In re Marriage of Foster

2014 IL App (1st) 123078

SIXTH DIVISION

No. 1-12-3078

) Appeal from the
In re MARRIAGE OF ) Circuit Court of
) Cook County
YVONNE FOSTER, )
)
Petitioner-Appellant and Cross-Appellee, ) No. 09 D2 30269
)
and )
) Honorable
JAMES FOSTER, ) Jeanne M. Reynolds,
) Judge Presiding.
Respondent-Appellee and Cross-Appellant. )
)
)

JUSTICE REYES delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Presiding Justice Rochford and Justice Lampkin concurred in the judgment and opinion.

OPINION

¶1 Petitioner, Yvonne Foster (Yvonne), appeals from the entry of the judgment of

dissolution of her marriage to respondent and cross-appellant, James Foster (James). On appeal,

Yvonne contends that: (1) the trial court failed to award her a greater share of the marital estate

as provided in the judgment of dissolution; (2) the trial court's determination that James did not

dissipate marital assets was against the manifest weight of the evidence; (3) the trial court abused

its discretion in awarding her only 30% of James's income from all sources in permanent

maintenance; and (4) the trial court abused its discretion in awarding her only $25,000 towards

contribution of her attorney fees.
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¶2 James cross-appeals, contending that: (1) the trial court erred in determining his

Scottrade account was marital property; and (2) the trial court abused its discretion by awarding

Yvonne 30% of his nonmarital income towards maintenance.

¶3 For the reasons that follow, we reverse the trial court's ruling that the Scottrade account is

marital property. 1 We affirm the trial court's determination that James's did not dissipate marital

assets and also conclude the trial court did not err in awarding Yvonne a percentage of James's

nonmarital income as maintenance. We remand the matter for reconsideration of the distribution

of the assets, as well as for new determinations regarding maintenance and attorney fees based

on the trial court's error in the determination of the value of the Scottrade account and our

determination that the Scottrade account was nonmarital.

¶4 I. BACKGROUND

¶5 James and Yvonne were married on December 21, 1975. At the time of the entry of the

judgment of dissolution, September 28, 2012, James was a 62-year-old software specialist,

earning approximately $58,000 annually, and Yvonne was 63 years of age and was unemployed.

The parties had no children. Throughout the proceedings James resided in the marital home

located in Glenview, Illinois. In July of 2009, Yvonne commenced residing in an apartment

located in Chicago, Illinois.

¶6 A. Pretrial Proceedings

¶7 On May 8, 2009, Yvonne filed a petition for dissolution of marriage in the circuit court of

Cook County. On September 8, 2009, Yvonne filed a petition for temporary maintenance. On

September 24, 2009, the trial court ordered James to pay temporary maintenance to Yvonne in

1
We note that the record refers to this account as the "Scott Trade account." In their
briefs, however, the parties refer to this account as the "Scottrade" account. A review of the
company's website reveals that "Scottrade" is the company's legal name and will be used in place
of "Scott Trade account" throughout this opinion.
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the amount of $200 each week pending hearing on the petition. On October 28, 2009, after a

hearing on the matter, James was ordered to pay $1,800 a month in temporary maintenance

beginning November 1, 2009, to Yvonne.

¶8 On January 21, 2011, Yvonne filed a motion to modify her support order, asserting James

had failed to disclose two bank accounts and, therefore, had sufficient funds to support her

request for increased temporary maintenance to the amount of $4,570 per month. In support of

her claim, Yvonne submitted an affidavit in which she averred her current living expenses were

$4,570 each month. On May 20, 2011, the trial court ordered James to pay Yvonne $4,570 per

month in temporary support retroactive to January 21, 2011, the date of her initial request. The

trial court did not set forth a basis for granting Yvonne's request.

¶9 On June 30, 2011, Yvonne filed a petition for contribution towards interim attorney fees.

On August 18, 2011, the trial court granted her request, ordering James to contribute $12,000

toward Yvonne's attorney fees. 2 The matter was then set for trial for the court to determine the

distribution of marital assets and whether Yvonne would be awarded maintenance.

¶ 10 B. Trial

¶ 11 Trial was held on February 21-22, March 13-14, and April 2, 2012. The majority of the

testimony at trial related to James'ss nonmarital income, his current bank accounts, and the

parties' lifestyle between 1994 and 2003. Prior to the commencement of trial, the parties

stipulated the value of the marital residence was $222,599.00 with an outstanding mortgage

2
Yvonne was initially represented by the Law Offices of Lawrence S. Manassa, P.C. On
September 1, 2011, however, Manassa filed a motion to withdraw stating he received by
facsimile a "substitution of attorneys" form executed by Yvonne and Howard Rosenfeld of
Rosenfeld, Hafron, Shapiro and Farmer and believed it was his ethical duty to withdraw.

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balance of $44,506.53, resulting in a net equity of $177,993.47. 3 The parties further stipulated

the following assets were marital: Yvonne's Harris Bank account; the parties' Charles Schwab

One account No. 6275 (the Schwab investment account); Yvonne's Schwab individual retirement

account (IRA); the parties' Charles Schwab rollover IRA account No. 6286; James's Teacher

Retirement System pension; James's Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) pension;

James's New Trier Retirement Incentive Plan; James's 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee; Yvonne's

1996 BMW; and James's 1991 Jeep. 4 The parties also stipulated to James's nonmarital property

as follows: an undivided one-third interest in certain real property located in Lipscomb County,

Texas, along with three active oil and gas lease interests with a stipulated value of $1,030,979;

an undivided one-third interest in certain real property located in Harper County, Oklahoma with

a stipulated value of $54,000; an undivided one-third interest in 100 acres of real property

located in Prosser, Washington. Lastly, the parties stipulated to the authenticity of all financial

account statements admitted as exhibits.

¶ 12 1. The Parties' Employment History

¶ 13 James testified that in 1975 when the parties were first married, he was employed as a

teacher at Washburn Junior High School. Subsequent to his employment at Washburn, he was

employed by Huguley Systems Corporation from 1978 through 1981. 5 Thereafter, he was

3
The actual amount of equity is $178,092.47; however, the parties do not contest the
amount awarded on appeal.
4
The parties' stipulation was not included in the record on appeal. The text of this
stipulation is derived from the judgment of dissolution. The parties do not argue on appeal that
the trial court's recitation of the stipulation is incorrect; however, the record is devoid of any
evidence of "Yvonne's Schwab IRA." Only two Schwab accounts exist in the record: (1) the
Schwab One investment account No. 6275; and (2) the Schwab IRA No. 6286 held jointly by the
parties.
5
No testimony was elicited regarding James's salary at Washburn Junior High School or

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employed by Baxter Travonal Laboratories earning $40,000 annually. From July of 1987 until

December of 1994, James was employed by Abbott Laboratories making $70,000 annually. In

1994 James began a company, Applied Technology, which focused on technical writing for the

sport aviation community. In 2003, James terminated his business and gained employment as a

substitute teacher for New Trier Township High School (New Trier) earning $10 per hour. In

2006, James became a full-time employee at New Trier earning under $30,000 annually. As of

trial, James was employed by New Trier as a software specialist earning $58,000 annually.

¶ 14 Yvonne testified when she married James in 1975 she was employed as a substitute

teacher. Thereafter, she held various office positions until 1994 when she graduated with a

masters of arts in guidance and counseling. In 1994 Yvonne opened her own office and was a

counselor for one year until she decided it "wasn't a good fit" for her, and closed the business

with James's approval. Thereafter, she assisted James with his work for Applied Technology by

reading and editing his work product. Throughout the majority of the marriage, Yvonne was a

homemaker.

¶ 15 2. James's Inheritance

¶ 16 James testified that in the early 1990s he received an inheritance from his father's cousin,

Beatrice Bonk, which included a one-third interest in three properties. James further testified at

that time he also inherited $200,000 in cash from the Beatrice Bonk estate, which he deposited in

the couple's Schwab investment account.

¶ 17 In the early 1990's James also received $30,000 from Linn Energy, a company which was

testing the property he inherited for natural gas. Thereafter, the amount of income he received

from Linn Energy "rapidly dropped off." Through the time of trial, James continued to receive

Huguley Systems Corporation.

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checks from Linn Energy, which were directly deposited in his Chase checking account. James

also received insubstantial payments from PVR Midstream, LLC, a company involved in

pipeline production.

¶ 18 James further testified he first began receiving funds from the Chalker oil well leases on

the inherited property in December of 2010, when he received $18,914. From December of 2010

through trial, James had been receiving monthly checks from Chalker in varying amounts. In

2011, James earned over $400,000 from Chalker.

¶ 19 In addition to the inheritance from his father's cousin, James also testified he received a

quarterly payment from his mother's trust. The amount varied; however, the most recent

payment received at the time of the trial was "over 2 but less than $3,000." When James opened

the Chase checking account in August 2009 all of his nonmarital inheritance income was

deposited into that account.

¶ 20 3. The Parties' Schwab Investment Accounts

¶ 21 James testified that with $100,000 of the inheritance he received in the early 1990s he

opened the Charles Schwab One account No. 6275 (the Schwab investment account). Six

months later, he deposited another $100,000 into the Schwab investment account. James

testified the Schwab investment account was a margin account, which is "an investment account

where you hold stocks, and it could be bonds[ or] securities. And then you could write checks

against it. It's sort of like a line of credit *** which is secured by your security holdings, and the

amount of credit you have is based on the amount of securities in the account." One could repay

a margin loan by depositing cash into the account or selling the securities contained in the

account. James testified he and Yvonne had access to the Schwab investment account through a

Visa card as well as by writing checks and that the parties used the Schwab investment account

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to fund their lifestyle. As of August 31, 2000, the Schwab investment account had

$1,105,392.91 in assets with a margin loan of $442,933.22, making the total account value

$682,459.69. James further testified that the stock market declined in the latter part of 2000, and

as a result, Schwab sold off some of the securities in the Schwab investment account to rebalance

the margin loan. As of February 28, 2002, the Schwab investment account had a total value of

$118,198.69. James further testified that as of July 1, 2009, he and Yvonne exhausted all of

those assets but $1,635.04, as they had been utilized to fund the couples' lifestyle.

¶ 22 In 1995, James opened a joint Charles Schwab individual retirement account (the Schwab

IRA) funded with $70,000 from his 401(k) retirement plan from Abbott Laboratories. On

October 31, 2000, the account value was $594,442.11. The stock market subsequently declined

and on October 31, 2001, the account value was $245,928.84. The parties had not withdrawn

any money from the Schwab IRA prior to that date. By the end of 2003, James testified he and

Yvonne withdrew funds from the Schwab IRA "because the Schwab One account [the Schwab

investment account] was basically empty." The couple used the funds from the Schwab IRA to

subsidize their living expenses.

¶ 23 4. The Parties' Lifestyle from 1994-2003

¶ 24 Yvonne testified between 1994 and 2003 the couple frequented restaurants approximately

four times a week. They also maintained an "opulent lifestyle, especially when it came to

traveling." Yvonne averred during their marriage the parties traveled to Wyoming 20 times,

London 10 times, Hawaii 4 times, Paris 3 times, and Luxembourg and Belgium "a few times."

On one trip to Hawaii, the couple stayed for an entire month because James wanted to upgrade

his pilot's license.

¶ 25 Yvonne further testified that between 1994 and 2003, she and James spent on average

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$21,378 per month and that she shopped at upscale department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue

and Nordstrom. This monthly amount included monthly expenses of $683 to repair the parties'

vehicles; $200 for gas; $1,000 for clothing; $750 for grooming; $2,000 for social obligations and

entertainment; and $7,500 for vacations. Yvonne based these figures on receipts and her

memory and by researching costs for hotels and travel on the Internet. Yvonne, however, did not

provide any receipts at trial.

¶ 26 In addition, Yvonne testified the couple was "obsessed" with the stock market during this

period. The couple watched television programs and read articles and magazines regarding the

stock market. Yvonne testified that during this time the couple used the Schwab investment

account to pay the bills associated with running the household. She further stated she was

unaware that their investments had undergone a dramatic decline as of 2003, but did know they

had decreased in value.

¶ 27 James testified the parties spent "far less" than $21,736 a month between 1994 and 2003.

James further testified around 2000, the couple took seven vacations in a 12-month period.

James testified the parties traveled to Europe three times, to Hawaii twice, and to Wyoming five

times. The trial court admitted James's Exhibit 72, the 1998 American Express credit card yearly

summary, into evidence. The credit card summary indicated the parties incurred $16,386 in one

year for airlines, car rental, and lodging. The American Express statement further indicated the

couple spent $8,363 in one year dining out at restaurants.

¶ 28 5. The Parties' Lifestyle from 2004-09

¶ 29 Yvonne testified the frequency of the couples' vacations declined between 2004 and

2009. Yvonne indicated the couple went on three vacations during this time period: one to

Ireland; one to Germany; and one to Cabo San Lucas. Yvonne further testified the number of

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occasions they dined outside the home decreased as well. Yvonne testified that in the six months

before she vacated the marital residence, she and James dined outside the home three times a

week and were "going to a lot of movies." Yvonne further testified that when she vacated the

marital residence, she was not spending $1,000 each month on clothing, $7,500 each month on

vacations, $750 each month on grooming, and $2,120 on automobile related expenses.

¶ 30 James testified that although the parties went on vacations during this period, they were

"extremely stressed financially" and he was earning less money at that time than he earns

currently. James further testified he had not filed his and Yvonne's tax returns from 2007 to the

present. James, however, testified that at the time of the trial he was in the process of paying his

back taxes. Admitted into evidence by James was a monthly expenditures and account balance

spreadsheet for the period of January 2006 to June 2009, which demonstrated the couple's

average monthly expenses were $6,251.85.

¶ 31 6. James's Current Bank and Investment Accounts

¶ 32 James testified in August of 2009 he opened the Chase checking account No. 0198

(Chase checking account) in his name alone after the parties had separated. Income checks he

received from New Trier and other jobs were directly deposited into the account. James received

nonmarital income payments from Linn Energy, PVR Midstream, and his mother's trust, which

were deposited into the Chase checking account beginning August 31, 2009. At the time the

Chase checking account was first opened, he deposited checks from Linn Energy approximately

once, and sometimes twice, a month ranging from $52.50 to $686. James was also receiving

quarterly payments from his mother's trust ranging from $799 to $1,400 which were also

deposited into the Chase checking account. As of January 27, 2012, the account had a balance of

$9,384.09.

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¶ 33 On September 4, 2009, James opened a Scottrade account in his name only with $75

from his Chase checking account. James funded the Scottrade account by transferring funds

from his Chase checking account to the Scottrade account. James testified "the money

[contained in the Scottrade account] represented predominantly inherited funds." These transfers

became more frequent in December of 2010, when he began receiving funds from Chalker.

From the inception of the Scottrade account until December 21, 2010, eight transfers were made

from the Chase checking account to the Scottrade account in the total amount of $7,675.

¶ 34 Then, on December 22, 2010, James received a deposit from Chalker in the amount of

$18,914. On December 28, 2010, $2,500 was transferred from the Chase checking account to

the Scottrade account. On December 29, 2010, $2,200 was similarly transferred. On January 11,

2011, $3,600 was transferred from the Chase checking account to the Scottrade account. On

February 7, 2011, James deposited a $14,708 check from Chalker into his Chase checking

account. The following day, February 8, 2011, James transferred $4,000 to the Scottrade

account. On February 28, 2011, James again deposited $40,124.78 from Chalker into his Chase

checking account and on March 1, 2011, James transferred $4,500 to the Scottrade account.

Subsequently, James also made two transfers of $2,000 and $1,500 to the Scottrade account on

March 14, 2011. On April 4, 2011, James deposited $60,984.72 from Chalker into his Chase

checking account, then on April 4, April 8, April 14, and April 27, James transferred $6,000,

$8,000, $6,000, and $3,000, respectively, into his Scottrade Account. On May 2, 2011, James

deposited $39,192.21 from Chalker into his Chase checking account. On May 3, May 4, May 5,

and May 9, James transferred $8,000, $1,200, $20,000, and $13,000 into the Scottrade account.

The pattern that James would receive large amounts of approximately $40,000 from Chalker and

would then transfer large sums of money into the Scottrade account within days of receiving the

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money continued through December of 2011. James testified it was never his intention that the

funds received from his inheritance would be distributed to Yvonne.

¶ 35 In February of 2010, James opened a First Bank and Trust checking account No. 5732 in

his name alone. As of November 15, 2011, the account contained $403.97.

¶ 36 On February 23, 2012, James opened an additional Chase checking account No. 4428 in

his name alone and deposited only what he viewed to be his nonmarital income into this account.

James testified as of March 21, 2012, there was $97,299 in the account. He had, however,

executed a check in the amount of $80,000 from that account to the IRS for payment of back

taxes, but the check had not yet cleared the account.

¶ 37 7. James's Expenditures Since the Filing of the Petition for Dissolution

¶ 38 James's testimony established that between the end of 2010 and the date of trial (when he

began receiving greater amounts of inheritance income) he spent in excess of $150,000 on his

own personal expenses, furniture, automobiles, travel and other activities, including upwards of

$50,000 on gambling. James testified he used his nonmarital income to fund these expenses.

¶ 39 C. Yvonne's Petition for Contribution to Attorney Fees

¶ 40 On March 14, 2012, Yvonne filed a petition for contribution to attorney fees pursuant to

section 503(j) of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (the Act) (750 ILCS

5/503(j) (West 2012)) in which she asserted she incurred attorney fees and costs associated with

litigating the dissolution action in the amount of $83,000 as of March 1, 2012, and currently

owes her attorneys $45,000. Yvonne further asserted James had a greater ability to pay her

attorney fees, as he earned an income that exceeds that of Yvonne, as she was currently

unemployed. Affidavits from each of Yvonne's attorneys were attached to the motion; however,

both affidavits failed to include billing statements.

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¶ 41 In response, James asserted Yvonne's legal fees were unreasonable and were

exponentially out of proportion to the product as represented at trial. James maintained the

amount of his nonmarital income could not be a basis for awarding Yvonne contribution towards

attorney fees. James further asserted that Yvonne deliberately chose not to obtain employment

and the reason she lacks income is due to her own decision to remain unemployed.

¶ 42 In reply, Yvonne maintained under section 503(j), if maintenance is awarded, then the

court shall base any fees award or contribution on the criteria set forth in sections 503 and 504 of

the Act. Accordingly, it is proper for the court to consider James's nonmarital income. Yvonne

also stated she is "prepared to tender copies of her counsel's billing statements at a hearing of this

matter so that the Court can make the appropriate determination of reasonableness of attorneys

fees."

¶ 43 The trial court indicated it would include its decision on contribution towards attorney

fees in the judgment for dissolution of marriage.

¶ 44 D. The Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage

¶ 45 On September 28, 2012, the trial court issued its judgment for dissolution of marriage.

The court awarded Yvonne 65% of the stipulated value of the marital home to be paid from

James's resources; all of the property in her possession; the Harris Bank account; the Schwab

investment account; the Schwab IRA; the Schwab rollover IRA; and the 1996 BMW. Yvonne

was further awarded permanent maintenance in a sum equal to 30% of James's gross income

from all sources, including his nonmarital income. James was awarded the Chase checking

account No. 0198; the Chase savings account No. 4428; the Scottrade account No. 2923; the

marital residence; the Teacher Retirement System pension; the IMRF pension; the New Trier

Retirement Incentive Plan; the 1991 Jeep; the 2006 Jeep; and all personal property in his

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possession. James was further awarded all of the marital debts, including the mortgage balance

of $44,506.55 and credit card debt estimated to be $31,700. James was also ordered to pay

$25,000 toward contribution to Yvonne's attorney fees.

¶ 46 1. Dissipation of Marital Assets

¶ 47 The trial court determined James did not dissipate marital assets. The trial court based its

ruling on the fact that James exhausted all of his marital income to provide for Yvonne's

temporary maintenance payments as well as for marital household expenses. The trial court

found that James in 2011 had paid $10,800 toward the mortgage and $54,840 in temporary

support for Yvonne, totaling $65,640. The trial court further found James's marital income for

2011 was $58,000, and accordingly, he had to utilize nonmarital income to pay marital expenses.

The trial court also noted Yvonne "made no contribution towards payment of any marital debts

or expenses." The trial court concluded "James['s] deposits of non-marital income are easily

identified" and "[b]ased upon James['s] payment of temporary support and payment of marital

obligations in excess of his marital income as well as his contribution of non-marital income to

the marital estate and the Court's ultimate division of assets and debts as set forth below, the

Court does not find James has dissipated marital assets."

¶ 48 2. Nonmarital and Marital Property

¶ 49 The trial court considered the following property to be James's nonmarital property

because it was opened by James with his nonmarital income and held solely in his name:

-Chase savings account No. 4428 with a balance of $97,299.59 as of March 21, 2012.

¶ 50 The trial court determined the value of the following accounts and found them to be

marital property:

-Chase checking account No. 0198 with a balance of $9,384.09 as of January 27, 2012.

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-First Bank and Trust account No. 5732 with a balance of $403.97 as of November 15,

2011.

-Scottrade account No. 2923 with a balance of $448.78 as of December 31, 2011.

The trial court stated these accounts were opened during the marriage and that James deposited

both his marital and nonmarital income into these accounts, which constituted commingling.

The trial court stated these accounts were presumed marital and found that James did not

overcome the presumption that they were marital.

¶ 51 3. Distribution of Marital Assets

¶ 52 The trial court distributed the marital assets as previously set forth at the beginning of this

section. In addition, the trial court stated, "As set forth below in the allocation of the marital

estate, Yvonne will receive a greater share of the marital estate and James will be responsible for

a greater share of the marital debts." According to the values of the marital assets set forth by

the trial court in its order, James was awarded approximately $74,028.23 and Yvonne was

awarded $120,086.44. 6 James, however, was also responsible for all of the marital debts in the

amount of $74,206.55, including the remainder due on the mortgage of the marital residence.

James was also awarded the marital residence and, therefore, was to provide Yvonne the sum of

$115,695.45, which represents 65% of the stipulated value of the marital residence. James was

also responsible for taxes owed jointly by the couple "for 2007 and subsequent years."

¶ 53 4. Maintenance

¶ 54 The trial court rendered the following determinations regarding Yvonne's request for

maintenance. The trial court found the parties' marriage lasted 36 years and Yvonne was 63

years old at the time of dissolution. Yvonne had "not worked outside the home since 1994." The

These amounts include only the property for which the trial court provided values in the
6

judgment of dissolution.
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trial court indicated Yvonne's affidavit, wherein she lists her monthly expenses as $21,378, was

"greatly exaggerated" and "not an accurate depiction of the parties' marital lifestyle ever or even

for the ten years prior to the trial dates." The trial court also found that in 2011 James's income

from New Trier was $56,185 and he received "in excess of $500,000 in non-marital income."

The trial court further found that James's affidavit listed his monthly expenses as $10,722 and he

was only able to pay his current expenses, marital expenses, and temporary support to Yvonne

due to his increased nonmarital income beginning in 2010. The trial court stated:

"[A]fter not being employed for over twenty years and based upon Yvonne's age and

limited work experiences, there is no realistic likelihood that Yvonne will find

employment and significantly improve her ability to support herself in accordance with

the standard of living established during the parties' marriage. James has a far greater

present and future ability to earn income and currently receives a significant stream of

non-marital income."

After stating it considered all of the statutory factors set forth in section 504(a) of the Act (750

ILCS 5/504(a) (West 2012)), the trial court awarded Yvonne permanent maintenance "in the

amount of thirty (30%) percent of James's gross income from all sources, including his marital

and non-marital income. As James has not filed tax returns since 2007, it is difficult for the

Court to verify James's net income from all sources. Accordingly, maintenance will be based

upon 30% of James['s] gross income."

¶ 55 5. Attorney Fees

¶ 56 The trial court determined James shall pay the sum of $25,000 to Yvonne as contribution

towards her attorney fees. The trial court noted it considered the allocation of assets and

liabilities, the award of maintenance and the relative earning capabilities of the parties when

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determining whether one party should contribute towards the payment of the other party's

attorney fees. The trial court stated James already paid $12,000 toward Yvonne's attorney fees

from his nonmarital income. The trial court found:

"The invoices of Yvonne's current attorney Rosenfield Hafron Shapiro & Farmer detail

invoices for the period of September 1, 2011 through September 4, 2012 in the amount of

$130,875 in fees of which $47,554 has been paid to date and a balance of $90,345.87

remains owing. In addition, Yvonne hired an additional firm of Levin & Rosen wherein

attorney fees for the same period totaled $12,375 with $4,500 paid and the remaining

balance of $7,875. Accordingly, Yvonne has incurred a total of $143,250 in attorneys'

fees for a one-year period."

¶ 57 Regarding the billing statements from Yvonne's counsel the trial court found, "[t]here [at

the law firm] different attorneys worked often simultaneously on this case. The fees include the

conferencing of attorneys working on the case, resolution of discovery disputes, trial preparation,

time spent during the trial, and the preparation of post trial briefs." The trial court determined

"the fees incurred by Yvonne for the last year were excessive and disproportionate to the nature

of the contested disputes and disproportionate to the value of the marital estate."

¶ 58 The trial court further found that "both parties share in the delay in these proceedings,"

and stated it:

"does not find Yvonne had a good faith belief that James['s] inheritance was a marital

asset, and that James did not expediently respond to discovery requiring issuing of

subpoenas. However, the Court does find Yvonne's incurrence of $142,000 in attorneys'

fees for a one-year period to be excessive and not reasonable in light of all factors

considered during the litigation and the evidence produced at trial."

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Ultimately, the trial court concluded, "the Court finds that James does have a greater present and

future ability to pay attorneys fees than Yvonne does and orders James to contribute an

additional $25,000 towards payment of Yvonne's attorneys' fees. Yvonne will be responsible for

payment of the balance of her attorneys' fees and costs."

¶ 59 II. ANALYSIS

¶ 60 On appeal Yvonne contends that: (1) the trial court failed to award her a greater share of

the marital estate in contravention of the language of the judgment of dissolution; (2) the trial

court's determination that James did not dissipate marital assets was against the manifest weight

of the evidence; (3) the trial court abused its discretion in awarding her only 30% of James's

income from all sources in permanent maintenance; and (4) the trial court abused its discretion in

awarding her only $25,000 towards contribution of her attorney fees.

¶ 61 James cross-appeals, contending that: (1) the trial court erred in determining the

Scottrade account was marital property; and (2) the trial court abused its discretion by awarding

Yvonne 30% of his gross income, including his nonmarital income as maintenance.

¶ 62 As these issues are naturally intertwined, we will consider each party's contention as they

relate to each other, beginning with the trial court's ruling regarding the distribution of the

marital estate.

¶ 63 A. Distribution of the Marital Estate

¶ 64 Yvonne contends the trial court abused its discretion when it stated in the judgment of

dissolution it would award her a majority of the marital estate, but in actuality awarded her less

than half of the marital estate. Yvonne bases this contention on the fact the trial court awarded

James the Scottrade account, which at the time of trial contained $178,993.28. Yvonne

maintains that the trial court's determination that the Scottrade account held $448.78 was in

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error, and had the trial court properly valued the Scottrade account it would have awarded her a

portion of this asset. James responds that the trial court was reasonable in its distribution of the

marital estate. In his cross-appeal, however, James asserts the trial court erred in classifying the

Scottrade account as marital property.

¶ 65 When determining the distribution of a marital estate, the trial court must first determine

what constitutes marital property and what constitutes nonmarital property. In re Marriage of

Henke, 313 Ill. App. 3d 159, 166 (2000). As James contends in his cross-appeal that the trial

court erred in classifying the Scottrade account as marital property, we first turn to address this

issue.

¶ 66 1. Classification of the Scottrade Account

¶ 67 James asserts the trial court improperly determined the Scottrade account was marital

property. James maintains his nonmarital inheritance income never lost its identity and,

therefore, it was never transmuted into marital property. In the alternative, James argues the trial

court properly allocated the Scottrade account as reimbursement of his contribution of

nonmarital funds to the marital estate.

¶ 68 All the property of the parties to a marriage belongs to one of three estates, namely, the

estate of the husband, the estate of the wife, or the marital estate. In re Marriage of Werries, 247

Ill. App. 3d 639, 641-42 (1993). Section 503 of the Act requires the trial court to classify

property as either marital or nonmarital in order to assign or divide it upon a marriage

dissolution. 750 ILCS 5/503 (West 2012). The trial court's classification of property as marital

or nonmarital will not be disturbed on appeal unless it is contrary to the manifest weight of the

evidence. In re Marriage of Demar, 385 Ill. App. 3d 837, 850 (2008); but see In re Marriage of

Abrell, 236 Ill. 2d 249, 255 (2010) (considering whether accumulated vacation and sick days are

18
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marital property de novo as the facts were undisputed and the credibility of witnesses was not at

issue).

¶ 69 As a general rule under the statute, property acquired by either spouse after the marriage,

but prior to a judgment of dissolution, is presumed to be marital property regardless of how title

is actually held. 750 ILCS 5/503(b) (West 2012); In re Marriage of Davis, 215 Ill. App. 3d 763,

768 (1991). This includes property held solely in one party's name. 750 ILCS 5/503(b) (West

2012). Subsection (a) provides exceptions to this rule including "property acquired by gift,

legacy or descent" or "income from property acquired by a method listed in paragraphs (1)

through (7) of this subsection." 750 ILCS 5/503(a)(1), (8) (West 2012). Thus, property acquired

during the marriage is presumed to be marital property unless it is shown by clear and

convincing evidence that the property falls within one of the statutory exceptions listed in

subsection (a). 750 ILCS 5/503(a), (b) (West 2012).

¶ 70 It is undisputed that James's inheritance and the income derived there from is nonmarital

property pursuant to sections 503(a)(1) and (8) of the Act. 750 ILCS 5/503(a)(1), (8) (West

2012). It is also undisputed that James commingled his nonmarital property with his marital

property in the Chase checking account. James does not argue on appeal that the trial court erred

in determining the Chase checking account was marital property. What is at issue, however, is

whether James's nonmarital inheritance income was transmuted into marital property when

deposited into the Chase checking account.

¶ 71 Transmutation is governed by section 503(c) of the Act:

"(c) Commingled marital and non-marital property shall be treated in the

following manner, unless otherwise agreed by the spouses:

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1-12-3078

(1) When marital and non-marital property are commingled by

contributing one estate of property into another resulting in a loss of identity of

the contributed property, the classification of the contributed property is

transmuted to the estate receiving the contribution, subject to the provisions of

paragraph (2) of this subsection; provided that if marital and non-marital property

are commingled into newly acquired property resulting in a loss of identity of the

contributing estates, the commingled property shall be deemed transmuted to

marital property, subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection.

(2) When one estate of property makes a contribution to another estate of

property, or when a spouse contributes personal effort to non-marital property, the

contributing estate shall be reimbursed from the estate receiving the contribution

notwithstanding any transmutation; provided, that no such reimbursement shall be

made with respect to a contribution which is not retraceable by clear and

convincing evidence, or was a gift, or, in the case of a contribution of personal

effort of a spouse to non-marital property, unless the effort is significant and

results in substantial appreciation of the non-marital property. Personal effort of a

spouse shall be deemed a contribution by the marital estate. The court may

provide for reimbursement out of the marital property to be divided or by

imposing a lien against the non-marital property which received the contribution."

750 ILCS 5/503(c) (West 2012).

¶ 72 We initially observe that, contrary to James's contention, the trial court made no finding

that the Scottrade account was awarded to James as reimbursement for his contribution of

nonmarital funds to the marital estate pursuant to section 503(c)(2). Moreover, we will not

20
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consider James's one-sentence statement that he "is entitled to reimbursement for contribution of

his non-marital estate to the marital estate" pursuant to section 503(c)(2) of the Act as it is

unsupported by any specific facts, argument, or citation to authority in contravention of Illinois

Supreme Court Rule 341 (eff. Feb. 6, 2013). Failing to cite to relevant facts and authority

violates Rule 341 and results in the party forfeiting consideration of the issue. Kic v. Bianucci,

2011 IL App (1st) 100622, ¶ 23.

¶ 73 In addition, we acknowledge that when James addresses the issue of whether the

Scottrade account is nonmarital property in his cross-appeal, he relies upon cases involving

transmutation pursuant to 503(c)(1) of the Act and not reimbursement under section 503(c)(2) of

the Act. See In re Marriage of Steel, 2011 IL App (2d) 080974, ¶ 71; In re Marriage of Heroy,

385 Ill. App. 3d 640, 672 (2008). Indeed we also observe that Yvonne's argument does not

consider transmutation pursuant to section 503(c)(1) of the Act or reimbursement pursuant to

section 503(c)(2) of the Act. In fact, her argument relies entirely on In re Marriage of Wojcik,

362 Ill. App. 3d 144, 154-56 (2005), which did not expressly consider either section 503(c)(1) or

section 503(c)(2) of the Act. 7 Specifically, Yvonne asserts that because James's nonmarital

inheritance income was placed in the same account as the marital income, then all subsequent

assets acquired from that account must be marital property. Yvonne's argument ignores that

there is no presumption that commingled property is always transmuted into marital property.

See Henke, 313 Ill. App. 3d at 168. Accordingly, our consideration of the issue is limited to

whether there was transmutation of James's nonmarital inheritance income under section

503(c)(1) of the Act.

7
As discussed herein, the reviewing court in Wojcik did not expressly identify section
503(c)(1) of the Act when analyzing whether the trial court erred in its classification of two
pieces of property acquired during the marriage. Id. The reviewing court did, however, engage
in an analysis similar to cases expressly involving transmutation. Id.
21
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¶ 74 Transmutation occurs "[W]hen marital and non-marital property are commingled by

contributing one estate of property into another resulting in a loss of identity of the contributed

property." 750 ILCS 5/503(c)(1) (West 2012). "The rationale for this rule is that the spouse's

'failure to properly segregate nonmarital property, by commingling it with marital property,

evinces an intent to treat the former as part of the marital estate.' " Heroy, 385 Ill. App. 3d at

672-73 (quoting Wojcik, 362 Ill. App. 3d at 154). "The principle of transmutation is based on the

presumption that the owner of the nonmarital property intended to make a gift of the property to

the marital estate." In re Marriage of Olson, 96 Ill. 2d 432, 439 (1983). This presumption may

be rebutted by the donor spouse with clear and convincing evidence. In re Marriage of Didier,

318 Ill. App. 3d 253, 261-62 (2000). Where the account, however, is not a joint account, no gift

presumption may arise when nonmarital deposits of funds are made into it; particularly where a

party has, by clear and convincing evidence, traced the path of the funds from their origin,

through the account in question, and to the ultimate recipient. Steel, 2011 IL App (2d) 080974, ¶

86. The "[t]racing of funds is a procedure which allows the court to find that property which

would otherwise fall within the definition of marital property is actually non-marital property

under one of the statutory exceptions." In re Marriage of Jelinek, 244 Ill. App. 3d 496, 504

(1993).

¶ 75 Moreover, there is no presumption that commingled property is always transmuted into

marital property. Henke, 313 Ill. App. 3d at 168. "Every act of commingling or every use of

marital funds for the maintenance of nonmarital property, however, should not work a

transmutation." Olson, 96 Ill. 2d at 440. "That nonmarital funds were deposited into a marital

account does not establish beyond question that the funds were transmuted into marital

property." Steel, 2011 IL App (2d) 080974, ¶ 72. Nonmarital property can maintain its identity

22
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even when deposited into a marital account. Steel, 2011 IL App (2d) 080974, ¶ 81. Whether

nonmarital funds have lost their identity through commingling requires attention to the specific

history of those funds. Id. ¶ 76.

¶ 76 Contrary to Yvonne's argument, the issue here is not whether the marital and nonmarital

funds were commingled, but whether James's nonmarital inheritance income was transmuted

into marital property. This is because in order for James's nonmarital inheritance to be

transmuted into marital funds, the funds must be: (1) commingled; (2) resulting in a loss of

identity of the contributed funds. 750 ILCS 5/503(c)(1) (West 2012). James contends his

nonmarital income was not transmuted into marital property as his inheritance income did not

lose its identity as his nonmarital property. We agree.

¶ 77 Heroy supports James's contention that the Scottrade account was not transmuted to

marital property. In that case, the wife contended that the trial court erred in finding the

husband's rental property constituted nonmarital property. Heroy, 385 Ill. App. 3d at 669. The

parties did not dispute that the rental property was acquired during the marriage. Id. at 670.

Therefore, it was the husband's burden to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the

property fell within one of the exceptions listed in section 503(a) of the Act. Id. The husband

argued on appeal that his real property was nonmarital because it was acquired during the

marriage in exchange for other nonmarital property pursuant to section 503(a)(2) of the Act. Id.

We agreed, concluding the husband established by clear and convincing evidence that the

property was acquired without using marital income or assets to secure and repay the original

and subsequent loans on the property. Id. at 672.

¶ 78 The wife, however, also argued on appeal that the rental proceeds from the rental

property were deposited into the joint marital account that also contained marital funds, and,

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therefore, "because 'the money that [the husband] paid flowed through the parties' joint checking

account *** [it] was marital in any event.' " Id. After considering section 503(c)(1) of the Act

(750 ILCS 5/503(c)(1) (West 2006)), we concluded the husband's rental proceeds were not

transmuted into marital property, reasoning:

"Here, although [the] rental proceeds were deposited into the Heroys' joint

checking account [along] with [their] marital funds, [the husband] used the proceeds to

make his installment payments on the [rental property] note. The placement of the funds

into the couple's joint checking was simply a conduit to transfer money, which allowed

David to satisfy his payment obligations. We thus disagree with [the wife] that the

simple fact that the rental proceeds from the [rental] property 'flowed through the parties'

joint account' rendered the [rental] property a marital asset. Accordingly, we uphold the

trial court's finding that the [rental] property was a nonmarital asset." Heroy, 385 Ill.

App. 3d at 673.

In Heroy we did not expressly consider the amount of the rental proceeds or the length of time

the rental proceeds were in the couple's joint checking account, but nonetheless came to the

conclusion the husband's nonmarital rental proceeds were not transmuted. See id.

¶ 79 As in Heroy, James's marital income and nonmarital inheritance income were

commingled in one account. Id. The fact that these two different types of income were

commingled in one account, however, does not establish that the nonmarital inheritance income

was transmuted into marital property for the purposes of 503(c)(1) of the Act. See Steel, 2011 IL

App (2d) 080974, ¶ 76. In order to be transmuted, the nonmarital funds must be commingled

with marital funds "resulting in a loss of identity of the contributed property." (Emphasis

added.) 750 ILCS 5/503(c)(1) (West 2012). Similar to the facts in Heroy, and as found by the

24
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trial court here, James's deposits of his nonmarital inheritance income into the Chase checking

account were easily identified. Although this finding was included in the portion of the

judgment of dissolution considering whether James dissipated marital assets, the fact it was

included in another section of the judgment order does not render the finding insignificant as to

the issue of transmutation. Read as a whole, the judgment order sets forth the trial court's

findings that (1) James's nonmarital inheritance income was easily identifiable in the Chase

checking account; (2) James's marital income was completely exhausted after paying for marital

expenses and Yvonne's temporary support; and (3) the funds remaining in the Chase checking

account after the payment of marital expenses constituted James's nonmarital inheritance income.

The uncontroverted evidence at trial also established that within days of the deposits of

nonmarital inheritance income into the Chase checking account, James transferred funds from

the Chase checking account to the Scottrade account. The Chase checking account, in this

instance, acted as a conduit for James to deposit and then transfer of a portion of his nonmarital

inheritance income to the Scottrade account. Based on the record as well as the trial court's

findings, James's inheritance income did not lose its identity as nonmarital property in the

process.

¶ 80 Steel provides further support for our conclusion that James's nonmarital inheritance

income retained its identity when placed into the Chase checking account. In Steel, the

reviewing court considered whether a portion of the husband's nonmarital funds were transmuted

into marital property when placed in a money market account which also contained his marital

income. Steel, 2011 IL App (2d) 080974, ¶ 72. There, the husband had an interest in two

privately held companies, KA Steel Company (KASC) and MM Products. KASC was initially

held by the husband and his two brothers, Kenneth and Richard. In July 2004, the husband and

25
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Kenneth entered into an agreement to purchase the entirety of Richard's common stock in KASC.

Id. ¶ 29. The agreement called for total purchase price of $3,336,000 with an initial payment of

$760,000, 47 monthly installments of $53,666.67, and a final installment of $53,666.51. Id. The

husband was responsible for half of the total purchase price and in exchange would receive

388.25 shares of KASC stock. Id.

¶ 81 In December 2004, KASC, via a shareholder distribution, directly paid Richard $380,000,

the husband's portion of the initial payment. Id. ¶ 30. In 2005, monthly wire transfers were

made from KASC to the husband's money market account in the amount of $26,833.34, which

represented his portion of the monthly installment due to Richard under the agreement. Id. The

money market account, referred to by the court as the "NT account," was held in the husband's

name alone and was part of a revocable trust of which he was the trustee and his wife was the

beneficiary. Id. ¶ 25. The record did not disclose when the NT account was opened. Id. The

husband testified that from 2001 through 2006, he used the NT account exclusively for both

family expenses and personal financial transactions and that his salary from KASC was

deposited directly into the account. Id. Any shareholder distributions he received from KASC,

which were not directly wired to another party, were first deposited into the NT account. Id.

Out of all the monthly wire transfers of $26,833.34 from KASC to the NT account in 2005, the

husband only made three installment payments to Richard. Id. ¶ 30. The husband admitted that

in 2005 he did not pay Richard according to the terms of the agreement. Id. These monthly wire

transfers from KASC to the NT account continued until March 2006. Id. Then, beginning in

May 2006, the KASC shareholder distributions were paid directly to Richard, bypassing the NT

account altogether. Id.

¶ 82 In addition to the shareholder distributions from KASC, in December 2005, the husband

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received a distribution from MM Products in the amount of $2,617,259 which was directly wired

into his NT account. Id. ¶ 31. In his appellate brief, the husband asserted a portion of these

funds were used to make a payment to Richard in the amount of $529,333.44, which included

money owed pursuant to the agreement, as well as repayments of other personal loans. Id. Bank

statements produced at trial established a wire transfer of $529,333.44 from the NT account to

Richard in December 2005. Id. At trial, however, the husband could not recall the purpose of

the wire transfer.

¶ 83 The trial court found that the husband's interests in KASC and MM Products were

nonmarital. Id. ¶ 51. The trial court further stated: " 'Beyond that[,] the source of all the funds

[the husband] had available was his non-marital asset KASC.' " Id. The trial court made a

further finding that " 'there was no relationship between [the husband's] personal efforts and any

distribution.' " Id.

¶ 84 On appeal, the wife first argued that the husband's share of the retained earnings in

KASC was marital as they were essentially income. Id. ¶¶ 58, 62. The reviewing court

disagreed and concluded his interest in the company was nonmarital, as the company's retained

earnings were not income to the husband, there were restrictions on the husband's ability to

disburse the retained earnings, the husband was reimbursed for his tax payments on his share of

the retained earnings by KASC, and the husband was adequately compensated at KASC through

a salary. Id. ¶ 69.

¶ 85 The wife also argued the 388.25 shares of KASC stock purchased from Richard (as well

as the portion of new stock issued from those shares as a result of the January 2007 stock

dividend) were marital property because they were "purchased with funds that became marital

through commingling." Id. ¶ 58. The reviewing court noted that "[f]or purposes of this

27
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argument, [the wife] assumes that the funds, consisting of shareholder distributions from KASC

and MM Products, were nonmarital property before the alleged commingling." Id. ¶ 70.

¶ 86 The reviewing court clarified the wife's argument on appeal, stating she "seems to claim

here that this consistent commingling of funds transmuted the entire NT account into marital

property and that, consequently, any interests acquired with funds from the account would be

marital as well." Id. ¶ 72. The reviewing court disagreed with the wife's contention stating she

"vastly oversimplifies the issue." Id. The Steel court clarified the issue to be "whether certain

nonmarital funds from KASC became marital when they were wired or deposited into the NT

account or while they remained in the account." Id.

¶ 87 The reviewing court concluded the distributions from KASC and MM Products did not

lose their identity when deposited into the NT account. Id. ¶ 73. The reviewing court reasoned

"the nonmarital funds never lost their identity, because they were traceable, having been

deposited into the NT account shortly before they were disbursed to purchase KASC shares" and

that "the facts of the present case *** show the history of the specific funds in question." Id.

¶ 80. In reaching this conclusion the reviewing court looked to the specific history of the

distributions. Id. ¶ 76. The reviewing court noted that the wires to the NT account were

contemporaneous with checks to Richard and the checks to Richard were in the exact amount as

the wire transfers. Id. The reviewing court also explained that although there was a delay

between the time the deposit was initially made and when the checks were written, "the time

differential is not dispositive" and that evidence demonstrated the husband's intent was to use the

NT account as a conduit for the wires from KASC. Id.

¶ 88 In regard to the $2.6 million wired from MM Products, the Steel court reached a similar

result. The reviewing court noted the wife did not direct her argument to the specific history of

28
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the $2.6 million wire and that she had not persuaded the court that these funds lost their identity

in the NT account. Id. ¶ 77. Although the evidence demonstrated that $529,333.44 out of the

$2.6 million was used to purchase the KASC stock, the court generally found the $2.6 million

did not lose its identity when deposited in the NT account and, accordingly, was the husband's

nonmarital property. Id. The court further emphasized that "[a]gain, there is no question that the

NT account was, at all relevant times, marital property, and, again, this undisputed fact does not

settle the issue because nonmarital property can maintain its identity even when deposited into a

marital account." Id. ¶ 81.

¶ 89 In the present case, Yvonne vacated the marital residence in July 2009. The parties

closed their joint checking account that same month. James then opened the Chase checking

account in August 2009 in his name alone. Initially, he deposited his marital income into the

Chase checking account, along with insubstantial amounts of his nonmarital inheritance income.

In December 2010, James began receiving greater dispersals of nonmarital inheritance income

which he deposited into the Chase checking account.

¶ 90 The trial court found that James's support payments and marital debts exceeded his

marital income. The trial court determined James had to use a portion of his nonmarital

inheritance income to pay marital obligations. The trial court also found that the funds

remaining in the Chase checking account consisted of James's nonmarital inheritance income,

despite its finding that the account itself was marital property. The trial court further found that

the deposits of James's nonmarital inheritance income were easily identifiable. The evidence at

trial also established that after receiving a large deposit of nonmarital inheritance income James

would shortly thereafter transfer a portion of those funds into the Scottrade account.

¶ 91 We conclude that the deposits of James's nonmarital inheritance income were easily

29
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identifiable as were the transfers of those funds into the Scottrade account. Similar to the facts of

Heroy and Steel, the deposits of James's nonmarital inheritance income did not lose their identity

when placed in the Chase checking account. James provided clear and convincing evidence in

the form of bank account statements and corroborating testimony which traced the funds to the

Scottrade account. As previously set forth in detail, the transfer of his nonmarital income into

the Scottrade account occurred within days of the initial deposit of those funds into the Chase

checking account. Even two weeks is not too long a time for nonmarital funds to be held in a

marital account without being transmuted into marital property. See Steel, 2011 IL App (2d)

080974, ¶ 73.

¶ 92 Additionally, the transfer of funds need not be in the same amount as the initial deposits

to be traceable. See id. ¶ 77 (finding a wire transfer of $2.6 million into the husband's marital

account to be his nonmarital property where only $529,333.44 was traceable). The fact James

was the sole signatory of the Chase checking account and Scottrade account further evidences his

articulated intent to keep his nonmarital assets separate from Yvonne. Cf. In re Marriage of

Arjmand, 2013 IL App (2d) 120639, ¶ 43 (no evidence the husband intended to keep his

nonmarital assets separate as the wife's name was on most, if not all, of the personal and business

checking accounts). In addition, the fact the Chase checking account and Scottrade account were

held in James's name alone, along with James's testimony that he never intended Yvonne to

receive his nonmarital inheritance income, demonstrates James's intent to use the Chase checking

account as a conduit for his nonmarital inheritance income. See Steel, 2011 IL App (2d) 080974,

¶ 76; Heroy, 385 Ill. App. 3d at 673. As such, James's nonmarital income never lost its identity

and, therefore, was never transmuted into marital income. 750 ILCS 5/503(c)(1) (West 2012).

Accordingly, we reverse the trial court's finding that the Scottrade account was marital property

30
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as against the manifest weight and conclude the Scottrade account is James's nonmarital

property.

¶ 93 Moreover, to hold that those funds were transmuted to marital property would contravene

the intent behind section 503(c) of the Act. Section 503(c) of the Act was amended in 1983 to

remedy the result reached by the supreme court in In re Marriage of Smith, 86 Ill. 2d 518, 530

(1981), where the court held that a nonmarital apartment building valued at $45,000 had been

transmuted into marital property because $3,800 of marital funds had been used to improve the

property. At the time that Smith was decided, there was a presumption that when marital and

nonmarital property were commingled the commingled property became marital property. Id. at

529. In amending section 503(c) of the Act, the legislature rejected the presumption that

commingled property was always transmuted into marital property. Henke, 313 Ill. App. 3d at

168.

¶ 94 The instant case presents the exact situation that the legislature sought to ameliorate with

the amendment of section 503(c). See Smith, 86 Ill. 2d at 530. The record supports the trial

court's factual findings that James's marital income was insufficient to provide for all of the

marital expenses and debts. The record further supports that in December 2010 James began

receiving substantial nonmarital inheritance income and was able to make up the difference by

utilizing his nonmarital income to pay the marital expenses. The trial court also found James's

nonmarital income exceeded $500,000 in one year, which was significantly greater than his

annual marital income of $58,000 before taxes. Moreover, the record establishes the majority, if

not all, of the funds contained in the Chase checking account after the payment of marital

expenses consisted of James's nonmarital inheritance income. Under the circumstances, we do

not believe that the nonmarital funds which were deposited into the Chase checking account and

31
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later transferred into the Scottrade account were transmuted to marital property. Rather, we hold

that, under the particular facts of this case, the Scottrade account contained traceable nonmarital

funds and therefore was improperly classified as marital property.

¶ 95 In support of her argument, Yvonne relies on In re Marriage of Dann, 2012 IL App (2d)

100343, ¶ 74, but only for the proposition that there is a presumption that property acquired

during the marriage is marital property. She does not argue that the facts are similar to the

present case or that we should similarly apply the law as the reviewing court in Dann. The facts

of Dann are inapposite to the facts at bar; there, the reviewing court considered whether a

spouse's acquisition of assets during the marriage using funds from a business in which the

spouse had acquired before the marriage constituted an exception to the presumption it was

marital property. Id. ¶ 71. Here, however, the question before us is whether James's nonmarital

inheritance income was transmuted into marital property when placed in an account opened

while the parties were separated but held only in James's name.

¶ 96 In passing Yvonne refers to In re Marriage of Samardzija, 365 Ill. App. 3d 702, 705-07

(2006). That case, however, is also inapposite to the case at bar, as the reviewing court did not

consider whether nonmarital funds were transmuted to marital property, but whether the husband

overcame the presumption that a residence constructed and paid for during the marriage was

marital property. Id. at 706.

¶ 97 Yvonne also relies on Wojcik, which she maintains supports her argument that the

Scottrade account is marital property because, similar to the facts in Wojcik, "James put marital

and non-marital funds together and used them together to create the Scottrade account." We find

Wojcik to be instructive, albeit not for the reason proposed by Yvonne. In Wojcik, the reviewing

court considered the trial court's classification of two vehicles purchased by the husband and the

32
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wife individually as marital and nonmarital property, respectively. Wojcik, 362 Ill. App. 3d at

154-55. The husband contested the trial court's classification of his motorcycle as marital

property. Id. at 154. The husband asserted he established that the motorcycle was purchased

with an inheritance he received from his father's estate. Id. The reviewing court concluded the

trial court's classification of the motorcycle as marital property was not against the manifest

weight of the evidence, reasoning that at the time the husband received the inheritance there was

no question it was nonmarital property. Id. at 155. The evidence at trial established: (1) the

husband deposited the funds into a bank account held jointly by the parties; (2) the funds were

then transferred between various accounts and certificates of deposit; (3) the husband could not

recall whether the original account he deposited his inheritance into was still open at the time of

trial; and (4) the husband purchased the motorcycle several months after receiving the

inheritance. Id. The reviewing court noted that the husband produced no documentary evidence

in support of his claim and concluded, "[g]iven the length of time that the money was in the

marital accounts prior to the purchase, and in light of [the husband's] inability to specifically

trace the assets used for the purchase, we cannot say that the trial court's classification of the

motorcycle as marital property was against the manifest weight of the evidence." Id.

¶ 98 The Wojcik court, however, also went on to consider whether a vehicle purchased by the

wife was properly classified by the trial court as her nonmarital property. Id. The wife testified

she purchased the vehicle with money that she received as a gift from her brother. Id. The wife

placed the money in the couple's joint checking account only for one day prior to purchasing the

vehicle. Id. The reviewing court found the wife placed the money in the joint checking account

"merely as a conduit to transfer the money" and that the trial court correctly determined the

vehicle was the wife's nonmarital property. Id.

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¶ 99 In the instant case, the transfer of James's nonmarital inheritance income to the Scottrade

account falls between the two different factual scenarios of Wojick. On one hand, James did not

transfer his nonmarital inheritance income one day after receiving it like the wife in Wojick. On

the other hand, unlike the husband in Wojick, James was able to trace his nonmarital inheritance

income from the Chase checking account to the Scottrade account by clear and convincing

evidence, as James produced documentary evidence of the transfer of the funds from one account

to the other. In addition, James did not move funds between other accounts (besides the ultimate

transfer to the Scottrade account) or purchase certificates of deposit with the funds contained in

the Chase checking account. What this case and the other transmutation cases illustrate is that

whether the funds are traceable is a fact specific inquiry. Based on the evidence presented at

trial, in conjunction with the trial court's factual findings, James established by clear and

convincing evidence that the Scottrade account was his nonmarital property. Accordingly, we

reverse the determination of the trial court as to the classification of this asset.

¶ 100 2. Distribution of Marital Assets

¶ 101 We now turn to Yvonne's argument on appeal regarding the ultimate distribution of the

marital assets. Yvonne contends that although the trial court stated it was awarding her a

majority of the marital assets, it proceeded to award the Scottrade account to James in

contravention of that statement. Yvonne asserts the Scottrade account had a value of

$178,993.28 at the time of trial and that by awarding James the Scottrade account he received a

majority of the marital assets. Yvonne points out that the trial court indicated only $448.78 was

in the Scottrade account, but asserts $178,993.28 was in the account at the time of trial. Yvonne

asks this court to remand the matter to the trial court for redistribution of the marital assets.

¶ 102 "We will not disturb a trial court's division of marital assets unless it has clearly abused

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its discretion." In re Marriage of Thornley, 361 Ill. App. 3d 1067, 1071 (2005). "An abuse

occurs when no reasonable person would take the view adopted by the trial court." In re

Marriage of Nelson, 297 Ill. App. 3d 651, 658 (1998).

¶ 103 The Act requires the trial court to divide marital property in "just proportions"

considering all relevant factors, including a number of statutory factors. 750 ILCS 5/503(d)

(West 2012). "Just proportions" mandates an equitable, rather than an equal, division of marital

property. In re Marriage of Orlando, 218 Ill. App. 3d 312, 319 (1991). In determining such just

proportions, the court must take into consideration all relevant factors, including "the value of

the property assigned to each spouse" and the economic circumstances of each spouse upon

division of the property. 750 ILCS 5/503(d)(3), (5) (West 2012); In re Marriage of Orlando, 218

Ill. App. 3d at 319. In deciding the allocation of marital property, the court must consider the

value of the nonmarital property assigned to each spouse. In re Marriage of Hapaniewski, 107

Ill. App. 3d 848, 853 (1982); 750 ILCS 5/503(d)(3) (West 2012). Indeed, the statutory mandate

that the property be divided in "just proportions" requires the court "to consider all aspects of the

couple's economic circumstances." In re Marriage of Rosen, 126 Ill. App. 3d 766, 778 (1984).

¶ 104 In the present case, the record discloses that the value of the Scottrade account as of

December 31, 2011, was $142,728.78. Moreover, James testified that at the time of trial that the

value of the Scottrade account was $178,993.28. Accordingly, trial court erred in its

determination that the Scottrade account had a value of $448.78 as of December 31, 2011. As

the actual amount contained in the Scottrade account is significantly greater than found by the

trial court and the value of James's nonmarital property is a factor in determining the distribution

of marital assets, we remand this cause to the trial court to reconsider the distribution of the

marital assets in light of this error and our conclusion that the Scottrade account is a nonmarital

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asset.

¶ 105 It naturally follows that because the trial court erred in its determination of the value of

the Scottrade account the trial court must also reconsider its awards in regards to maintenance

and attorney fees. In determining an award of maintenance section 504 of the Act provides that

the trial court "may grant a temporary or permanent maintenance award for either spouse in

amounts and for periods of time as the court deems just, without regard to marital misconduct, in

gross or for fixed or indefinite periods of time," after consideration of all relevant factors. 750

ILCS 5/504(a) (West 2012). Relevant to this appeal is the fact the trial court must consider "the

income and property of each party, including marital property apportioned and non-marital

property assigned to the party seeking maintenance." 750 ILCS 5/504(a)(1) (West 2012).

Importantly, the trial court must consider all of the relevant statutory factors in establishing a

maintenance award. In re Marriage of Reynard, 378 Ill. App. 3d 997, 1004 (2008). Similarly, in

making an award pursuant to a party's petition for contribution to fees and costs, the trial court

must base the award on the criteria for the division of marital property as set forth in section 503

of the Act (750 ILCS 5/503(d) (West 2012)) and, if maintenance has been awarded, the criteria

for an award of maintenance set forth in section 504 of the Act (750 ILCS 5/504(a) (West

2012)). 750 ILCS 5/503(j)(2) (West 2012). Each of these sections of the Act requires the trial

court to consider the value of the parties' nonmarital property. 750 ILCS 5/503(d)(3), 504(a)(1)

(West 2012). As the ultimate distribution of the marital assets and the value of the nonmarital

assets affects the determinations of both maintenance and attorney fees, the trial court's

determinations regarding maintenance and attorney fees are also reversed and the cause is

remanded for reconsideration of those issues in light of the error in the determination of the value

of the Scottrade account and our conclusion that the Scottrade account is a nonmarital asset.

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¶ 106 B. Dissipation

¶ 107 Yvonne next contends the trial court erred in its determination that James did not

dissipate marital assets. A trial court's determination of whether a spouse dissipated marital

assets is reviewed under the manifest weight of the evidence standard. In re Marriage of Patel,

2013 IL App (1st) 112571, ¶ 66. A decision is said to be against the manifest weight of the

evidence where "the opposite conclusion is clearly evident or the finding is arbitrary,

unreasonable, or not based on the evidence." In re Marriage of Romano, 2012 IL App (2d)

091339, ¶ 86.

¶ 108 A spouse dissipates marital assets when he or she uses marital property for his or her own

benefit for a purpose unrelated to the marriage when the marriage is undergoing an irreconcilable

breakdown. In re Marriage of Sanfratello, 393 Ill. App. 3d 641, 652-53 (2009). In dividing the

marital estate, the trial court may take into account a spouse's dissipation of marital and

nonmarital assets. 750 ILCS 5/503(d)(2) (West 2012). The spouse charged with dissipation

bears the burden of establishing by clear and convincing evidence how the funds were spent.

Sanfratello, 393 Ill. App. 3d at 653. Whether a course of conduct constitutes dissipation depends

on the facts of the particular case. In re Marriage of Aslaksen, 148 Ill. App. 3d 784, 788 (1986).

The trial court, however, "is not required to charge against a party the amounts found to have

been dissipated but may do so." (Emphase in original.) In re Marriage of Murphy, 259 Ill. App.

3d 336, 340 (1994).

¶ 109 Specifically, Yvonne claims James spent $154,000 without any explanation except that

$50,000 was used for gambling. Yvonne asserts the $154,000 came from the Chase checking

account, which the trial court found to be marital, and, therefore, the trial court erred when it

found James did not dissipate the marital assets.

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¶ 110 James maintains the trial court's determination was correct, as it based its decision that

his payment of temporary support and marital household expenses exceeded the amount he

earned as his martial income. In addition, James asserts the trial court further based its

determination on the fact he contributed his nonmarital income toward the payment of marital

expenses. James asserts his testimony explained that the $154,000 was spent on furnishing his

home, his vehicle, income tax liabilities, employment related expenses, and gambling.

¶ 111 In the present case, the trial court found James did not dissipate marital assets because,

after paying for the mortgage ($10,800 annually) on the marital home and Yvonne's temporary

maintenance ($54,840 annually), the total exceeded James's marital income of $58,000 before

taxes. Because the marital expenses exceed the marital income, the trial court found James used

his nonmarital income to fund his expenditures of $150,000. Here, the trial court found James

used his nonmarital inheritance income for his own benefit and thus did not dissipate any marital

assets. We cannot say based on the record that the trial court's determination that James did not

dissipate marital assets was against the manifest weight of the evidence.

¶ 112 Yvonne asserts in her reply brief that the trial court must consider dissipation of

nonmarital property as well as marital property when distributing the assets. Yvonne cites In re

Marriage of Berger, 357 Ill. App. 3d 651 (2005), in support of her position. In that case, the trial

court determined the wife dissipated the husband's nonmarital income after withdrawing funds

from his account and then spending those funds on expenses not related to the marriage. Id. at

661-62. We concluded the trial court's determination that the wife dissipated the husband's

nonmarital assets and that the husband was entitled to receive payment from the wife for the

funds removed by her from his nonmarital account was not against the manifest weight of the

evidence. Id. at 662. Berger, therefore, does not support Yvonne's position as it involves one

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spouse's dissipation of the other's nonmarital assets and not dissipation of the spouse's own

nonmarital assets as is at issue here. Section 503(d)(2), however, allows the trial court to

consider the dissipation of nonmarital assets. 750 ILCS 5/503(d)(2) (West 2012). The trial court

here stated in its order that it considered all of the statutory factors in section 503 of the Act (750

ILCS 5/503 (West 2012)) when determining the allocation of marital assets, which would

include James's dissipation of his own nonmarital assets. Accordingly, on remand the trial court

may consider the issue of James's dissipation of nonmarital funds in determining the allocation

of marital assets.

¶ 113 C. Maintenance

¶ 114 Yvonne next contends the trial court erred in its award of 30% of James's gross income,

including his nonmarital income, as permanent maintenance because she "should have been

allowed the same standard of living of James," which she contends is 50% of his gross income

from all sources. She further asserts the trial court erred in failing to award her retroactive

maintenance. As previously discussed, the cause is being remanded for the trial court to

reconsider the issue of Yvonne's maintenance. Accordingly, we need not address Yvonne's

argument regarding the trial court's percentage award of maintenance.

¶ 115 Yvonne's request for us to "remand this cause for an award to Yvonne of retroactive

temporary maintenance" is unsupported by any argument or citation to authority in contravention

of Illinois Supreme Court Rule 341, which provides that the argument section of the brief "shall

contain the contentions of the appellant and the reasons therefor, with citation of the authorities

and the pages of the record relied on." Ill. S. Ct. R. 341 (eff. Feb. 6, 2013). Our supreme court's

rules are mandatory rules of procedure, not mere suggestions. Menard v. Illinois Workers'

Compensation Comm., 405 Ill. App. 3d 235, 238 (2010). We also note that the record is devoid

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of a request by Yvonne to the trial court seeking retroactive support payments. As previously

stated, failing to cite to relevant facts and authority results in the party forfeiting consideration of

the issue. Kic, 2011 IL App (1st) 100622, ¶ 23. Accordingly, Yvonne's request is forfeited.

¶ 116 James also cross-appeals contending the trial court erred in basing the maintenance award

on 30% of his gross income, including nonmarital income, towards Yvonne's permanent

maintenance for two reasons: (1) the award transfers to Yvonne a percentage of his nonmarital

income contrary to section 503 of the Act; and (2) the award fails to consider the parties'

standard of living established during the marriage and the needs of Yvonne as required by

section 504 of the Act. 750 ILCS 5/503, 504 (West 2012). Specifically, James asserts by

awarding Yvonne a percentage of his nonmarital income without defining the source of that

income, the trial court has essentially increased Yvonne's maintenance without regard to her

financial resources or needs.

¶ 117 James's contention that the maintenance award is contrary to the provisions of section

503 of the Act is also presented without any citation to relevant Illinois authority. This argument

is, therefore, forfeited. Kic, 2011 IL App (1st) 100622, ¶ 23. However, we will address whether

it was proper for the trial court to award Yvonne a portion of James's nonmarital property as

maintenance under section 504 of the Act, as this issue is likely to arise on remand. See In re

Marriage of Thomas, 339 Ill. App. 3d 214, 225 (2003) (addressing the issue of whether the trial

court properly assigned the husband's pension benefits to the wife in payment of a judgment

where it was likely to recur on remand).

¶ 118 As a general rule, "a trial court's determination as to the awarding of maintenance is

presumed to be correct." In re Marriage of Donovan, 361 Ill. App. 3d 1059, 1063 (2005).

Because maintenance awards are within the sound discretion of the trial court, we will not

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disturb a maintenance award absent an abuse of discretion. In re Marriage of Schneider, 214 Ill.

2d 152, 173 (2005). Because this issue involves the interpretation of section 504(a) of the Act,

specifically whether section 504(a) allows the trial court to award Yvonne a percentage of

James's nonmarital income, it is a question of law and, thus, our standard of review is de novo.

See In re Marriage of McGrath, 2012 IL 112792, ¶ 10 (noting the proper interpretation of a

statute is not left to the trial court's discretion).

¶ 119 Section 504 of the Act provides that in a proceeding for dissolution of marriage, the trial

court "may grant a temporary or permanent maintenance award for either spouse in amounts and

for periods of time as the court deems just, without regard to marital misconduct, in gross or for

fixed or indefinite periods of time," after consideration of all relevant factors. 750 ILCS 5/504(a)

(West 2012). The relevant factors enumerated under section 504(a) of the Marriage Act are as

follows:

"(1) the income and property of each party, including marital property

apportioned and non-marital property assigned to the party seeking maintenance;

(2) the needs of each party;

(3) the present and future earning capacity of each party;

(4) any impairment of the present and future earning capacity of the party seeking

maintenance due to that party devoting time to domestic duties or having forgone or

delayed education, training, employment, or career opportunities due to the marriage;

(5) the time necessary to enable the party seeking maintenance to acquire

appropriate education, training, and employment, and whether that party is able to

support himself or herself through appropriate employment or is the custodian of a child

making it appropriate that the custodian not seek employment;

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(6) the standard of living established during the marriage;

(7) the duration of the marriage;

(8) the age and the physical and emotional condition of both parties;

(9) the tax consequences of the property division upon the respective economic

circumstances of the parties;

(10) contributions and services by the party seeking maintenance to the education,

training, career or career potential, or license of the other spouse;

(11) any valid agreement of the parties; and

(12) any other factor that the court expressly finds to be just and equitable." Id.

No single factor is determinative in considering the duration and amount of maintenance and the

trial court is not limited to a review of the factors outlined in section 504 of the Act in setting a

maintenance award. Heroy, 385 Ill. App. 3d at 651. Importantly, the trial court must consider

all of the relevant statutory factors in establishing a maintenance award, but it need not make

specific findings as to the reasons for its decision. Reynard, 378 Ill. App. 3d at 1004.

¶ 120 In determining the amount of maintenance, a trial court should consider the parties'

income at the time of dissolution as well as their potential incomes. In re Marriage of Harlow,

251 Ill. App. 3d 152, 161 (1993). Accordingly, a spouse is entitled to maintenance in an amount

sufficient to maintain the standard of living the parties enjoyed during the course of the marriage

if the providing spouse has the means to provide for the other spouse without compromising his

own needs. In re Marriage of Dunlap, 294 Ill. App. 3d 768, 774 (1998). In addition, an award

of maintenance may be in the form of a percentage of income in lieu of a fixed amount. See In

re Marriage of Parello, 87 Ill. App. 3d 926, 936 (1980) (modifying the award to provide for

"maintenance in the amount of 35% of the respondent's total net income from employment of

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any kind."); In re Marriage of Dowd, 2013 IL App (3d) 120140, ¶ 26 (concluding the trial court's

award of 20% of the husband's annual bonus was a "thoughtful, well-reasoned approach, that

was fair to each party").

¶ 121 The trial court here determined:

"Based on all relevant statutory factors, Yvonne is to receive permanent

maintenance in the amount of thirty (30%) percent of James's gross income from all

sources, including his marital and non-marital income. As James has not filed tax returns

since 2007, it is difficult for the Court to verify James's net income from all sources.

Accordingly, maintenance will be based upon 30% of James['s] gross income."

The trial court's order indicates that James's failure to file income tax returns since 2007

prevented it from calculating his net income with more attuned accuracy. As a result, it awarded

Yvonne 30% of his gross income as maintenance. The trial court also ordered "[d]ue to the

fluctuation of James's gross monthly income, there shall be quarterly 'true-ups' on maintenance

paid."

¶ 122 James maintains the trial court erred in awarding maintenance to Yvonne in the amount

of "thirty (30%) percent of James's gross income from all sources, including his marital and non-

marital income." Section 504(a) states "maintenance may be paid from the income or property

of the other spouse after consideration of all relevant factors." 750 ILCS 5/504(a) (West 2012).

The statute itself does not state the maintenance must be paid only from marital income. See id.

In fact, section 504(a) does not differentiate between marital and nonmarital income, it merely

states "maintenance may be paid from the income or property of the other spouse." Id. In

addition, the statute requires the trial court to consider as one of the relevant factors "the income

and property of each party, including marital property apportioned and non-marital property

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assigned to the party seeking maintenance." 750 ILCS 5/504(a)(1) (West 2012). Accordingly,

the trial court did not err in considering James's nonmarital income in its determination of

maintenance.

¶ 123 CONCLUSION

¶ 124 For the reasons stated above, we reverse the trial court's determination that the Scottrade

account was marital property and hold based on clear and convincing evidence the Scottrade

account is James's nonmarital property. We further reverse the determination of the trial court as

to the allocation of marital assets, maintenance, and attorney fees and remand for reconsideration

of these matters consistent with this opinion. We affirm the trial court's determination that

James's did not dissipate marital assets and its consideration of James's nonmarital income in its

determination of maintenance.

¶ 125 Affirmed in part and reversed in part; cause remanded.

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 REPORTER OF DECISIONS - ILLINOIS APPELLATE COURT

In re MARRIAGE OF

YVONNE FOSTER,

Petitioner-Appellant,
Cross-Appellee,

and

JAMES FOSTER,

Respondent-Appellee,
Cross-Appellant.

No. 1-12-3078

Appellate Court of Illinois
First District, Sixth Division

August 22, 2014

JUSTICE REYES delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Presiding Justice Rochford and Justice Lampkin concurred in the judgment and opinion.

Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County.

For APPELLANT: Joel Ostrow, Bannockburn, Illinois

For APPELLEE: Maureen A. Mitchel Law Offices, Maureen A. Mitchel, Chicago, Illinois