Property division in divorce from foreign tag-along spouse affirmed

WHEN GENDER ROLES ARE REVERSED: CAREER WIFE VS. HOUSE-HUSBAND

Female petroleum engineer's appeal of property division in divorce from nonworking spouse fails. Trial court considered evidence that husband had made career sacrifice for the marriage and followed wife on work assignments to several foreign countries on a spouse visa. Wife also failed to rebut community property presumption and trace separate-property funds to support reimbursement claim against the marital (community-property) estate.

MEMORANDUM OPINION BY JUSTICE JEFF BROWN

Appellant Tammy C. Jensen appeals the property division in a divorce case. Tammy contends that the evidence does not support several of the trial court’s findings of fact and that these findings resulted in a manifestly unjust and unfair property division. She also contends that the trial court abused its discretion by awarding Barry Jensen one-half of the shares of stock from one of her accounts while allocating all of the associated debt to her and by denying her claim for reimbursement of her separate funds used for the down payment on their residence. We affirm.

I

Tammy and Barry met in July 2001 and were married on July 19, 2003. Their only child was born on July 7, 2004. The Jensens separated in May 2007, and were granted a divorce on November 20, 2007.

Tammy and Barry are both Canadian citizens. When the couple met, Tammy had a degree in petroleum engineering and had been working for Schlumberger for three years. Barry had been working as a credit analyst with DaimlerChrysler Financial in Canada for twelve years. Barry resigned his position before he married Tammy, and after they were married, they moved to Brazil, where Tammy was working. Tammy’s job required that she travel frequently. During their marriage, the couple lived in four different countries—Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, France, and the United States. In 2006, Tammy accepted a job offer with Hess Corporation in Houston and the couple purchased a home in Fort Bend County. Throughout the marriage, Tammy worked continuously, except during her maternity leave, but Barry remained unemployed.

In May 2007, Barry left Tammy and their child and went to Canada. Shortly after that, he returned to Fort Bend County and petitioned for divorce. Tammy filed a counter-petition. Issues concerning the child and the property division were tried in a four-day bench trial. On February 28, 2008, the trial court signed the final decree of divorce. The trial court also made findings of fact and conclusions of law. The trial judge signed an amended final decree of divorce on September 9, 2008. On appeal, Tammy challenges only the property division.

II

Tammy raises four issues: (1) the evidence does not support the trial court’s findings of fact 12.a, d, f, and i concerning Barry’s employment decisions and employment opportunities; (2) the trial court’s erroneous and unsupported findings resulted in a manifestly unjust and unfair division of property; (3) the trial court erred in awarding Barry one-half of her shares of stock from her Mellon One account while allocating one-hundred percent of the debt encumbering the account to her; and (4) the trial court erred in evaluating her claim for reimbursement of $60,000 that she paid from separate funds for their residence. We will address the first three issues together, as Tammy does, and separately address her fourth issue concerning reimbursement.

III

A

The Texas Family Code requires that the trial 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 and any children of the marriage.” Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 7.001 (Vernon 2006). The trial court has broad discretion when dividing the marital estate. Jacobs v. Jacobs, 687 S.W.2d 731, 733 (Tex. 1985). We presume that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in dividing the estate, and we will not disturb the division on appeal unless appellant demonstrates a clear abuse of discretion. Murff v. Murff, 615 S.W.2d 696, 698 (Tex. 1981). The trial court’s ultimate division need not be equal, so long as it is equitable and so long as the court has some reasonable basis for an unequal division. Zieba v. Martin, 928 S.W.2d 782, 790 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1996, no writ) (op. on reh’g).

A trial court abuses its discretion when it acts arbitrarily or unreasonably, and without reference to any guiding rules or principles. Worford v. Stamper, 801 S.W.2d 108, 109 (Tex. 1990). A trial court does not abuse its discretion when it bases its decision on conflicting evidence, nor does a trial court abuse its discretion when it bases its decision on some evidence of a substantial and probative character. Zieba, 928 S.W.2d at 787. Under this abuse-of-discretion standard, the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence are not independent grounds of error but are merely relevant factors in assessing whether the trial court abused its discretion. Id. at 786–87. The trial court’s judgment should be reversed on appeal when the trial court’s abuse of discretion results in a division of property so disproportionate that it is manifestly unjust and unfair. See Hedtke v. Hedtke, 112 Tex. 404, 411, 248 S.W. 21, 23 (1923).

B

In her first three issues, Tammy challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the trial court’s findings of fact 12.a, d, f, and i, and contends that these findings resulted in a manifestly unjust and unfair division of property. In reviewing a trial court’s findings of fact, we apply the same standards that we apply in reviewing jury findings. Ulmer v. Ulmer, 130 S.W.3d 294, 299 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2004, no pet.).

First, Tammy challenges finding of fact 12.a, contending that the evidence does not support a finding that “Barry Jensen would be unable to continue his education in Canada” and noting that “[t]he proposition that there are numerous educational institutions in Canada is self-evident and can be made no plainer by repetitions or illustrations.” But Tammy’s contention does not accurately reflect finding 12.a. Instead, the trial court found that Barry “would have benefited from the continuation of the marriage as he had enrolled in college to continue his education and he was attempting to gain the skills necessary to change his career to allow for his possible future employment in the same industry and future pay scale as [Tammy].” The court also found that “[w]hen the parties separated, [Barry] had to drop out of the program in the Houston area and return to Canada as he did not have a legal right to remain in the United States once divorced because he was in the Unites States under [Tammy’s] immigration status as a dependent.” It is evident that in its finding, the trial court was referring to the divorce-related interruption in Barry’s education in Houston, and did not state or imply that Barry would be unable to continue his education in Canada. Further, the finding is supported by Barry’s testimony that, before the divorce, he had registered to attend Houston Community College for the 2007 fall semester to advance his education and job skills, but has since withdrawn.

Tammy also complains of the portion of finding 12.a that Barry did not have the legal right to remain in the Unites States after the divorce because he testified that he could legally move to Houston “for six months, then you have to return to Canada for a day and then come back for another six months.” Reviewed in context, however, Barry’s testimony merely reflects that he was explaining a way in which he could change his status. Further, it was undisputed that he was allowed in the various countries where he and Tammy lived based on a spousal visa, rather than his own visa. Therefore, the evidence is sufficient to support the trial court’s finding of fact 12.a.

Tammy next contends that finding of fact 12.d—that Barry’s unemployment during the marriage was due to the number of moves to foreign countries—is not supported by the evidence. The parties presented conflicting testimony on the reasons for Barry’s unemployment. Tammy testified that her employer, Schlumberger, provided job search assistance, but to her knowledge, Barry never submitted a resume to Schlumberger. Tammy also testified that there were jobs available, included a listing with Barry’s former employer DaimlerChrysler, but he refused to talk to DaimlerChrysler. She also testified that most spouses of Schlumberger employees that she knew in Brazil worked. When she went to work for Hess, Tammy testified, Hess provided Barry with job counseling and other resources but he did not take advantage of them. In contrast, Barry testified that he registered with the Schlumberger-related job listing service, but there were no suitable jobs listed in Brazil. He did not know of any spouses in Brazil who had obtained jobs through the service. Barry testified that, while in Brazil, he networked with potential employers and others and enrolled in a Portuguese-language course to improve his skills. He also testified to various efforts he made to find employment while the couple lived in Trinidad and Tobago, and he testified that after he and Tammy moved to Fort Bend County, he made efforts to find employment, including speaking with an immigration lawyer and applying for a position with Amerada Hess. Barry testified that he and Tammy had lived in four different countries in their four-year marriage. Further, Barry testified that he did not have a work visa and was not allowed to work in those countries with only a spousal visa. The credibility of witnesses in a divorce action, including the husband and wife, is solely under the purview of the trial court, not an appellate court. Zagorski v. Zagorski, 116 S.W.3d 309, 318 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, pet. denied) (op. on reh’g). Here, the trial court resolved the disputed evidence in Barry’s favor. Based on our review of record, the evidence is sufficient to support finding of fact 12.d.

Tammy next contends that finding 12.f is against the great weight of the credible evidence. Finding 12.f reflects the following: “Prior to the marriage [Barry] was employed in the finance industry and earning approximately $90,000.00 plus benefits annually, but left his employment to support the development and advancement of [Tammy’s] career.” Tammy complains that the evidence, viewed as a whole, instead “paints the picture of a man who simply showed no interest in working and was perfectly content to live off the earnings of his wife.” She specifically points to her testimony that, in Brazil, Barry was not interested in working for his former employer, DaimlerChrysler, or anyone else, and her testimony that, even before the marriage, Barry took an extended leave of absence to live with Tammy in Indonesia at a place paid for by her employer.

It is undisputed that Barry worked as a credit analyst for DaimlerChrysler for twelve years before the marriage. He testified that that he gave up his career for marriage because Tammy had been offered the position in Brazil and they agreed that she should take the position to advance her career. Barry also testified that after he took the leave of absence to live with Tammy in Indonesia, he returned to his work in Canada in December 2002, and did not leave his job until July 17, 2003, two days before they married. And, as discussed above, Barry testified concerning his ultimately unsuccessful efforts to obtain employment in the places he and Tammy lived. Thus, although the parties disputed whether Barry intended to work during the marriage and the details of Barry’s employment history shortly before the marriage, the trial court, as the fact finder, had the opportunity to observe the witnesses and determine their credibility and the weight of the evidence. See id. at 318. The evidence shows that the couple agreed that they would follow Tammy’s job opportunity in Brazil to advance her career, and the trial court reasonably could have found that that this choice eventually compromised Barry’s own career path. Therefore, finding of fact 12.f is supported by sufficient evidence.

Next, Tammy contends that finding 12.i—that Tammy has greater earning power and potential than Barry does—is “unsupported by the evidence.” Tammy points to that portion of finding 12.f in which the trial court found that Barry was earning $90,000.00 plus benefits annually, and posits that this is evidence that “if [Barry] wants to work and apply himself, he is certainly capable of earning just as much as is his former wife.” But this analysis fails to take into account all of the relevant facts, including the evidence that Barry left his career when he married Tammy, he gained no career experience during the four-year marriage, and he lacked a college degree. In contrast, Tammy had a bachelor’s degree in engineering and was continuously employed as a petroleum engineer with oil companies before and during the marriage. This evidence is sufficient to support the trial court’s finding.

Based on the premise that the evidence was insufficient to support the trial court’s findings of fact 12.a, d, f, and i, Tammy further contends that the trial court’s property division was manifestly unjust and unfair. To illustrate the allegedly unjust and unfair division, Tammy argues that the trial court unfairly awarded Barry fifty percent of the shares in her Mellon One account, but allocated one-hundred percent of the debt encumbering the stock to Tammy. But we have determined that the trial court’s findings were supported by legally and factually sufficient evidence; therefore, the premise upon which Tammy’s argument is based must fail. Moreover, although the trial court divided the account’s 745 community shares roughly equally between the parties, with Barry receiving 373 of these shares, Tammy fails to mention that the court awarded her 1,015 of the shares in the account as her separate property as well as the debt. Barry was not awarded any ownership in, or future benefits from, Tammy’s separate property shares. Also, the trial court had before it testimony and documentary evidence concerning any related debt. A trial court’s division of property “must take into consideration all the equities, the nature of the property, [and] the debts secured by liens on the property awarded to each.” Walker v. Walker, 527 S.W.2d 200, 203 (Tex. Civ. App.—Fort Worth 1975, no writ). On this record, therefore, we cannot say that the trial court erred in awarding the debt to Tammy.

The trial court is authorized to consider many factors, including the disparity of the parties’ incomes and their earning capacities throughout the marriage, when dividing the parties’ estate. See Murff, 615 S.W.2d at 698–99. Tammy has not demonstrated that the trial court’s evaluation of the evidence resulted in an abuse of discretion as required to overturn its property division. See id. Accordingly, we overrule Tammy’s first three issues.

IV

In her fourth issue, Tammy contends that the trial court erred in evaluating her claim for reimbursement of $60,000.00 that she paid from separate funds for the community residence. Therefore, she argues, the trial court’s conclusion of law 18, that Tammy “failed to offer evidence sufficient to support her claims for reimbursement,” is contrary to the evidence and an abuse of discretion. We review the trial court’s conclusions of law de novo. Stavinoha v. Stavinoha, 126 S.W.3d 604, 608 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2004, no pet.).

A

The Texas Family Code defines separate property as that property owned by a spouse before marriage, acquired during the marriage by gift, devise, or descent, or as a recovery for personal injuries sustained during the marriage. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 3.001 (Vernon 2006). In contrast, community property consists of the property, other than separate property, acquired by either spouse during marriage. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 3.002 (Vernon 2006). All property possessed by either spouse during or on dissolution of marriage is presumed to be community property. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 3.003(a) (Vernon 2006).

To overcome the community-property presumption, a spouse claiming assets as separate property is required to establish their separate character, not merely by a preponderance of the evidence, but by clear and convincing evidence. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 3.003(b); Stavinoha, 126 S.W.3d at 607. 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. Stavinoha, 126 S.W.3d at 607.

The party seeking to rebut the community presumption must generally trace and clearly identify property claimed as separate property. McKinley v. McKinley, 496 S.W.2d 540, 543 (Tex. 1973). Mere testimony that the property was purchased with separate funds, without any tracing of the funds, is generally insufficient to rebut the presumption. McElwee v. McElwee, 911 S.W.2d 182, 188 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1995, writ denied).

Reimbursement is an equitable right that arises when the funds or assets of one estate are used to benefit and enhance another estate without itself receiving some benefit. Vallone v. Vallone, 644 S.W.2d 455, 458–59 (Tex. 1982). The party claiming the right of reimbursement has the burden of pleading and proving that the expenditures were made and that they are reimbursable. Id. at 459. Reimbursement is not available as a matter of law but lies within the discretion of the court. Id. The discretion to be exercised in evaluating a claim for reimbursement is equally as broad as the discretion exercised in making a just and right division of the community estate. Zieba, 928 S.W.2d at 787.

B

Tammy argues that the trial court erred in evaluating her claim for reimbursement of $60,000 she borrowed from her parents to make a down payment on the couple’s home, on the basis that she repaid the loan from her separate property. Tammy contends that she repaid the loan from the parties’ joint Wells Fargo account, into which she had transferred $36,706.52 from her Hansard International account and $102,662.93 from her Schlumberger account. She further contends that the Hansard account was an investment account opened before the marriage. She acknowledges that some of the Schlumberger account contained funds that accumulated during the marriage, but states that “the overwhelming majority . . . was [acquired] prior to the marriage and [is] separate property.” Tammy also points to Barry’s admissions that the Hansard account was an investment account she had before they married and that she took $36,000 out of that account and put it in the joint account to pay back the loan.

Tammy’s Schlumberger separation package consisted of pension-plan contributions, medical, savings, insurance, and stock options, which accrued before and during the marriage, and were paid out in a lump sum when she ceased working for the company. But, significantly, Tammy points to no evidence that shows what portion of the Schlumberger deposit was her separate property and what portion was earned by the community.[1] Tammy then deposited the money from both the Schlumberger and the Hansard accounts into the couple’s Wells Fargo joint checking account, further commingling them. Tammy testified that this joint account was used for community expenses as well as to pay back the loan. Tammy and Barry disputed whether separate or community money was used to pay for certain purchases and expenses.

Concerning the Hansard account, Tammy testified that this was an investment fund account that required a deposit of $1,000.00 per month for five years. She opened the account in November 2001, before the marriage. Tammy testified that the Hansard account totaled $56,000.00, $20,000.00 of which she accumulated before the marriage. Over time, all of the money was transferred to the Wells Fargo joint account. Tammy testified that “[w]e withdrew $39,000 and 3,000 of that was my separate property money that we withdrew.” Tammy thus appears to concede that $36,000 of the money from the Hansard account was community property. The Wells Fargo statement shows a deposit was made in July 2006 of $36,706.52 from Hansard into the couple’s joint account. This is the same $36,000 Barry was questioned about on cross-examination.

Thus, the evidence concerning the separate character of the funds removed from the couple’s joint account to repay the loan for the down payment on their home was not clearly demonstrated. To the extent that Schlumberger account funds may have been used to repay the loan, Tammy produced no evidence to segregate what portion of those funds belonged to her separate estate as opposed to the community estate. Tammy also conceded that at least $36,000 of the money in her Hansard account was community money. Further, the funds Tammy contends were used to repay the loan were first deposited into the parties’ joint checking account, further commingling them, and Tammy did not sufficiently trace them. See McKinley, 496 S.W.2d at 543–44. Because Tammy failed to demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that she repaid the loan for the down payment on the parties’ home with her separate funds, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in concluding that she failed to offer sufficient evidence to support her claim for reimbursement. We overrule Tammy’s fourth issue.

* * *

The trial court’s judgment is affirmed.

Jensen v. Jensen (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Feb. 23, 2010)(Brown) (divorce property division, foreign spouse, international aspects of family/divorce law)(divorce property division affirmed) (community vs. separate property, reimbursement claim)
AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Jeff Brown
Before Justices Brock Yates, Frost and Brown
14-08-00221-CV Tammy C. Jensen v. Barry Dale Jensen
Appeal from 328th District Court of Fort Bend County
Trial Court Judge: Ronald R. Pope

TAGS: marriage and divorce, property division, sex roles, gender roles, gender-neutrality, international marriage, foreign spouses, marital estates, community property, separate property, community property presumption, disparity in earnings potential, discrepancy in income