Opinion

Cliressa Elaane Brown v. Ronald Peter Brown, Jr.

Court
Texas Court of Appeals, 11th District (Eastland)
Filed
Aug 21, 2014
Status
Published
Cited by
0 cases
Authority
More cited than 41.1%

holding that the “needs of the child” are not determined by the parents’ ability to pay or the lifestyle of the family

How later courts described this case

  • holding that the “needs of the child” are not determined by the parents’ ability to pay or the lifestyle of the family
  • rejecting wife’s argument that her maintenance should be increased because it was insufficient to eliminate her monthly shortfall
  • stating that “the entry of a trial judgment is only a ministerial act.”
  • recognizing that living expenses of mother that was to receive child support were required to be segregated from the proven needs of her children

Written by the judges who cited it.

The opinion

Opinion filed August 21, 2014

In The

Eleventh Court of Appeals

__________

No. 11-12-00248-CV

__________

CLIRESSA ELAANE BROWN, Appellant

V.

RONALD PETER BROWN, JR., Appellee

On Appeal from the 266th District Court

Erath County, Texas

Cause No. CV31344

MEMORANDUM OPINION

After a bench trial, the trial court granted a divorce, awarded custody of the

children, and dissolved the marriage between Cliressa Elaane Brown and Ronald

Peter Brown, Jr. The trial court took under advisement child support and health

insurance, spousal maintenance, and property division matters. A short time later,

the trial court determined child support obligations, awarded spousal maintenance,

divided the couple’s assets and liabilities, and entered a final judgment. In five

issues on appeal, Appellant, Cliressa Brown, challenges the judgment of the trial

court on (1) the denial of her objection to the trial judge, (2) the award of child

support, (3) the award of spousal maintenance, (4) the division of property, and (5)

Ronald’s use of community funds to pay his attorney’s fees. We affirm.

I. Evidence at Trial

Cliressa and Ronald married on June 17, 1998. On September 29, 2011,

Ronald filed an original petition for divorce. In response, Cliressa answered and

filed a counter-petition for divorce. On May 15, 2012, the Honorable Donald R.

Jones held a bench trial on their respective petitions.

Ronald testified that he and Cliressa had one adult child and three minor

children.1 Shortly after the couple’s first child was born in 1992, Ronald asked

Cliressa to marry him, but she refused. Ronald then moved to Tennessee and

began working as a mechanical planner and field engineer. Cliressa and Ronald

later reconciled, and Ronald briefly moved back to Texas in 1995. Because

Ronald made substantially less money working in Texas, he and Cliressa decided

that he would go back to work “on the road.”

Cliressa and Ronald eventually married in 1998 but continued to live apart.

Over the course of the next decade, Cliressa cared for the couple’s children in

Texas while Ronald worked in Tennessee, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ontario, Florida,

and Arizona. During the time that he was away, Ronald sent Cliressa $4,000 every

two weeks until 2009, and from then on, $3,700 every two weeks.

Ronald began working in Florida again in 2011 and was working there at the

time of the trial. Ronald explained that he worked twelve hours a day, six to seven

days a week. Ronald’s income tax return showed that he made a gross income of

$178,901.75 in 2011, and Ronald stated that he was making a comparable income

at the time of the trial. Ronald noted that he and Cliressa had substantial marital

debts, including the mortgage on their house in Texas and unpaid balances on two

1

Cliressa does not challenge the trial court’s order as to custody and visitation of the children.

2

vehicles and several credit cards. Ronald asked the court to order the sale of the

couple’s property in Texas in order to help pay the marital debts.

Ronald claimed that Cliressa refused to move with their children to any of

his locations. Ronald also claimed that neither Cliressa nor his children ever

visited him while he was working away from them. On cross-examination, Ronald

recalled that Cliressa once came to see him in Ontario and brought the couple’s

two oldest children.

Ronald stated that he had felt alienated from his wife since 2004 and that she only

called him when she needed money. Ronald noted that he and Cliressa had not had

sexual relations since shortly after the birth of their last child and that Cliressa had

refused his attempts to initiate sexual relations after that point. 2

Ronald admitted that he had been having sexual relations with another

woman since 2006 or 2007.3 Ronald stated that he did not tell Cliressa about the

affair.

Cliressa testified that, although she received over $90,000 each year from

Ronald, she struggled financially. Cliressa stated that she does not travel or spend

money on herself and that she cuts her own hair and her children’s hair to save

money. Cliressa explained that she began working as a waitress in a soda shop in

January 2012. Cliressa noted that she was working approximately twenty hours a

week, making $7.25 an hour. Cliressa further noted that her current job was the

first job she had had in ten years and that it was the only one she could find.

Cliressa stated that she expected her monthly expenses after the divorce to be

$8,000 and asked the court to award her spousal maintenance for a term of five

2

The parties disagreed as to what year their last sexual encounter occurred. Ronald believed that

he last had sex with his wife in 2004, and Cliressa claimed that the encounter occurred in 2006.

3

Ronald initially testified that the affair began in 2007 but later stated that it began in late 2006.

In his responses to Cliressa’s interrogatories, Ronald indicated that the affair began in 2005.

3

years and $3,000 in monthly child support. Cliressa also asked the court to award

her attorney’s fees and the marital residence.

Cliressa claimed that Ronald wasted money on extravagances, such as

alcohol and trips to Las Vegas. Cliressa also claimed that Ronald never asked her

or the children to come see him and that she would have visited him more

frequently had she been invited. Cliressa stated that she had not had sexual

relations with Ronald since 2006. Cliressa noted that Ronald tried to initiate

sexual relations after that point but that she refused. Cliressa explained that she

was not aware of her husband’s affair until after he filed for divorce.

At the conclusion of the trial, Judge Jones granted the parties’ divorce and

entered interlocutory orders regarding the custody of the couple’s minor children.

Judge Jones took the other matters, including the amount of child support, the

division of the couple’s property, and the question of spousal maintenance, under

advisement.

On May 25, 2012, Judge Jones sent the parties a letter that ordered Ronald to

pay Cliressa $1,000 in monthly maintenance for a term of one year and $2,250 in

monthly child support. The letter also ordered the sale of the couple’s marital

residence and other real property in order to satisfy the debts of the marriage.

Judge Jones later entered a final decree of divorce that dissolved the parties’

marriage and confirmed his previous orders.

II. Issues Presented

Cliressa asserts in five issues that (1) the final decree of divorce is voidable

because it was entered by a visiting judge subject to an objection under Section

74.053 of the Texas Government Code, (2) the trial court improperly set child

support at a rate below the guidelines provided by Chapter 154 of the Texas

Family Code, (3) the trial court established spousal maintenance at an arbitrary

amount and time without regard for the provisions of Chapter 8 of the Texas

4

Family Code, (4) the property division was neither just nor right, and (5) the trial

court’s decision to allow Ronald to pay his attorney’s fees using community

property funds was an unfair and unjust division of the community property.

III. Standard of Review

The question of whether the assignment of a judge is subject to objection is

based solely on the interpretation of the applicable rules and statutes. A trial

court’s construction of a statute is reviewed de novo. Entergy Gulf States, Inc. v.

Summers, 282 S.W.3d 433, 437 (Tex. 2009).

The trial court has broad discretion in setting the amount of child support,

and a child support order will not be disturbed on appeal unless the complaining

party shows a clear abuse of discretion. Worford v. Stamper, 801 S.W.2d 108, 109

(Tex. 1990). A trial court’s decision to award spousal maintenance is also

reviewed for an abuse of discretion. Tellez v. Tellez, 345 S.W.3d 689, 691 (Tex.

App.—Dallas 2011, no pet.). A trial court abuses its discretion when it acts

without reference to any guiding rules or principles. Downer v. Aquamarine

Operators, Inc., 701 S.W.2d 238, 241–42 (Tex. 1985).

We will not reverse a property division unless the complainant shows that

the trial court clearly abused its discretion. In re Marriage of Taylor, 992 S.W.2d

616, 620 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1999, no pet.). We examine the issue through

application of a two-pronged inquiry that asks (1) whether the trial court had

sufficient information upon which it could exercise its discretion and (2) whether

the trial court abused its discretion by making a division of the property that was

manifestly unjust or unfair. Evans v. Evans, 14 S.W.3d 343, 346 (Tex. App.—

Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, no pet.).

Legal and factual sufficiency issues are not independent grounds of error but

are relevant factors to consider in determining whether an abuse of discretion has

5

occurred. Doyle v. Doyle, 955 S.W.2d 478, 479 (Tex. App.—Austin 1997, no

pet.).

IV. Analysis

A. Objection to Assigned Judge

Cliressa contends in her first issue that the final decree of divorce is voidable

because it was entered by a visiting judge whose assignment she objected to under

Section 74.053 of the Texas Government Code. See TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. §

74.053 (West 2013). Section 74.053 provides that, if a party to a civil case files a

timely objection to a judge’s assignment, the judge shall not hear the case. See id.

On June 30, 2012, after conducting the trial but prior to signing the decree,

Judge Jones retired from his position as judge of the 266th District Court of Erath

County. On July 2, 2012, Judge Jones was assigned, in accordance with Section

74.056 of the Texas Government Code, to serve as a judge of the 266th District

Court for a period of five days. On July 3, 2012, Judge Jones issued a final decree

of divorce that dissolved the parties’ marriage and confirmed the orders contained

in his May 25 letter.

Judge Jones heard and decided this case prior to the date he retired. While

serving as an assigned judge in this case, Judge Jones performed only the

“ministerial act” of entering the final decree of divorce. See Dunn v. Dunn, 439

S.W.2d 830, 832 (Tex. 1969) (stating that “the entry of a trial judgment is only a

ministerial act.”). Because Judge Jones did not hear any portion of this case while

serving as an assigned judge, we hold that Cliressa’s objection did not prevent

Judge Jones from issuing the final decree of divorce. See GOV’T § 74.053(b);

Turner v. Turner, No. 11-10-00192-CV, 2012 WL 3115155, at *4 (Tex. App.—

Eastland July 31, 2012, pet. denied) (mem. op.). We overrule Cliressa’s first issue.

6

B. Child Support

Cliressa claims in her second issue that the trial court improperly set the

amount of child support below the guidelines set out in Chapter 154 of the Texas

Family Code. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 154.125(b) (West 2014). Section

154.125(b) of the Texas Family Code provides child support guidelines that are to

be applied by the trial court in situations in which the obligor’s monthly net

resources are not greater than $7,500. Id. § 154.125(a). In situations where the

obligor’s monthly net resources are greater than $7,500, the court is to apply the

percentage guidelines to only that portion of the obligor’s net resources that does

not exceed $7,500. Id. The court may order additional amounts of child support as

appropriate, depending on the income of the parties and the proven needs of the

child. Id.

We begin our review of the child support order in this case by determining if

the order complied with the applicable guidelines. Based on the guidelines set out

in Section 154.125(b), Ronald, being an obligor with three children, is required to

pay child support in an amount equivalent to 30% of his net resources. Id.

§ 154.125(b). Evidence adduced at trial showed that Ronald had a monthly net

income of approximately $10,000. According to Section 154.126(a), the trial court

was permitted to apply the percentage set by the guidelines to only $7,500 of

Ronald’s monthly net resources. Id. § 154.126(a). Thirty percent of $7,500 is

$2,250, and $2,250 is the amount of monthly child support the trial court ordered

Ronald to pay. Therefore, we find that the trial court followed the guidelines set

out in Chapter 154 of the Texas Family Code when it set child support in this case.

We now turn to the question of whether Cliressa was entitled to child

support above the amount set by the statutory guidelines. See id. Cliressa claims

that she was entitled to additional child support under Section 154.126(a) because

7

of (1) the gross disparity in her and Ronald’s income and (2) the high amount of

monthly expenses she endures in caring for her children.

Section 154.126(a) states that a trial court may require an obligor to pay

child support above the level set by the guidelines as appropriate, taking into

consideration the parties’ income and the children’s proven needs. Cliressa

interprets the statute’s use of the phrase “the parties’ income” to mean that a court

should consider the disparity of the parents’ income when making a determination

under Section 154.126(a). We interpret “the parties’ income” as used in this

section to simply refer to the amount of income each parent has to contribute to the

care of his or her children.

We next move to Cliressa’s claim that she is entitled to child support above

the amount set by the guidelines because she established that her children’s proven

monthly needs amount to $8,807. The trial court determines the needs of a child

on a case-by-case basis by following the paramount guiding principle: the “best

interests” of the child. Scott v. Younts, 926 S.W.2d 415, 421 (Tex. App.—Corpus

Christi 1996, writ denied). Although a child’s needs are not limited to “the bare

necessities of life,” a trial court is not permitted to consider “lifestyle” evidence in

determining whether an obligor should be required to pay additional child support.

See Rodriguez v. Rodriguez, 860 S.W.2d 414, 417 n.3 (Tex. 1993) (holding that the

“needs of the child” are not determined by the parents’ ability to pay or the

lifestyle of the family); In re Marriage of Thurmond, 888 S.W.2d 269, 278 (Tex.

App.—Amarillo 1994, writ denied) (recognizing that “lifestyle” could not be

considered when awarding child support beyond the presumptive level in cases

where the obligor’s income rose above the statutorily designated income level).

Cliressa testified that her children attend public school and suffer from no

disabilities. Although Cliressa claimed it cost over $8,000 a month to raise her

three children, she did not support that claim with an itemized list of the children’s

8

expenses. See Lide v. Lide, 116 S.W.3d 147, 158 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2003, no

pet.) (stating that a child’s needs must be supported by evidence and must be

explained or itemized). The monthly budget Cliressa submitted into evidence

showed only the general expenses of her entire family. Thus, the budget did not

establish the proven needs of the children. See Lide, 116 S.W.3d at 158

(recognizing that living expenses of mother that was to receive child support were

required to be segregated from the proven needs of her children).

Cliressa testified that she wanted to continue to live in her home and be able

to take her children to and from school and attend all of their extracurricular

activities. The trial court was not permitted to consider these “lifestyle”

preferences when deciding if Ronald should be required to pay additional child

support. See Rodriguez, 860 S.W.2d at 417 n.3; Thurmond, 888 S.W.2d at 278.

We hold that Cliressa has failed to show that the proven needs of her

children require $8,807 a month. Even if Cliressa had established that the proven

needs of her children rose to that amount, it was within the trial court’s discretion

to refuse to award child support above the amount set by the guidelines. See FAM.

§ 154.126(a); Nordstrom v. Nordstrom, 965 S.W.2d 575, 581 (Tex. App.—

Houston [1st Dist.] 1997, pet. denied) (noting that court was permitted to deny

request for additional child support based on a finding that evidence was

unpersuasive or that the amounts allocated to the child were excessive). We hold

that the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it declined to require Ronald to

pay child support in excess of the amount set by the guidelines provided in Section

154.125(b). See FAM. § 154.125(b). We overrule Cliressa’s second issue.

C. Spousal Maintenance

Cliressa complains in her third issue that the trial court set her monthly

spousal maintenance award at an arbitrary amount for an arbitrary period of time.

Cliressa argues that many factors, including Ronald’s long-standing affair and

9

spending habits, the disparity in the parties’ incomes, the parties’ decision that she

should be a stay-at-home mother, and the length of the marriage, show that she

should have been awarded $2,500 monthly maintenance for a term of five years.

The purpose of spousal maintenance is to provide temporary and

rehabilitative support for a spouse whose ability to support herself has eroded over

time while engaged in homemaking activities and whose capital assets are

insufficient to provide support. Deltuva v. Deltuva, 113 S.W.3d 882, 888 (Tex.

App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.). With the exception of situations not applicable here,

a trial court may order spousal maintenance in a marriage that lasted ten years or

more if the spouse seeking maintenance lacks sufficient property to provide for his

or her minimum reasonable needs. See FAM. § 8.051(2) (West Supp. 2013).

Assessing the minimum reasonable needs of a particular individual is a fact-

specific determination that should be made by the trial court on a case-by-case

basis. In re Marriage of Hale, 975 S.W.2d 694, 698 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1998,

no pet.).

The record in this case shows that Cliressa attended college for three years

and completed massage therapy school. Sometime around the birth of her second

child, Cliressa chose to quit her job and be a stay-at-home mother. Cliressa served

her family as a homemaker for the ten years that followed. Cliressa testified that

she was forty-two years old and that she worked approximately twenty hours a

week as a waitress, making $7.25 an hour. Cliressa testified that she was interested

in taking medical transcription classes that would allow her to obtain a job paying

$1,500 or $2,000 a month. The trial court was authorized to consider Cliressa’s

testimony in determining the amount of maintenance she was to receive. See

Wright v. Wright, 280 S.W.3d 901, 908 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2009, no pet.)

(stating that the trial court, as the trier of fact, is “the sole judge of the credibility of

the witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony”).

10

The monthly budget Cliressa adduced as evidence failed to itemize her

individual living expenses and, instead, showed only the general expenses of her

entire family. Cliressa claimed that her family’s monthly expenses equaled

$8,807. Deducting Cliressa’s monthly income of approximately $400 and monthly

child support of $2,250 from her claimed expenses leaves a shortfall of $6,157.

Cliressa argues that this shortfall entitles her to an increase in monthly

maintenance. We disagree. Just because Cliressa’s maintenance and child support

payments are insufficient to satisfy her expenses does not automatically entitle her

to a larger maintenance award. See Tellez, 345 S.W.3d at 692 (rejecting wife’s

argument that her maintenance should be increased because it was insufficient to

eliminate her monthly shortfall). While courts frequently consider a party’s

monthly expenses, income, and any shortfall in determining whether a spousal

maintenance award is proper, there is no requirement that a spousal maintenance

award eliminate the shortfall. See FAM. § 8.051; Deltuva, 113 S.W.3d at 888

($2,757 monthly shortfall; $650 monthly maintenance); Yarbrough v. Yarbrough,

151 S.W.3d 687, 692 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2011, no pet.) ($2,600 monthly shortfall;

$1,329 monthly maintenance).

We also reject Cliressa’s claim that the trial court should have extended the

duration of her maintenance award. Unless a specified exception applies, a trial

court is required to limit the duration of a maintenance order “to the shortest

reasonable period that allows the spouse seeking maintenance to earn sufficient

income to provide for the spouse’s minimum reasonable needs” by obtaining

appropriate employment or developing an appropriate skill. FAM. § 8.054(a)(2);

see Amos v. Amos, 79 S.W.3d 747, 750 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2002, no pet.).

Based on the evidence presented, the trial court could have reasonably concluded

that a year’s worth of monthly maintenance payments was sufficient time for

11

Cliressa to obtain appropriate employment or develop an appropriate skill to

support herself.

We find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it set Cliressa’s

monthly maintenance award at $1,000 for a term of one year. The trial court’s

decision complies with the applicable statute, and there was some evidence to

support it. See In re Marriage of McFarland, 176 S.W.3d 650, 656 (Tex. App.—

Texarkana 2005, no pet.) (stating that “the trial court does not abuse its discretion

if there is some evidence of a substantive and probative character to support the

decision”). We overrule Cliressa’s third issue.

D. Property Division

Cliressa contends in her fourth issue that the trial court’s property division

was neither just nor right. See FAM. § 7.001 (West 2006) (“In a decree of divorce

or annulment, the court shall order a division of the estate of the parties in a

manner that the court deems just and right, having due regard for the rights of each

party and any children of the marriage.”). Cliressa argues that she should have

been awarded a larger share of the community estate given Ronald’s long-standing

affair and his excessive spending.

The trial court did not prepare findings of fact in this case, and the divorce

decree does not provide values for any of the assets or debts assigned to each party.

As the challenger of the court’s division of the parties’ property, it was Cliressa’s

responsibility to provide us with the evidence necessary for us to review the

property division. See Taylor, 992 S.W.2d at 620 (“A presumption arises on

appeal that the trial court correctly exercised its discretion in dividing property in a

divorce proceeding, and the burden rests on the Cliressa to show from the record

that the division was so disproportionate, and thus unjust and unfair, as to

constitute an abuse of discretion.”). When findings of fact and conclusions of law

are not requested or filed, the judgment of the trial court must be affirmed if it can

12

be upheld on any legal theory that finds support in the evidence. Balboa Ins. Co. v.

Snyder Consol. Indep. Sch. Dist., 574 S.W.2d 879, 880 (Tex. Civ. App.—Eastland

1978, no writ) (citing Bishop v. Bishop, 359 S.W.2d 869, 871 (Tex. 1962)). If the

trial court files no findings of fact and conclusions of law, all findings necessary to

the court’s judgment, if supported by the record, will be implied. Vickery v.

Comm’n for Lawyer Discipline, 5 S.W.3d 241, 251 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th

Dist.] 1999, pet. denied).

Cliressa claims that the trial court awarded Ronald $10,000 more of the

community estate than it awarded her. She does not point out where she thinks the

court awarded more property. We note that, if the items listed for assets and

liabilities in Trial Exhibit “A” are divided as the trial court ordered in the final

judgment and are given the values attributed to them by Ronald, the difference

between Cliressa’s net share and Ronald’s net share is approximately $10,000.

The trial court has wide discretion in dividing the estate of the parties, and that

division should be corrected on appeal only when an abuse of discretion has been

shown. Murff v. Murff, 615 S.W.2d 696, 698 (Tex. 1981) (citing Hedtke v. Hedtke,

248 S.W. 21 (Tex. 1923)). “These cases further indicate that the trial court may

consider such factors as the spouses’ capacities and abilities, benefits which the

party not at fault would have derived from continuation of the marriage, business

opportunities, education, relative physical conditions, relative financial condition

and obligations, disparity of ages, size of separate estates, and the nature of the

property.” Id. at 699.

We note that the trial court awarded the Honda vehicle, which was used by

the parties’ adult daughter, to Ronald and that the net equity in the vehicle was

approximately $9,370.42, which was nearly the same amount as the alleged net

difference in the property division. Ronald testified that he intended to give the

Honda vehicle to his daughter and that it was purchased for her use. Ronald

13

agreed to take the debt or liability on that vehicle. Ronald’s testimony about the

Honda, his willingness to take the debt, and his intentions to give the asset to his

daughter were uncontroverted and drew no objection from Cliressa. Thus, the

alleged difference in the property division is $10,000, and the equity for the Honda

used by the daughter is approximately the same. Absent that equity, the parties’

net shares appear to be almost identical; therefore, we cannot say that the trial court

abused its discretion when it made the property division that it did. We overrule

Cliressa’s fourth issue.

E. Attorney’s Fees

Cliressa complains in her final issue that the trial court abused its discretion

when it allowed Ronald to pay his attorney’s fees with community property.

Cliressa argues that the court’s decision resulted in an unfair and unjust division of

the marital property.

At the time the final decree of divorce was issued in this case, a trial court

did not have inherent authority to award attorney’s fees in a divorce action. 4 See

Wright, 280 S.W.3d at 914. Instead, attorney’s fees related to the trial and appeal

of a divorce were treated as part and parcel of the property division. Id. Thus, we

treat Cliressa’s complaint regarding attorney’s fees as a challenge to the court’s

division of the parties’ property.

The divorce decree in this case stated that each party was to be responsible

for his or her own attorney’s fees. Cliressa claims that the trial court’s order

resulted in Ronald receiving a larger share of the community property because

4

In 2013, the Texas Legislature amended TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 6.708 to give trial courts

authority to award reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses in a divorce proceeding. FAM. § 6.708(c).

Because we are bound to apply the law as it existed at the time the divorce decree was signed, Section

6.708(c) does not apply to this case. See Sadler v. Sadler, 769 S.W.2d 886, 887 (Tex. 1989).

14

Ronald paid his attorney’s fees before the final divorce decree was issued, using

community funds.5

As previously mentioned, Cliressa has not provided us with the specific

values of the assets awarded to each party in this case. 6 Thus, we hold that

Cliressa has failed to establish that the trial court awarded Ronald more than 50%

of the community property. Consequently, we do not review her claim that the

trial court erred when it awarded Ronald a larger share of the community property.

We conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it ordered

each party to pay his or her own attorney’s fees in this case. The trial court

followed the general rule, and Cliressa has not shown that the court’s decision was

error. See Wright, 280 S.W.3d at 915 (“The general rule in Texas is that each party

is responsible for his or her own attorney’s fees.”). We overrule Cliressa’s fifth

issue.

V. This Court’s Ruling

We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

MIKE WILLSON

JUSTICE

August 21, 2014

Panel consists of: Wright, C.J.,

Willson, J., and Bailey, J.

5

Ronald stated at the hearing that he paid his attorney $12,000.00 in fees before the divorce was

finalized, using a portion of his income. We note that, absent some deception or objection by Cliressa,

Ronald was free to make expenditures of the couple’s community property. See Pelzig v. Berkebile, 931

S.W.2d 398, 400 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1996, no pet.). There is no evidence in the record to

suggest that Cliressa was unaware that Ronald was using community funds to pay his attorney or that she

objected to the expenditures at the time they were made.

6

Cliressa claims that she was awarded $93,678.46 in community property and that Ronald was

awarded $128, 632.62 in community property.

15

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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