In Re: The Marriage of Robin R. Phillips v. Thomas R. Lloyd (mem. dec.) ( 2016 )


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  • MEMORANDUM DECISION
    Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),                              FILED
    this Memorandum Decision shall not be                          Nov 17 2016, 8:37 am
    regarded as precedent or cited before any
    CLERK
    court except for the purpose of establishing                    Indiana Supreme Court
    Court of Appeals
    the defense of res judicata, collateral                              and Tax Court
    estoppel, or the law of the case.
    ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                  ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
    Michael H. Michmerhuizen                                Michael A. Setlak
    Barrett McNagny LLP                                     Perry D. Shilts
    Fort Wayne, Indiana                                     Shilts & Setlak LLC
    Fort Wayne, Indiana
    IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
    In Re: The Marriage of                                  November 17, 2016
    Robin R. Phillips,                                      Court of Appeals Case No.
    90A05-1605-DR-1221
    Appellant-Respondent,
    Appeal from the Wells Circuit
    v.                                              Court
    The Honorable Kenton W.
    Thomas R. Lloyd,                                        Kiracofe, Judge
    Trial Court Cause No.
    Appellee-Petitioner.
    90C01-1504-DR-40
    Bailey, Judge.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 90A05-1605-DR-1221 | November 17, 2016   Page 1 of 18
    Case Summary
    [1]   Robin Phillips (“Wife”) appeals the trial court’s valuation and division of the
    marital estate following the dissolution of her marriage to Lloyd Phillips
    (“Husband”).
    [2]   We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand with instructions.
    Issues
    [3]   Wife raises multiple issues on appeal, which we consolidate and restate as:
    I.      Whether the trial court abused its discretion in valuing the
    marital estate; and
    II.     Whether the trial court abused its discretion in dividing the
    marital estate.
    Facts and Procedural History
    [4]   Prior to marrying in 2006, Wife and Husband were in a live-in relationship for
    several years. In November 2001, Wife purchased a home that would later
    become the marital residence (“Marital Residence”). Because the Marital
    Residence needed repairs, Wife and Husband waited to move in together. Over
    the next few months, they worked on the home together and began cohabitating
    there around March 2002. Wife paid the mortgage and the household bills.
    [5]   When Wife and Husband began living together, each had certain personal
    assets. Among them, Wife owned a restaurant, which she purchased in 1997
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 90A05-1605-DR-1221 | November 17, 2016   Page 2 of 18
    (“Restaurant”), and a rental property in Zanesville, which she purchased in
    1999. Husband owned a home and had money in a 401(k).
    [6]   While Wife and Husband were cohabitating, but before they married, Husband
    sold his home and gave some of the proceeds to Wife. During their
    cohabitation, Wife purchased a rental property in Huntington (“Huntington
    Rental”).
    [7]   Wife and Husband married on January 31, 2006. During the marriage, Wife
    purchased two additional rental properties in Zanesville (we refer to the three
    properties in Zanesville collectively as the “Zanesville Rentals”).
    [8]   Throughout the relationship, Husband was employed and earned between
    $30,000 and $35,000 per year since 2011. Toward the end of the relationship,
    Wife earned around $200 per week from the Restaurant, or around $10,400 per
    year. The parties kept separate accounts but would exchange money. When
    Husband received paychecks, he would give Wife money to pay bills. Neither
    kept an accounting of the money they exchanged. Once they married, Husband
    paid for Wife’s health insurance. Each year, they filed joint tax returns, and
    Wife received the refunds.
    [9]   Before and during the marriage, Wife and Husband were engaged in buying
    and selling goods together. The venture involved purchasing goods at auctions
    and attending flea markets, shows, and swap meets. They also sold goods on
    eBay. Husband withdrew money from his 401(k) to purchase a trailer as well as
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 90A05-1605-DR-1221 | November 17, 2016   Page 3 of 18
    goods for the buying and selling venture. Any proceeds from the venture went
    to Wife and toward purchasing more goods.
    [10]   Wife and Husband also “flipped” properties together. Wife purchased the
    properties in her name and Husband helped renovate them. Sometimes, they
    rented the properties; sometimes they sold the properties outright. Wife paid
    for the properties and received the income whereas Husband contributed labor
    and equipment toward the properties. Husband also contributed labor and
    equipment to the Restaurant, where Wife would allow Husband to eat for free.
    [11]   During the relationship, Wife incurred credit card debt and eventually
    negotiated a settlement amount. To pay the settlement, Wife borrowed money
    from her mother, Melba Edwards (“Edwards”). Wife borrowed additional
    money from Edwards to pay off debt associated with the Restaurant.
    [12]   In April 2015, Wife sold the Zanesville Rentals. Shortly after the sale, Husband
    filed a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage on April 22, 2015. Around this
    time, Wife paid debts using proceeds of the sale along with other assets.
    [13]   The parties entered into a mediated partial settlement agreement, which left to
    the trial court the division of all real estate and debts. Following a hearing on
    February 24, 2016, the trial court suggested that the parties tender proposed
    findings and conclusions, which they did. On April 28, 2016, the trial court
    entered its findings, conclusions, and order of dissolution of marriage. In so
    doing, the trial court adopted Husband’s proposals verbatim.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 90A05-1605-DR-1221 | November 17, 2016   Page 4 of 18
    [14]   The trial court purported to order an equal division of the marital estate. Based
    on the trial court’s valuation, Wife was to pay a $49,675.00 equalization
    payment to Husband. The trial court further ordered that if Wife did not pay
    the judgment within thirty days, Wife was to sell or eventually auction certain
    real estate. The order did not allocate any sale or auction costs to Husband.
    [15]   Wife now appeals.
    Standard of Review
    [16]   Here, as permitted by Indiana Trial Rule 52(A), the trial court entered findings
    of fact sua sponte. Our court will “not set aside the [trial court’s] findings or
    judgment unless clearly erroneous . . . .” Ind. Trial Rule 52(A). Findings are
    clearly erroneous only when the record contains no facts to support them either
    directly or by inference. Quillen v. Quillen, 
    671 N.E.2d 98
    , 102 (Ind. 1996). A
    trial court’s judgment is clearly erroneous if “its findings of fact do not support
    its conclusions of law or . . . its conclusions of law do not support its
    judgment.” 
    Id. Where, as
    here, the trial court adopts verbatim a party’s
    proposed findings and conclusions, it does not alter our standard of review. See
    Cook v. Whitsell-Sherman, 
    796 N.E.2d 271
    , 273 n.1 (Ind. 2003). However, the
    practice “weakens our confidence as an appellate court that the findings are the
    result of considered judgment by the trial court.” 
    Id. (citing Prowell
    v. State, 
    741 N.E.2d 704
    , 708-09 (Ind. 2001)).
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 90A05-1605-DR-1221 | November 17, 2016   Page 5 of 18
    [17]   Here, Wife raises challenges to the trial court’s valuation and division of the
    marital estate. We review such challenges under an abuse of discretion
    standard. 
    Quillen, 671 N.E.2d at 102
    ; Fobar v. Vonderahe, 
    771 N.E.2d 57
    , 59
    (Ind. 2002). The trial court abuses its discretion when its decision is clearly
    against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances before it, including
    the reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom. 
    Quillen, 671 N.E.2d at 102
    ;
    Taylor v. Taylor, 
    436 N.E.2d 56
    , 58 (Ind. 1982). We do not weigh the evidence,
    but will consider the evidence in a light most favorable to the judgment.
    
    Quillen, 671 N.E.2d at 102
    ; 
    Fobar, 771 N.E.2d at 59
    .
    Discussion and Decision
    Valuation of the Marital Estate
    [18]   Wife contends that the trial court abused its discretion in valuing the marital
    estate. In asserting error, Wife points to the trial court’s (1) handling of debts
    paid following the sale of the Zanesville Rentals; (2) omission of an undisputed
    mowing bill; and (3) valuation of the Huntington Rental.
    [19]   Under Indiana Code Section 31-15-7-4(a), a trial court must include all marital
    property in the marital pot for division, whether it was owned by either spouse
    before the marriage, acquired by either spouse before final separation, or
    acquired by their joint efforts. “Marital property includes both assets and
    liabilities.” Birkhimer v. Birkhimer, 
    981 N.E.2d 111
    , 120 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012).
    Although the trial court has “broad discretion in ascertaining the value of
    property in a dissolution action,” 
    Quillen, 671 N.E.2d at 102
    , the trial court
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 90A05-1605-DR-1221 | November 17, 2016   Page 6 of 18
    generally has no authority to exclude or set aside any assets or liabilities of the
    parties, and it must divide all property and debts. 
    Birkhimer, 981 N.E.2d at 120
    .
    [20]   Starting with the Zanesville Rentals, Wife sold the properties in April 2015, just
    prior to Husband’s initiation of the dissolution proceedings. The parties agree
    that, after costs associated with the sale, Wife netted $49,403.00. Wife alleges
    that she used all of the proceeds, along with additional assets, to pay debts.
    Among those debts, Wife paid $38,000.00 to Edwards.1 The original balance
    of the Edwards loan was $45,943.00.
    [21]   In its order, the trial court identified the $49,403.00 in proceeds as an asset.
    The order also identified the Edwards loan balance as $45,943.00—the original,
    unreduced amount, which would offset $38,000 of the proceeds. Wife points
    out, however, that she spent a total of $51,461.50 toward reducing debt, thus
    spending $13,461.50 more than the $38,000.00 payment on the Edwards loan.
    Although the trial court’s calculation offsets the $38,000.00 payment on the
    Edwards loan, the trial court did not account for the other potential offsets.
    [22]   At the hearing, Husband challenged the amount paid to Edwards:
    Q.       Okay. So the debt to her mother of $38,000.00 is what
    you don’t agree to?
    1
    Wife complains that the trial court erred in finding that it was “obvious that Wife had only paid [Edwards]
    in anticipation of the divorce proceedings,” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II at 12), but establishes no basis upon
    which the alleged error prejudiced her. We accordingly do not address her argument in this respect. See T.R.
    61.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 90A05-1605-DR-1221 | November 17, 2016         Page 7 of 18
    A.      Yes.
    Q.      Okay. But everything else of the bills that she paid, you
    agree to?
    A.      Yes.
    [23]   (Tr. at 47.) However, in Husband’s proposed findings and conclusions—which
    the trial court adopted—Husband nevertheless (1) accounted for the full
    amount owed to Edwards, which encompassed the previously disputed $38,000
    payment; and (2) omitted the remaining debt that Husband did not earlier
    dispute. Husband does not now contest the amount of the Edwards loan and
    Husband does not directly address the remaining non-Edwards debt.
    [24]   The trial court must divide all marital property. Ind. Code § 31-15-7-4(a). In
    valuing the marital estate, it was illogical for the trial court to fully account for
    the Edwards loan, which Husband had initially disputed, yet to exclude the
    non-Edwards debt that Husband agreed to at the hearing. Accordingly, we find
    that the trial court abused its discretion in excluding the additional debt paid
    following the sale of the Zanesville Rentals in its valuation of the marital estate.
    [25]   Similarly, Wife points to an undisputed $774.00 mowing bill that was not
    included in the trial court’s calculation and which Husband now concedes was
    error. Husband invites us to avoid disturbing the trial court’s judgment because
    the amount of the bill was de minimus. However, in light of the existing
    valuation error, and Husband’s concession of error as to the mowing bill, on
    remand the trial court should include this bill in the marital pot.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 90A05-1605-DR-1221 | November 17, 2016   Page 8 of 18
    [26]   We turn next to the trial court’s valuation of the Huntington Rental. The trial
    court determined that the value of the Huntington Rental was $17,500.00. In
    reaching this value, the trial court used a June 24, 2015 appraisal showing the
    value was $28,000.00 and subtracted a mortgage balance of $10,500.00. Wife
    baldly contends that the trial court should have instead used a mortgage balance
    of $10,971.05. However, the portions of the record that Wife directs us to do
    not provide support for that figure. The argument section of the appellant’s
    brief must “contain the contentions of the appellant on the issues presented,
    supported by cogent reasoning,” along with citations to the authorities, statutes,
    and parts of the record relied upon. Ind. Appellate Rule 46(A)(8)(a). Failure to
    comply with this rule results in waiver of the argument on appeal. See Reed v.
    Reid, 
    980 N.E.2d 277
    , 297 (Ind. 2012) (finding waiver when an argument failed
    to conform to Indiana Appellate Rule 46(A)(8)(a)). Moreover, this Court does
    not sift through a record to locate error so as to state an appellant’s case for her.
    Wright v. Elston, 
    701 N.E.2d 1227
    , 1230 (Ind. Ct. App. 1998), trans. denied.
    Because Wife’s argument is undeveloped, the issue is waived for review.
    [27]   In sum, we find that the trial court abused its discretion by omitting two
    undisputed marital debts when valuing the marital estate, which were the non-
    Edwards debts paid following the sale of the Zanesville Rentals and the $774.00
    mowing bill. We instruct the trial court to account for these marital debts in
    reaching its valuation of the marital estate.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 90A05-1605-DR-1221 | November 17, 2016   Page 9 of 18
    Division of the Marital Estate
    [28]   Wife also argues that the trial court erred in dividing the marital estate. She
    focuses on whether the trial court abused its discretion in (1) ordering an equal
    division of the marital estate and (2) not requiring Husband to share in potential
    sale or auction costs incurred as a result of the trial court’s order.
    [29]   Indiana law requires that marital property be divided “in a just and reasonable
    manner,” I.C. § 31-15-7-4(b), and provides for the statutory presumption that
    “an equal division of the marital property between the parties is just and
    reasonable.” I.C. § 31-15-7-5. This presumption, however, may be rebutted by
    a party who presents relevant evidence, including evidence of the following
    factors:
    (1) The contribution of each spouse to the acquisition of the
    property, regardless of whether the contribution was income
    producing.
    (2) The extent to which the property was acquired by each
    spouse:
    (A) before the marriage; or
    (B) through inheritance or gift.
    (3) The economic circumstances of each spouse at the time the
    disposition of the property is to become effective, including the
    desirability of awarding the family residence or the right to dwell
    in the family residence for such periods as the court considers just
    to the spouse having custody of any children.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 90A05-1605-DR-1221 | November 17, 2016 Page 10 of 18
    (4) The conduct of the parties during the marriage as related to
    the disposition or dissipation of their property.
    (5) The earnings or earning ability of the parties as related to:
    (A) a final division of property; and
    (B) a final determination of the property rights of the
    parties.
    
    Id. [30] In
    dividing marital property, the trial court must consider all of the statutory
    factors, but it is not required to explicitly address all of the factors in every case.
    Eye v. Eye, 
    849 N.E.2d 698
    , 701-02 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006). A party challenging
    the trial court’s division of marital property must overcome a strong
    presumption that the court considered and complied with the applicable statute.
    Campbell v. Campbell, 
    993 N.E.2d 205
    , 212-13 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013), trans. denied.
    Moreover, we are to consider the trial court’s disposition “as a whole, not item
    by item.” 
    Fobar, 771 N.E.2d at 59
    . We recognize that
    in crafting a just and reasonable property distribution, a trial
    court is required to balance a number of different considerations
    in arriving at an ultimate disposition. The court may allocate
    some items of property or debt to one spouse because of its
    disposition of other items. Similarly, the factors identified by the
    statute as permitting an unequal division in favor of one party or
    the other may cut in different directions. As a result, if the
    appellate court views any one of these in isolation and apart from
    the total mix, it may upset the balance ultimately struck by the
    trial court.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 90A05-1605-DR-1221 | November 17, 2016 Page 11 of 18
    
    Id. at 60.
    [31]   Here, in determining that Wife failed to rebut the presumption that an equal
    division was just and reasonable, the trial court found:
    [T]he parties cohabitated for four to five years prior to the
    marriage. Both parties contributed financially, and property and
    money was comingled by way of sales of real and personal
    property. While Wife argues she contributed more than
    Husband did during the period of cohabitation and during the
    marriage, Husband always maintained full-time employment.
    He also provided health insurance for the parties and performed
    contributed [sic] his services to the rental properties and business.
    (Appellant’s App. Vol. II at 11.) The trial court further concluded:
    Deviating from the statutory presumption or excluding some of
    this property from the marital estate would not be just and proper
    given that it had all been comingled with other marital property.
    Further, all property, real and personal, was used to pay down
    marital debts, some of which Wife considered her individual
    debt. Wife has not rebutted the presumption of an equal division
    of assets and debts.
    (Appellant’s App. Vol. II. at 12.)
    [32]   Wife asserts that she rebutted the presumption of an equal division of assets and
    debts. In arguing that the factors supported an unequal division, Wife points to
    specific assets she purchased prior to the marriage, namely, (1) the Restaurant
    where she earns her income; (2) the Marital Residence, which she purchased
    while the parties were cohabitating prior to marriage; and (3) certain rental
    properties, including the Huntington Rental. Wife would also set aside the
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 90A05-1605-DR-1221 | November 17, 2016 Page 12 of 18
    proceeds from the sale of the three Zanesville Rentals, one of which she
    purchased prior to any relationship with Husband. Wife emphasizes that these
    assets were in her name and that she made all of the payments associated with
    them. Wife also observes that due to her economic circumstances at the time of
    the disposition, she would be forced to liquidate assets to satisfy the payment,
    leaving her with significantly fewer assets than she had prior to the parties’
    cohabitation and marriage. Wife observes that whereas she may ultimately
    need to liquidate the Restaurant, her source of income, to satisfy the
    equalization payment, Lloyd would leave the marriage with “a substantial cash
    position with his livelihood intact.” (Appellant’s Br. at 24.)
    [33]   In arguing that the trial court erred, Wife posits that the present case is
    analogous to both In re Marriage of Marek, 
    47 N.E.3d 1283
    (Ind. Ct. App. 2016),
    trans. denied, and Doyle v. Doyle, 
    756 N.E.2d 576
    (Ind. Ct. App. 2001). In Marek,
    this Court reversed the trial court’s equal division of the marital estate where
    “the findings made by the trial court and nearly all the statutory factors listed
    favor[ed] an unequal distribution of the marital estate. No findings support[ed]
    an equal division.” 
    Marek, 47 N.E.3d at 1292
    . In Doyle, we found error when
    the trial court considered the appreciation of certain assets belonging to the wife
    to be a marital asset. There, the pertinent accounts were solely in the wife’s
    name and were wholly untouched since the wife had deposited personal injury
    settlement money into them eleven years prior to the parties’ four-year
    marriage. Neither of the parties had contributed marital assets to the accounts.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 90A05-1605-DR-1221 | November 17, 2016 Page 13 of 18
    [34]   Both Marek and Doyle are distinguishable. Unlike in Marek, here, the trial court
    made findings that supported an equal division of the marital estate. The trial
    court noted Husband’s contributions to the rental properties and the
    Restaurant, his funding of the parties’ health insurance, and the extent to which
    the parties commingled “property and money . . . by way of sales of real and
    personal property,” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II at 11). The trial court further
    observed that “all property, real and personal, was used to pay down marital
    debts, some of which Wife considered her individual debt.” (Appellant’s App.
    Vol. II at 12.) Thus, unlike in Doyle, the assets were not wholly sequestered and
    there were marital contributions to them.
    [35]   Wife separately takes issue with the trial court’s finding that the parties
    commingled money and property because the properties were in her name, she
    paid the bills, and the parties kept separate accounts. However, the evidence
    favoring the judgment supports the finding of commingling. Moreover,
    although wife also takes issue with the trial court’s consideration of the parties’
    conduct during their period of premarital cohabitation, this Court has
    consistently indicated that a trial court may, but is not required to, consider
    periods during which couples cohabitate prior to their marriage when dividing
    the marital estate. See Hendricks v. Hendricks, 
    784 N.E.2d 1024
    , 1027 (Ind. Ct.
    App. 2003); Chestnut v. Chestnut, 
    499 N.E.2d 783
    , 787 (Ind. Ct. App. 1986).
    [36]   In summary, then, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion in
    equally dividing the marital estate.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 90A05-1605-DR-1221 | November 17, 2016 Page 14 of 18
    [37]   We turn next to Wife’s final contention, which is that the trial court abused its
    discretion by not requiring Husband to share in potential sale or auction costs
    incurred as a result of the trial court’s order. In carrying out its equal division
    of the marital estate, the trial court ordered that Wife make an equalization
    payment to Husband within thirty days. The pertinent part of the order
    provides as follows:
    If Wife does not pay the judgment in full, then [the Marital
    Estate] shall be listed for sale for a period not to exceed three (3)
    months. If the property does not sell within that time period,
    then the property shall be placed for auction. After expenses of
    the auction have been paid, Husband shall be paid from the
    proceed[s] of that sale up to the amount of the equalization
    judgment in his favor. If the proceeds do not satisfy the
    equalization judgment owed to Husband, then Wife shall
    immediately sell the [Huntington Rental] and use the proceeds of
    that sale to compensate Husband for any shortfall in the
    judgment owed to him. If that property is not sold within three
    months from the date it has been listed for sale, that property
    shall be placed for auction.
    (Appellant’s App. Vol. II at 13.)
    [38]   Wife challenges the trial court’s failure to allocate potential sale or auction costs
    to Husband. Wife argues that because the order requires her to sell or auction
    property within thirty days if she is unable to pay the judgment, the order’s
    potential effect would be to reduce her equal share. Thus, Wife essentially
    argues that one outcome of the order is a deviation from an equal division of
    the marital estate in Husband’s favor.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 90A05-1605-DR-1221 | November 17, 2016 Page 15 of 18
    [39]   Wife directs our attention to Keown v. Keown, 
    883 N.E.2d 865
    (Ind. Ct. App.
    2008). In Keown, the trial court ordered the wife to sell the marital residence
    and had heard evidence regarding the costs of the sale. The trial court factored
    those costs into its valuation of the marital estate, which husband alleged was
    error. In resolving Keown, we looked to Dowden v. Allman, 
    696 N.E.2d 456
    , 458
    (Ind. Ct. App. 1998). In Dowden, we found error when a trial court never
    ordered the sale of real estate but nevertheless included costs of sale in its
    valuation. Although there was error in Dowden, we did not find error in Keown,
    reasoning that “because the trial court ordered [the wife] to sell the marital
    residence, it did not abuse its discretion by reducing the property’s value by the
    costs of sale because those costs were a direct result of the disposition and were
    based on evidence presented at the hearing.” 
    Keown, 883 N.E.2d at 870
    .
    [40]   Keown and Dowden are inapposite here. Together, Dowden and Keown would
    suggest that it is within a trial court’s discretion to include evidence-based costs
    within the contingency portion of an order such as this one. Here, however,
    Wife is challenging the trial court’s omission of those costs, alleging that the
    omission amounts to error. Unlike in Dowden, here the trial court’s order did
    provide for a potential sale or auction. Although the sale or auction was a
    contingency, turning on Wife’s ability to pay the equalization payment within
    thirty days, a court-ordered sale or auction was nevertheless one potential
    outcome of the order. In contrast to Keown, however, here there was no
    evidence of precisely what the sale or auction costs would be. Yet, at the
    hearing, both Wife and Husband did acknowledge that, should there be a sale
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 90A05-1605-DR-1221 | November 17, 2016 Page 16 of 18
    of property, there would be costs. (Tr. at 48, 93.) Husband stated that, to some
    extent, he was willing to share in those costs. (Tr. at 48.) Moreover, it was not
    in dispute that due to Wife’s financial circumstances, she would be unable to
    pay an equalization payment without selling real estate. (Tr. at 42, 93.)
    [41]   We find that, under these facts and circumstances—where the undisputed
    evidence is that there would be costs following the sale of real estate, that Wife
    would necessarily sell real estate to satisfy an equalization payment, and that
    Husband would be willing to share in those costs to some extent—the trial court
    abused its discretion by allocating those costs solely to Wife when crafting a
    contingency in its order that mandated the sale or auction of real estate. This is
    because, under these facts, the trial court’s failure to include costs resulted in
    one potential outcome of its order being a deviation in favor of Husband. The
    outcome would be a deviation because it would effectively reduce Wife’s
    marital share while preserving Husband’s. “A trial court may deviate from an
    equal division so long as it sets forth a rational basis for its decision.” 
    Campbell, 993 N.E.2d at 212
    . Here, Husband argued only for an equal division of the
    marital estate and the trial court, by its order, intended to carry out an equal
    division of the marital estate. Thus, the potential deviation in favor of Husband
    was against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances before the court.
    To achieve a just and reasonable result, on remand we instruct the trial court to
    account for the existence of costs incurred as a result of the contingency in the
    trial court’s order, and order that Husband and Wife share those costs.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 90A05-1605-DR-1221 | November 17, 2016 Page 17 of 18
    Conclusion
    [42]   The trial court erred in valuing the marital estate. Although the trial court did
    not abuse its discretion in ordering an equal division of the marital estate, the
    trial court abused its discretion in omitting a potential cost when giving effect to
    its equal division of the estate.
    [43]   Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with instructions.
    Riley, J., and Barnes, J., concur.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 90A05-1605-DR-1221 | November 17, 2016 Page 18 of 18