in the Matter of the Marriage of Everett Alton Taylor, Jr. and Dochia Ann Taylor and in the Interest of R.N.T., a Child

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: February 3, 2015
• Docket: 06-14-00061-CV
• Status: Published

Opinion

In The Court of Appeals Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana

No. 06-14-00061-CV

IN THE MATTER OF THE MARRIAGE OF EVERETT ALTON TAYLOR, JR., AND DOCHIA ANN TAYLOR AND IN THE INTEREST OF R.N.T., A CHILD

On Appeal from the County Court at Law Panola County, Texas Trial Court No. 2013-093

Before Morriss, C.J., Moseley and Burgess, JJ. Memorandum Opinion by Justice Moseley MEMORANDUM OPINION Everett Alton Taylor (Everett) and Dochia Ann Taylor (Dochia) were married on

January 9, 1999, and divorced on May 20, 2014. Pursuant to jury findings, the final decree of

divorce determined the contested properties (American Equity policy number 1968 and Great

American policies numbered 7656 and 7711 1) to be comprised of fifty-six percent of Everett’s

separate estate and forty-four percent of community funds of the marriage of Everett and Dochia.

Dochia has appealed from this determination, claiming these assets to be entirely community

property in nature. In doing so, she disputes that Everett presented legally and factually

sufficient evidence of his separate property claim to support the jury’s finding and the trial

court’s judgment. We disagree with Dochia, determining that there is sufficient evidence to

support the jury’s finding and affirm the trial court’s judgment.

I. Background

Before Everett married Dochia, he had been a participant in three different retirement

programs offered through his employer, Pennzoil, and in one individual retirement account

(IRA). The retirement programs with Pennzoil included a 401(k) retirement plan, an hourly

employee pension plan (hourly pension) and a salaried employee pension plan (salary plan). 2

Immediately before their marriage, the IRA had a value of $7,893.23, and the 401(k) plan had a

value of $103,559.16. Everett testified that the IRA was rolled over into the Oppenheimer Main

Street Small Cap Fund Class B (to which the parties made reference as account #4674) on 1 Although the documents creating these accounts are not a part of the record, we assume these to be annuities. Throughout this opinion, we have endeavored to simplify the identification of the various accounts by using the same references employed by the parties at trial and in their briefs. 2 The parties agreed to the division of the salaried employee pension, and it is not a part of this appeal.

2 December 27, 2000. At the time of the rollover, the IRA had increased in value to $8,549.40.

Everett also testified that on July 19, 2002, the 401(k) was also rolled over into that same

account and that it had increased in value to $143,139.53. Homer Stout, the account

representative with Forester Equity who handled Everett’s retirement accounts from 2000 to

2013, confirmed these rollovers and produced account records verifying the transactions. On

October 5, 2005, the assets in account #4674 were transferred to another Oppenheimer fund

account to which the parties made reference as account #4267. On July 12, 2006, the assets of

account #4267 were transferred to a third Oppenheimer fund account, this being one to which the

parties referred as account #0449. 3 The assets in these accounts traced through to several

different funds until, on April 7, 2010, the assets were finally transferred to the Oppenheimer

Strategic Income Class A Fund (to which the parties referred as account #5798) and to the

Oppenheimer Strategic Income Class B Fund (to which the parties referred as account #5934).

On that final date, the assets transferred to these funds had a value of $158,544.00 and

$10,970.92, respectively.

Everett’s hourly pension was fully earned and vested prior to his marriage to Dochia.

Under that retirement plan, Everett would have been entitled to receive $953.48 per month in

pension payments after he attained the age of sixty-five. Although there was no evidence

introduced of the value of the hourly pension on the date of marriage, Everett testified that he

took a lump sum payment in the amount of “$89,000 some odd” in full satisfaction of that asset

when he was fifty-five. Everett testified that he took this sum and placed it in the Oppenheimer

3 Although there were no records produced for account #4267, Stout testified that these were the same funds originally rolled over from Everett’s pension. 3 Strategic Income Class A Fund, account #5798, on July 12, 2006. Stout confirmed this by

testifying that on that date, $89,582.68 was deposited into that account, and account records

revealed that on that same date, the assets from account #7997 were transferred to purchase

20,364.103 shares of Oppenheimer Strategic Income Class A Fund in account #5798. 4 Stout

testified (and the Oppenheimer fund records confirm) that the value of the different funds varied

through the years due to depreciation and appreciation, and through reinvestment of dividends,

reinvestment of capital gains, and additional contributions. In addition, Everett explained that

various withdrawals from the funds were applied to regular living expenses, to a settlement with

his daughters from his previous marriage, to taxes, to a down payment on a farm he and Dochia

purchased, and to the monthly note payments related to the purchase of the farm.

On April 1, 2013, Everett closed the Oppenheimer funds. At that time, the funds had a

cumulative value of $224,237.99. Everett rolled over $200,000.00 of the assets to Evans

Financial Group to purchase three annuity policies: American Equity policy number 991968

(American Equity 1968), Great America policy number 1192037656 (Great American 7656),

and Great American policy number 1192037711 (Great American 7711). Everett testified that

he used the remaining funds to pay his attorneys and other expenses of the divorce.

After a trial on the merits, a jury was asked to determine the relative percentages held in

each of these policies by Everett’s separate estate and the community estate of the marriage of

4 No records for account #7997 were introduced, and there was no testimony regarding the history or origins of account #7997. 4 Everett and Dochia. 5 The jury found that both of the policies were owned fifty-six percent by

Everett as his separate estate, and forty-four percent belonged to the community of Everett and

Dochia’s marriage. The trial court entered its final decree of divorce in accord with the jury

findings, awarding Everett the policies minus twenty-two percent of each. Dochia timely filed a

motion for new trial asserting that the evidence was legally and factually insufficient to support

either the jury’s answers as they related to each of the policies or the trial court’s final decree

based on those answers. This motion was overruled by order of the trial court.

II. Standard of Review

There is a strong presumption that all property in the possession of either spouse during

or at the dissolution of the marriage is community property. TEX. FAM. CODE. ANN. § 3.003(a)

(West 2006). A party seeking to overcome the community property presumption must do so by

presenting clear and convincing evidence. TEX. FAM. CODE. ANN. § 3.003(b) (West 2006);

Cockerham v. Cockerham, 527 S.W.2d 162, 167 (Tex. 1975); In re Marriage of Kluth, No. 06-

07-00129-CV, 2008 WL 2150961, at *1 (Tex. App.—Texarkana May 23, 2008, no pet.) (mem.

op.). Where the burden of proof is clear and convincing evidence, we review the legal

sufficiency of the evidence by considering all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the

finding and determine whether a reasonable jury could have formed a firm belief or conviction

that the finding was true. In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d 256, 266 (Tex. 2002). We also assume that the

jury resolved disputed facts in favor of its finding if a reasonable jury could do so, and we

5 The jury was also asked to determine what percentage of a farm purchased during the marriage was the separate property of Everett and what percentage was the community property of the parties. The jury found the farm was 100 percent community property, and this finding was not appealed. 5 disregard all contrary evidence that a reasonable jury could have disbelieved or found to be

incredible. Id.

In reviewing factual sufficiency challenges, we review all the evidence in the record, both

supporting and opposing the findings of the finder of facts. See In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d 17, 27–29

(Tex. 2002). We give due consideration to evidence the jury could have reasonably found to be

clear and convincing. Id. at 25. Under this standard, we determine whether the evidence is such

that the trier of fact could reasonably form “a firm belief or conviction” as to the truth of the

allegations sought to be established. Id. When there is disputed evidence, we must consider

whether it is such that a reasonable jury could not have reconciled the disputed evidence in favor

of its finding. J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d at 266.

Separate property includes “the property owned or claimed by the spouse before

marriage.” TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 3.001(1) (West 2006). We determine whether property is

separate or community by its character at the time of inception. Barnett v. Barnett, 67 S.W.3d

107, 111 (Tex. 2001). “Inception of title occurs when a party first has a right of claim to the

property by virtue of which title is finally vested.” Zagorski v. Zagorski, 116 S.W.3d 309, 316

(Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, pet. denied) (citing Smith v. Smith, 22 S.W.3d 140, 145

(Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, no pet.)). Further, to overcome the community property

presumption, the spouse claiming property is separate “must clearly trace the original separate

property into the particular assets on hand during the marriage.” Cockerham, 527 S.W.2d at 167;

see also McKinley v. McKinley, 496 S.W.2d 540, 543 (Tex. 1973); Tarver v. Tarver, 394 S.W.2d

780, 783 (Tex. 1965); Zagorski, 116 S.W.3d at 316. “Tracing involves establishing the separate

6 origin of the property through evidence showing the time and means by which the spouse

originally obtained possession of the property.” Zagorski, 116 S.W.3d at 316; In re Marriage of

Parker, 997 S.W.2d 833, 837 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1999, pet. denied). Even though the

separate property may go through a series of exchanges, it will retain its separate character if the

party can trace the assets on hand during the marriage to property that was separate when first

acquired. Celso v. Celso, 864 S.W.2d 652, 654 (Tex. App.—Tyler 1993, no writ) (citing

Cockerham, 527 S.W.2d at 167).

When separate property is commingled with community property in a single account, the

separate property retains its character when it can be traced sufficiently to enable the fact-finder

to determine the interest of each party. Zagorski, 116 S.W.3d at 319 (citing Holloway v.

Holloway, 671 S.W.2d 51, 60 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1983, writ dism’d)). Further, when separate

and community funds are commingled in a single account and a portion of those funds are

withdrawn, it is presumed that the community funds are the first to be withdrawn. Id. at 319–20

(citing Smith, 22 S.W.3d at 146). For the community-out-first presumption to apply, the party

seeking to overcome the community property presumption need only show clear evidence of the

transactions affecting the account. Id. at 320; see McKinley v. McKinley, 496 S.W.2d 540 (Tex.

1973); Hill v. Hill, 971 S.W.2d 153 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 1998, no pet.); Welder v. Welder, 794

S.W.2d 420 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1990, no writ). If the party shows that separate funds

were deposited and that the balance of the account never reached zero, then “it is presumed that

the balance contains separate property equaling the amount of the separate funds initially

deposited less withdrawals encroaching upon the deposit or deposits.” Hill, 971 S.W.2d at 158.

7 The tracing in this case is complicated somewhat by the fact that both cash dividends and

capital gains were reinvested in the various funds. Cash dividends paid to married owners of

mutual fund shares held as separate property are community property. In re Marriage of Born,

No. 06-08-00066-CV, 2009 WL 1010876, at *2 (Tex. App.—Texarkana Apr. 16, 2009, no pet.)

(mem. op.) (citing Bakken v. Bakken, 503 S.W.2d 315, 317 (Tex. Civ. App.—Dallas 1973, no

writ)); LeGrand-Brock v. Brock, 246 S.W.3d 318, 322 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2008, pet.

denied). However, the increase in value of separate property resulting from market fluctuations

remains separate property. See Dillingham v. Dillingham, 434 S.W.2d 459, 461–62 (Tex. Civ.

App.—Fort Worth 1968, writ dism’d). Thus, the profit, or gain, realized from the sale of mutual

fund shares owned as separate property is also separate property, as would be any additional

shares purchased with the gain. Bakken v. Baker, 503 S.W.2d 315, 317–18 (Tex. Civ. App.—

Dallas 1973, no writ).

III. Analysis

Applying these rules to the facts of this case, Everett failed to clearly trace the funds used

to initially purchase the shares in account #5798 to his separate property hourly pension. Everett

testified that he took a lump sum payment of this pension when he was fifty-five, that it was

around $89,000.00, and that he rolled these funds over into account #5798. However, he

presented no evidence of the date of this buyout or the exact amount of the buyout. “Mere

testimony that property was purchased with separate property funds, without any tracing of the

funds, is generally insufficient to rebut the community presumption.” Zagorski, 116 S.W.3d at

316 (citing McElwee v. McElwee, 911 S.W.2d 182, 188 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1995,

8 writ denied)). Further, the documentary evidence indicates that the source of the funds used to

purchase shares in account #5798 was an asset transfer from account #7997. There were neither

records nor testimony regarding the source of the funds in account #7997; therefore, the source

of its funding, (separate property, community property, or a mixture of both) is left to conjecture.

Since Everett failed to trace the initial purchase of shares in this account to his separate property

by clear and convincing evidence, these shares are presumed to be community property, as

would be additional shares derived from the reinvestment of dividends. See Bahr v. Kohl, 980

S.W.2d 723, 729–30 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1998, no pet.).

However, Everett clearly traced $7,893.23 of the original $8,549.40 rolled over into

account #4674 to the balance of his IRA existing on the date of his marriage to Dochia. He also

clearly traced $103,559.16 of the $143,139.53 which was later rolled over into that account to

the balance of his 401(k) on the date of their marriage. Dochia does not dispute that these

amounts were his separate property. However, Dochia contends that the increases in the

balances of Everett’s IRA and 401(k) on the dates of the rollover are presumed to be community

property since Everett failed to trace or explain the source of the increases of these accounts. We

agree. Since Everett provided no evidence regarding the source in the increase in value of these

accounts, the community property presumption would prevail to characterize the increase as

community property despite the fact that some of it may have simply been due to the enhanced

value of some of the assets within the fund. Thus, the initial contributions to account #4674

contained both community property ($40,236.54) and Everett’s separate property ($111,452.39).

9 Everett and Stout testified and provided documentary evidence regarding the additions

and withdrawals from account #4674 until October 5, 2005. The additions included some small

annual contributions and dividend reinvestments. Other than the annual management fee that

was assessed, Everett’s uncontroverted testimony was that the withdrawals were for living

expenses and taxes associated with the early withdrawal. Although Everett did not produce

account records for account #4674 for 2004, he did introduce a summary prepared by Dochia for

that account showing its value at the beginning of 2004 to have been $172,387.09, a contribution

of $3,000.00, and the account value at the end of 2004 to have been $207,239.75. Stout testified

that this accurately summarized the accounts in his records. However, he also testified that there

are no records showing what dividends or other additions or withdrawals occurred in 2004.

Since it is presumed that community property was withdrawn first, however, and since there is

no evidence that the value of account #4674 ever dropped below the amount of the original

separate property contribution, Everett showed that his original separate property contribution

was untouched as of October 5, 2005, when account #4674 was closed.

Further, the records of the accounts show that the assets of account #4674 were

transferred to Oppenheimer funds account #4267 on October 5, 2005. On that date, the account

had a value of $172,227.74. On July 12, 2006, the records show that the assets of account #4267

were transferred to purchase 9,593.123 shares of Oppenheimer fund account #0449. Although

no records of account #4267 were in evidence, Stout’s uncontroverted testimony was that the

money used to purchase shares in account #0449 originated from Everett’s previously existing

401(k) and IRA accounts. Further, the summary of the account prepared by Dochia shows no

10 withdrawals for the October 5, 2005, to July 12, 2006, period. The annual summary for 2006

shows that on December 31, 2006, the value of account #0449 was $212,486.92. Both Stout’s

testimony and the records then trace the assets in account #0449 through several other accounts

and, finally, in 2010, to account #5798 and account #5934. Testimonial and documentary

evidence also show the natures and sources of the additions to these accounts. Everett testified

(and documentation affirms) that withdrawals from these accounts were used to pay living

expenses, to make a down payment on a community property farm, and to make monthly

payments on the farm’s mortgage. The records show that the value of these funds never went

below Everett’s original separate property contribution.

Everett testified that in April 2013, he rolled over $200,000.00 of the assets in account

#5798 and account #5934 into American Equity policy number 1968, Great American policy

number 7656, and Great American policy number 7711 and used the rest to pay his attorneys and

other expenses related to the divorce. Everett further testified that these policies remained active

at the time of trial. Again, since community assets are presumed to have been withdrawn first,

before any separate funds are withdrawn, and since there were at all times sufficient funds in the

accounts containing separate property funds to cover Everett’s separate property balance,

$111,452.39 of the $200,000.00 used to purchase the American Equity and Great American

policies was Everett’s separate property. Therefore, we hold that there was sufficient evidence to

support the jury’s finding and the trial court’s judgment that these policies were owned fifty-six

percent by Everett as separate property and forty-four percent as community property of the

marriage.

11 Nevertheless, Dochia asserts that because there are gaps in the documentary evidence,

Everett cannot take advantage of the community-out-first presumption. However, gaps in the

documentary evidence may be overcome by testimony from a person with knowledge. See

Newland v. Newland, 529 S.W.2d 105, 107–08 (Tex. Civ. App.—Fort Worth 1975, writ dism’d).

Here, any gaps in the paper records were adequately filled by the testimony of Everett’s account

representative, Stout. As in Newland, Everett has supplied account records and other

documentary evidence for the great majority of the fifteen years involved in this case. Finally,

Everett testified that the American Equity and Great American policies were active at the time of

trial and successfully traced a portion of the monies used to purchase these policies to his

separate property, thus, discharging his burden. We overrule Dochia’s point of error.

We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Bailey C. Moseley Justice

Date Submitted: January 9, 2015 Date Decided: February 3, 2015