T.J.W. v. K.M.W. (mem. dec.) ( 2020 )


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  • MEMORANDUM DECISION
    Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
    this Memorandum Decision shall not be                                      FILED
    regarded as precedent or cited before any                             Feb 27 2020, 8:08 am
    court except for the purpose of establishing
    CLERK
    the defense of res judicata, collateral                                Indiana Supreme Court
    Court of Appeals
    estoppel, or the law of the case.                                           and Tax Court
    ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                   ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE
    Christine C. Douglas                                     Melanie K. Reichert
    Keating Douglas LLP                                      Broyles Kight & Ricafort, P.C.
    Carmel, Indiana                                          Indianapolis, Indiana
    IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
    T.J.W.,                                                  February 27, 2020
    Appellant/Cross-Appellee-Petitioner,                     Court of Appeals Case No.
    19A-DC-2167
    v.                                               Appeal from the Marion Superior
    Court
    K.M.W.,                                                  The Honorable Gary L. Miller,
    Appellee/Cross-Appellant-Respondent.                     Judge
    The Honorable Deborah J. Shook,
    Magistrate
    Trial Court Cause No.
    49D03-1807-DC-29869
    Bailey, Judge.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2167 | February 27, 2020              Page 1 of 18
    Case Summary
    [1]   This appeal stems from the dissolution of the marriage between T.W.
    (“Father”) and K.W (“Mother”). After Father petitioned to dissolve the
    marriage, the parties resolved many issues through settlement agreements.
    They eventually presented several issues to the trial court. Father appeals—and
    Mother cross-appeals—from the trial court’s order addressing (1) the
    distribution of personal property; (2) the educational and therapeutic plan for
    the parties’ son (“Son”); and (3) the responsibility for attorney’s fees.
    [2]   We affirm.
    Issues
    [3]   Father presents the following restated issue:
    1.       Whether an approved settlement agreement resolved all
    marital-property issues, precluding further consideration.
    [4]   Mother presents the following restated issues:
    2.       Whether Father’s educational and therapeutic plan was
    contrary to the terms of a settlement agreement.
    3.       Whether the court abused its discretion by declining to
    order Father to contribute toward Mother’s attorney’s fees.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2167 | February 27, 2020   Page 2 of 18
    Facts and Procedural History
    [5]   Mother and Father married in 2011 and had two children during the marriage.
    Son was born in 2014 and later diagnosed with autism. Son received services
    and had an Individualized Education Program (“IEP”) in place at a school in
    Winchester. At some point, Father moved from Winchester to Indianapolis.
    As of the final hearing in this matter, Mother was living in Winchester.
    [6]   In July 2018, Father petitioned to dissolve the marriage. The trial court held a
    provisional hearing in August 2018 and ordered the parties to participate in
    mediation before the final hearing. Father and Mother then participated in a
    mediation session, resulting in the first mediated settlement agreement. That
    agreement stated that it was settling Mother’s and Father’s “respective rights to
    and interests in property, real, personal and mixed, now owned by them,
    separately or jointly.” Appellant’s App. Vol. 2 at 15. Under the agreement,
    each party would have “one-half of the personal property and household goods
    and furniture to be divided by agreement of the parties.” 
    Id. at 16.
    The
    agreement also included the following dispute-resolution provision:
    If the parties are unable to agree on the division of personal
    property, the parties shall equally divide the cost for Bob Brown
    to appraise all property located on both sides of the marital
    residence duplex [in Indianapolis]; Wife’s residence in
    Winchester, Indiana and in the storage unit. The parties shall
    then take turns picking items until each has 50% of the value as
    set forth on Bob Brown’s appraisal.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2167 | February 27, 2020   Page 3 of 18
    
    Id. 16-17. The
    agreement specified that “[p]ersonal property shall be removed
    and distributed 30 days from the approval of this Agreement.” 
    Id. at 17.
    The
    agreement also contained a clause contemplating the possibility of waiving or
    amending its terms: “No modification or waiver of any of the terms of this
    Agreement shall be valid, unless in writing and executed by both parties
    hereto.” 
    Id. at 23.
    The trial court approved the agreement in April 2019.
    [7]   The parties participated in another mediation session, resulting in a second
    mediated settlement agreement. That agreement provided for the appointment
    of Lara Pendoski (“Pendoski”) as the Parenting Coordinator. This agreement
    was approved by the trial court on May 20, 2019. Thereafter, the court entered
    an order appointing Pendoski. Pursuant to the order, Pendoski’s role included
    “facilitating conflict management” as well as “assisting the parties in the
    development of parenting plans and alternative resolutions to other disputes.”
    Appellee’s App. Vol. 2 at 3. The order specified that Pendoski “shall attempt to
    resolve conflicts between the parties by recommendation, negotiation,
    education, and discussion” and that, if the parties cannot resolve disputes on
    their own or with Pendoski’s suggestions, Pendoski could “make reports or
    recommendations to the parties and the court for further consideration.” 
    Id. [8] On
    June 8, 2019, Father and Mother met at Father’s residence to distribute
    personal property. During the meeting, they signed a document that stated as
    follows: “Within next month still go through misc. items in both basements &
    5602 upstairs. [A friend] will come to see if they want outgrown children items.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2167 | February 27, 2020   Page 4 of 18
    Contested items will be discussed at mediation & possible negotiation of
    additional items if contested cannot be agreed upon.” Exhibit Vol. I at 15.
    [9]    Father and Mother participated in a third mediation session, resulting in a third
    mediated settlement agreement. That agreement provided, in pertinent part,
    that Father would have primary physical custody of Son. The agreement
    specified that “[t]he parties shall share legal custody of both children with the
    parent having primary physical custody having the ‘tie-breaking vote’ in the
    event the parties cannot agree on a joint legal decision.” Appellant’s App. Vol.
    2 at 37. The agreement also provided as follows: “[Father] shall have the final
    decision about [Son’s] schooling and ABA services . . . . The parties agree that
    [Son] will receive ABA services; OT; Speech Therapy; special education/IEP as
    well as exposure to peer typical children until otherwise recommended by his
    providers or until no longer covered by insurance or Medicaid.” 
    Id. at 38.
    [10]   During the third mediation session, the parties did not resolve any marital-
    property issues. Their third agreement stated that there was “a dispute as to
    whether personal property has been distributed and finalized pursuant to the
    First Partial Agreement which shall . . . be reserved for final hearing.” 
    Id. at 40.
    It also stated that “[t]he issue [of] attorney fees . . . shall be reserved for final
    hearing set for August 19, 2019.” 
    Id. The court
    approved the agreement in July
    2019, and issued a decree dissolving the marriage between Father and Mother.
    In issuing the decree, the court expressly incorporated the parties’ agreements.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2167 | February 27, 2020   Page 5 of 18
    [11]   Before the final hearing, a dispute arose over the educational and therapeutic
    plan for Son. In July 2019, Father obtained an assessment from a provider of
    ABA services. The assessment recommended that Son receive forty hours per
    week of ABA therapy. Father planned to have son participate in the therapy.
    Father was also exploring a preschool-like program to provide exposure to peer-
    typical children. Mother asserted that Father’s plan violated the third
    settlement agreement because the ABA services would not be administered at a
    school with opportunities for concurrent exposure to peer-typical children.
    Father and Mother brought the dispute to Pendoski, who prepared and filed a
    report. Therein, Pendoski recommended following Father’s plan for Son.
    [12]   On August 19, 2019, a final hearing was held. The parties agreed to addressing
    two issues at the final hearing—i.e., they agreed that the court should address
    (1) the plan for Son and (2) attorney’s fees incurred during the proceedings, as
    each party sought contribution from the other party. Mother also asked the
    court to address contested marital property. Father objected, claiming that all
    property issues had been resolved through the first settlement agreement. He
    asserted that Mother waived any challenge to the division of property by failing
    to follow the dispute-resolution procedures set forth in the first agreement.
    [13]   The court heard evidence and addressed all three issues in a written order. As
    for personal property, the court determined that “[d]espite having ‘resolved’ the
    personal property issues, the distribution of that personal property has not been
    completed.” Appellant’s App. Vol. II at 47. In its written order, the court
    ordered Mother to provide Father with a “specific list of property she claims she
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2167 | February 27, 2020   Page 6 of 18
    has not received.” 
    Id. The court
    also addressed gifts and heirlooms, ordering
    that the parties were entitled to gifts and heirlooms from their respective
    families. 
    Id. As for
    the educational and therapeutic plan, the court adopted
    Pendoski’s recommendation, determining that Father’s plan was not contrary
    to the agreement. Finally, the court denied the parties’ requests for attorney’s
    fees, noting that (1) the parties had incurred “about the same total amount” of
    fees; (2) “[e]ach party had kept up with his/her fees throughout the cause”; and
    (3) [b]oth parties[’] income, assets and access to income has been considered
    and each has sufficient income/assets to pay for his/her own fees.” 
    Id. [14] Father
    now appeals. Mother cross-appeals.
    Discussion and Decision
    [15]   Where—as here—the trial court entered sua sponte findings and conclusions,
    those findings and conclusions control the issues they cover, with a general-
    judgment standard controlling “other issues . . . not covered by such findings.”
    Ind. Trial Rule 52(D). We look to whether the evidence supports the findings
    and the findings support the judgment. Masters v. Masters, 
    43 N.E.3d 570
    , 575
    (Ind. 2015). Pursuant to Trial Rule 52(A), we “shall not set aside the findings
    or judgment unless clearly erroneous” and shall give “due regard . . . to the
    opportunity of the trial court to judge the credibility of the witnesses.” Clear
    error is “that which leaves us with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake
    has been made.” 
    Masters, 43 N.E.3d at 575
    (quoting Egly v. Blackford Cty. Dep’t
    of Pub. Welfare, 
    592 N.E.2d 1232
    , 1235 (Ind. 1992)). Furthermore, findings are
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2167 | February 27, 2020   Page 7 of 18
    clearly erroneous if “the record contains no facts supporting them either directly
    or inferentially.” Town of Brownsburg v. Fight Against Brownsburg Annexation, 
    124 N.E.3d 597
    , 601 (Ind. 2019). Moreover, the “judgment . . . must follow from
    the conclusions of law and is clearly erroneous if the court applied the ‘wrong
    legal standard to properly found facts.’” 
    Id. (quoting Town
    of Fortville v. Certain
    Fortville Annexation Territory Landowners, 
    51 N.E.3d 1195
    , 1198 (Ind. 2016)).
    Contract Issues
    [16]   The parties to a dissolution action “may agree in writing” to contract terms
    concerning “the disposition of any property” and “the custody and support of
    the children of the parties.” Ind. Code § 31-15-2-17(a). If approved by the
    court, those settlement terms “shall be incorporated and merged into the decree
    and the parties shall be ordered to perform the terms.” I.C. § 31-15-2-17(b). At
    that point, “[t]he disposition of property settled by [the] agreement . . . is not
    subject to subsequent modification by the court, except as the agreement
    prescribes or the parties subsequently consent.” I.C. § 31-15-2-17(c).
    [17]   In general, the meaning of a written contract “is a pure question of law for the
    court,” subject to de novo review. Harrison v. Thomas, 
    761 N.E.2d 816
    , 818 (Ind.
    2002). Moreover, a marriage-settlement agreement is construed like any other
    contract. See Ryan v. Ryan, 
    972 N.E.2d 359
    , 364 (Ind. 2012). “[U]nless the
    terms of the contract are ambiguous, they will be given their plain and ordinary
    meaning. Clear and unambiguous terms in the contract are deemed conclusive,
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2167 | February 27, 2020   Page 8 of 18
    and when they are present we . . . will merely apply the contractual provisions.”
    
    Id. (quoting Shorter
    v. Shorter, 
    851 N.E.2d 378
    , 383 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006)).
    Property
    [18]   The first approved settlement agreement specified that it was settling matters
    concerning personal property. That agreement contained a mechanism for
    modifying the agreement—through a writing signed by Mother and Father.
    After entering into the first agreement, the parties executed a document that
    brought personal-property matters back into issue. Indeed, the document
    specified that the parties would go through personal property and “[c]ontested
    items will be discussed at mediation” with “possible negotiation of additional
    items if contested cannot be agreed upon.” Exhibit Vol. at 15. The parties did
    not resolve personal-property issues at the next mediation session, with their
    third agreement identifying “a dispute as to whether personal property has been
    distributed and finalized pursuant to the First Partial Agreement which
    shall . . . be reserved for final hearing.” Appellant’s App. Vol. 2 at 40.
    [19]   Father argues that he and Mother fully resolved property issues in the first
    settlement agreement—and that the trial court therefore erred by addressing
    personal-property issues at the final hearing. He argues that Mother should
    have followed the dispute-resolution procedures in the first agreement.
    [20]   In one sense, Father is correct; Father and Mother attempted to divide personal
    property in the first agreement. However, the parties subsequently consented to
    modifying the agreement as to personal property—contemplating bringing
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2167 | February 27, 2020   Page 9 of 18
    unresolved personal-property issues to mediation. Following that modification,
    those issues were not resolved prior to the final hearing. Therefore, we cannot
    say the trial court erred by addressing these unresolved personal-property issues.
    Educational and Therapeutic Plan
    [21]   Pursuant to the third approved agreement, Father had primary physical custody
    of Son. The parties had joint legal custody, meaning they would “share
    authority and responsibility for the major decisions concerning the child’s
    upbringing, including the child’s education, health care, and religious training.”
    I.C. § 31-9-2-67. Nevertheless, Father had tie-breaking authority if there was a
    disagreement as to Son’s upbringing. Moreover, the agreement specified that
    Son “will receive ABA services; OT; Speech Therapy; special education/IEP
    as well as exposure to peer typical children until otherwise recommended by his
    providers or until no longer covered by insurance or Medicaid.” Appellant’s
    App. Vol. 2 at 38. (emphasis added). The agreement also authorized Father to
    make “the final decision” regarding Son’s schooling and ABA services. 
    Id. [22] Before
    the hearing, Father obtained an assessment from a provider of ABA
    services—Bierman Autism Center. That provider recommended that Son
    participate in forty hours of ABA services each week. Father planned to follow
    the recommendation, which led to a dispute. According to Mother, the
    agreement required a “combination of services/opportunities.” Appellee’s
    App. Vol. 2 at 15. It appears that Mother wanted Son to have services more in
    line with what he received at his former school in Winchester. Under the IEP
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2167 | February 27, 2020   Page 10 of 18
    at that school, Son would receive approximately twenty-seven hours per week
    of ABA therapy and “they would allow the ABA therapist to come to school,”
    where the therapist “would be present to help [Son] attune to the preschool
    teacher.” Tr. Vol. 2 at 83. With integrated ABA services, Son would have
    exposure to peer-typical children and would also receive special education.
    [23]   Mother focuses on the provision specifying that Son “will receive” certain
    services. Appellant’s App. Vol. 2 at 38. She argued at trial—and reasserts on
    appeal—that, because the forty hours of ABA services would not include
    concurrent exposure to peer-typical children, Father’s plan was contrary to the
    agreement. Mother also asserts that providing forty hours of ABA services
    would “eliminat[e] classroom time for special education.” Appellee’s App. Vol.
    2 at 22. She contends that Pendoski should not have recommended Father’s
    plan, and the trial court should not have adopted Pendoski’s recommendation.
    [24]   The trial court ultimately concluded that “the agreement at issue does not
    require contemporaneous exposure to peer typical children and in [Son’s]
    educational curriculum only.” 
    Id. at 48.
    We agree. Although the agreement
    specified that Son “will receive” several types of services, the agreement did not
    specify how much time was to be allocated to each service or whether those
    services were to be rendered concurrently—or in a particular order. Moreover,
    the agreement gave Father final decision-making authority regarding ABA
    services. There was evidence that Father selected an ABA service provider and
    planned to follow its recommendations for Son. He was also exploring
    alternative ways to provide exposure to peer-typical children. Furthermore,
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2167 | February 27, 2020   Page 11 of 18
    Father had “indicated that if [the provider of ABA services] were to recommend
    school and . . . special education services, . . . that’s what he would follow, that
    recommendation.” Tr. at 20. There was evidence that, if the provider did not
    recommend school and special education, the goal of the ABA services would
    be to “prepare [Son] for that situation.” 
    Id. Moreover, Father
    anticipated that
    Son “would have an IEP and special education services in the future.” 
    Id. [25] We
    conclude that the plan was consistent with the provisions merged into the
    dissolution decree. Thus, we cannot say the court erred in allowing the plan.1
    Attorney’s Fees
    [26]   A court may order a party to pay “a reasonable amount . . . to the other party”
    for attorney’s fees associated with a dissolution action. I.C. § 31-15-10-1(a).
    The court has broad discretion in deciding whether to award attorney’s fees,
    and we will reverse its decision only upon a showing of an abuse of discretion.
    See Whited v. Whited, 
    859 N.E.2d 657
    , 665 (Ind. 2007). An abuse of discretion
    occurs if the decision is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and
    1
    Moreover, assuming arguendo the order was tantamount to a modification of the legal-custody arrangement,
    the court has authority to modify its custody order where doing so “is in the best interests of the child” and
    “there is a substantial change in one (1) or more of the factors” listed in Indiana Code Section 31-17-2-8. I.C.
    § 31-17-2-21. Among those factors is “[t]he mental and physical health of all individuals involved.” I.C. §
    31-17-2-8. Here, there is evidence that Son would benefit from forty hours per week of ABA services with the
    goal of preparing Son for integration into a school setting with an IEP in place. To the extent Mother points
    out that a prior assessment recommended only twenty-seven hours of ABA services and Son already had an
    IEP, the court was free to give more weight to Father’s recent assessment. Ultimately, the evidence supports
    a determination that it is in Son’s best interests to receive increased ABA services now—which would
    preclude a more-integrated therapeutic approach—and strive for that integrated approach in the future.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2167 | February 27, 2020                 Page 12 of 18
    circumstances. DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. v. Brown, 
    29 N.E.3d 729
    , 731-32 (Ind.
    2015). An abuse of discretion also occurs if the court misapplies the law. 
    Id. [27] “In
    determining whether to award attorney’s fees in a dissolution proceeding,
    trial courts should consider the parties’ resources, their economic condition,
    their ability to engage in gainful employment and earn income, and other
    factors bearing on the reasonableness of the award.” Eads v. Eads, 
    114 N.E.3d 868
    , 879 (Ind. Ct. App. 2018). Moreover, “[a] party’s misconduct that directly
    results in additional litigation expenses may also be considered.” 
    Id. [28] Here,
    there is evidence that Mother incurred about $44,000 in attorney’s fees
    and that Father incurred a similar amount—about $46,000. As to income,
    Father earns a salary of about $109,000 per year and was eligible for an annual
    bonus. Mother has an M.B.A. and worked full-time for the first three months
    of the marriage, earning around $55,000 per year as the executive director of an
    organization. She then transitioned to part-time work and took care of the
    children. After Father filed the dissolution petition, Mother began working
    about twenty hours per week as a paraprofessional at an elementary school. As
    a paraprofessional, she earns $11.25 per hour. There is also evidence that, to
    pay attorney’s fees, Mother borrowed $15,000 from individuals and incurred
    substantial credit-card debt. As of the final hearing, Mother leased a home her
    parents owned. Her parents were allowing her additional time to pay rent.
    [29]   The trial court denied Mother’s request for a fee contribution from Father. In
    doing so, the court observed that Mother had kept up with her fees during the
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2167 | February 27, 2020   Page 13 of 18
    course of the proceedings. The court also noted that it had considered Mother’s
    “income, assets and access to income” and that Mother “has sufficient
    income/assets to pay for . . . her own fees.” Appellant’s App. Vol. 2 at 47.
    [30]   Mother argues that denying her request for attorney’s fees was an abuse of
    discretion, contending that the court did not “fully [or] accurately assess the
    parties’ financial situations.” Reply Br. of Cross-Appellant at 4. Mother
    focuses on the difference between incomes. She also argues that Father is in a
    better financial position due to the division of assets—that is, when the parties
    divided assets, Father received real estate, “which can be accessed without tax
    consequence through an equity line of credit,” whereas “the majority of the
    marital assets received by Mother were in the form of retirement funds,” the
    liquidation of which results in “tax consequences.” Br. of Appellee at 21.
    [31]   Mother also directs us to Barton v. Barton, a case involving income disparity. 
    47 N.E.3d 368
    (Ind. Ct. App. 2015), trans. denied. However, there—unlike here—
    the trial court elected to award attorney’s fees. See 
    id. Indeed, in
    resolving
    Barton, this Court identified evidence of income disparity and concluded there
    was no abuse of discretion in ordering the higher-earning party to pay a portion
    of the other party’s attorney’s fees. See 
    id. In other
    words, the award was not
    clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances in that case.
    See 
    id. To the
    extent Mother is arguing as much, Barton does not support the
    proposition that a court must award fees upon a showing of income disparity.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2167 | February 27, 2020   Page 14 of 18
    [32]   Ultimately, regardless of tax consequences, Mother negotiated a settlement
    agreement and left the marriage with assets—among them, $121,500 of a 401(k)
    plan. Moreover, there is evidence that Mother has an advanced degree and is
    employable—capable of obtaining a substantially higher-paying, full-time job.
    Mother notes that “[t]he parties agreed that Mother would work primarily
    within the home during the marriage, especially in light of the fact that their
    younger child has special needs.” Br. of Appellee at 20. However, as of the
    final hearing, Father had primary physical custody of Son. Their daughter—of
    which Mother is the primary physical custodian—attends school, and there is
    no indication that she requires special services in the way that Son does.
    [33]   It was not clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances to
    decline Mother’s request to have Father contribute toward her attorney’s fees.
    [34]   Affirmed.
    Kirsch, J., concurs.
    Mathias, J., dissents with opinion.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2167 | February 27, 2020   Page 15 of 18
    IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
    T.J.W.,                                                  Court of Appeals Case No.
    19A-DC-2167
    Appellant/Cross-Appellee-Petitioner,
    v.
    K.M.W.,
    Appellee/Cross-Appellant-Respondent.
    Mathias, Judge, dissenting.
    [35]   Although I concur with much of the majority’s reasoning and result, I
    respectfully dissent as to the trial court’s decision not to award Mother any
    attorney’s fees at all.
    [36]   As the majority points out in its opinion:
    “In determining whether to award attorney’s fees in a dissolution
    proceeding, trial courts should consider the parties’ resources,
    their economic condition, their ability to engage in gainful
    employment and earn income, and other factors bearing on the
    reasonableness of the award.” Eads v. Eads, 
    114 N.E.3d 868
    , 879
    (Ind. Ct. App. 2018). Moreover, “[a] party’s misconduct that
    directly results in additional litigation expenses may also be
    considered.” 
    Id. Court of
    Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2167 | February 27, 2020    Page 16 of 18
    Here, there is evidence that Mother incurred about $44,000 in
    attorney’s fees and that Father incurred a similar amount—about
    $46,000. As to income, Father earns a salary of about $109,000
    per year and was eligible for an annual bonus. Mother has an
    M.B.A. and worked full-time for the first three months of the
    marriage, earning around $55,000 per year as the executive
    director of an organization. She then transitioned to part-time
    work and took care of the children. After Father filed the
    dissolution petition, Mother began working about twenty hours
    per week as a paraprofessional at an elementary school. As a
    paraprofessional, she earns $11.25 per hour. There is also
    evidence that, to pay attorney’s fees, Mother borrowed $15,000
    from individuals and incurred substantial credit-card debt. As of
    the final hearing, Mother leased a home her parents owned. Her
    parents were allowing her additional time to pay rent.
    The trial court denied Mother’s request for a fee contribution
    from Father. In doing so, the court observed that Mother had
    kept up with her fees during the course of the proceedings. The
    court also noted that it had considered Mother’s “income, assets
    and access to income” and that Mother “has sufficient
    income/assets to pay for . . . her own fees.” Appellant’s App. Vol.
    2 at 47.
    Slip op. at 13.
    [37]   The review standard in the area of the award of attorney fees is abuse of
    discretion. 
    Eads, 114 N.E.3d at 879
    . The question of an attorney fee award is
    separate from the division of property. See 
    id. (listing the
    factors the trial court
    may consider in deciding whether to award attorney fees); Bloodgood v.
    Bloodgood, 
    679 N.E.2d 953
    , 958 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997) (affirming an award of
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2167 | February 27, 2020   Page 17 of 18
    attorney fees to Wife due to disparity in the parties’ incomes where the court
    equally divided the marital estate).
    [38]   My review of the evidence cited by the majority leads me to the opposite
    conclusion both it and the trial court reached. Mother’s economic condition is
    quite poor, and there is no credible way to conclude that she will ever be able to
    find a position like the executive directorship she left in order to care for the
    parties’ children. Further, there is no credible way to impute that level of
    income to Mother. All of the available evidence supports an award of attorney’s
    fees to Mother in the full amount of her documented fees incurred. The failure
    to award Mother any fees at all is a clear abuse of the trial court’s discretion and
    should be reversed.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2167 | February 27, 2020   Page 18 of 18