In re the Marriage of Meints
Jeffrey N. Meints, Petitioner-Appellee
Crystal K. Meints, Respondent-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant
Brian J. Humke and Logan J. Eliasen
Attorney for Appellee
Anjela Shutts and Anna E. Mallen
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Cerro Gordo County, Gregg R. Rosenbladt, Judge. AFFIRMED AS MODIFIED. Considered by Schumacher, P.J., Ahlers, J., and Mullins, S.J. Opinion by Mullins, S.J. (20 pages)
Crystal Meints appeals the decree dissolving her marriage to Jeffrey Meints (Jeff). She argues (1) the court’s property distribution is inequitable for various reasons, (2) the court erred in not concluding Jeff dissipated marital assets, (3) the court’s award of spousal support in her favor was inadequate, and (4) the court’s award of trial attorney fees in her favor was insufficient. Crystal requests an award of appellate attorney fees. OPINION HOLDS: We affirm the district court’s distribution of property and challenged valuations. We reject Crystal’s claims the court failed to distribute some assets, but we modify the decree to require Jeff to pay Crystal one-half of the Iowa state tax refund. We determine Crystal’s request that the equalization order be modified to a ten-year payment schedule is equitable and modify the decree accordingly. We affirm the district court’s refusal to grant security for the equalization award, and we decline Crystal’s request for an acceleration clause relating to the equalization payment. We reject Crystal’s claims of dissipation of assets by Jeff. We affirm the amount of spousal support awarded by the district court, $3000.00 per month, but we modify the decree to provide Jeff’s obligation will continue until either party’s death or Crystal’s remarriage. We affirm the district court’s ruling on Crystal’s request for trial and expert fees, and we decline Crystal’s request for appellate attorney fees. Costs on appeal are assessed equally between the parties.
