In re the Marriage of Krejci , 2013 Colo. App. LEXIS 105 ( 2013 )

Opinion by

Judge WEBB.

1 John R. Krejci (husband) appeals from the property distribution provisions of permanent orders entered in connection with dissolution of his marriage to Emily A. Krejei (wife), and from findings concerning wife's income for purposes of calculating child support. Wife conditionally eross-appeals from the property distribution. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for further proceedings.

I. Property Distribution

A. The Marital Home

T2 Husband primarily contends the trial court erred by classifying the marital home as wife's separate property to the extent that her mother contributed to the equity by paying off the mortgage during the marriage. Resolving a question of first impression in Colorado, we conclude that a gift by a third-party donor during the marriage, which increases the value of a jointly-titled asset of the spouses, is presumably a gift to the marriage, and that this presumption can only be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence. Therefore, because the trial court did not apply this presumption, further findings are required.

13 The classification of property as marital or separate is a legal determination based on resolution of factual disputes. In re Marriage of Williamson, 205 P.3d 538, 540 (Colo.App.2009). Although we defer to the trial court's factual findings concerning its classification of equity in the marital home, we independently review the legal standard the court applied. See id.

T4 When a spouse places separate property in joint ownership during the marriage, a presumption that the donor spouse intended a gift to the marriage arises; the gifted property is presumed marital absent clear and convincing evidence to the contrary. In re Marriage of Balanson, 25 P.3d 28, 37 (Colo.2001).¹

15 Here, the parties purchased the marital home jointly during their marriage. Several years later, wife's mother paid off the mortgage, on which both parties were obligors, by a direct transfer to the creditor. Wife testified that her mother had intended to make a gift to wife alone. Husband testified that wife and her mother told him the payment was intended to benefit them both. Shortly after the payoff, the mother signed a trust instrument that did not mention husband and described all prior gifts to wife as advances on her inheritance.

T6 The trial court found that because the funds used to pay off the mortgage were part of wife's inheritance, they were her separate property under section 14-10-118(2)(a), C.R.S.2012 (exempting property that a spouse acquires by gift, bequest, devise, or descent from the marital estate). The court did not apply the presumption recognized in Balanson, for which husband had argued.

{7 No Colorado case has addressed whether the marital property presumption applies to a gift by a third party that increases the value of a jointly-owned asset. In re Marriage of Dale, 87 P.3d 219 (Colo.App.2003), on which husband relies, involved personal property that the wife's mother purchased for the marital home.

T8 In Strang v. Strang, 222 A.D.2d 975, 635 N.Y.S.2d 786, 788-89 (1995), the court treated funds gifted by the wife's father to satisfy the parties' joint debt on the marital residence as marital See also Knecht v. Knecht, 629 So.2d 883, 886 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App.1993) (applying the presumption when the husband's mother paid a portion of the down payment on the parties' jointly-owned home); 1 Brett R. Turner, Equitable Distribution of Property § 5:48, at 480 (8d ed. 2005) ("The presumption also applies to contributions made with separate funds to property already titled jointly...."). Other jurisdictions have applied a marital property presumption to real property conveyed by a third party to a married couple jointly. See, e.g., In re Marriage of Hunter, 223 Ill.App.3d 947, 166 Ill.Dec. 242, 585 N.E.2d 1264, 1268-69 (1992); Lee v. Lee, 595 A.2d 408, 410-11 (Me.1991); Tubbs v. Tubbs, 755 S.W.2d 423, 424 (Mo.Ct.App.1988); In re Marriage of Martin, 32 Wash.App. 92, 645 P.2d 1148, 1150 (1982).

19 In re Marriage of Stumpf, 932 P.2d 845, 848 (Colo.App.1996), recognized the concept of marriage as a partnership or joint enterprise. Applying the marital property presumption to all property transferred into joint ownership, whether by one of the spouses, as in Stumpf, or by a third party, furthers this concept. See Lee, 595 A.2d at 411; see also Spooner v. Spooner, 850 A.2d 354, 362 (Me.2004). Moreover, we discern no rationale for limiting this presumption to spousal transfers.

1 10 Having concluded that the court erred by failing to apply this presumption, its allocation of the marital home cannot be upheld as equitable under the totality of the ciream-stances, which wife suggests. See Balanson, 25 P.3d at 42; In re Marriage of Burford, 950 P.2d 682, 686 (Colo.App.1997).²

{11 Accordingly, on remand, the court should apply the presumption, decide whether it has been overcome by clear and convine-ing evidence, and then if it has not been overcome, reconsider the marital component of the equity in the home. The court may, but need not, hear further evidence of the mother's intent.

B. Wife's Merrill Lynch Investment Account

112 Husband next contends the trial court erred by classifying all of this account, including the marital increase in value, as wife's separate property. We agree.

113 Any appreciation of a spouse's separate property during the marriage is marital property subject to equitable division under section 14-10-118(1), C.R.S.2012. See Balanson, 25 P.3d at 42; Dale, 87 P.3d at 225.

Here, during the marriage, wife deposited her inheritance from the estates of her mother and her brother into the parties' joint investment account, which became the Merrill Lynch account. Husband later agreed to remove his name from this account. When husband's name was removed, the value of the account was $823,978. Its value as of the hearing was $517,545.

T15 In her proposed property division chart, wife identified a $53,653 marital increase in the account based on the difference between her total inheritance ($463,892), and the value of the account as of the hearing. Nevertheless, the trial court classified the entire account as wife's separate property, explaining that the funds derived from her inheritance. This classification is not supported by the record.

1 16 The court acknowledged some logic in assuming that the account had increased in value, but found that husband failed to establish any appreciation of the account during the parties' marriage. This finding is not supported by the account valuation evidence presented at the hearing. Therefore, on remand the trial court should determine the marital increase in value of the account, and then distribute the increase equitably under section 14-10-118(1).

"[ 17 When determining the amount of marital increase, the court must resolve whether wife always intended her inheritance to remain separate property. If so, the marital increase in value should be calculated by subtracting the amount of wife's inheritance ($463,892) from the value of the account at the time of the hearing ($517,545). However, if the inherited funds became marital when wife deposited them into the parties' joint account, and were then gifted back to wife when husband removed his name from the account, the increase in value should be calculated by subtracting the value of the account at the time husband's name was removed ($323,978) from the value at the time of the hearing ($517,545). The court may in its discretion take additional evidence when determining the intent issue.

{18 Because the marital increase in value of the account was erroneously omitted from the marital estate, reconsideration of the entire marital property distribution is required. See In re Marriage of McCadam, 910 P.2d 98, 100 (Colo.App.1995).³

119 Wife's argument that reversal and remand are not necessary because her entire inheritance, which included funds other than those in the Merrill Lynch account, decreased in value during the marriage, is unpersuasive. The net overall increase or decrease in value of a spouse's separate property is not considered when the court determines the value of the marital estate. See Burford, 950 P.2d at 685; see also In re Marriage of Seewald, 22 P.3d 580, 586 (Colo.App.2001). Rather, the trial court adds to the marital estate only the amount of marital increase in any separate asset, without regard to other separate assets that have decreased in value during the marriage. See Burford, 950 P.2d at 685.

120 Contrary to wife's assertion, In re Marriage of Powell, 220 P.3d 952 (Colo.App.2009), does not support a different conclusion. There, the husband argued that the marital portion of the wife's premarital Individual Retirement Account should have been calculated based on the increased value of individual securities in the account. Id. at 957. Instead, the trial court valued the account as a single asset, which reflected appreciation in some securities and depreciation in other securities. Id. at 958. In affirming, the division relied in part on section 14-10-118(4), C.R.S.2012, which provides that "an asset of a spouse acquired prior to the marriage ... shall be considered as marital property" to the extent of any increase in value, and on Burford, 950 P.2d at 685, which described "an asset" as "only a single item."

121 Here, in contrast, wife argues that as long as her entire inheritance remained liquid, it constituted a single asset, even if placed in multiple accounts. She provides no definition of "asset" supporting this conclusion, nor have we found one in Colorado. The general meaning of this term would support treating each account separately, even if funded from a common source. See Black's Law Dictionary 112 (ith ed. 1999) ("An item that is owned and has value."); see also Seewald, 22 P.3d at 585-86 (rejecting argument that all assets held in spouse's separate revocable trust should be considered together as one unit for purposes of determining any marital increase or decrease in value). Further, adopting wife's approach could create tracing difficulties as funds were distributed across multiple accounts. See Seewald, 22 P.3d at 586.

C. Husband's Interest in Race Place

122 On eross-appeal, wife contends the trial court erred in determining the marital increase in value of husband's interest in Race Place, a real estate investment company. We disagree.

$23 Valuing property is within the trial court's discretion, and the court's determination will not be disturbed on appeal if it is reasonable in light of the evidence as a whole. In re Marriage of Nevarez, 170 P.3d 808, 812 (Colo.App.2007). The court may select the valuation of one party over that of the other party, or make its own valuation, and its decision will be upheld on appeal unless clearly erroneous. Id. The parties must present the court with sufficient data to make a reasonable valuation; any failure to do so does not provide grounds for reversal. See In re Marriage of Rodrick, 176 P.3d 806, 815 (Colo.App.2007); see also In re Marriage of Nordahl, 834 P.2d 838, 842 (Colo.App.1992) (business valuation upheld when neither party provided expert evidence, so the court based value on the only evidence before it).

1 24 Here, neither party presented expert testimony concerning the value of husband's interest in Race Place. Husband's father, who gave husband this interest, testified that the company decreased in value after husband received his interest. He further testified that although husband's capital account had increased, the amount of funds in that account had no relation to the value of husband's interest in the company. The trial court found a marital increase in value only to the extent of the income husband had earned from his interest.

25 Wife provides no authority indicating that the trial court erred by valuing husband's interest in this manner. The court's decision not to rely on the capital account, as wife urged it to do, has record support from the testimony of husband's father. Accordingly, the court did not abuse its discretion. See Nordahl, 834 P.2d at 842.

D. The Parties' Retirement and Health Savings Accounts

1 26 Because the trial court must reconsider the entire property division on remand, we need not address wife's contention that the trial court abused its discretion by dividing the parties' retirement assets and health savings account inequitably. See Burford, 950 P.2d at 686.

II. Wife's Income for Purposes of Calculating Child Support

A. Employment Earnings

127 Husband contends the trial court abused its discretion by failing to make findings whether wife was voluntarily underemployed. We agree that specific findings are necessary.

128 Under section 14-10-115(5)(b)(I), C.R.98.2012, if a parent is voluntarily underemployed, child support must be calculated based on the parent's potential income. This provision imputes income to a parent who shirks his or her child support obligation by unreasonably foregoing higher paying employment. People v. Martinez, 70 P.3d 474, 480 (Colo.2003). Deciding whether a parent is voluntarily underemployed requires the trial court to make factual findings and then apply a legal standard. See id. at 476-77.

129 Here, wife testified that she had obtained a teaching position at fifty-eight percent of full time, and that she had attempted to find a full-time position without success. Husband argued that because wife was voluntarily underemployed, full-time income should be imputed to her. The trial court calculated child support using wife's part-time employment income plus royalties she received, but made no findings whether wife was voluntarily underemployed by working only part time. Contrary to wife's argument, the trial court did not make any finding concerning the reasonableness of her efforts to find a full-time position.

180 Accordingly, remand is necessary for the court to reconsider this issue and enter findings supporting its determination. See In re Marriage of Campbell, 140 P.3d 320, 324-25 (Colo.App.2006).

B. Dividend Income

131 Husband next contends the trial court abused its discretion by failing to include in wife's income the dividends she earns on her investments. We agree.

132 Under section 14-10-115(5)(a)(D(F), C.R.S.2012, a parent's gross income for child support purposes includes dividends.

33 Here, wife's investment account statements showed that she received dividends from securities in the account, and was projected to receive $6663 in dividends for 2012. Wife initially testified that she was unaware of the dividends. Then she testified that the dividends were reinvested in her account and should be included in her income for child support purposes. The court did not include the dividends, but failed to explain the omission. Contrary to wife's argument, the ree-ord does not reflect, and the court did not find, that the dividends were speculative.

1384 Accordingly, on remand, the court should recalculate wife's income for child support purposes to include her dividends, in an amount to be determined by the court.⁴

III Conclusion

135 The portions of the judgment setting apart wife's separate property, dividing the marital property, and calculating wife's income for purposes of child support are reversed. The case is remanded for the trial court to reconsider and make additional findings concerning these issues. The court may also reconsider the related issues of maintenance and attorney fees, to the extent it deems necessary based on its new findings concerning the property division and wife's income.

1 36 In all other respects, the judgment is affirmed.

Judge LOEB concurs. Judge TAUBMAN specially coneurs.

1 . The Uniform Dissolution of Marriage Act, sections 14-10-101 to -133, C.R.S.2012, does not address this presumption.

2 . Given this disposition, we need not address husband's contention that the court miscalculated the equalization payment due to him from wife for the marital portion of the home.

3 . On appeal, neither party requested recalculation of maintenance and attorney fees.

4 . We reject wife's argument, unsupported by any authority, that dividends can be included as income only if they are guaranteed. Rarely is future income a certainty.