In re the Marriage of Landen
Todd David Landen, Petitioner-Appellant/Cross-Appellee,
Aprel Dawn Landen, Respondent-Appellee/Cross-Appellant.
Attorney for Appellant
Craig H. Lane
Carson J. Tucker
Attorney for Appellee
John S. Moeller
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County, Tod Deck, Judge. AFFIRMED ON APPEAL AND CROSS-APPEAL. Considered by Langholz, P.J., and Bower and Carr, S.JJ., Opinion by Langholz, P.J. (11 pages)
Todd Landen appeals the spousal- and child-support awards of the decree dissolving his marriage with Aprel Landen, arguing that the district court’s inclusion of his veterans’ disability benefits in calculating his income violates federal law. He also challenges the inclusion of the marital home in the property division because its value includes improvements paid for by the Department of Veterans Affairs to accommodate his disability. Aprel cross-appeals the spousal-support award arguing the court should have extended the ten-year award to continue until the death of either party or her remarriage. OPINION HOLDS: Federal law does not prohibit including veterans’ disability benefits in the calculation of a party’s income when deciding spousal- or child-support awards. Todd did not preserve error on his challenge to the property division. And the spousal-support award to Aprel for ten years does not fail to do equity.
