In Re the Marriage of Donnetta Rae McWilliams and Aaron James Capalite Upon the Petition of Donnetta Rae McWilliams, A/K/A Donnetta Rae Capalite, petitioner-appellant/cross-appellee, and Concerning Aaron James Capalite, respondent-appellee/cross-appellant.

• Court: Court of Appeals of Iowa
• Decided: August 31, 2016
• Docket: 15-0909
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

No. 15-0909 Filed August 31, 2016

IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF DONNETTA RAE MCWILLIAMS AND AARON JAMES CAPALITE

Upon the Petition of DONNETTA RAE MCWILLIAMS, a/k/a DONNETTA RAE CAPALITE, Petitioner-Appellant/Cross-Appellee,

And Concerning AARON JAMES CAPALITE, Respondent-Appellee/Cross-Appellant. ________________________________________________________________

Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Pottawattamie County, Kathleen A.

Kilnoski, Judge.

The parties appeal and cross-appeal the district court finding of a

common-law marriage, division of property, award of alimony, and attorney fees.

AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS.

Michael J. Winter, Council Bluffs, for appellant.

P. Shawn McCann of McGinn, McGinn, Springer & Noethe, Council Bluffs,

for appellee.

Considered by Potterfield, P.J., Mullins, J., and Blane, S.J.*

*Senior judge assigned by order pursuant to Iowa Code section 602.9206 (2015). 2

BLANE, Senior Judge.

Aaron Capalite and Donnetta McWilliams began a romantic relationship

sometime between 1989 and 1991. Aaron was about nineteen years of age;

Donnetta was about twenty-four. The parties never entered into a statutory

marriage. On June 12, 2013, Donnetta filed a petition for dissolution of marriage

asserting a common-law marriage. Aaron then filed a petition for declaratory

judgment and motion to dismiss the dissolution action, contesting the existence

of the common-law marriage. The trial court bifurcated the proceeding to first

address whether a common-law marriage existed. In April 2014, after an

evidentiary hearing, the district court ruled the parties were married by common

law. The dissolution petition then proceeded to trial in February 2015. Following

trial, the marriage was dissolved, Donnetta was awarded a portion of Aaron’s

pension, Donnetta was awarded $1500 per month in alimony1 beginning May 1,

2015 and continuing until either party died or Donnetta remarried, and Aaron was

ordered to contribute $2000 to Donnetta’s attorney fees.

Both parties appeal. Donnetta contends Aaron failed to appeal timely the

determination the parties were in a common-law marriage. She further contends

the alimony award is too low and requests $4000 per month in alimony. She also

contends the district court erred in denying her request for $6000 in attorney fees

and requests appellate attorney fees of a “reasonable” amount. Aaron argues

his appeal of the common-law-marriage determination was timely, the parties did

not have a common-law marriage, he should not be required to pay any alimony

1 The trial court originally awarded traditional alimony in the amount of $1000 per month, but on post-trial motion, the court increased the amount to $1500 per month. 3

(or, in the alternative, $500 per month is an appropriate award), common-law

marriage should be abolished in Iowa, and Donnetta should not be awarded any

attorney fees at either the trial or appellate level.

We review equity actions such as this de novo. See In re Marriage of

Mauer, 874 N.W.2d 103, 106 (Iowa 2016). We give weight to the district court’s

factual findings, but we are not bound by them. In re Marriage of Schenkelberg,

824 N.W.2d 481, 483 (Iowa 2012). “Although we decide the issues raised on

appeal anew, we give weight to the trial court’s factual findings, especially with

respect to the credibility of the witnesses.” In re Marriage of Witten, 672 N.W.2d

768, 778 (Iowa 2003). We note in this case that the trial court did not find Aaron

to be a credible witness.

Timeliness of Aaron’s Appeal. In February 2014, Aaron appeared in

this case and filed a verified petition for declaratory judgment and preanswer

motion to dismiss, contending the parties were not married. The court bifurcated

the action and held a hearing on the question of the existence of the marriage.

The order ruling the parties were married by common law was filed on May 21,

2014, after which Aaron filed a timely motion to amend or enlarge the findings.

That motion was denied.

The district court’s final order dissolving the marriage issued on March 24,

2015. Donnetta and Aaron both filed motions to amend or enlarge the court’s

findings pursuant to Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 1.904(2). A ruling on those

motions followed on April 21. Donnetta filed her timely notice of appeal on May

20. See Iowa R. App. P. 6.101(1)(b). Aaron filed his notice of cross-appeal on 4

May 28. See Iowa R. App. P. 6.101(2)(b) (allowing ten days from filing of notice

of appeal to file notice of cross-appeal).

Donnetta argues Aaron’s appeal is not timely because he did not appeal

following the May 2014 order; he argues his appeal is timely. We agree with

Aaron. Appeals may be taken from final orders or judgments. See Iowa R. App.

P. 6.101(1)(b). “A judgment is not final unless the rights of the parties have been

fully determined.” Pundzak, Inc. v. Cook, 500 N.W.2d 424, 426 (Iowa 1993).

“When the actions are bifurcated, an appeal is timely if it is from the judgment

that finally determines the rights of the parties, a rule necessary to prevent

piecemeal appeals.” Id. Here, the action was bifurcated, and Aaron’s cross-

appeal is timely with respect to the final judgment issued on March 24, 2015, and

Donnetta’s own appeal filed on May 20, 2015. See Iowa R. App. P. 6.101(2)(b).

Existence of Marriage. Donnetta claims a common-law marriage existed

between the parties; Aaron claims one did not. As an initial matter, assuming

Aaron preserved error on this question, we decline Aaron’s invitation to abolish

common-law marriage in Iowa. “We are not at liberty to overturn Iowa Supreme

Court precedent.” State v. Hastings, 466 N.W.2d 697, 700 (Iowa Ct. App. 1990).

Our review is de novo. In re Marriage of Martin, 681 N.W.2d 612, 616 (Iowa

2004). Claims of common-law marriage are scrutinized carefully and the burden

of proof rests with the party asserting the claim. Id. Three elements must exist

for us to find a common-law marriage: “(1) [present] intent and agreement . . . to

be married by both parties; (2) continuous cohabitation; and (3) public declaration

that the parties are husband and wife.” In re Marriage of Winegard, 278 N.W.2d

505, 510 (Iowa 1979) (Winegard II). 5

To satisfy the first element, an express agreement is not required; rather,

the element may be satisfied by an implied agreement where one party intends

present marriage and the conduct of the other party reflects that intent. See In re

Marriage of Winegard, 257 N.W.2d 609, 616 (Iowa 1977) (Winegard I).

However, the element is not satisfied where the parties merely intend to be

married at some future time. See State v. Grimes, 247 N.W. 664, 665 (Iowa

1933).

Continuous cohabitation is circumstantial evidence of a common-law

marriage that by itself cannot establish a common-law marriage. Conklin by

Johnson-Conklin v. MacMillan Oil Co., 557 N.W.2d 102, 105 (Iowa Ct. App.

1996). The cohabitation must be tied to the present intent and agreement to be

married. See In re Estate of Wittick, 145 N.W. 913, 916 (Iowa 1914).

“The public declaration or holding out to the public is considered to be the

acid test” of a common-law marriage. Martin, 681 N.W.2d at 618. There can be

no “secret” common-law marriage. Id. But this element does not require perfect

consistency; “[a] substantial holding out to the public in general is sufficient.” Id.

As one might expect, the positions of the parties differ. There is evidence

supporting both parties’ contentions. Militating in favor of a marriage, there is

evidence Aaron introduced Donnetta as his “wife” to others, and when Donnetta

introduced Aaron to others as her “husband,” he did not repudiate it. There is

evidence Aaron and Donnetta signed as many as seven statements similar to

marriage vows over the years setting forth their intent to be married. The last two

of these were admitted as exhibits. Donnetta testified that, although she does

not regularly file income tax returns due to a disability and lack of income, Aaron 6

told her he had filed returns indicating she was his wife. There was evidence

Aaron continued to receive mail at Donnetta’s home.

It is clear the parties lived together for some time, but the evidence on

cohabitation is mixed. According to Donnetta, the parties met in 1989 and lived

together from 1989 to at least 1991. From 1993 to 1994, Aaron was in prison in

Nebraska, but upon his release, Donnetta testified they lived together until their

separation in early 2013. While Aaron traveled out-of-state for work, she would

often go visit him at job sites.

According to Aaron, the parties began living together in 1991. He was in

prison from approximately 1991 to 1993, and following his release he lived with

his father in Nebraska as a condition of his parole. That lasted for four years,

before he moved in with Donnetta for a year, and then purchased a home for

himself in 1998 in Omaha, Nebraska. He traveled for work frequently, and when

home, he would stay in his home, but would at times stay at Donnetta’s

apartment. From another perspective, a family friend testified he lived with

Aaron, Donnetta, and her son Dickey for a significant period of time between

1998 and 2003.

There is evidence weighing against marriage as well. Aaron contends he

was coerced into signing the vows when Donnetta would threaten to call his

employer with unbecoming information about him if he did not sign. The parties

separated at one time and each dated other people; Aaron characterized their

relationship as on-again, off-again. Aaron purchased real estate in Omaha.

Donnetta primarily used the surname McWilliams. The parties did not wear

wedding rings. They did not own property together. They had separate bank 7

accounts. Donnetta obtained public assistance in the form of rent subsidy and

food stamps, for which she would not have qualified if Aaron’s income as a

spouse had been claimed, but testified she disclosed their common law

marriage.

Upon our de novo review, we conclude Donnetta has established the

existence of a common-law marriage between the two parties. The bulk of the

credible evidence is that Donnetta intended to be married. Aaron’s conduct

reflected that intent. For those reasons, we find the first element satisfied. The

parties cohabited together continuously for many years. Although it is clear

Aaron traveled for work extensively, the evidence also supports a finding that he

would return to Donnetta when not away for work. Given the nature of his

career, this amounts to continuous cohabitation with Donnetta. Finally, we find

the two held themselves out publicly as married. This “acid test” of a common-

law marriage has been met.

Alimony. Donnetta was initially awarded $1000 per month in alimony

until either party’s death or her remarriage. After post-trial motions, that was

increased to $1500. On appeal, she requests the amount be increased to $4000

per month because of her financial need and Aaron’s relative ability to pay.

Aaron contends he did not support Donnetta during their relationship and

therefore should not be required to do so now. He argues that if we decide

alimony is appropriate, $1500 per month is inequitable, and the amount should

be reduced to $500 per month.

There are three forms of spousal support: reimbursement, rehabilitative,

and traditional. See In re Marriage of Becker, 756 N.W.2d 822, 826 (Iowa 2008). 8

This case involves traditional alimony, which “is usually payable for life or for so

long as the dependent is incapable of self-support.” In re Marriage of Hettinga,

574 N.W.2d 920, 922 (Iowa Ct. App. 1997). Duration of the marriage is an

important factor in awarding traditional alimony. In re Marriage of Gust, 858

N.W.2d 402, 410 (Iowa 2015). Generally speaking, marriages of twenty years

“commonly cross the durational threshold and merit serious consideration for

traditional spousal support.” Id. at 411. We look primarily to “need and ability”

when considering a traditional alimony award. Id.

The parties’ relationship is of sufficient length to merit the imposition of

traditional alimony. The credible testimony is that the relationship began no later

than 1991, twenty-two years before the parties’ separation. The district court

found the parties’ marriage began in 1995, which would mean the marriage falls

short of the twenty-year guideline, but not so short as to negate any possibility of

an alimony award. See, e.g., In re Marriage of Geil, 509 N.W.2d 738, 742 (Iowa

1993) (awarding alimony following marriage of “nearly nineteen years”).

We next consider the needs and abilities of the parties. Donnetta receives

$721 per month in disability benefits stemming from narcolepsy. She provided

evidence she receives housing assistance and food assistance, both of which

she claims will cease upon receipt of alimony. Her current estimate of her living

expenses is $1254 per month; the purported increase to her expenses upon the

loss of rental and food assistance would be approximately $460 per month.

Aaron is employed. His average gross income from 2010 to 2013 was $119,720.

That appears to be a reliable estimate of his current wages. 9

Upon our review, we believe the trial court’s award of $1500 per month

does equity, and we will not disturb it. See In re Marriage of Olson, 705 N.W.2d

312, 315 (Iowa 2005). “This deference to the trial court’s determination is

decidedly in the public interest. When appellate courts unduly refine these

important, but often conjectural, judgment calls, they thereby foster appeals in

hosts of cases, at staggering expense to the parties wholly disproportionate to

any benefit they might hope to realize.” Gust, 858 N.W.2d at 407.

Attorney fees. Donnetta’s attorney fees at the trial level were $6000.

She sold a marital asset—a trailer—to pay $3000 of that amount. Aaron was

ordered to pay $2000 of Donnetta’s attorney fees. We review an award of

attorney fees at the trial level for an abuse of discretion. See In re Marriage of

Sullins, 715 N.W.2d 242, 255 (Iowa 2006). From our review of the record, we

cannot say the court abused its discretion.

Donnetta also requests appellate attorney fees of a “reasonable” amount.

The decision to award appellate fees rests in the appellate court’s discretion.

See In re Marriage of McDermott, 827 N.W.2d 671, 687 (Iowa 2013). We

consider the needs of the party seeking the award, the ability of the other party to

pay, and the relative merits of the appeal. Id. After carefully considering these

factors, we decline to award Donnetta appellate fees in this appeal.

Conclusion. For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the district court

is affirmed on both appeals.