William L. Hopkins vs. Annwood J. Hopkins
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS 5/6/97
OF THE
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 95-CA-00372 COA
WILLIAM L. HOPKINS
APPELLANT
v.
ANNWOOD J. HOPKINS
APPELLEE
THIS OPINION IS NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION AND
MAY NOT BE CITED, PURSUANT TO M.R.A.P. 35-B
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. WILLIAM ROBERT TAYLOR, JR.
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: CHANCERY COURT OF PEARL RIVER COUNTY
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:
WALTER W. TEEL
FOR APPELLEE:
REBECCA C. TAYLOR
NATURE OF THE CASE: DOMESTIC RELATIONS
TRIAL COURT DISPOSITION: MOTION TO RECONSIDER FINAL JUDGMENT OF
DIVORCE OVERRULED
CERTIORARI FILED: 7/29/97
BEFORE BRIDGES, C.J., HERRING, AND PAYNE, JJ.
BRIDGES, C.J., FOR THE COURT:
William and Annwood Hopkins were granted a divorce on the ground of irreconcilable differences
on December 8, 1994. William now appeals the denial of his Motion to Reconsider, arguing that (1)
the court failed to grant child support; (2) the court failed to properly divide the assets of the parties;
(3) the court erred in awarding an excessive amount for alimony; and (4) the court erred in hearing
testimony regarding a letter written by William over ten years prior to the hearing. Because we find
that the chancellor committed reversible error with regard to issues one and two, we hereby reverse
and remand this case for reconsideration.
FACTS
William and Annwood Hopkins were married in Picayune, Mississippi on June 15, 1976. They
adopted a daughter, Tanya, who was born on May 29, 1979. The couple separated in Pearl River
County on March 29, 1993. William filed suit for divorce on May 6, 1993, on the ground of habitual
cruel and inhuman treatment or irreconcilable differences. He requested custody of Tanya, as well as
support, because of the child’s dismal relationship with her mother. Annwood also filed suit for
divorce seeking custody of Tanya, equitable division of the property, and alimony.
The court entered a temporary order on September 20, 1993, giving William temporary custody of
Tanya, allowing that the family home in Picayune be sold, and requiring that Annwood turn over all
of William and Tanya’s personal belongings by a certain date. The couple subsequently entered into a
written stipulation and consent for divorce on the ground of irreconcilable differences. The final
judgment of divorce was entered on December 8, 1994. William got custody of Tanya, but no child
support was granted. This was apparently due to the fact that Annwood’s monthly income was
$479.00 and that her only significant asset was an IRA account containing $2,636.14.
The court divided the personal property between William and Annwood. Annwood was awarded a
van. She was also awarded one-half of William’s retirement plans from General Electric and
Sverdrup, and one-half of William’s 401K plan. William was further required to maintain medical
insurance for Annwood and to pay for one-half of her medical expenses not covered by insurance.
William was finally required to pay $1,000.00 per month in permanent alimony to Annwood.
At the time of trial, William was retired and had a monthly income of about $3,300.00. William was
sixty years old at the time of trial and had significant assets. He had retirement accounts from his
employment at General Electric (worth around $69,000) and Sverdrup (worth around $8,600). He
had inherited savings of $40,000 and land in Cullman, Alabama worth around $40,000. He and Tanya
have since moved to the land in Alabama where they reside.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
"Our scope of review in domestic relations matters is limited under the familiar rule that this Court
will not disturb a chancellor’s findings unless manifestly wrong, clearly erroneous, or if the chancellor
applied an erroneous legal standard." Johnson v. Johnson, 650 So. 2d 1281, 1285 (Miss. 1994)
(citing McEwen v. McEwen, 631 So. 2d 821, 823 (Miss. 1994)).
ARGUMENT AND DISCUSSION OF LAW
I. WHETHER THE COURT ERRED BY NOT AWARDING CHILD SUPPORT TO
WILLIAM.
William argues that the chancellor erred in not awarding child support. William further argues that
the chancellor should have made specific findings of fact as to why he deviated from the child support
guidelines. Section 43-19-101(1) of the Mississippi Code of 1972 creates a rebuttable presumption
that child support should be awarded to the custodial parent. If the chancellor deviates from, or does
not follow, the guidelines set forth by Mississippi Code Section 43-19-101(1), he or she must state
for the record that to do so would be unjust or inappropriate. Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-101(2)
(1972).
While the chancellor in the case sub judice did comment briefly about Annwood’s poor financial
state, he did not sufficiently discuss how requiring her to lend her daughter even the most minute
financial support would be unjust or inappropriate. "The duty of parents to support financially, as
well as otherwise, their minor children is ingrained in our law." Adams v. Adams, 467 So. 2d 211,
214 (Miss. 1985). Furthermore, the duty of the noncustodial parent to render support has long been
recognized in this state. Lide v. Lide, 201 Miss. 849, 854, 30 So. 2d 51, 52 (1947). While this Court
is quite cognizant of the deference lent to chancellors in deciding what amount should be awarded as
child support, we shall require more than a mere cursory reference to the noncustodial parent’s
financial condition when absolutely no child support is awarded. This is especially true when child
support is requested and there is income, meager though it may be, being received by the
noncustodial parent. In the case sub judice, William requested child support, and Annwood does have
a job that brings her income each month. For these reasons, we reverse and remand the issue of child
support for reconsideration. On remand, either the child support guidelines set forth in Section 4319-101(1) of the Mississippi Code of 1972 should be adhered to, or a sufficient written finding
pursuant to Section 43-19-101(2) of the Mississippi Code of 1972 should be given.
II. WHETHER THE COURT FAILED TO PROPERLY DIVIDE THE ASSETS OF
THE PARTIES.
William next argues that the court improperly divided the assets of the parties. The crux of his
argument surrounds the division of his retirement accounts and certain items of personal property.
Since we find no error in the chancellor’s consideration or division of the personal property, our
discussion will involve the division of the retirement accounts. The record reflects that William
worked from 1956 until 1985. During this time he accrued retirement benefits. He and Annwood
were married for seventeen years from 1976 to 1993. The chancellor awarded one-half of all of
William’s retirement benefits to Annwood.
This Court believes that during the seventeen year marriage, Annwood’s contributions to the
marriage, domestic and otherwise, require that William’s retirement funds be labeled as assets that
have been jointly acquired. Ferguson v. Ferguson, 639 So. 2d 921, 934 (Miss. 1994). As such, "she
(Annwood) is equitably entitled to some portion of the couple’s jointly acquired retirement funds."
Ferguson, 639 So. 2d at 934. Having justified Annwood’s right to a portion of William’s retirement,
we must now decide what portion she should share. Our supreme court has said:
We define marital property for the purpose of divorce as being any and all property
acquired or accumulated during the marriage. Assets so acquired or accumulated during
the course of the marriage are marital assets and are subject to an equitable distribution by
the chancellor.
Hemsley v. Hemsley, 639 So. 2d 909, 915 (Miss. 1994). It is the opinion of this Court that, according
to Hemsley, all retirement benefits that accrue during the span of the marriage are marital assets and
are subject to an equitable distribution by the chancellor. Conversely, retirement benefits that accrue
outside of the span of a marriage are not marital assets, and therefore, are not subject to equitable
distribution by the chancellor. We find that the chancellor erred in awarding a portion of all of
William’s retirement to Annwood. We reverse and remand this issue for reconsideration and
recalculation of what portion of William’s retirement benefits should be awarded to Annwood. On
remand, the chancellor should only award Annwood a portion of William’s retirement benefits that
accrued during their marriage.
III. WHETHER THE COURT ERRED IN ITS AWARD OF ALIMONY.
The chancellor awarded Annwood alimony in the amount of $1,000.00 per month. When we review
awards of periodic alimony, "we will not disturb the chancellor’s decision on alimony on appeal
unless it is found to be against the overwhelming weight of the evidence or manifestly in error."
Creekmore v. Creekmore, 516 So. 2d 513, 517 (Miss. 1995) (citing McNally v. McNally, 516 So. 2d
499, 501 (Miss. 1987)). Furthermore, "[w]hether or not to award alimony and the amount of alimony
is largely within the discretion of the chancellor." Parsons v. Parsons, 678 So. 2d 701, 703 (Miss.
1996). We find that the chancellor’s decision was supported by the evidence and was not in error.
The chancellor found that, during the marriage, William provided for his family a very high standard
of living. Since the divorce, William and Tanya had moved to William’s inherited land in Alabama,
thereby greatly reducing his cost of living. Annwood was forced to live on less than $500.00 per
month, while William received approximately $3,300.00 per month in income. We find that the
evidence supports the chancellor’s award of alimony and that the chancellor was not in error.
Accordingly, we affirm the chancellor’s award of alimony.
IV. WHETHER THE CHANCELLOR WAS BIASED BY THE CONTENTS OF A
LETTER WRITTEN BY WILLIAM SOME TEN YEARS PRIOR TO THE TRIAL.
William argues that the chancellor was prejudiced after reading a letter that had been typed by
William some ten years earlier. Apparently, the letter contained a less than complimentary discussion
of two judges unrelated in any way to this case. The letter was marked for identification, but was
never admitted into evidence pursuant to Mississippi Rule of Evidence 404. Furthermore, William has
shown this Court no bias, prejudice, or error in the chancellor’s actions. Our review of the record
reveals no error related to the chancellor’s reading of the letter. Accordingly, we find no merit in this
issue.
THE JUDGMENT OF THE CHANCERY COURT OF PEARL RIVER COUNTY IS
HEREBY REVERSED AND REMANDED FOR FINDINGS NOT INCONSISTENT WITH
THIS OPINION. ALL COSTS OF THIS APPEAL ARE HEREBY TAXED EQUALLY TO
THE PARTIES.
McMILLIN, P.J., COLEMAN, DIAZ, HERRING, KING, PAYNE, AND SOUTHWICK, JJ.,
CONCUR. THOMAS, P.J., AND HINKEBEIN, J., NOT PARTICIPATING.
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