In re the Marriage of Baker

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 17-2102
Filed January 9, 2019
IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF TERRY WAYNE BAKER
AND MARY ELIZABETH BAKER
Upon the Petition of
TERRY WAYNE BAKER,
Petitioner-Appellant,
And Concerning
MARY ELIZABETH BAKER,
Respondent-Appellee.
________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Wapello County, Randy S. DeGeest,
Judge.
Terry Baker appeals from the modification of the spousal support provisions
of the decree dissolving his marriage to Mary Baker. AFFIRMED.
R.E. Breckenridge of Breckenridge Law, PC, Ottumwa, for appellant.
Michael O. Carpenter of Gaumer, Emanuel, Carpenter & Goldsmith, PC,
Ottumwa, for appellee.
Considered by Potterfield, P.J., and Bower and McDonald, JJ.
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POTTERFIELD, Presiding Judge.
Terry Baker appeals from the modification of the spousal support provisions
of the decree dissolving his marriage to Mary Baker. Because we find the
modification of spousal support is equitable and based upon a substantial change
of circumstances, we affirm.
I. Background Facts and Proceedings.
The parties were married in 1972 when Terry was twenty years old and
Mary was eighteen. Mary did not finish high school, but stayed home and raised
the parties’ children while Terry worked and supported the family. The parties
separated in January 2007. The district court entered a decree of separate
maintenance in December 2009, ordering Terry to pay Mary $150 per week in
spousal support until further order of the court.
A decree was entered on January 28, 2015, dissolving Terry and Mary’s
marriage. Terry testified during the dissolution trial that he would like to retire when
he turned age sixty-five. At the time of dissolution, Terry worked full time for Deere
& Company earning $78,565.24 per year. Terry anticipated his pension from
Deere & Company would be $400 or $500 per month. In late 2014, Terry received
at least $6000 from his father’s estate. Terry reported no health issues at that time
and acknowledged he had a comfortable income that more than covered his
monthly expenses. After paying his obligations to Mary, Terry’s monthly net
income would be $5560.47.
At the time of dissolution, Mary was employed part time at J.C. Penney
earning $7083.89 per year. Mary also received $869.63 in alimony each month,
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plus $390 per month from Terry’s Maytag pension plan, and $89 per month in food
stamps. Mary’s monthly net income was $1863.97.
The court considered the length of the parties’ marriage, their earning
capacities and sources of income, their ages and health, and financial obligations.
The court determined the $150 per week ordered in 2009 in the decree of separate
maintenance was traditional alimony. In light of Mary’s probable inability to
become self-supporting, her age and unlikelihood of increasing her education or
job training, her health issues, and her imminent loss of health insurance, the court
ordered Terry to pay spousal support to Mary in the amount of $300 per week until
Mary reaches age sixty-five, either party dies, or until Mary remarries, whichever
happens first. Part of this increase from the separate maintenance order was
attributed to Mary’s loss of health insurance—the court estimated Mary’s monthly
healthcare expenses would be $607.88 based on the cost of her coverage under
Terry’s Deere & Company health insurance plan. After Mary reaches age sixty-
five, spousal support would continue at the rate of $50 per week.
Terry has a history of not paying spousal support. Terry was cited for
contempt in 2009 related to the decree for separate maintenance. From the entry
of the dissolution decree in January 2015 to October 2015, Terry paid only $200
per week rather than $300. Mary filed a contempt action in July 2015 to address
Terry’s nonpayment. A withholding order was entered in September 2015, but the
order mistakenly set the withholding at $300 per month, rather than per week. After
the withholding order, Terry’s weekly payments rose to $269 per week—$69 per
week from the withholding order. Terry made one-time payments in October 2015
and March 2016.
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In April 2016, Terry agreed to the entry of an order finding him in contempt,
sentencing him to seven days in jail, but with the opportunity to purge the contempt
by paying the accumulated arrearages, paying the full amount of weekly payments
for sixty days, and paying Mary’s attorneys fees in the amount of $1500. Terry
failed to purge contempt, and the district court issued a bench warrant in August
2016. Terry ultimately paid the $1500 attorney fee and made a lump payment of
$2513 for the arrearage amount specified in the April 2016 contempt order, but
Terry stopped making any weekly spousal support payments in March 2016.
Terry retired in April 2016. On June 15, 2016, Terry filed a petition to modify
the decree seeking to reduce or eliminate his obligation to pay spousal support.
Terry contended his retirement constituted a substantial change in circumstances
warranting a modification in the support order, pursuant to Iowa Code
section 598.21C (2017). Mary argued Terry’s retirement was not a substantial
change in circumstances because it was contemplated by the dissolution court in
awarding spousal support. Mary also urged that modification was not appropriate
in light of Terry’s inheritance from his father’s estate and because of Terry’s
contempt of the original order. At the time of trial on modification, Terry was sixty-
five years old, and Mary was sixty-three.
The district court found that Terry’s retirement was a change in employment
and income. The court concluded Terry’s significant decrease in income
constituted a substantial change in circumstances. The court also noted Mary now
received medical insurance at no cost through Medicaid and was working full time
to support herself. Because the court concluded complete termination of spousal
support would be inequitable to Mary, the court reduced the amount of spousal
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support from $300 per week to $215 per month. The court made this modification
retroactive to October 1, 2016, which was three months after notice of the petition
to modify was served on Mary. The court ordered the $215 monthly obligation
continues until either party dies or Mary remarries.
Based on the retroactive modification, the court calculated Terry still owed
Mary $6610 in unpaid spousal support. The court ordered Terry to pay, in addition
to the newly required $215 per month, monthly payments of $185 on the arrearage
until the arrearage is paid in full.
Terry appeals.
II. Standard of Review.
We review an order modifying a decree for dissolution of marriage de novo.
In re Marriage of Sisson, 843 N.W.2d 866, 870 (Iowa 2014). We will disturb the
trial court’s ruling only when there has been a failure to do equity. Id.III. Discussion.
Terry contends the substantial change in circumstances no longer requires
the payment of spousal support nor justifies its continuation beyond Mary reaching
age sixty-five. Mary contends Terry’s voluntary retirement was contemplated by
the dissolution court when it ordered spousal support, there has not been a change
in circumstances not contemplated by the dissolution court, and that the relevant
factors weigh against modifying spousal support.1 She requests we affirm the
district court, order Terry to pay more spousal support, or reverse and remand for
new proceedings in the district court.
1
Mary did not cross-appeal.
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The court may modify spousal support orders when there is a substantial
change in circumstances. Iowa Code § 598.21C. In determining whether there is
a substantial change in circumstances, the court considers:
(a) Changes in the employment, earning capacity, income, or
resources of a party.
(b) Receipt by a party of an inheritance, pension, or other gift.
(c) Changes in the medical expenses of a party.
....
(j) Contempt by a party of existing orders of court.
....
(l) Other factors the court determines to be relevant in an
individual case.
Id. § 598.21C(1).
We agree Terry’s change in income and employment due to his voluntary
retirement does not constitute a substantial change in circumstances because his
retirement was expected and considered by the dissolution court when it set the
amount of spousal support. See In re Marriage of Gust, 858 N.W.2d 402, 420
(Iowa 2015) (Wiggins, J., dissenting) (“Our case law is clear and well settled—you
can only modify a decree if there is a substantial change in circumstances not
contemplated by the court at the time of the entry of the decree.”) (citing In re
Marriage of Sisson, 843 N.W.2d 870–71 (Iowa 2014)).
However, the amount of spousal support was based in part on Mary’s
anticipated healthcare expenses, and she now receives Medicaid at no cost to
herself. Additionally, Mary has improved her financial situation by working full time.
Mary also drew early social security benefits, although she will incur a penalty for
doing so. Mary’s increased income and changes in medical expenses are
substantial changes in circumstances.
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The modified amount of spousal support—$215 per month—is comparable
to what the dissolution court ordered Terry to pay—$50 per week—after Mary
reached age sixty-five. Terry expressed his intent to retire at the time of
dissolution, and the dissolution court contemplated Terry’s reduced income when
it ordered him to continue paying spousal support even after the parties’
retirements. On this record, the court did not fail to do equity in ordering Terry to
pay spousal support in the amount of $215 per month.
IV. Appellate Attorney Fees.
Mary asks us to award her appellate attorney fees. An award of such fees
is discretionary. See Spiker v. Spiker, 708 N.W.2d 347, 360 (Iowa 2006)
(considering the award of appellate attorney fees in a modification action).
“Factors to be considered in determining whether to award attorney fees include:
‘the needs of the party seeking the award, the ability of the other party to pay, and
the relative merits of the appeal.’” Id. (quoting In re Marriage of Okland, 699
N.W.2d 260, 270 (Iowa 2005)). After considering the appropriate factors, we
award Mary $2000 in appellate attorney fees.
Costs of this appeal are taxed to Terry.
AFFIRMED.