Franck v. Franck, 10-07-22 (2-19-2008)

2008 Ohio 624
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 19, 2008
DocketNo. 10-07-22.
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 2008 Ohio 624 (Franck v. Franck, 10-07-22 (2-19-2008)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Franck v. Franck, 10-07-22 (2-19-2008), 2008 Ohio 624 (Ohio Ct. App. 2008).

Opinion

OPINION
{¶ 1} Plaintiff-appellant, Tamatha Franck (hereinafter "Tamatha"), appeals the judgment of the Mercer County Common Pleas Court of failing to award spousal support. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

{¶ 2} On August 11, 1992, Tamatha Franck and Ronald Franck were married. The parties have two children. On June 30, 2006, Tamatha filed a divorce complaint.

{¶ 3} A hearing was held before the magistrate. On June 5, 2007, the magistrate's decision was filed. The magistrate found that no spousal support should be exchanged. (magistrate's decision, June 5, 2007, conclusions of law, ¶ 14). Tamatha filed objections to the magistrate's decision, and a supplement to her objections.

{¶ 4} On September 18, 2007, the trial court filed its order on the objections to the magistrate's decision, and the trial court approved the magistrate's decision. On September 25, 2007, the trial court filed the divorce decree.

{¶ 5} It is from this judgment that Tamatha appeals and asserts two assignments of error for our review. *Page 3

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. I
The Trial Court erred in failing to award maintenance spousal support to the Appellant.

{¶ 6} In her first assignment of error, Tamatha argues that the trial court's failure to award spousal support was unfair, inequitable, and an abuse of discretion.

{¶ 7} A trial court's determination regarding spousal support is reviewed under an abuse of discretion. Siefker v. Siefker, 3d Dist. No. 12-06-04, 2006-Ohio-5154, at ¶ 15, citations omitted. An abuse of discretion implies that the trial court's attitude was unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217,219, 450 N.E.2d 1140, citations omitted.

{¶ 8} When determining whether spousal support is appropriate, the trial court must consider the factors listed in R.C. 3105.18(C)(1). R.C.3105.18; Lee v. Lee, 3d Dist. No. 17-01-05, 2001-Ohio-2245, at *2. Although the trial court must consider the factors listed in R.C.3105.18(C)(1), this court has held that the trial court's failure to "`specifically enumerate' those factors does not constitute reversible error.'" Lee, 2001-Ohio-2245, *2, quoting Moore v. Moore (June 18, 1999), Van Wert App. No. 15-98-22, unreported.

{¶ 9} R.C. 3105.18 provides:

(C)(1) In determining whether spousal support is appropriate and reasonable, and in determining the nature, amount, and *Page 4 terms of payment, and duration of spousal support, which is payable either in gross or in installments, the court shall consider all of the following factors:

(a) The income of the parties, from all sources, including, but not limited to, income derived from property divided, disbursed, or distributed under section 3105.171 of the Revised Code;

(b) The relative earning abilities of the parties;

(c) The ages and the physical, mental, and emotional conditions of the parties;

(d) The retirement benefits of the parties;

(e) The duration of the marriage;

(f) The extent to which it would be inappropriate for a party, because that party will be custodian of a minor child of the marriage, to seek employment outside the home;

(g) The standard of living of the parties established during the marriage;

(h) The relative extent of education of the parties;

(i) The relative assets and liabilities of the parties, including but not limited to any court-ordered payments by the parties;

(j) The contribution of each party to the education, training, or earning ability of the other party, including, but not limited to, any party's contribution to the acquisition of a professional degree of the other party;

(k) The time and expense necessary for the spouse who is seeking spousal support to acquire education, training, or job experience so that the spouse will be qualified to obtain appropriate employment, provided the education, training, or job experience, and employment is, in fact, sought;

*Page 5

(l) The tax consequences, for each party, of an award of spousal support;

(m) The lost income production capacity of either party that resulted from that party's marital responsibilities;

(n) Any other factor that the court expressly finds to be relevant and equitable.

{¶ 10} In its decision, the magistrate considered the factors listed in R.C. 3105.18 and determined that "[n]o spousal support should be exchanged between the parties." (magistrate's decision, June 5, 2007, conclusions of law, ¶ 14). The trial court also found that no spousal support should be exchanged. (JE 9/18/07).

{¶ 11} After reviewing the record, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in determining that spousal support should not be awarded. The magistrate clearly considered all of the statutory factors for awarding spousal support. The trial court also reviewed the factors and found that spousal support should not be exchanged. Although Tamatha makes less money than Ronald, the court considered the relative incomes of the parties. In addition, Tamatha has an associate's degree in social work and has more education than Ronald.

{¶ 12} Tamatha's first assignment of error is, therefore, overruled. *Page 6

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. II
The trial court erred in failing to award the Appellant spousal support to continue her education.

{¶ 13} In her second assignment of error, Tamatha argues the trial court abused its discretion when it failed to award spousal support so that she could further her education. Tamatha argues that "[w]ith an award of spousal support to continue her education, the [she] would go from a $20,000.00 factory job to a $40,000.00 career."

{¶ 14}

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Bluebook (online)
2008 Ohio 624, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/franck-v-franck-10-07-22-2-19-2008-ohioctapp-2008.