Helms v. Helms

661 S.E.2d 906, 191 N.C. App. 19, 2008 N.C. App. LEXIS 1173

• Court: Court of Appeals of North Carolina
• Decided: June 17, 2008
• Docket: COA07-1090
• Status: Published

Opinions

TYSON, Judge.

■ Donald Ray Helms (“defendant”) appeals from order entered on remand from this Court directing a distribution of the parties’ marital and divisible property. We affirm.

I. Background

Robin Joyce Helms (“plaintiff’) and defendant were married on 27 June 1981 and lived together as husband and wife for over twenty years. No children were born from the marriage. Plaintiff discovered that defendant had engaged in a three-year adulterous relationship with another woman. Plaintiff and defendant separated on 30 June 2003 when plaintiff moved out of the marital residence. Since the separation, defendant has been living in the marital residence with his paramour.

On 29 June 2004, plaintiff filed a verified complaint against defendant for: (1) post separation support; (2) permanent alimony; (3) equitable distribution; and (4) attorney fees. On 31 August 2004, defendant filed an answer and pled the affirmative defense of recrimination as an absolute bar to alimony.

In an order entered 23 February 2005, the trial court found that: (1) plaintiff was a dependent spouse and defendant was a supporting spouse and (2) defendant had engaged in adultery during the course of the marriage. The trial court ordered defendant to pay plaintiff $350.00 monthly for post-separation support until the sale of the marital residence. Upon sale, defendant was ordered to begin paying plaintiff: (1) 41.5 percent of his monthly retirement checks and (2) $400.00 per month in permanent alimony. Plaintiff was also awarded $18,000.00 as “her past due share of [defendant’s retirement payments for the 19 months between [the] date of separation and the date of trial.” The trial court also ordered that plaintiff’s net vested share of $55,199.68 plus interest of defendant’s 401(k) retirement account be transferred into her separate account. Defendant appealed from this order on 22 March 2005.

This Court reversed the trial court’s order and remanded the case for further findings of fact. See Helms v. Helms, 179 N.C. App. 225, 633 S.E.2d 891 (2006) (unpublished). Our Court held the trial court erred by declaring plaintiff a dependent spouse and defendant a supporting spouse without entering the requisite findings of fact concerning the parties’ accustomed standard of living prior to the separation and defendant’s total living expenses at the time of the hearing. Id. This Court also held the trial court erred in determining the respective shares of the parties’ 401(k) retirement accounts because the trial court’s findings were insufficient to support the specific monetary award. Id.

On 18 May 2007, the trial court filed its order on remand. In its order, the trial court included specific findings of fact regarding the parties’ accustomed standard of living prior to separation and the respective shares of defendant’s 401(k) retirement account. The trial court’s order on remand did not change the trial court’s prior award to plaintiff. Defendant appeals.

II. Issues

Defendant argues the trial court erred by: (1) finding plaintiff is a dependent spouse and defendant is a supporting spouse pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-16.1A and (2) erroneously determining the parties’ respective shares of defendant’s 401(k) retirement account.

We recognize the trial court’s order contains several items that-may be subject to challenge. First, the trial court set the value of the marital residence as the futúre sales price of the residence and not the net fair market value on the date of separation. We note that the trial court’s order necessarily fails to account for post-separation appreciation or diminution in value of the marital residence because both the sale price of the house and the date of distribution are unknown. Secondly, the trial court failed to specify the reasons for the delay in plaintiff’s receipt of 41.5 percent of defendant’s monthly retirement checks and commencement of alimony payments until the sale of the marital residence, which acts as a deterrent for defendant to agree to the sale. Thirdly, the trial court entered conflicting findings and conclusions regarding the classification of plaintiff’s lump sum award of $18,000.00 as “her share of defendant’s retirement benefits.” Pursuant to Rule 10(a) of the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure, “the scope of review on appeal is confined to a consideration of those assignments of error set out in the record on appeal . . . .” N.C.R. App. P. 10(a) (2008). These issues are neither assigned as error, nor argued in the briefs, and are not properly before us.

III. N.C. Gen. Stat,. § 50-16.1A

Defendant argues the trial court erred by concluding as a matter of law that plaintiff is a dependent spouse and defendant is a supporting spouse pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-16.1A. We disagree.

A. Standard of Review

We review a trial court’s finding that a party is entitled to alimony de novo. Barrett v. Barrett, 140 N.C. App. 369, 371, 536 S.E.2d 642, 644 (2000) (citation omitted).

B. Analysis

At the outset, we examine the two-step inquiry the trial court is statutorily required to follow in determining alimony:

First is a determination of whether a spouse is entitled to alimony. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-16.3A(a). Entitlement to alimony requires that one spouse be a dependent spouse and the other be a supporting spouse[.] Id. If one is entitled to alimony, the second determination is the amount of alimony to be awarded. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-16.3(b).

Id. (emphasis original). Defendant argues that the trial court erred by classifying plaintiff as a dependent spouse and defendant as a supporting spouse, but does not contest the amount of alimony awarded.

1. Dependent Spouse

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-16.1A(2) (2005) defines a dependent spouse as a “husband or wife, who is actually substantially dependent upon the other spouse for his or her maintenance and support or is substantially in need of maintenance and support from the other spouse.” This Court has stated:

A spouse is “actually substantially dependent” if he or she is currently unable to meet his or her own maintenance and support. Williams v. Williams, 299 N.C. 174, 180, 261 S.E.2d 849, 854 (1980). A spouse is “substantially in need of maintenance” if he or she will be unable to meet his or her needs in the future, even if he or she is currently meeting those needs. Id. at 181-82, 261 S.E.2d at 855.

Barrett, 140 N.C. App. at 371, 536 S.E.2d at 644-45. “[I]n other words, the court must determine whether one spouse would be unable to maintain his or her accustomed standard of living, established prior to separation, without financial contribution from the other.” Vadala v. Vadala, 145 N.C. App. 478, 481, 550 S.E.2d 536, 538 (2001) (citation and quotation omitted) (emphasis supplied). “[T]o properly find a spouse dependent the court need only find that the spouse’s reasonable monthly expenses exceed her monthly income and that the party has no other means with which to meet those expenses.” Beaman v. Beaman, 77 N.C. App. 717, 723, 336 S.E.2d 129, 132 (1985). It necessarily follows that the trial court must look at the parties’ income and expenses in light of their accustomed standard of living. See Williams v. Williams, 299 N.C. 174, 182, 261 S.E.2d 849, 856 (1980) (“The incomes and expenses measured by the standard of living of the family as a unit must be evaluated from the evidence presented.”).

Defendant asserts plaintiff will receive 41.5 percent of defendant’s retirement checks upon the sale of the marital residence and the trial court erred by failing to include this amount in its determination of plaintiff’s monthly income, which affected her status as a dependent spouse. Defendant’s argument is without merit. Plaintiff’s status as dependent spouse is not determined based upon events set to occur in the future, but is established according to plaintiff’s accustomed standard of living prior to the parties’ separation. Vadala, 145 N.C. App. at 481, 550 S.E.2d at 538.

Here, the trial court made the following findings of fact:

8. PLAINTIFF’S INCOME: During the marriage, the Plaintiff worked as a dental assistant, earning $2,600.00 per month. Approximately one month after separation, Plaintiff lost her job due to a downsizing at her place of employment. At the time of the trial, Plaintiff worked as a secretary for Gideon’s Heating and Air, earning a monthly income of $1,256.00 and also had a second job as a waitress, earning an additional average income of $152.00 per month. Plaintiff was restricted in search for reemployment as a dental assistant due to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome in both of her wrists during the last several years of her employment as a dental assistant. This condition was documented by her employer and her treating physician. The Plaintiff had also developed situational depression due to the breakup of her marriage and must take several antidepressant medications prescribed by her counselor to enable her to work.

10. PLAINTIFF’S EXPENSES: Plaintiff has monthly living expenses in the amount of $2,035.00 per month. The Court has examined these monthly expenses and finds them to be reasonable in light of the standard of living established by the parties during the marriage. . . .

14. The Plaintiff does not have sufficient income to meet her monthly needs and maintain her accustomed standard of living without support from the Defendant.

16. Plaintiff remains actually substantially dependent upon the Defendant for her maintenance and support and is substantially in need of maintenance and support from the Defendant.

Defendant failed to except to any of the trial court’s findings of fact contained in its 18 May 2007 order. Where an appellant does not except to the trial court’s findings of fact, they are presumed to be supported by competent evidence and are binding on appeal. Hall v. Hall, 65 N.C. App. 797, 799, 310 S.E.2d 378, 380 (1984).

Here, the trial court’s findings of fact demonstrate that during the marriage and at the time of the hearing, plaintiff had an income-expenses deficit of $627.00 per month. The trial court’s findings of fact are sufficient to support its conclusion that plaintiff is a dependent spouse pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-16.1A(2). Beaman, 77 N.C. App. at 723, 336 S.E.2d at 132.

2. Supporting Spouse

Our Supreme Court has stated, “evidence one spouse is dependent does not necessarily infer the other spouse is supporting.” Williams, 299 N.C. at 186, 261 S.E.2d at 857. A supporting spouse is statutorily defined as a “husband or wife, upon whom the other spouse is actually substantially dependent for maintenance and support or from whom such spouse is substantially in néed of maintenance and support.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-16.1A(5) (2005). This Court has stated, “[a] surplus of income over expenses is sufficient in and of itself to warrant a supporting spouse classification.” Barrett, 140 N.C. App. at 373, 536 S.E.2d at 645 (citing Beaman, 77 N.C. App. at 723, 336 S.E.2d at 132).

Here, the trial court found that at the time of separation: (1) defendant’s total monthly income was at a minimum $3,339.41 per month and (2) defendant’s actual monthly expenses were approximately $2,800.00 per month. Defendant’s income-expenses surplus supports the trial court’s classification of defendant as a supporting spouse pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-16.1A(5).

Prior to the enactment of our current alimony statute in 1995, our trial courts were instructed that “an alimony award should follow equitable distribution, duly taking into account the division of the marital property and the resulting estates of the parties.” Patterson v. Patterson, 81 N.C. App. 255, 258, 343 S.E.2d 595, 598 (1986) (citing Talent v. Talent, 76 N.C. App. 545, 334 S.E.2d 256 (1985)). Under the present statute, however, a claim for alimony “may be heard on the merits prior to the entry of a judgment for equitable distribution, and if awarded, the issues of amount and of whether a spouse is a dependent or supporting spouse may be reviewed by the court after the conclusion of the equitable distribution claim.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-16.3A(a) (2005). The trial court found plaintiff is the dependent spouse and defendant is the supporting spouse. This determination along with the trial court’s determination of the amount of alimony awarded to plaintiff are subject to reconsideration following the final equitable distribution or may be modified by motion in the cause and proof of a substantial change of circumstances. This assignment of error is overruled.

IV. 401fk) Retirement Account,

Defendant argues the trial court erroneously determined the parties’ respective shares of defendant’s 401(k) retirement account. We disagree.

“The standard of review of the percentage division of marital property in equitable distribution cases is for an abuse of discretion.” Squires v. Squires, 178 N.C. App. 251, 256, 631 S.E.2d 156, 159 (2006) (citation omitted). “A ruling committed to a trial court’s discretion is to be accorded great deference and will be upset only upon a showing that it was so arbitrary that it could not have been the result of a reasoned decision.” White v. White, 312 N.C. 770, 777, 324 S.E.2d 829, 833 (1985).

This Court previously remanded the issue of the 401(k) retirement account to the trial court based upon the parties’ failure to present any evidence tending to show the value of the account on the date of separation. See Helms, 179 N.C. App. at 225, 633 S.E.2d at . At the hearing on remand, defendant presented the trial court with a written record that established the account was worth $111,805.02 on the date of separation.

It is undisputed that plaintiff is entitled to a portion of defendant’s 401(k) account. At the equitable distribution hearing, plaintiff testified that she and her counsel had determined that she was entitled to $42,098.38 based upon the number of years she was married to defendant and the years defendant was employed. Defendant now argues this admission was binding upon the trial court. We disagree.

This Court addressed a similar issue in Embler v. Embler, 159 N.C. App. 186, 582 S.E.2d 628 (2003). In Embler, the defendant argued that the trial court erred by classifying his pension plan solely as marital property because one-third of defendant’s employment occurred before the marriage. 159 N.C. App. at 191, 582 S.E.2d at 632. The defendant did not present any evidence of the pre-marital value of the pension and had stipulated on the equitable distribution form that the pension was marital property. Id. This Court stated, “[t]he court thus had no evidence by which it could accurately calculate the pre-marital value of the pension. Defendant bore the burden of showing what portion of the pension vvas separate property and cannot now complain because he failed to meet his burden.” Id.

Here, defendant failed to present any evidence tending to show the number of years his 401(k) account existed prior to the marriage. In his equitable distribution affidavit, defendant stipulated the account was marital property and listed the word “none” under separate property. Defendant did not meet his “burden of showing what portion of the pension was separate property.” Id. Defendant failed to show the trial court abused its discretion by awarding plaintiff one-half of defendant’s 401(k) retirement account. See Young v. Gum, 185 N.C. App. 642, 647, 649 S.E.2d 469, 473 (2007) (citing N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-20(c) (2005)) (holding there is a presumption that marital and divisible property will be distributed half to each spouse). This assignment of error is overruled.

V. Conclusion

The trial court properly classified plaintiff as a dependent spouse and defendant as a supporting spouse pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-16.1A. Defendant failed to show the trial court abused its discretion by awarding plaintiff one-half of defendant’s 401(k) retirement account. The trial court’s order is affirmed.

Affirmed.

Judge McGEE concurs. Judge STEPHENS concurs in part and dissents in part by separate opinion.