In the Matter of the Marriage of: Cynthia Leaver & Brian Leaver

FILED
NOVEMBER 30, 2021
In the Office of the Clerk of Court
WA State Court of Appeals, Division III
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION THREE
In the Matter of the Marriage of: ) No. 37743-1-III
)
CYNTHIA LEAVER, )
)
Respondent, )
) OPINION PUBLISHED IN PART
and )
)
BRIAN LEAVER, )
)
Appellant. )
PENNELL, C.J. — Divorce is expensive. When the parties to divorce have disparate
earning capacities, post-dissolution maintenance provides a method for softening the
economic blow. Maintenance is generally limited in time and tailored to the period
necessary for the requesting spouse to get back on their feet. But in rare cases, the
requesting spouse has little prospect of reaching financial independence. In such
circumstances, long-term or even lifetime maintenance may be warranted.
Brian Leaver’s 1 case is one where long-term maintenance may be warranted.
For over 20 years, Brian was a stay-at-home father with minimal exposure to outside
1
For clarity and readability, we refer to the Leavers by their first names throughout
the opinion.
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employment. At the parties’ dissolution trial, Brian presented uncontested expert
testimony that his longstanding mental health conditions, including depression and
anxiety, significantly impaired his ability to join the workforce and gain financial
independence. Yet the trial court rejected this testimony, instead agreeing with Cynthia
Leaver’s personal opinion that Brian could do more if he would just put his mind to it.
Although the Leavers had a long-term marriage with a high standard of living, and
Cynthia had the capacity to pay maintenance, the trial court agreed with Cynthia that
Brian’s maintenance should be tapered off over the course of just two years. The trial
court’s adoption of Cynthia’s untrained lay opinion over that of the qualified experts was
an abuse of discretion, not supported by substantial evidence. We therefore reverse and
remand.
BACKGROUND
The parties’ marriage
Cynthia and Brian Leaver married in November 1994. Throughout the majority
of their marriage, Cynthia was the primary wage earner and Brian was the primary
homemaker. The Leavers had four children and shared equally in parenting
responsibilities. While both Cynthia and Brian worked outside the home at the beginning
of their marriage, Brian began staying home in 1998, just before the birth of their first
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child. In 2011, Brian began sporadic part-time work for his brother, earning $20 per hour.
Meanwhile, Cynthia became the chief financial officer (CFO) and strategy officer for
Numerica Credit Union.
Cynthia’s income “steadily increased” and did so “dramatically” during the
last 10 years of the marriage. 2 Report of Proceedings (RP) (Jan. 15, 2020) at 619.
As Numerica’s CFO, Cynthia was one of company’s seven “C-level” employees. 1 RP
(Jan. 14, 2020) at 410-11. She consistently received an annual raise anywhere between
3 percent and 15 percent of her salary. She also received an annual bonus and recalled
only one year, 2009, in which she did not receive any bonus. The size of the bonuses
varied, but Cynthia’s 2019 net bonus for work performed in 2018 was just shy of
$40,000. At the time of the August 2020 final divorce order, Cynthia’s monthly net
income was $18,118.00. Her 2018 gross annual pay from Numerica was $421,605.00,
with net annual pay after taxes and deductions totaling $241,350.05.
The Leavers “bought what [they] needed” to buy and fixed what they needed to
fix. 2 RP (Jan. 15, 2020) at 619. They dined outside the home for roughly half of their
meals. They purchased tickets to Gonzaga University’s basketball games annually,
beginning when Gonzaga first opened the McCarthey Athletic Center. At the time the
Leavers separated, they lived in a home valued at $485,000.
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While the Leavers enjoyed a very comfortable standard of living, they also carried
significant debt. The Leavers often carried high credit card balances that were paid off
with Cynthia’s annual bonuses. The Leavers accrued some debt purchasing dental braces
and a personal computer for the children. They had two mortgages on their home and
loans on two of their vehicles. When the final divorce order was entered in August 2020,
the Leavers had a community debt of over $500,000. The family had almost no liquid
assets.
Pretrial dissolution proceedings
Cynthia petitioned for divorce on May 25, 2018, after roughly 24 years of
marriage. The parties stipulated that they separated on the same date the petition was
filed, although Brian did not physically move out of the family home until a later date.
The parties came to an agreement on a parenting plan in September, and in October a
court commissioner entered a temporary maintenance order pending final dissolution. The
initial monthly maintenance award totaled $3,494 with an increase to $3,846 starting in
January 2019. Under the terms of the order, Cynthia was required to pay certain monthly
expenses for Brian, such as rent, as well as make separate payment directly to Brian.
From reviewing the parties’ financial declarations, the commissioner observed
Cynthia and Brian had significant discretionary spending, including prepetition
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expenditures for online shopping, personal care, and meals out. The commissioner noted
in her order that Cynthia and Brian would need to reduce their monthly expenses so as to
accommodate the needs of two separate households. With this in mind, the commissioner
reduced the amounts allocated for various categories of budgeted expenses in determining
the temporary maintenance award.
Despite the commissioner’s temporary maintenance order, Cynthia was unable
to reduce her expenses. In fact, her post-separation expenses increased. The increased
expenditures were partly due to the fact Brian was no longer around to cook and perform
household tasks. But in addition, Cynthia cited her professional position, noting a lot was
expected of her in terms of the way she dressed and philanthropic donations. Cynthia
continued to live in the family home, which she described as a “big house” that was
“expensive to maintain.” 1 RP (Jan. 13, 2020) at 196. 2 Cynthia testified it was challenging
to limit her children’s spending. During the summer of 2019 the children wanted to erect
an above-ground pool in the family’s back yard. Cynthia spent approximately $4,700 in
alterations to the yard to make way for the pool. Cynthia also took the children on trips to
places like Banff, Canada; Portland, Oregon; and Missoula, Montana. The main area in
2
During the course of the divorce proceedings, Cynthia estimated her monthly
home maintenance costs at $1,543.
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which Cynthia was able to reduce expenses was to eliminate voluntary contributions to
her retirement account.
While Cynthia stayed in the family home, Brian moved to a nearby apartment with
rent of approximately $1,700 per month. Brian spent little money during the separation
period because he was uncertain of his finances or what his obligations might be post-
dissolution. He calculated his total monthly expenses as at least $4,346. The primary
assets retained by Brian during the separation period were some home furnishings, a
2013 Toyota Sienna, and a laptop computer. Brian did not have any separate property.
He accumulated $2,200 in debt to his siblings due to medical expenses.
The dissolution trial
The parties disputed the financial terms of their dissolution and took their case to
trial in January 2020. Brian requested, pursuant to RCW 26.09.090, lifetime maintenance
in the amount of $5,500 per month. Brian asserted he suffers from mental and emotional
disabilities that preclude his re-entry into the workforce. Cynthia disagreed with Brian’s
position. She believed Brian capable of working and being financially independent. She
requested the court impose a “sink-or-swim type of an order” that would phase out
maintenance over the course of two years. 2 RP (Jan. 16, 2020) at 827.
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Brian’s position regarding mental health and work capacity
Brian’s trial evidence demonstrated a longstanding history of mental and physical
health struggles. Brian was 49 years old at the time of trial. He attempted suicide at age
18. 3 He carries several mental health diagnoses, including major depression and anxiety.
Brian presented testimony from his longtime psychiatrist 4 and a neuropsychological
evaluator. The professional testimony indicated Brian’s mental health conditions are
“severe” and “treatment resistant.” 1 RP (Jan. 13, 2020) at 231, 291; 2 RP (Jan. 15, 2020)
at 710. Brian has occasional suicidal ideation, is at an elevated risk for suicide, and was
hospitalized three times during the course of the divorce proceedings.
Brian’s depression is “cyclical.” Ex. R-117 at 1; see also 2 RP (Jan. 15, 2020)
at 710-11. At times, Brian has shown signs of improvement. However, he then goes
through “cycles of shutting down and not doing well with longer episodes of depression
and anxiety.” Ex. R-117 at 1. Brian’s depression does not necessarily prevent him from
“running small errands” or “getting his children to and from school,” but it does make
it more difficult for him to “leave the house.” 2 RP (Jan. 15, 2020) at 713. Exercise is
3
Brian’s father died from suicide and his mother has had chronic mental health
problems.
4
Brian has been seeing the same psychiatrist since September 2002.
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therapeutic for Brian’s condition.
Unlike his depression, Brian’s anxiety is “constant.” Id. at 714. Brian regularly
struggles with fear of leaving the house or interacting with others. At times it is difficult
for him to get out of bed and he will need hours or days to collect himself.
According to his psychiatrist and the neuropsychological evaluator, Brian’s mental
health conditions negatively impact his ability to work. Both professionals consider Brian
“disabled.” 1 RP (Jan. 13, 2020) at 248; 2 RP (Jan. 15, 2020) at 711. Brian’s psychiatrist
testified he was “skeptical” Brian would ever be able to find an appropriate work setting.
2 RP (Jan. 15, 2020) at 721. According to the psychiatrist, Brian’s anxiety would be
escalated by a return to the workforce and he would “probably need a lot of support,
encouragement, probably repeated tries.” Id. at 727.
While severe, Brian’s mental health conditions do not render him fully
incapacitated. He is intelligent, well educated, and helped raise four children. Brian
participates in a bowling league and, at times, he has participated in group athletic
activities and volunteer work. During the course of his marriage, Brian performed
household tasks, including preparing a prior family home for resale. Since 2011,
Brian has had some part-time, seasonal employment with his brother’s business, earning
$20 per hour, a few hours a year.
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Brian testified he wants to work and thinks he might be able to build up to working
10 to 20 hours per week. Brian believes he is not eligible for Social Security Disability
Insurance through the Social Security Administration, because he does not have sufficient
work history to draw from. The last time Brian earned more than a four-figure annual
income was 1997, when he earned $23,627.75. Ex. R-150 at 9. Brian was deemed most
likely ineligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits because he was not
sufficiently impoverished. Ex. R-148. 5
Cynthia’s position regarding mental health and work capacity
Cynthia disagrees that Brian is disabled. Cynthia testified Brian’s mental health
struggles impact “his ability to believe that he can work” rather than his actual ability to
work. 1 RP (Jan. 14, 2020) at 475. According to Cynthia, Brian is capable of doing more
than he gives himself credit for. This is reflected in child-rearing skills and house work.
According to Cynthia, Brian should be able to work his way up to full-time employment
at $20 per hour. Cynthia points to a vocational assessment ordered by the trial court which
posits Brian would be capable of gaining employment as a “Bank Teller, Customer
5
Brian received an informal opinion on SSI benefits during the pendency of the
divorce proceedings. At that point, Brian was receiving approximately $1,900 in monthly
support payments from Cynthia. The Social Security Administration deemed this income
too high to qualify for SSI benefits.
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Service Representative, Shipping/Receiving Clerk and Groundskeeper” Ex. R-148 at 4.
The assessment was based on Brian’s education and work history; it specifically did not
take into account Brian’s mental health issues.
Although she has not been “deeply,” 1 RP (Jan. 14, 2020) at 468, involved in
Brian’s mental health treatment, Cynthia testified Brian’s anxiety is a “bigger issue” than
his depression. Id. at 470. Cynthia knows Brian attempted suicide at age 18. However, she
is not sure it was “serious.” Id. at 464. Cynthia felt the suicide attempt, which consisted of
an aspirin overdose, may have been more of a “cry for help” than a true attempt at self-
harm. Id. at 464-65. Cynthia has a hard time distinguishing Brian’s mental health
problems from his simply “not being a very nice person.” Id. at 471.
Cynthia believes the financial support she has provided over the years has hindered
Brian’s ability to work. She characterizes the financial support as a “crutch,” leading
Brian to believe he does not have to work. Id. at 189. Cynthia acknowledged at trial that
she has the ability to pay maintenance. Id. at 497. Her position was Brian “does not need
maintenance or could get to a position where he could not need maintenance.” Id. Cynthia
did not present any professional witnesses at trial to support her claims regarding the
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impact of Brian’s mental health on his capacity to work. 6
Trial court’s rulings
The trial court determined the parties had been involved in a long-term marriage
and ruled it would divide the parties’ assets equally. The final distribution to Brian
included one half of the parties’ 2018 federal income tax refund ($6,471), the 2013
Toyota Sienna (valued at $16,425), one half of a retirement account ($245,473), and an
equalization payment of $11,841.
When addressing the issue of maintenance, the court found Brian was not feigning
or exaggerating his mental health condition. Nevertheless, the court determined Brian’s
symptoms were not “debilitating.” 2 RP (Feb. 26, 2020) at 890. According to the trial
court, there was “a lot more [Brian] could do if he put his mind to it.” Id.
6
As previously noted, Cynthia did rely on a court-ordered vocational assessment,
but the assessment did not take into account Brian’s mental health issues. Cynthia also
presented testimony from a psychologist who testified that the level of incapacity
discussed in the neuropsychological evaluation report may have been inflated. The
psychologist suggested Brian may have had an incentive to exaggerate his symptoms for
secondary gain. The psychologist never interviewed Brian and did not otherwise conduct
an independent evaluation. The psychologist’s trial testimony was limited to rebuttal of
Brian’s neuropsychological evaluator. In its oral ruling following trial, the court did not
“put very much credence in [the psychologist’s] comments about secondary gain.” 2 RP
(Feb. 26, 2020) at 890. The court did not find Brian was “feigning or exaggerating his
symptoms.” Id.
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The trial court permitted Brian to retain the temporary maintenance already
awarded by the commissioner, but it reduced future maintenance to $3,500 per month
for one year beginning March 1, 2020, with a further reduction to $2,000 per month for
the following year. The court “reserve[d] the issue of future maintenance.” Id. at 891;
see also CP at 179-80. The court emphasized its intent was “not to have lifetime
maintenance,” explaining lifetime maintenance was “disfavored in the law.” 2 RP
(Feb. 26, 2020) at 891. The court further ruled Cynthia would be responsible for her
own attorney fees and one half of Brian’s outstanding attorney fees.
ANALYSIS
Spousal maintenance
Brian challenges the trial court’s maintenance decision. We review the trial
court’s factual findings for substantial evidence. In re Marriage of Rockwell, 141 Wn.
App. 235, 242, 170 P.3d 572 (2007). If the findings are adequately supported, the
ultimate issue of how to apply the governing law is reviewed for manifest abuse of
discretion. In re Marriage of Landry, 103 Wn.2d 807, 809, 699 P.2d 214 (1985). This is
a very deferential standard. We will not substitute our judgment for that of the trial judge.
Rockwell, 141 Wn. App. at 242. Nevertheless, the right of appeal is not toothless.
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We will reverse the trial court’s discretionary ruling if it falls outside the bounds of a
reasonable adjudication. See Landry, 103 Wn.2d at 809-10.
A trial court’s decision on maintenance is governed by RCW 26.09.090. Courts
are authorized to award maintenance “in such amounts and for such periods of time as
the court deems just.” RCW 26.09.090(1). Maintenance should not be awarded as a
matter of right. In re Marriage of Luckey, 73 Wn. App. 201, 209, 868 P.2d 189 (1994).
A trial court assessing a maintenance request must consider several nonexclusive
statutory factors, including: the parties’ financial resources; the time necessary for the
requesting party to acquire job-related education or skills; the standard of living during
marriage; the duration of the marriage; the age, physical, financial, and emotional
condition of the requesting party; and the ability of the spouse from whom maintenance is
sought to pay. RCW 26.09.090(1)(a)-(f).
Here, it is uncontested that the majority of the statutory factors favor an award
of long-term maintenance. Brian has very little in the way of liquid assets. Additional
training or education would not appear to address Brian’s barriers to self-sufficiency.
The parties had a long-term marriage with a high standard of living. And Cynthia
acknowledged at trial that she has the means to pay maintenance.
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The contested issue pertains to whether Brian has a mental health condition
warranting an award of long-term maintenance. RCW 26.09.090(e). The trial court found
Brian was not feigning or exaggerating his mental health conditions. Nevertheless, the
court concluded the conditions were not disabling. The court adopted Cynthia’s position
that Brian could work if he put his mind to it. Consistent with Cynthia’s request, the
trial court adopted a step-down approach to maintenance, whereby Brian’s maintenance
support would decrease over the course of two years. Although the trial court did not
definitively order maintenance would cease after two years, the court emphasized its
intent was not to award lifetime maintenance. This comment suggests the plan was to
taper off Brian’s maintenance at the end of two years.
As explained below, the trial court’s finding that Brian was not disabled and
the adoption of Cynthia’s assessment regarding Brian’s potential for re-entry into the
workforce is not supported by substantial evidence. See In re Marriage of Hall, 103
Wn.2d 236, 246, 692 P.2d 175 (1984) (“Substantial evidence is evidence sufficient
to persuade a fair-minded person of the truth of the declared premise.”).
The only expert witness opinion testimony submitted at trial was that Brian is
disabled. Both Brian’s psychiatrist and the neuropsychological evaluator took the firm
position that Brian is disabled and that his prospects for re-entry into the workforce were
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guarded if not grim. The trial court did not reject the testimony of Brian’s experts as
unfounded or contrary to the weight of the evidence. On the record before the court, the
expert opinion that Brian’s mental health condition rendered him disabled was valid and
uncontested.
Cynthia testified in opposition to the experts and expressed her lay opinion that
Brian is not so disabled that he could not work. Cynthia was certainly competent to
explain her observations of Brian and her day-to-day interactions with him. But Cynthia
has never witnessed Brian work outside the home on a full-time or near full-time basis
at his current stage of mental illness. Cynthia is not a witness with scientific, technical,
or specialized knowledge about mental illness. By her own admission, she was not
even deeply involved in Brian’s mental health treatment. Mental illness, particularly
depression, can present itself with symptomatology resembling personality defects
such as laziness or lack of motivation. See AM. PSYCHIATRIC ASS’N, DIAGNOSTIC AND
STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS: DSM-5, at 168-69 (5th ed. 2013). Given
the risk of confusion, there is a grave danger in deferring to a layperson’s assessment
of the nature of mental illness, particularly when the layperson has a financial incentive
to disregard the impact of mental illness. Cynthia was not qualified under ER 702 to
testify about the impact of Brian’s mental health disorders on his capacity to work.
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It was therefore manifestly unreasonable for the trial court to adopt Cynthia’s assessment
of Brian’s mental health over that of the qualified experts.
The chronic nature of Brian’s disability and his seemingly endless need for
financial support makes this case very difficult. Maintenance “is not a matter of right.”
Hogberg v. Hogberg, 64 Wn.2d 617, 619, 393 P.2d 291 (1964). Generally, the question
regarding maintenance is how much time a requesting spouse will need to find
appropriate employment. RCW 26.09.090(1)(b). When the requesting spouse “has the
ability to earn a living,” long-term maintenance is unwarranted. Hogberg, 64 Wn.2d at
619. The parties to a divorce deserve finality and to go forward with their separate lives.
“[I]t is not the policy of the law of this state to give [the spouse requesting maintenance]
a perpetual lien on [their] divorced [spouse’s] future income.” Id.But the fact that a requesting party’s need for maintenance appears endless is not
a reason to deny long-term maintenance. Long-term or lifetime maintenance is a legal
possibility. See 1 WASH. STATE BAR ASS’N, WASHINGTON FAMILY LAW DESKBOOK
§ 27.7, at 27-15 (2d ed. 2000) (“[A]fter a long-term marriage or in a situation in which
there is little or no possibility of [the requesting spouse] ever being self-supporting, much
less being able to continue at the standard [of living] enjoyed during the marriage, there
may be a strong argument that maintenance should never cease.”). While lifetime
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maintenance is disfavored, it would be an abuse of discretion for the trial court to reject it
categorically. See State v. O’Dell, 183 Wn.2d 680, 697, 358 P.3d 359 (2015) (“[F]ailure
to exercise discretion is itself an abuse of discretion subject to reversal.”). Although rare,
courts must keep in mind that long-term or lifetime maintenance will sometimes be
warranted. This may be especially true where one spouse has an ability to pay, but the
marital community has not retained sufficient liquid assets to assure a requesting spouse
the ability to be self-sufficient.
We reverse the trial court’s maintenance ruling and remand for reassessment in
light of the applicable statutory factors. Our disposition should not be read to mean Brian
is entitled to lifetime maintenance, or even that he should receive a lifetime or long-term
award. Contrary to Brian’s assertions on appeal, the trial court is not required to place
Cynthia and Brian in roughly equal positions for the rest of their lives. See In re Marriage
of Kaplan, 4 Wn. App. 2d 466, 474-76, 421 P.3d 1046 (2018). The objective of placing
the parties on equal footing is permissible, but “‘not mandatory.’” Id. at 475 (quoting
In re Marriage of Doneen, 197 Wn. App. 941, 950, 391 P.3d 594 (2017)). By his own
testimony, Brian is capable of working, albeit not at a level allowing him to come close
to meeting his prior standard of living. It is reasonable for the trial court’s maintenance
decision to contemplate Brian will enter the workforce.
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To the extent the trial court and Cynthia are concerned that Brian’s circumstances
will improve for the better or that Cynthia’s will fare for the worse, the law provides the
option of modification. RCW 26.09.170. Maintenance should not be awarded in a way
that is so open-ended it deprives the litigants of finality. See In re Marriage of Valente,
179 Wn. App. 817, 827, 320 P.3d 115 (2014). Instead the court should issue an award
based on the evidence produced at trial, keeping in mind the law provides a remedy for
changed circumstances.
We reverse the trial court’s maintenance determination and remand for further
proceedings.
The panel has determined that only the foregoing portion of this opinion will be
printed in the Washington Appellate Reports. Therefore, it is ordered that the remainder
of this opinion, having no precedential value, shall be filed for public record pursuant to
RCW 2.06.040.
Property distribution
Brian argues the trial court’s division of property failed to meet the court’s stated
goal of equally dividing the parties’ assets. We largely disagree with this assessment.
We address each disputed area individually.
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Split dollar asset
One of Cynthia’s retirement benefits from Numerica is a “split dollar” life
insurance policy. See Exs. P-44 - P-48. The policy has a face value of almost $7,000,000.
The policy requires Cynthia to pay $220,000 in premiums annually over a 10-year period,
from 2012 until 2022. In reality, Numerica loans Cynthia the funds to pay the premiums,
interest free, and compensates her for the resulting taxes. If Cynthia remains with
Numerica until 2035, she will gain the full value of the policy and be able to draw on
dividends borrowed against the policy. Upon Cynthia’s death, the policy will reimburse
Numerica for the initial cost of the policy, pay off dividends borrowed against the policy,
and provide the balance of the $7,000,000 policy to Cynthia’s beneficiaries. 7
The parties disputed whether Cynthia would be able to draw a benefit from the
policy prior to 2035. Brian presented testimony that Cynthia would be able to start
borrowing against the policy as early as 2022, when Cynthia makes the last premium
payment on the policy. This could yield at least $55,000 per year, tax free. Cynthia denied
she would have any ability to draw on the policy before it vested in 2035. If Cynthia were
7
Hence the “split dollar” benefit, as Numerica and Cynthia will “split” the
proceeds of the policy.
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to voluntarily leave Numerica prior to 2035, she claimed she would not receive any value
from the policy.
In addition to disputing when Cynthia could start drawing on the policy, the parties
disagreed as to whether it had any present value. Cynthia testified the split dollar policy
had no present value because it was not vested and might never result in a payout. Brian
presented expert testimony that this asset had a current value of approximately $800,000.
The trial court found the evidence inconclusive as to whether Cynthia would
be able to begin drawing on the policy prior to 2035. With respect to value, the court
agreed with Brian that the policy had some present value. However, the court declined
to apportion the policy by determining the value and then requiring a buyout.
The court ruled Brian should receive 50 percent of the community’s portion of
the split dollar asset, payable at any time Cynthia or her estate draws from the policy.
The court reasoned the community had contributed to 7 of the 20 years necessary to fully
vest in the policy. This resulted in 35 percent of the account being community property,
with one half (17.5%) awarded to Brian. The court’s final order stated Brian would be
entitled to 17.5 percent of any future payout from the policy, regardless of whether it
is characterized as a death benefit, severance, retirement benefit, loan, or pension.
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On appeal, Brian argues the trial court’s award fails to leave him with one half of
the community’s portion of the policy. If Cynthia were to draw on the policy prior to
2035, the community’s portion of the investment would be larger than 35 percent. Brian
argues that as Cynthia continues to work at Numerica, her separate portion of the asset
increases and the community’s portion decreases. Thus, rather than use a flat percentage,
Brian argues the trial court should have used a formula that takes into account the date of
disbursement in determining Brian’s portion of the split dollar asset.
The problem with Brian’s position is that the trial court did not find Cynthia would
be able to draw on the split dollar asset prior to 2035. The evidence on this point was
unclear. Rather than simply conclude there was no value to the account prior to 2035, the
trial court determined Brian would receive a 17.5 percent payment regardless of how or
when payments were made from the account. This determination was within the trial
court’s broad authority for fairly apportioning property and was actually higher than the
12.5 percent amount requested by Brian in closing argument.
Numerica checking and savings account
Brian argues it was an abuse of discretion for the trial court to calculate the value
of the Numerica joint checking and savings account from the statement at the end of
June 2018, not the end of May 2018, as the parties stipulated that separation occurred on
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May 25, 2018. We find no abuse of discretion. There was competing testimony the
balance of the joint account was approximately $5,600 or $3,100. The court split the
difference at $4,850. This was a fair and equitable valuation.
Income tax refund
Brian argues the trial court abused its discretion by attributing half of the value
of the refund from the parties’ jointly filed 2018 federal tax return to him when it was
actually retained in its entirety by Cynthia. This argument appears to have merit.
The trial testimony indicated Cynthia had retained the 2018 tax refund in its
entirety. In the court’s findings of fact and final divorce order, it was likewise awarded to
Cynthia in its entirety. However, in the court’s calculations for the equalization payment,
it credited Brian with having received one half of the value of the tax refund. No evidence
supported this finding. If the court had credited Cynthia with the entire tax refund, Brian
may have received a larger equalization payment. On remand the court should reassess
this issue.
Marital home
Brian argues the trial court abused its discretion by not taking into account the
marital home’s increase in value between separation and trial. Brian’s arguments rely
on facts outside the record. We therefore decline review of this issue.
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Hyundai vehicle
Brian contends it was an abuse of discretion for the trial court to award Cynthia
the Hyundai used by their daughter, but to not assign it a value awarded to her in its
calculation of the equalization payment. We find no abuse of discretion. Neither Brian
nor Cynthia presented any evidence as to the Hyundai’s value. Instead, they agreed their
daughter would be provided the Hyundai. Under these circumstances it was not unfair or
inequitable, and thus not an abuse of discretion, for the trial court to decline to assign a
value to the Hyundai, even though it was technically awarded to Cynthia in the property
distribution. 8
Credit card debt
Brian claims Cynthia artificially increased her debt load by using credit cards, and
the trial court abused its discretion by characterizing her credit card debt as installment
debt akin to a car loan or a mortgage, and not as recurring monthly expenses. However, it
is not an abuse of discretion for a court to characterize credit card debt as community debt
and assign it to a spouse in a property distribution. See In re Marriage of Manry, 60 Wn.
8In general, it is an abuse of discretion for a trial court to award third parties,
including the parties’ children, marital property. Sutherland v. Sutherland, 77 Wn.2d 6, 9,
459 P.2d 397 (1969).
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App. 146, 150-51, 803 P.2d 8 (1991). Thus, the trial court did not err by doing so here.
Attorney fees
Brian contends the trial court abused its discretion by awarding him less than
100 percent of his attorney fees given his need and Cynthia’s ability to pay. Cynthia
answers that the trial court’s attorney fee decision was reasonable, taking into
consideration Cynthia’s financial obligations and Brian’s receipt of the equalization
payment under the final divorce order, and given Brian already received fee awards
throughout the dissolution proceedings. Brian replies the award was nevertheless an abuse
of discretion because the equalization payment under the final divorce order was his only
liquid asset, and his share of the fees exceeded that payment.
An award of attorney fees in a dissolution case is reviewed for abuse of discretion.
In re Marriage of Obaidi, 154 Wn. App. 609, 617, 226 P.3d 787 (2010). “The party
challenging the award bears the burden of proving that the trial court exercised this
discretion in a way that was clearly untenable or manifestly unreasonable.” In re
Marriage of Knight, 75 Wn. App. 721, 729, 880 P.2d 71 (1994).
RCW 26.09.140 states that “after considering the financial resources of both
parties [a court] may order a party to pay a reasonable amount for the cost to the other
party of maintaining or defending any proceeding under this chapter and for reasonable
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attorneys’ fees.” In ruling on a request for attorney fees under RCW 26.09.140, “the court
must balance the needs of the one party against the other party’s ability to pay.” In re
Marriage of Coons, 53 Wn. App. 721, 722, 770 P.2d 653 (1989).
Here, the trial court correctly identified that Cynthia, a highly compensated credit
union executive, had the ability to pay Brian’s attorney fees. It further found Brian had
the need for assistance. As a result, the court ordered Cynthia to pay one half of Brian’s
outstanding attorney fees. Nevertheless, Brian argues it was an abuse of discretion for the
court not to order her to pay the entirety of his attorney fees. In support of his argument,
Brian cites no authority that requires a trial court to order one spouse to pay the entirety of
the other’s fees in like circumstances. “Where no authorities are cited in support of a
proposition, the court is not required to search out authorities, but may assume counsel,
after diligent search, has found none.” DeHeer v. Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 60 Wn.2d
122, 126, 372 P.2d 193 (1962). The fact that we may have exercised our discretion
differently does not mean the trial court abused its discretion. The trial court’s attorney
fee award is therefore affirmed.
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APPELLATE ATTORNEY FEES
Brian requests an award of attorney fees on appeal under RAP 18.1 and
RCW 26.09.140 based on the disparity between his financial circumstances and
Cynthia’s. Cynthia responds that this court should not award Brian further fees.
Under RAP 18.1, a party is entitled to request an award of reasonable attorney
fees or expenses on appeal if applicable law grants the party a right to recovery.
RCW 26.09.140 states that “[u]pon any appeal, the appellate court may, in its discretion,
order a party to pay for the cost to the other party of maintaining the appeal and attorneys’
fees in addition to statutory costs.” As with a request for fees before a trial court, on
appeal this court must balance one party’s financial need with the other’s ability to pay.
Coons, 53 Wn. App. at 722. In ruling on a request for fees on appeal, this court may also
consider evidence from trial. See In re Marriage of Jacobson, 90 Wn. App. 738, 746,
954 P.2d 297 (1998).
Brian submitted a timely financial declaration, pursuant to RAP 18.1(c), indicating
his monthly net income is $3,062; resulting from $1,301 in wages and $2,000 in
maintenance. Brian reports $19,700 in liquid assets. Over two months after the deadline
to do so expired, Cynthia filed her own financial declaration, indicating she is now
unemployed and has exhausted unemployment benefits. Cynthia declares that her net
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monthly income is $1,591 in the negative with $28,642 in liquid assets. We accept for
filing Cynthia’s overdue declaration and consider each party’s declaration for the sole
purpose of determining attorney fees on appeal. See RAP 18.1(c). Based on the financial
declarations of the parties, Brian’s request for attorney fees on appeal is denied.
CONCLUSION
The trial court’s maintenance determination is reversed. This matter is remanded
for reconsideration of maintenance and for allocation of the parties’ 2018 federal income
tax refund. The trial court’s final divorce order is otherwise affirmed. We decline to
award attorney fees on appeal.
_________________________________
Pennell, C.J.
WE CONCUR:
______________________________
Fearing, J.
______________________________
Staab, J.
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