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CourtListener opinion 2820755

Date unknown · US

Extracted case name
pending
Extracted reporter citation
854 N.E.2d 1
Docket / number
pending
QDRO relevance 5/5Retirement relevance 5/5Family-law relevance 5/5gold label pending
Research-use warning: This page contains machine-draft public annotations generated from public opinion text. The headnote is not Willie-approved gold-label work product and is not legal advice. Verify the full opinion and current law before relying on it.

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Machine-draft public headnote: CourtListener opinion 2820755 is included in the LexyCorpus QDRO sample set as a public CourtListener opinion with relevance to pension / defined benefit issues. The current annotation is conservative: it identifies source provenance, relevance signals, and evidence quotes for attorney/agent retrieval. It is not a Willie-approved legal headnote yet.

Retrieval annotation

Draft retrieval summary: this opinion has QDRO relevance score 5/5, retirement-division score 5/5, and family-law score 5/5. Use the quoted text and full opinion below before relying on the case.

Category: pension / defined benefit issues

Evidence quotes

QDRO

job of twenty-three years. The trial court held a hearing on February 11, 2014 regarding the division of the marital estate. Among other assets, Husband had two pensions which Wife requested be split by means of a Qualified Domestic Relations Order ("QDRO"). In its June 26, 2014 decree of dissolution and property division, the trial court ordered the marital assets separated as follows: Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A05-1412-DR-598 | July 28, 2015 Page 2 of 10 2. The Petitioner/Wife shall receive and own as her property the following property at the following values: Half of Husb

retirement benefits

e large majority of the total marital estate. The trial court also ordered Husband to make a cash equalization payment to Wife in order that the total assets would be split evenly by the parties. The trial court instructed Husband to liquidate certain retirement accounts, refinance the marital home, or obtain a loan to satisfy the cash payment to Wife. The trial court further instructed that if such options were insufficient, Husband would be required to sell the marital home. On appeal, Husband argues that the trial court erred by failing to consider tax consequences and costs of selling the home when valuating as

pension

parated as follows: Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A05-1412-DR-598 | July 28, 2015 Page 2 of 10 2. The Petitioner/Wife shall receive and own as her property the following property at the following values: Half of Husband's Millwright Pension that accrued QDRO during marriage Half of Husband's ALCOA Defined Benefit QDRO (Pension) that accrued during marriage 2002 Pontiac Grand Am $1,200 2006 Chevy Aveo $8,000 Ed Jones joint [account] $23,096 Wife's Freedom [account] $0.32 Wife's American Funds IRA $57,871.41 Wife's SMMC 401(a) $1,024.56 Wife's SMMC 403(a) $2,038.53 Personal Property

401(k)

r husband, Appellant-Respondent Thomas Thompson ("Husband"). In separating the marital assets, the trial court awarded Husband Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A05-1412-DR-598 | July 28, 2015 Page 1 of 10 the marital home and Husband's 401(k) which accounted for the large majority of the total marital estate. The trial court also ordered Husband to make a cash equalization payment to Wife in order that the total assets would be split evenly by the parties. The trial court instructed Husband to liquidate certain retirement accounts, refinance the marital home, or obtain a loan to satisfy

Source and provenance

Source type
courtlistener_qdro_opinion_full_text
Permissions posture
public
Generated status
machine draft public v0
Review status
gold label pending
Jurisdiction metadata
US
Deterministic extraction
reporter: 854 N.E.2d 1
Generated at
May 14, 2026

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Deterministic links based on shared title/citation terms and QDRO / retirement / family-law retrieval scores.

Clean opinion text

MEMORANDUM DECISION
 Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this
 Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as
 precedent or cited before any court except for the
 purpose of establishing the defense of res judicata,
 collateral estoppel, or the law of the case. Jul 28 2015, 9:58 am

 ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
 Laurie Baiden Bumb
 Bumb & Vowels, LLP
 Evansville, Indiana

 IN THE
 COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

 In re the Marriage of: July 28, 2015
 Court of Appeals Case No.
 Thomas E. Thompson, 74A05-1412-DR-598
 Appellant-Respondent, Appeal from the Spencer Circuit
 Court
 v.
 The Honorable Jonathan A. Dartt,
 Judge
 Donna B. Thompson, Cause No. 74C01-0801-DR-34
 Appellee-Petitioner,

 Bradford, Judge.

 Case Summary
[1] Appellee-Petitioner Donna Thompson ("Wife") filed for dissolution of

 marriage from her former husband, Appellant-Respondent Thomas Thompson

 ("Husband"). In separating the marital assets, the trial court awarded Husband

 Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A05-1412-DR-598 | July 28, 2015 Page 1 of 10
 the marital home and Husband's 401(k) which accounted for the large majority

 of the total marital estate. The trial court also ordered Husband to make a cash

 equalization payment to Wife in order that the total assets would be split evenly

 by the parties. The trial court instructed Husband to liquidate certain

 retirement accounts, refinance the marital home, or obtain a loan to satisfy the

 cash payment to Wife. The trial court further instructed that if such options

 were insufficient, Husband would be required to sell the marital home. On

 appeal, Husband argues that the trial court erred by failing to consider tax

 consequences and costs of selling the home when valuating assets, resulting in

 an unequal division of property. We agree and remand with instructions that

 the trial court revaluate certain assets to account for the tax consequences and

 costs of real estate sale that will likely be incurred as a result of the order.

 Facts and Procedural History
[2] The parties were married on December 21, 1984 and have three adult children

 together. On January 16, 2008, Wife filed a petition for dissolution of

 marriage. On March 1, 2012, Husband retired from his job of twenty-three

 years. The trial court held a hearing on February 11, 2014 regarding the

 division of the marital estate. Among other assets, Husband had two pensions

 which Wife requested be split by means of a Qualified Domestic Relations

 Order ("QDRO"). In its June 26, 2014 decree of dissolution and property

 division, the trial court ordered the marital assets separated as follows:

 Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A05-1412-DR-598 | July 28, 2015 Page 2 of 10
 2. The Petitioner/Wife shall receive and own as her property the
 following property at the following values:
 Half of Husband's Millwright Pension that accrued QDRO
 during marriage
 Half of Husband's ALCOA Defined Benefit
 QDRO
 (Pension) that accrued during marriage
 2002 Pontiac Grand Am $1,200
 2006 Chevy Aveo $8,000
 Ed Jones joint [account] $23,096
 Wife's Freedom [account] $0.32
 Wife's American Funds IRA $57,871.41
 Wife's SMMC 401(a) $1,024.56
 Wife's SMMC 403(a) $2,038.53
 Personal Property (equal value to Husband's) -----------
 TOTAL $90,231.00
 3. The Respondent/Husband shall receive and own as [his] property
 the following property at the following values:
 Half of Husband's Millwright Pension that accrued QDRO
 during marriage
 Half of Husband's ALCOA Defined Benefit
 QDRO
 (Pension) that accrued during marriage
 Marital home & real estate [] $97,000.00
 1984 Chevy Blazer $500.00
 Husband's Freedom [account] $3,600.38
 Husband's ALCOA 401(k) Defined Contribution
 $226,231.37
 Plan
 Personal Property (equal value to [Wife's]) -----------
 TOTAL $406,901.50
 App. pp. 8-9.

[3] The trial court gave Husband additional credits totaling approximately $28,000

 for personal funds spent on the parties' children's college expenses as well as for

 certificates of deposit brought into the marriage. Excluding the pensions

 divided by QDROs, Husband received $376,528.04 of the marital estate and

 Wife received $88,044.31. The trial court ordered Husband to make a cash

 Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A05-1412-DR-598 | July 28, 2015 Page 3 of 10
 equalization payment to Wife in the amount of $144,241.86 in order that each

 party receive a 50% share of the total net marital estate. The trial court

 specified that Husband could satisfy this cash payment by liquidating certain

 retirement accounts, refinancing the marital home, or obtaining a loan, and that

 if those options were insufficient then Husband would be required to sell the

 marital home.

[4] On July 18, 2014, Husband filed a motion to correct errors in which he argued,

 among other things, that the trial court erred by failing to consider the tax

 consequences of drawing funds from the parties' tax deferred assets, including

 Husband's 401(k). The trial court denied Husband's motion.

 Discussion and Decision
[5] Husband raises two issues on appeal: (1) whether the trial court abused its

 discretion by failing to consider the costs of a real estate sale and tax

 consequences of its property disposition, and (2) whether the trial court abused

 its discretion by failing to order the division of Husband's 401(k) by means of a

 QDRO.

 Standard of Review
[6] "We apply a strict standard of review to a court's distribution of property upon

 dissolution. The division of marital assets is a matter within the sound

 discretion of the trial court." Smith v. Smith, 854 N.E.2d 1, 5 (Ind. Ct. App.

 2006) (citations omitted). "The presumption that a dissolution court correctly

 Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A05-1412-DR-598 | July 28, 2015 Page 4 of 10
 followed the law and made all the proper considerations when dividing the

 property is one of the strongest presumptions applicable to our consideration on

 appeal." Id.

[7] However, because Wife neglected to file an appellee's brief, our standard of

 review is slightly different. Where one party fails to file an appellate brief, we

 may reverse the trial court if the appellant presents a case of prima facie error.

 Henderson v. Henderson, 919 N.E.2d 1207, 1210 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010). "Prima

 facie error means at first sight, on first appearance, or on the face of it." Id.

 We will not undertake the burden of developing an argument on the Wife's

 behalf. Id.

 I. Whether the Trial Court Erred by Failing to Consider
 the Tax Consequences of its Asset Distribution
[8] Indiana Code Section 31-15-7-7 provides that "The court, in determining what

 is just and reasonable in dividing property under this chapter, shall consider the

 tax consequences of the property disposition with respect to the present and

 future economic circumstances of each party." The statute requires the trial

 court to consider only the direct, immediate, or inherent and necessarily

 incurred tax consequences of the property disposition. Harlan v. Harlan, 560

 N.E.2d 1246 (Ind. 1990); Granger v. Granger, 579 N.E.2d 1319, 1321 (Ind. Ct.

 App. 1991). "A taxable event must occur as a direct result of the court-ordered

 disposition of the marital estate for the resulting tax to reduce the value of the

 marital estate." Granger, 579 N.E.2d at 1321.

 Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A05-1412-DR-598 | July 28, 2015 Page 5 of 10
 [9] The inclusion of costs of the sale of real estate in a trial court's valuation of said

 real estate has been analogized by this court to the consideration of tax

 consequences under Section 31-15-7-7. Dowden v. Allman, 696 N.E.2d 456, 458

 n.1 (Ind. Ct. App. 1998). Like tax considerations, we have held that it is only

 appropriate for a trial court to consider the costs of sale of real estate in its

 valuation when such costs will be incurred as a direct result of the trial court's

 disposition of property.

[10] In Granger, the husband filed a petition for dissolution of marriage and

 subsequently listed two laundromats he owned for sale. 579 N.E.2d at 1320.

 The trial court determined the anticipated tax liability from the sale of the two

 laundromats and reduced the marital estate by that amount. The trial court

 explained its consideration of the possible tax liabilities from the sale by stating

 that although it did not "specifically order the sale of the laundromats," there

 would be no other way "under the circumstances, where [the husband] can

 accomplish the things that have been required by this Court without the sale of

 the laundromats." Id. at 1321 (record citation omitted). On appeal, this court

 found that there was a reasonable inference that husband could borrow the

 necessary funds to meet his obligations under the property disposition should

 his income be insufficient, and therefore, the sale of both laundromats was not

 an immediate consequence of the property disposition. Id. Evidence which

 indicated that husband could meet his financial burden without selling the

 laundromats included husband's personal income, the laundromats' business

 income, the fact that the vast majority of husband's liabilities under the

 Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A05-1412-DR-598 | July 28, 2015 Page 6 of 10
 disposition were payable in monthly installments, and that each one of the

 laundromats on their own was valued at an amount considerably higher than

 husband's total indebtness under the property division. 1 Id.

[11] In the instant case, the trial court's order states as follows:

 [Husband] shall pay said cash equalization [$144,241.86] to [Wife]
 within seventy-five (75) days of the date of this Order such as by
 liquidating certain retirement accounts, refinancing the marital real
 estate and home, obtaining a loan, or a combination of the above. If
 he is unable to satisfy the cash equalization from said resources, is
 unable to refinance the real estate, or decides not to stay at said
 residence, said real estate shall be listed for sale within forty-five (45)
 days of this Order and sold through a licensed realtor.
 App. p. 12.

[12] The record is devoid of any evidence regarding Husband's ability to obtain a

 personal loan or mortgage financing. At the time of the hearing, Husband was

 unemployed and his total income consisted of monthly Social Security

 Disability payments and distributions from his pensions.2 In contrast to

 Granger, Husband has been ordered to make a larger cash payment within a

 relatively short period of time and is on a fixed income. As the trial court

 acknowledged in its order, it seems clear that Husband will be unable to satisfy

 1
 The trial court determined that husband would be liable for certain marital debts totaling $49,117.37, the
 majority of which was composed of a mortgage and business debt, and was payable monthly. The trial court
 also ordered husband to pay wife $6,168.23 within 180 days of the order. The laundromats were valued at
 $110,000 and $80,000, carrying a total indebtedness of $19,000. Husband had a personal income of $30,000
 per year. Id.
 2
 Husband's Social Security Disability benefits and pension payments (after being reduced by the QDROs)
 amounted to approximately $41,500 per year.

 Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A05-1412-DR-598 | July 28, 2015 Page 7 of 10
 the cash payment without liquidating a portion of his retirement accounts,

 selling his home, or both.3 Accordingly, we think that there will clearly be a

 direct, necessarily-incurred tax consequence as a result of the trial court's order.

 Because the retirement accounts are comprised of pre-tax funds, liquidation of

 those accounts will almost certainly cause Husband to incur a significant tax

 liability. More directly, the trial court stated in its property disposition, and in

 its order on Husband's motion to correct errors, that Husband must sell the

 marital home if he is unable to satisfy the cash equalization by other means.

 There would certainly be standard sale-related costs incurred by Husband if he

 were forced to sell the marital home, costs which the trial court neglected to

 consider in its order. Accordingly, we find that the trial court erred in failing to

 consider both the tax consequences of drawing from Husband's 401(k) assets

 and the real estate costs associated with the sale of the marital home.

[13] "[T]he trial court's judgment might provide alternative plans of distribution,

 one which appropriately considers resulting tax consequences and one which

 does not involve tax consequences." Granger, 579 N.E.2d at 1321 n.2. On

 remand, the trial court shall consider the costs and/or tax consequences of its

 property valuation based on the options it provides Husband to meet his cash

 equalization, be that liquidating his tax-deferred accounts, selling the marital

 3
 We note that the court valued the marital home at $97,000. Assuming that Husband can sell the home for
 that price, not including any sale costs, Husband would still be approximately $47,000 shy of the cash
 equalization payment. Therefore, it is unlikely that he will be able to satisfy the order without liquidating
 retirement accounts.

 Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A05-1412-DR-598 | July 28, 2015 Page 8 of 10
 home, or otherwise, with the appropriate adjustment of the valuation of those

 assets contingent upon the manner in which Husband chooses to meet his

 equalization liability.4

 II. Whether the Trial Court Erred by Failing to Divide
 Husband's 401(k) Using a QDRO
[14] Husband argues that dividing his 401(k) via a QDRO would have been a more

 equitable method of distribution and that doing so would have reduced the cash

 equalization payment to only $31,126.18, thus eliminating the tax consequence

 issue by preventing the need to liquidate accounts or sell the house. We

 disagree for several reasons. Firstly, although a QDRO would allow the parties

 to split the 401(k) without creating tax consequences, there are risks and

 complexities inherent in their use with respect to 401(k)'s. Preparing a QDRO

 takes time and must comply with the employer and benefit plan's requirements.

 Often, the value of a 401(k) will fall before a QDRO can be implemented,

 resulting in difficulties satisfying the property disposition.5 See e.g. Ehman v.

 4
 Husband briefly acknowledges in his appellate brief that a trial court is not required to consider tax
 consequences if such consequences were not presented by the party. Hardin v. Hardin, 964 N.E.2d 247, 254
 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012). However, he argues that the issue could not have been anticipated because neither
 party contemplated the liquidation of the Husband's 401(k) during trial and expected a QDRO to divide the
 401(k) rather than a cash payment. First, waiver is an affirmative defense and because Wife did not file a
 brief, we will not develop her argument for her. Second, we agree that the tax consequence issue was not
 readily apparent prior to the trial court's ruling and further note that Husband appropriately raised the issue
 in his motion to correct errors after it became apparent. As such, we decline to find that Husband waived this
 argument on appeal.
 5
 We note that the value of Husband's 401(k) fell from approximately $312,000 at the time Wife filed her
 petition for dissolution in 2008, to approximately $260,000 at the time of his retirement in 2012.

 Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A05-1412-DR-598 | July 28, 2015 Page 9 of 10
 Ehman, 941 N.E.2d 1103 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011); Case v. Case, 794 N.E.2d 514

 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003).

[15] Furthermore, neither party specified to the trial court by what means they

 wished the 401(k) to be split. Husband made no argument at trial that a QDRO

 would be a superior method to divide the 401(k). Finally, Husband cited no

 cases or statutes in support of his contention that the trial court was required to

 use QDRO as opposed to a cash equalization payment. In light of the

 significant discretion afforded a trial court in its division of property and lack of

 support for Husband's argument on this issue, we affirm the trial court's

 judgment with regards to the means by which it chose to divide the marital

 assets.

[16] The judgment of the trial court is affirmed in part, reversed in part, and

 remanded with instructions.

 May, J., and Crone, J., concur.

 Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A05-1412-DR-598 | July 28, 2015 Page 10 of 10