Court Opinion

ID: 9692684
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 16:00:40.735981+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:19:36.076105
License: Public Domain

OXBERGER, Chief Judge
(dissenting).
I respectfully dissent. I concur with all of the majority decision except the issue regarding college expenses. The majority states: “If the child is self-sustaining, as clearly these four children are, support towards college expenses is not mandatory.” See In re Marriage of Hoak, 364 N.W.2d 185, 191 (Iowa 1985).
In Hoak, the court did not address the college expense issue because Mrs. Hoak did not raise the issue. The court did address the issue of whether self-sustaining children should receive child support during their minority. At page 191 of 364 N.W.2d the Hoak court said:
The children’s financial position should not be altered simply because their parents have dissolved their marriage. If the dissolution had not occurred, the children would have continued to be supported by their parents, and the gifted assets would not have been used for their support. The parents have an obligation to support their children which is not mitigated by gifts to the children prior to the divorce.
I do not see any reason to apply the above Hoak rule to child support prior to 18 and not apply it after 18. The legislature has decreed if the children attend college until the age of 22, divorced parents have an obligation to support them. I would apply the Hoak rule to college expenses.
The focus then becomes when the children’s fund was created, was its purpose to provide for the children’s college expenses. Sinesio testified it was, and Maria testified it was not. The trial court did not address the issue, so we do not have its superior vantage point to determine credibility.
I would find that the evidence is lacking as to the contemporaneous intent. Sine-sio’s trial testimony was self-serving and not persuasive. I believe the intent was to provide the parents tax advantages primarily and secondarily give the children funds to start adult life. I see no evidence that contemporary with the giving of the gift the parents intended it to be used for college.
I would require Sinesio to pay two-thirds of the college expenses. I would limit those expenses to the cost of an Iowa resident to attend one of the public universities. Those costs should be board, room, tuition and books. The children should have the choice as what school to attend, but expenses above those provided above should be borne by them.