Fred Eugene Brooks, Sr. v. Mary Elizabeth Haimes Brooks

This case involves issues arising out of the parties’ divorce. Prior to the parties’ marriage, both Husband and Wife owned separate residences. In its property division, the trial court found that during the parties’ marriage, Husband’s home increased in value by $61,700.00, and the court awarded each party one-half of the appreciation, or $30,850.00. The trial court found Wife’s home to be her sole and separate property, as the value of her home decreased during the marriage. Finally, the trial court awarded Wife $3,000.00 in attorney fees to be paid by Husband. On appeal, Husband contends that Wife was entitled only to $9,000.00 of the increased value of Husband’s home–onehalf of the value of an addition made to the home during the marriage. Husband further claims that the trial court erred in failing to offset Wife’s award for debts paid on her home during the marriage, and in its award of attorney fees. We reverse the trial court’s award to Wife, and we affirm both the trial court’s award of attorney fees to Wife, and its finding that Wife’s home did not increase in value during the parties’ marriage such that Husband could recover a share of such increase.