kurt, born in 1969; and Robby, born in 1975. Chris was an adult at the time of the dissolution and was not considered in the decree. Kieth was an attorney in Webster City at that time and earning about $60,000 per year. Mary was unemployed at the time of the dissolution although she had training to be a physical education instructor or a paralegal.
The district court granted the parties joint legal custody with primary physical care awarded to Mary. Kieth was ordered to pay $350 per month per child in child support. Kieth was ordered to pay alimony of $800 per month until January 1, 1988, then $600 per month until January 1, 1993, and $300 per month until January 1, 1996. Kieth was also ordered to pay Mary $5,000 as a property settlement and $3,500 for attorney fees. Kieth appealed. The court of appeals affirmed, except for the award of attorney fees.
Kieth filed an application for modification in February 1989 alleging that Mary’s alimony should be decreased because his income had substantially decreased, while Mary’s income had substantially increased. Kieth’s law partnership in Webster City was dissolved in 1986, and he moved to Colorado. His income was in the mid-$40’s for several years, and only in 1989 increased to about $50,000. Kieth is now in-house counsel for American Family Insurance. After the decree Mary was hired as a paralegal by Kieth’s ex-partner where she earned about $11,000 per year. In 1988 Mary was elected Hamilton County Auditor, and her salary is now $25,246.
The district court refused to change the alimony award. The court found that the original decree had anticipated that Mary would become employed, which accounted for the staggered alimony amounts. The court noted that Kieth was extremely delinquent in his child support and alimony payments. The court did modify the portion of the decree concerning medical insurance for the children. Mary must now provide the insurance through her employer, and Kieth must reimburse her.
Kieth appeals the district court’s modification order.
I. In this equity action, our review is de novo. Iowa R.App.P. 4. We *586have a duty to examine the entire record and adjudicate anew rights on the issues properly presented. In re Marriage of Steenhoek, 305 N.W.2d 448, 452 (Iowa 1981). We give weight to the fact findings of the trial court, especially when considering the credibility of witnesses, but are not bound by them. Iowa R.App.P. 14(f)(7).
II. Modification of the alimony provisions of a dissolution decree is justified only if there has been some material and substantial change in the circumstances of the parties, financially or otherwise, making it equitable that other terms be imposed. Thayer v. Thayer, 286 N.W.2d 222, 223 (Iowa App.1979). The burden rests on the party seeking modification to establish such a change of circumstances by a preponderance of the evidence. Id.; Mears v. Mears, 213 N.W.2d 511, 513 (Iowa 1973). Circumstances that have changed, to justify modification of alimony, must be those that were not within contemplation of the trial court when the original decree was entered. In re Marriage of Full, 255 N.W.2d 153, 159 (Iowa 1977). Such changes must be more or less permanent or continuous, not temporary. In re Marriage of Carlson, 338 N.W.2d 136, 141 (Iowa 1983).
The knowledge of the trial court at the time the award is made is the basis for determining whether there has been a change of circumstances. Full, 255 N.W.2d at 159; Leo v. Leo, 213 N.W.2d 495, 496 (Iowa 1973). The original decree is entered with a view to reasonable and ordinary changes that may be likely to occur in the relations of the parties. Mears, 213 N.W.2d at 514.
A reduction of income which is self-inflicted does not constitute grounds for modification. In re Marriage of Kern, 408 N.W.2d 387, 390 (Iowa App.1987). As noted by the trial court, Kieth chose to leave Webster City, where he had built up a law practice, and move to Colorado, where his girlfriend had moved. The decrease in Kieth’s salary does not constitute a substantial change in circumstances.
Furthermore, the increase in Mary’s salary is not a substantial change in circumstances. The original decree contemplated that Mary would obtain employment. She is qualified to work as a teacher or a paralegal. While her present salary may be a little bit more than that of a teacher or paralegal, her position is not permanent. Changes which are not permanent are not sufficient to cause a modification of a dissolution decree. See In re Marriage of Carlson, 338 N.W.2d 136, 141 (Iowa 1983).
Thus, we conclude there has not been a substantial change in circumstances sufficient to allow a modification of the alimony provisions of the dissolution decree.
III. Kieth contends that the court committed or allowed procedural errors. He states that Mary did not specifically respond to interrogatories and the court erred in not granting his motion to compel. He also claims the court erred in not requiring Mary to file a pre-trial statement. Furthermore, he claims the court erred in finding certain admissions were not binding on Mary.
A trial court has wide discretion in discovery matters, and an appellate court will not reverse unless that discretion is exercised on clearly untenable grounds. Hense v. G.D. Searle & Co., 452 N.W.2d 440, 445 (Iowa 1990). We do not believe the trial court abused its discretion in this ease.
IV. Kieth also contends the court erred in modifying the decree to require him to pay Mary’s cost of providing health insurance. Under the original decree Kieth was required to provide health insurance for the children. Mary testified at the modification hearing that she did not trust Kieth to keep up the insurance, so she had acquired duplicate coverage through her employer. The court modified the decree to require Kieth to reimburse Mary for her cost of insurance. Kieth argues that Mary should not be rewarded for incurring the cost of duplicate coverage. He feels that if she insists on providing her own health insurance for the children, then she should be responsible for the cost, or alternatively, the parties should share the cost of the *587least expensive health insurance for the minor children.
Considering that Kieth is behind on his alimony and child support payments, we find the trial court was justified in wondering whether Kieth would keep up the payments on the children’s health insurance. We affirm the modification of the decree to require Kieth to pay Mary’s cost of providing dependent health insurance.
V. Mary requests attorney fees for this appeal. An award of attorney fees is not a matter of right, but rests within the court’s discretion and the parties’ financial positions. In re Marriage of Kern, 408 N.W.2d 387, 390 (Iowa App.1987). We are to consider the needs of the party making the request, the ability of the other party to pay, and whether the party making the request was obligated to defend the trial court’s decision on appeal. In re Marriage of Castle, 312 N.W.2d 147, 150 (Iowa App.1981). We order Kieth to pay $500 towards Mary’s attorney fees for this appeal.
AFFIRMED.
DONIELSON, P.J., and HAYDEN, J., specially concur.