Snow v. Snow

745 P.2d 196, 155 Ariz. 138, 1987 Ariz. App. LEXIS 574

• Court: Court of Appeals of Arizona
• Decided: October 27, 1987
• Docket: 1 CA-CIV 9172
• Status: Published

Opinions

OPINION

CONTRERAS, Judge.

This is an appeal from the trial court’s order dismissing appellant’s (Wife’s) petition which sought to modify the marital dissolution decree by continuing appellee’s (Husband’s) obligation to pay spousal maintenance beyond the date originally provided for its expiration. The issue is whether the trial court had legal authority to entertain Wife’s petition for modification under the circumstances of this case. We conclude the trial court lacked authority to modify the decree of dissolution because Husband’s spousal maintenance obligation constitutes a lump sum award. As such, it is not subject to modification even upon a showing of changed circumstances except possibly in the event of the death of either party or the remarriage of the spouse receiving maintenance.

The pertinent facts are not in dispute. Wife filed a petition for dissolution of marriage on December 9, 1983. In her petition she alleged she was unable to support herself through appropriate employment and requested “a reasonable sum as and for spousal maintenance____” Husband executed and filed a “waiver or acceptance of process by spouse” on December 23, 1983, and his default was entered on May 9, 1984. On June 1, 1984, the superior court entered a decree of dissolution of marriage on which the Husband had signified his approval as to form. The decree divided the couple’s property and debts, awarded custody of the parties’ child to Wife, and further provided:

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondent [Husband] shall pay to Petitioner [Wife] the sum of $150.00 per week as and for spousal maintenance, payable every Friday, commencing on the first aforesaid Friday occurring after the date of execution of this Decree and continuing for a period of two (2) years. Said payments shall be made through the Clerk of the Superior Court, and Respondent shall pay the $1.00 per month fee for this service.

On April 28,1986, Wife filed a petition to modify spousal maintenance under the decree of dissolution. The petition alleged that since the entry of the decree Wife had become completely disabled, with no substantial present or future prospects for employment, and had incurred and would continue to incur extraordinary medical expenses and expenses for the support and education of the parties’ child. Wife also alleged on information and belief that Husband’s income had increased. Wife alleged that these changes in circumstances were “substantial and continuing,” and asked the court to make the spousal maintenance provision of the decree permanent or substantially extend it, either at its present rate or the rate provided by the court’s maintenance guidelines.

Husband then filed a motion to dismiss the petition, contending that the duration and amount of the decree’s two-year spousal maintenance award was res judicata, and that the court had no jurisdiction to modify it. Following oral argument, the trial court took Husband’s motion under advisement and later granted the motion to dismiss. The Wife brought this appeal from the trial court’s formal order of dismissal.

Wife contends on appeal that the trial court erred in dismissing her petition to modify spousal maintenance. She acknowledges the indisputable fact that the original decree of dissolution provided for weekly payments of fixed sums over a fixed period of time. However, she argues that since the decree did not affirmatively preclude modification of Husband’s spousal maintenance obligations, the trial court had power pursuant to A.R.S. §§ 25-317(F) and 25-327(A) to modify the decree as to future maintenance installments “upon a showing of changed circumstances which are substantial and continuing.” A.R.S. § 25-327(A).

In response Husband argues that under Cummings v. Lockwood, 84 Ariz. 335, 327 P.2d 1012 (1958) and cases following it, a fixed or lump sum spousal maintenance award payable in installments over a fixed period of time falls within an implied exception to the superior court’s statutory post-decree powers, and cannot be modified. Husband contends that the spousal maintenance award in the instant case falls within the Cummings rule, and that the trial court correctly dismissed Wife’s petition for modification. Husband asserts the better rule is that a decree of dissolution which orders fixed spousal maintenance installments over a fixed period of time cannot be modified absent language specifically permitting future modification. In addition, Husband contends that because Wife had the initial burden of proving her need for spousal maintenance and was represented by counsel, Wife should have pressed for language in the decree reserving jurisdiction to modify the maintenance award. Finally, Husband asserts that the particular change of circumstances on which Wife based her petition for modification was foreseeable at the time the decree of dissolution was entered, and that it therefore cannot support the modification Wife was seeking.

We emphasize that the issue presented in this case is whether the trial court correctly determined that it lacked authority to entertain Wife’s petition for modification. In this regard we point out that the trial court did not hear evidence or consider the question of whether there existed substantial and continuing changed circumstances justifying modification of the maintenance award under A.R.S. § 25-327(A). Accordingly, we do not address Husband’s contention that Wife failed to make the requisite showing because the alleged changed circumstances were foreseeable at the time of the decree. See generally Chaney v. Chaney, 145 Ariz. 23, 699 P.2d 398 (App.1985); Marquez v. Marquez, 132 Ariz. 593, 647 P.2d 1191 (App.1982); Linton v. Linton, 17 Ariz.App. 560, 499 P.2d 174 (1972). We also note that Husband has never contended that Wife’s spousal maintenance award constituted a part of the overall consideration for the parties’ property settlement. See States v. States, 124 Ariz. 189, 603 P.2d 81 (1979).

The leading Arizona decision on the question of modifiability of fixed or lump sum spousal maintenance awards is Cummings v. Lockwood. In that case the divorce decree ordered the husband to pay the wife $75 per month beginning September 15, 1957, “for a period of six (6) months only as and for alimony payments.” Two days before the last payment was due, the wife filed a petition seeking to increase her alimony award to $150 per month for an indefinite period of time on the ground that she had been seriously injured and had undergone foot surgery. The trial court increased the alimony payments to $100 per month “until further order of court.” The husband filed a petition for writ of prohibition with our supreme court. Relief was granted and the supreme court held that the trial court lacked authority under former A.R.S. § 25-321 to modify the original alimony award. The court noted that under former A.R.S. § 25-319 the trial court had authority to award the wife alimony in a lump sum to be paid in installments, and that the original decree had made such an award.

The court further determined that because the wife had received a lump sum alimony award, the trial court lacked statutory authority to modify the award after the divorce decree became final. The court stated:

We hold that § 25-321, relating to the power of the court from the time after entry of final judgment to alter, amend or revise the decree, relating to alimony, should be construed as impliedly excepting from its operation in this respect the right of the court to alter, amend or revise a decree of divorce where an award has been made of gross alimony or alimony in one sum payable in installments. If § 25-321 is not so construed then § 25-319 does not mean anything when it provides that alimony may be in one sum.

Id. 84 Ariz. at 338-39, 327 P.2d at 1015.

It is clear from reading Cummings that the purpose of allowing alimony in gross or in one sum payable by installments is to define and fix with finality the scope of the rights and obligations of the parties so that the ties between them can be. completely severed and they can face the future with certainty knowing what adjustments they will be required to make. The supreme court in Cummings concluded its opinion:

We therefore hold the decree of divorce entered in this action defines and limits the rights of the parties with such completeness and finality as to be clearly capable of and intended as a present vesting of the award of the support and maintenance to petitioner’s former wife, and cannot be modified under the provisions of § 25-321.

In Fye v. Zigoures, 114 Ariz. 579, 562 P.2d 1077 (App.1977) Division Two of this court determined that although the provisions of present A.R.S. § 25-319(B) no longer expressly authorize the court to grant spousal maintenance in gross or lump sum payment, this clearly may be done under the present statute. Additionally, the court concluded that the legislature’s 1973 amendments to Arizona’s dissolution statutes had altered the Cummings rule by causing lump sum alimony awards to be terminated upon the death of either party or the remarriage of the party receiving maintenance. The court noted that under new § 25-327(B) enacted in 1973, the obligation to pay future maintenance was automatically terminated upon either party’s death or the remarriage of the party receiving maintenance unless otherwise agreed in writing or expressly provided in the decree. The court further held that A.R.S. § 25-327(B) was intended to apply to all future maintenance obligations whether periodic or lump sum. The court affirmed the Cummings holding by stating that “[t]his interpretation does not frustrate the policy and purpose behind a lump sum award of maintenance since it does not greatly disturb the finality of the award.” Fye v. Zigoures, 114 Ariz. at 581, 562 P.2d at 1079.

In Lindsay v. Lindsay, 115 Ariz. 322, 565 P.2d 199 (App.1977), Division One of this court considered a decree of dissolution which found the wife was entitled to spousal maintenance “for a limited adjustment period,” and awarded $400 per month for three years. On direct appeal from the decree, the wife contended that under the circumstances of the case, the trial court abused its discretion in failing to provide for future modification of the maintenance award. Before considering the wife’s contention, this court determined “that the maintenance award here involved constitutes a lump sum award not subject to being modified in the exercise of the court’s continuing jurisdiction____” Id. at 325, 565 P.2d at 202. It reasoned that:

[ejxcept to the extent that lump sum or gross amount awards for spousal maintenance are now subject to modification (including termination) in the event of death or remarriage, [footnote omitted] it does not appear that the statutory language contained in the amended provisions of A.R.S. § 25-327 governing the modification of post-1973 spousal maintenance decrees warrants an interpretation different from that set forth in Cummings, supra.

Id. at 325, 565 P.2d at 202.

Division Two of this court has disagreed with Division One’s determination in Lindsay v. Lindsay. See Raley v. Wilber, 122 Ariz. 336, 594 P.2d 1032 (App.1979), and Dooley v. Dooley, 147 Ariz. 132, 708 P.2d 1323 (App.1985). In Raley the parties entered into a property settlement agreement which was later incorporated into their decree of dissolution. The agreement provided that the husband was to pay the wife $400 per month for her support “for four (4) years only. Thereafter, Wife shall be entitled to no further payments from Husband for her support.” The agreement further provided that the wife would be entitled to no further support if either party died or if the wife remarried before the four-year period expired. Thereafter, alleging changed circumstances, the husband petitioned for termination of his support obligation. The trial court ruled in favor of the husband and Division Two affirmed on appeal finding the provision for spousal maintenance was not a lump sum payment. The court stated that before 1973, a lump sum alimony “award conformed to this definition only if it was silent as to all contingencies ... After 1973, because A.R.S. § 25-327(B) implies modifiability for death or remarriage absent a contrary intent, a provision for spousal maintenance conforms to this definition [lump sum payment] only if it affirmatively negates modifiability for death or remarriage.” Id. 122 Ariz. at 337, 594 P.2d at 1033. Division Two disagreed with what it termed “dictum” in Lindsay “that a monthly award of alimony for a fixed term without any provision for death or remarriage was a lump sum payment.” Id. at 337, 594 P.2d at 1033.

In Dooley v. Dooley, 147 Ariz. 132, 708 P.2d 1323 (App.1985), Division Two implicitly followed the Raley v. Wilber rationale. In that case the decree of dissolution incorporated a property settlement agreement which provided that the husband would pay the wife spousal maintenance of $1,600 per month for eleven years. Although the court’s opinion did not say whether the property settlement agreement contained a specific provision that husband’s maintenance obligations would survive either spouse’s death or wife’s remarriage, the agreement provided that the provision for maintenance “under no circumstances whatsoever ... shall be subject to modification by either party____” The court affirmed the trial court’s dismissal of the husband’s petition for modification. It stated:

[T]he provision in A.R.S. § 25-327 allowing the parties to agree that spousal maintenance payment will continue after death or remarriage can be read as supporting the continued vitality of Cummings because if such payments terminate on those contingencies they are not treated as fixed sum awards and thus have always been subject to modification. By allowing the parties to provide for fixed sum awards payable in certain installments regardless of these contingencies the legislature has expressly allowed the form of agreement approved in Cummings. By way of dictum, this same conclusion was reached in [Raley; Lindsay; and Fye\ [citations omitted.]

147 Ariz. 132, 133, 708 P.2d 1323, 1324.

Although we acknowledge that Division Two disagreed with Division One’s decision in Lindsay v. Lindsay when it authored both Raley v. Wilber and Dooley v. Dooley, it is our opinion that Lindsay v. Lindsay and Cummings v. Lockwood, set forth what we believe is the better reasoned law and we adhere to the analysis, rationale, and resolution in those cases. In our opinion A.R.S. § 25-327(B) adopted by our legislature in 1973 merely expresses the public policy of this state that a spouse’s obligation to pay future maintenance terminates upon the death of either party or the remarriage of the party receiving maintenance unless otherwise agreed in writing or expressly provided in the decree. After the effective date of the statute this public policy became a part of every future agreement or decree providing for payment of maintenance. It did not otherwise alter the viability or change the decisional law relative to a lump sum spousal maintenance award payable in installments over a fixed period of time.

We affirm the trial court’s order dismissing Wife’s petition for modification in this case. The decree of dissolution provided in clear, unequivocal language that Husband’s spousal maintenance obligation be paid in installments over a fixed period of time. This constitutes a lump sum award which was not subject to modification even upon a showing of a change in circumstances, except in the event of the death of either party or the remarriage of the spouse receiving maintenance. Lindsay v. Lindsay; Cummings v. Lockwood.

Affirmed.

FROEB, J., concurs.