Frederick Dawson Graham v. Dena Marie Turner

Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided October 30, 2015·No. 12-14-00336-CV·Published

Opinion

NO. 12-14-00336-CV

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT

TYLER, TEXAS

FREDERICK DAWSON GRAHAM, § APPEAL FROM THE APPELLANT

V. § COUNTY COURT AT LAW

DENA MARIE TURNER, APPELLEE § NACOGDOCHES COUNTY, TEXAS

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Frederick Dawson Graham appeals the trial court’s final decree of divorce. On appeal, he presents nine issues. We affirm.

BACKGROUND

Frederick Dawson Graham and Dena Marie Turner were married on January 31, 2007.

On November 14, 2013, Dena filed a first amended original petition for divorce, alleging that Frederick was guilty of cruel treatment towards her, committed adultery, and committed fraud on the community estate. She also requested that she be awarded a disproportionate share of the parties’ estate. Both parties made numerous claims for reimbursement. The trial court ordered that Frederick pay temporary spousal support to Dena in the amount of $2,000.00 a month beginning April 1, 2014.

Following a bench trial, the trial court granted the divorce. The court ordered that Frederick and Dena jointly owned the residence as tenants in common, and owned the property known as the “back lot” as community property. The court ordered both properties sold, the net sales proceeds from the residence distributed fifty percent to each party, and the net sales proceeds from the back lot, after repayment of a specific debt, distributed sixty percent to Dena and forty percent to Frederick. Further, “for the purpose of a just and right division of property,”

the court awarded Dena an $8,000.00 judgment against Frederick “to satisfy temporary orders.” The award also included attorney’s fees and court costs. The trial court filed findings of fact and conclusions of law, and this appeal followed.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

In a decree of divorce, a court shall order a division of the estate of the parties in a manner that the court deems just and right, having due regard for the rights of each party. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 7.001 (West 2006). We review a trial court’s division of property under an abuse of discretion standard. Moroch v. Collins, 174 S.W.3d 849, 857 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2005, pet. denied); see also Garza v. Garza, 217 S.W.3d 538, 548 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2006, no pet.). A trial court does not abuse its discretion if there is some evidence of a substantive and probative character to support the decision. Garza, 217 S.W.3d at 549; Moroch, 174 S.W.3d at 857. Moreover, we should reverse a court’s division of property only if the error materially affects the court’s just and right division of the property. Henry v. Henry, 48 S.W.3d 468, 475 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2001, no pet.). However, once reversible error affecting the “just and right” division of the community estate is found, an appellate court must remand the entire community estate for a new division. Sheshtawy v. Sheshtawy, 150 S.W.3d 772, 780 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2004, pet. denied) (quoting Jacobs v. Jacobs, 687 S.W.2d 731, 733 (Tex. 1985)).

In an appeal from a bench trial, the trial court’s findings of fact have the same weight as a jury verdict. Fulgham v. Fischer, 349 S.W.3d 153, 157 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2011, no pet.). Findings may be overturned only if they are so against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence as to be clearly wrong and unjust. Ortiz v. Jones, 917 S.W.2d 770, 772 (Tex. 1996). When the appellate record contains a reporter’s record as it does in this case, findings of fact are not conclusive and are binding only if supported by the evidence. Fulgham, 349 S.W.3d at 157. We review a trial court’s conclusions of law de novo. Quick v. Plastic Solutions of Tex., Inc., 270 S.W.3d 173, 181 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2008, no pet.). Erroneous conclusions of law are not binding on the appellate court, but if the controlling findings of fact will support a correct legal theory, are supported by the evidence, and are sufficient to support the judgment, the adoption of erroneous legal conclusions will not mandate reversal. Id.

PROPERTY DIVISION

In his first, second, third, and fourth issues, Frederick argues that the trial court abused its discretion by awarding Dena an ownership interest in his separate property (the residence), thereby divesting him of one-half of his interest in the property. He complains that the evidence is insufficient for the court to find that the parties owned the residence as tenants in common, and that the evidence showed the residence was purchased with his separate funds. We will consider these issues together. Applicable Law Property possessed by either spouse during or on dissolution of marriage is presumed to be community property. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 3.003(a) (West 2006). Any doubt as to the character of property should be resolved in favor of the community estate. Sink v. Sink, 364 S.W.3d 340, 345 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2012, no pet.). The burden of proof necessary to establish that property is separate property is clear and convincing evidence. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 3.003(b). Clear and convincing evidence means “the measure or degree of proof that will produce in the mind of the trier of fact a firm belief or conviction as to the truth of the allegations sought to be established.” Id. § 101.007 (West 2014). A spouse’s separate property consists of the property acquired by the spouse during marriage by gift, devise, or descent. Id. § 3.001(2) (West 2006); see also TEX. CONST. art. XVI, § 15.

Property possessed by either spouse during or at the dissolution of the marriage is presumed to be community property, but the presumption may be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 3.003 (West 2014); Cockerham v. Cockerham, 527 S.W.2d 162, 167 (Tex. 1975). In its conclusions of law, the trial court cited two cases in determining that Frederick and Dena jointly owned the residence as tenants in common. The first is Harrington v. Harrington, 742 S.W.2d 722 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1987, no writ).

In Harrington, the husband contended that the trial court divested him of his separate property house. Id. at 723. He argued that the credit application and title to the property were solely in his name. Id. Thus, he said, the house was his separate property. Id. The trial court found that the parties agreed title to the house would be taken in the husband’s name for credit purposes and convenience only. Id. at 724. It also found that the parties intended the residence to be owned, used, and enjoyed jointly. Id. The trial court concluded that the parties entered

into an oral partnership/joint venture to own and occupy the house, and that they owned the house as tenants in common. Id.

At trial, the evidence showed that the parties lived together for three years before deciding to purchase a house. Id. at 724-25. The parties went house-hunting together and found the house. Id. at 725. The wife testified that her husband told her that because she was earning so little money at the time, he would apply for the loan himself and put his name on it. Id. She agreed and had no concern that he would ever assert the property was his alone. Id. The wife testified that they always referred to the property as “our home,” and that the husband never claimed the property was his alone before the separation. Id. They both contributed to improving the house. Id. The parties were married approximately two years after purchasing the house. Id. at 723. The appellate court held that there was some evidence to support the trial court’s findings and conclusion that the parties intended to purchase and own the house as partners. Id. at 725. Therefore, the court found no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s judgment. Id.

The second case is Aaron v. Aaron, No. 14-10-00765-CV, 2012 WL 273766 (Tex.

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