No. 80-262
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
1981
IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF
WARREN D. BOWMAN,
Petitioner and Respondent,
VS .
JEAN L. BOWMAN,
Respondent and Appellant.
Appeal from: District Court of the Thirteenth Judicial District,
In and for the County of Yellowstone.
Honorable Diane G. Barz, Judge presiding.
Counsel of Record:
For Appellant:
Holmstrom, Dunaway & West, Billings, Montana
For Respondent:
Anderson, Edwards and Molloy, Billings, Montana
Submitted on briefs: June 24, 1981
Decided: September 14, 1981
Filed: SEP 1 .$ 1381
Mr. J u s t i c e Frank B. Morrison, J r . , d e l i v e r e d t h e Opinion of
t h e Court.
Jean L. Bowman, a p p e a l s from t h e f i n d i n g s of of f a c t ,
c o n c l u s i o n s of law and judgment e n t e r e d by t h e D i s t r i c t
C o u r t of t h e T h i r t e e n t h J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t , Yellowstone
County. The judgment of t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t d i s s o l v e d t h e
m a r r i a g e of t h e a p p e l l a n t and p e t i t i o n e r , Warren D . Bowman;
e s t a b l i s h e d c h i l d c u s t o d y and c h i l d s u p p o r t ; d i v i d e d t h e
m a r i t a l e s t a t e ; awarded maintenance t o r e s p o n d e n t ; r e q u i r e d
p e t i t i o n e r t o p r o v i d e f o r t h e c o l l e g e e d u c a t i o n of t h e
c h i l d r e n , and; o r d e r e d e a c h p a r t y t o pay t h e i r own a t t o r n e y
f e e s and c o s t s .
A p p e l l a n t and r e s p o n d e n t were m a r r i e d a t G a l l u p , N e w
Mexico, on June 1 2 , 1957. They a r e t h e p a r e n t s of f o u r
l i v i n g c h i l d r e n ; C a r o l y n , b o r n December 29, 1960; J o a n , b o r n
May 2 4 , 1962; Amy, born May 9 , 1964; and, E r i c , b o r n A p r i l
1 9 , 1969.
Respondent, a g e 50, i s a p h y s i c i a n and p a r t n e r i n t h e
Billings Clinic. H i s n e t t a x a b l e income f o r 1978 was $63,800
and i n 1979 was $78,048. The D i s t r i c t C o u r t found t h a t
r e s p o n d e n t was i n e x c e l l e n t h e a l t h and t h a t h i s p r o s p e c t s
f o r c o n t i n u e d employment a s a p h y s i c i a n were good.
A p p e l l a n t , a g e 4 1 , h a s been p r i m a r i l y a housewife
during t h e marriage. However, s h e a l s o works p a r t - t i m e a s
d i r e c t o r of C h r i s t i a n E d u c a t i o n a t S t . Luke ' s E p i s c o p a l
Church i n B i l l i n g s and a s a d i r e c t o r of t h e Western S t a t e
Bank of B i l l i n g s . She e a r n s a p p r o x i m a t e l y $4,500 p e r y e a r
from t h e s e p o s i t i o n s . She h a s been a c t i v e l y i n v o l v e d i n
community, c h u r c h , and p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t i e s . Appellant has
a t t e n d e d Rocky Mountain C o l l e g e and e a r n e d 72 c r e d i t h o u r s
toward a d e g r e e i n economics. She needs 52 a d d i t i o n a l
c r e d i t hours t o o b t a i n her degree. The D i s t r i c t C o u r t a l s o
found a p p e l l a n t t o b e i n e x c e l l e n t h e a l t h .
A t t h e t i m e of d i s s o l u t i o n , t h e n e t worth of t h e m a r i t a l
e s t a t e of t h e p a r t i e s was $416,301.64. Pursuant t o an
agreement r e a c h e d by t h e p a r t i e s , a p p e l l a n t r e c e i v e d a p p r o x i -
m a t e l y $159,000 i n a s s e t s . These a s s e t s were p r i m a r i l y
nonincome a s s e t s .
Custody of t h e minor c h i l d r e n , J o a n , A y and E r i c was
m
granted t o the appellant. Respondent w a s g r a n t e d r e a s o n a b l e
v i s i t a t i o n r i g h t s and o r d e r e d t o pay $250 p e r month c h i l d
s u p p o r t f o r e a c h of t h e minor c h i l d r e n u n t i l each minor
c h i l d r e a c h e d a g e 18 o r was g r a d u a t e d from h i g h s c h o o l ,
whichever o c c u r r e d l a s t . H e was a l s o r e q u i r e d t o pay a l l
m e d i c a l and d e n t a l b i l l s i n c u r r e d by t h e c h i l d r e n and pay
a l l expenses necessary f o r t h e c h i l d r e n t o o b t a i n c o l l e g e
degrees.
The D i s t r i c t C o u r t found t h a t a p p e l l a n t was c l e a r l y
a b l e t o o b t a i n employment o u t s i d e t h e f a m i l y home. She was
a t t e n d i n g c o l l e g e and t h e c o u r t found t h a t a r e a l i s t i c
g r a d u a t i o n d a t e was J u n e 1982. Although t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t
found t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s p r e s e n t employment was n o t a p p r o p r i -
a t e and t h a t s h e was i n need of f u r t h e r e d u c a t i o n , t h e c o u r t
s p e c i f i c a l l y d e t e r m i n e d t h a t i t was u n f a i r t o r e q u i r e t h e
r e s p o n d e n t t o pay maintenance e n a b l i n g h e r t o o b t a i n a law
d e g r e e o r any p o s t - g r a d u a t e degree. Based on t h e s e f i n d i n g s ,
t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t awarded t h e a p p e l l a n t maintenance of
$1,500 p e r month, t o t e r m i n a t e on J u n e 1, 1982, t h e e x p e c t e d
graduation date.
The D i s t r i c t C o u r t o r d e r e d t h a t e a c h p a r t y b e a r h i s o r
h e r own a t t o r n e y f e e s and c o s t s r e l a t i n g t o t h e d i s s o l u t i o n .
The i s s u e s p r e s e n t e d on a p p e a l a r e :
1. Whether t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t e r r e d i n l i m i t i n g t h e
d u r a t i o n of maintenance payments f o r a p p e l l a n t t o two y e a r s
following dissolution?
2 . Whether t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t e r r e d i n r e f u s i n g t o
award t h e a p p e l l a n t a t t o r n e y f e e s ?
Appellant does n o t c o n t e s t t h e n e t worth v a l u a t i o n , the
d i s t r i b u t i o n of assets, o r t h e amount of maintenance awarded;
s h e a p p e a l s from t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t ' s l i m i t a t i o n on t h e
d u r a t i o n of maintenance.
Awards o f maintenance a r e governed by s e c t i o n 40-4-203,
MCA. This provision s t a t e s :
" ( 1 ) I n a p r o c e e d i n g f o r d i s s o l u t i o n of m a r r i a g e
o r l e g a l s e p a r a t i o n o r a p r o c e e d i n g f o r maintenance
f o l l o w i n g d i s s o l u t i o n of t h e m a r r i a g e by a c o u r t
which l a c k e d p e r s o n a l j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r t h e a b s e n t
s p o u s e , t h e c o u r t may g r a n t a m a i n t e n a n c e o r d e r f o r
e i t h e r spouse only i f i t f i n d s t h a t t h e spouse
s e e k i n g maintenance:
" ( a ) lacks s u f f i c i e n t property t o provide f o r h i s
r e a s o n a b l e needs; and
" ( b ) i s unable t o support himself through appropri-
a t e employment o r i s t h e c u s t o d i a n of a c h i l d whose
c o n d i t i o n o r c i r c u m s t a n c e s make i t a p p r o p r i a t e t h a t
t h e c u s t o d i a n n o t b e r e q u i r e d t o s e e k employment
o u t s i d e t h e home.
" ( 2 ) The maintenance o r d e r s h a l l b e i n such amounts
and f o r such p e r i o d s of t i m e a s t h e c o u r t deems
j u s t , w i t h o u t r e g a r d t o m a r i t a l m i s c o n d u c t , and
a f t e r considering a l l relevant f a c t s including:
" ( a ) t h e f i n a n c i a l r e s o u r c e s of t h e p a r t y s e e k i n g
maintenance, i n c l u d i n g m a r i t a l p r o p e r t y a p p o r t i o n e d
t o him, and h i s a b i l i t y t o meet h i s needs independ-
e n t l y , i n c l u d i n g t h e e x t e n t t o which a p r o v i s i o n
f o r s u p p o r t of a c h i l d l i v i n g w i t h t h e p a r t y i n -
cludes a s m f o r t h a t party a s custodian;
u
" ( b ) t h e t i m e n e c e s s a r y t o a c q u i r e s u f f i c i e n t educa-
t i o n o r t r a i n i n g t o e n a b l e t h e p a r t y s e e k i n g main-
t e n a n c e t o f i n d a p p r o p r i a t e employment;
" ( c ) t h e s t a n d a r d of l i v i n g e s t a b l i s h e d d u r i n g t h e
marriage;
" (d) t h e d u r a t i o n of t h e marriage;
" ( e ) t h e a g e and t h e p h y s i c a l and e m o t i o n a l condi-
t i o n of t h e s p o u s e s e e k i n g maintenance; and
" ( f ) t h e a b i l i t y of t h e spouse from whom main-
t e n a n c e i s s o u g h t t o m e e t h i s needs w h i l e meeting
t h o s e of t h e s p o u s e s e e k i n g maintenance."
I n awarding maintenance t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t must f i r s t
d e t e r m i n e i f maintenance i s a p p r o p r i a t e under t h e s t a n d a r d s
s e t f o r t h i n 40-4-203 (1)( a ) and ( b ) , MCA. Then, i f m a i n t e n a n c e
i s deemed n e c e s s a r y , t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t must d e t e r m i n e
d u r a t i o n and amount of t h e award. Such d e t e r m i n a t i o n s must
b e made i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e f a c t o r s s e t f o r t h i n s e c t i o n
40-4-203, MCA. G r e n f e l l v. G r e n f e l l ( 1 9 7 9 ) , -Mont. - I
596 P.2d 205, 36 St.Rep. 1100.
This Court has determined t h a t t h e t e r m " s u f f i c i e n t
p r o p e r t y " a s used i n s e c t i o n 40-4-203 (1)( a ) , means income
p r o d u c i n g p r o p e r t y , n o t income consuming p r o p e r t y . Herron
v . Herron ( 1 9 8 0 ) , -Mont. , 608 P.2d 97, 37 St.Rep. 387.
T h i s C o u r t a l s o h a s h e l d t h a t " a p p r o p r i a t e employment", a s
used i n s e c t i o n 40-4-203(1) ( b ) , MCA, must be d e t e r m i n e d w i t h
r e l a t i o n t o t h e s t a n d a r d of l i v i n g a c h i e v e d by t h e p a r t i e s
during t h e marriage. I n Re M a r r i a g e of Madson ( 1 9 7 8 ) ,
- ,
Mont. - 590 P.2d 1 1 0 , 35 St.Rep. 1873. I n the case a t
b a r , t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t found t h a t t h e assets t o be d i s t r i b u t e d
t o t h e s p o u s e r e q u e s t i n g maintenance, J e a n Bowman, w e r e
p r i m a r i l y income consuming. The D i s t r i c t C o u r t a l s o found
t h a t s h e was n o t a p p r o p r i a t e l y employed a t t h e p r e s e n t and
would need f u r t h e r e d u c a t i o n . Therefore, t h e D i s t r i c t Court
d e t e r m i n e d t h a t maintenance was p r o p e r . W e hold t h a t t h e
D i s t r i c t C o u r t c o r r e c t l y d e t e r m i n e d t h a t maintenance was
necessary i n t h i s case.
However, i n d e t e r m i n i n g amount and d u r a t i o n of m a i n t e n a n c e ,
t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t a p p e a r s t o have i g n o r e d t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n s
i t a p p l i e d i n d e t e r m i n i n g a p p r o p r i a t e n e s s of maintenance.
The c o n s i d e r a t i o n s of whether a s s e t s consume o r produce i n -
come and whether employment i s a p p r o p r i a t e must a l s o be
e v a l u a t e d and a p p l i e d when e s t a b l i s h i n g amounts and d u r a t i o n
o f maintenance.
The D i s t r i c t C o u r t d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t was
e n t i t l e d t o maintenance of $1,500 p e r month f o r 24 months
b e g i n n i n g J u n e 1, 1980, and t e r m i n a t i n g on J u n e 1, 1982.
The b a s i s s t a t e d i n s u p p o r t of t h e o r d e r was t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t
could r e a l i s t i c a l l y be expected t o o b t a i n her degree i n
economics from Rocky Mountain C o l l e g e and t h a t i t was ". . .
u n f a i r and u n j u s t t o r e q u i r e P e t i t i o n e r [Warren Bowman] t o
pay maintenance t o Respondent [ J e a n Bowman] f o r law s c h o o l
o r o t h e r g r a d u a t e d e g r e e s s h e may want i n t h e f u t u r e . " Ap-
p a r e n t l y , t h e D i s t r i c t Court determined t h a t a p p e l l a n t ' s
b a c h e l o r d e g r e e i n economics would e n a b l e h e r t o f i n d a p p r o p r i -
a t e employment t o s u p p o r t h e r s e l f i n a manner s i m i l a r t o
t h a t enjoyed during t h e marriage. However, t h i s d e t e r m i n a t i o n
c o n t r a d i c t s o t h e r f i n d i n g s made by t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t and i s
u n s u p p o r t e d by t h e r e c o r d . Therefore, it i s c l e a r l y erroneous
and must be r e v e r s e d . Rule 5 2 ( a ) , M.R.Civ.P.
E l i m i n a t i n g maintenance f o r J e a n Bowman, would f o r c e
h e r t o immediately b e g i n e a r n i n g a t l e a s t $18,000 p e r y e a r
t o r e p l a c e t h e l o s t maintenance and m a i n t a i n t h e s t a n d a r d o f
l i v i n g found a p p r o p r i a t e . Testimony by J e a n Dimich, a
c a r e e r p l a n n i n g and placement c o u n s e l a t Rocky Mountain
C o l l e g e , who s p e c i a l i z e d i n job o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r women,
i n d i c a t e d t h a t J e a n ' s c h a n c e s f o r o b t a i n i n g employment w i t h
merely a b a c h e l o r ' s d e g r e e i n economics were n o t v e r y good.
The f o l l o w i n g i s a n e x c e r p t from h e r t e s t i m o n y .
"Q. Assuming, f o r s a k e of argument, t h a t a p e r s o n
i s 4 1 y e a r s o l d , w i t h v e r y l i m i t e d work e x p e r i e n c e ,
and w i t h o u t a c o l l e g e d e g r e e , t h e p e r s o n i s a
woman, and i s e n t e r i n g t h e job m a r k e t f u l l - t i m e
f o r the f i r s t t i m e . What t y p e s of j o b s and what
s a l a r y ranges a r e a v a i l a b l e t o t h a t person i n t h i s
comrnuni t y ?
"A. W e l l , f o r t h e most p a r t , what a woman i s en-
couraged t o do would be t o go g e t Vo-Tech t r a i n i n g
and brush-up on c l e r i c a l s k i l l s , and go t o a job of
minimum wage o r s l i g h t l y above, around $600.00
would be t h e k i n d of a job t h a t a p e r s o n c o u l d g e t .
B a s i c a l l y , t h e y would be t a l k i n g a b o u t s k i l l e d
t r a i n i n g , some k i n d of c l e r i c a l s k i l l e d t r a i n i n g .
"Q. Now, assuming t h e same s i t u a t i o n , assuming
t h a t t h e p e r s o n i s a woman, 4 0 y e a r s o l d , o r t h e r e -
abouts, with a c o l l e g e degree e n t e r i n g t h e labor
m a r k e t f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e , what o p p o r t u n i t i e s a r e
a v a i l a b l e t o t h a t person?
"A. Well, t h e c h a n c e s a r e b e t t e r . But i t i s s t i l l
very, very competitive. There i s a n o v e r s u p p l y i n
B i l l i n g s of w e l l e d u c a t e d women who have been t r a n s -
f e r r e d i n h e r e w i t h t h e i r husbands, m o s t l y . With
t h e p e o p l e t h a t I t a l k w i t h i n t h e community who
a r e i n v o l v e d i n t h i s s o r t of t h i n g , s a y , when a
job opens up t h a t i s c o n s i d e r e d a p r o f e s s i o n a l po-
s i t i o n and would pay, s a y $1,000.00 a month, 30 t o
60 p e o p l e a p p l y f o r t h a t p o s i t i o n . Many of whom
have m a s t e r ' s d e g r e e s . T h a t d o e s n ' t mean t h a t t h e
job always r e q u i r e s a m a s t e r ' s d e g r e e . But t h e r e
a r e a l o t o f p e o p l e w i t h t h o s e advanced d e g r e e s .
So, o t h e r t h i n g s b e i n g e q u a l , t h e y t e n d t o s q u e e z e
o u t t h e bachelor's degree candidates.
"Q. I s t h e c o m p e t i t i o n f o r t h a t t y p e of job li-
m i t e d t o someone who i s 4 0 y e a r s o l d and e n t e r i n g
t h e job m a r k e t f o r t h e f i r s t time?
"A. What h a s been happening w i t h t h e job m a r k e t
i s t h a t women have been g o i n g i n t o t h e work f o r c e
i n a s t o n i s h i n g numbers. I t h a s doubled i n t h e
l a s t 25 y e a r s . And a g r e a t d e a l of i n c r e a s e a r e
i n t h e women 2 4 t o 35 who t r a d i t i o n a l l y were o u t
of t h e work f o r c e . Now women a r e n ' t s t e p p i n g o u t
t o r a i s e children. They a r e s t a y i n g i n . So t h e
c o m p e t i t i o n f o r t h e 4 0 p l u s women w i t h o u t e x p e r i -
e n c e i s even t o u g h e r t h a n a few y e a r s ago. Because
t h e r e a r e s o many younger women w i t h t h e work
e x p e r i e n c e a s w e l l a s t h e men. So i t i s g e t t i n g
tougher a l l t h e t i m e .
"Q. What t y p e of t r a i n i n g must t h e 4 0 y e a r o l d woman
who i s e n t e r i n g t h e work f o r c e f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e
have i n o r d e r t o have t h e b e s t o p p o r t u n i t y a v a i l a b l e
t o f i n d a d e c e n t job?
"A. Well, I t h i n k t h a t something t h a t h a s been
c o n s i d e r e d n o n - t r a d i t i o n a l f o r women i s good.
And t h a t c o u l d b e a n y t h i n g from a v e r y t e c h n i c a l
l a b o r i n g t y p e p o s i t i o n which pays w e l l , t o a pro-
f e s s i o n a l d e g r e e , law d e g r e e , m e d i c a l d e g r e e , o r a
m a s t e r ' s of b u s i n e s s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n I t h i n k i s
another marketable degree."
Thus, t h e o r d e r of t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t t e r m i n a t i n g
maintenance a t a d a t e c l o s e l y c o i n c i d i n g w i t h a p p e l l a n t ' s
e x p e c t e d g r a d u a t i o n w i t h a b a c h e l o r ' s d e g r e e i n economics
p l a c e s t h e a p p e l l a n t i n a s i t u a t i o n where s h e must depend
upon income consuming a s s e t s o b t a i n e d i n t h e d i s s o l u t i o n and
a n employment f u t u r e which i s n o t b r i g h t w i t h o u t a d d i t i o n a l
education. G r a n t i n g h e r maintenance o n l y u n t i l s h e o b t a i n s
h e r b a c h e l o r ' s d e g r e e d o e s n o t g i v e t h e a p p e l l a n t enough
t i m e t o o b t a i n a s u f f i c i e n t e d u c a t i o n t h r o u g h which s h e can
f i n d employment t o m a i n t a i n , a s n e a r l y a s p o s s i b l e , t h e
s t a n d a r d of l i v i n g s h e and t h e r e s p o n d e n t enjoyed d u r i n g
t h e i r marriage. T h i s i s r e q u i r e d by s e c t i o n 40-4-203 ( 2 ) ,
MCA. The c a u s e must be remanded f o r f u r t h e r p r o c e e d i n g s
c o n s i s t e n t with t h i s opinion.
On remand t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t must keep i n mind t h a t t h e
a p p e l l a n t i s r e c e i v i n g p r i m a r i l y income consuming a s s e t s i n
t h e d i s s o l u t i o n ; t h a t the p a r t i e s achieved a r e l a t i v e l y high
s t a n d a r d of l i v i n g d u r i n g t h e m a r r i a g e ; t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t
must be g i v e n an o p p o r t u n i t y f o r a p p r o p r i a t e employment
c o n s i d e r i n g t h i s h i g h s t a n d a r d of l i v i n g ; and t h a t t h e
r e s p o n d e n t i s r e c e i v i n g p r i m a r i l y income producing a s s e t s .
With r e g a r d t o t h e i s s u e of a t t o r n e y f e e s r a i s e d by
a p p e l l a n t , t h i s C o u r t h a s c o n s i s t e n t l y d e t e r m i n e d t h a t when
t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t r e f u s e s t o award a t t o r n e y f e e s , i t must
i n d i c a t e i n t h e f i n d i n g s of f a c t , c o n c l u s i o n s of law, o r
o r d e r why such f e e s were n o t awarded. Kronovich v . Kronovich
(1978) , Mont. -, 588 P.2d 510, 35 St.Rep. 1946. The
D i s t r i c t Court f a i l e d t o follow t h i s procedure. The a t t o r n e y
f e e s r e q u e s t e d by t h e a p p e l l a n t w i l l be c o n s i d e r e d on remand,
and i f d e n i e d , r e a s o n s f o r such d e n i a l s h a l l be s t a t e d .
The m a t t e r i s remanded f o r p r o c e e d i n g s i n c o n f o r m i t y
with t h i s opinion.