Again, Fault is Not a Factor in Alimony, and Failure to Preserve = Wavier

Fairbanks v. Fairbanks, 2010 UT 31, (Utah Court of Appeals, February 11, 2010).

Husband and wife were divorced Court awarded Wife alimony and her premarital property. Husband appealed. 

Husband argued that he too had made premarital contributions and the trial court did not compensate him.  The Court of Appeals found that Husband failed to preserve this issue and refused to consider any arguments on this issue. 

Alimony.  Husband also argued that Wife should not have awarded alimony based on her fault in the breakdown of the marriage.  The Court disagreed with husband and affirmed the trial court, finding that fault is not a factor in awarding alimony (because the legislature has not defined it).  Further, the Court found that if fault was a factor, Wife had insufficient fault in this case.  Specifically (1) Wife’s refusal to engage in sexual relations after  Husband to her he felt like he had been raped was not cruel treatment; (2) because the parties mutually agreed that Wife would move, there was no desertion; and (3) Wife’s failure to give Husband financial support because she had no surplus does not qualify as neglect.

Husband argued that the trial court improperly admitted evidence.  The Court of Appeals made no ruling on these issues because Husband failed to object at the time the evidence was offered at trial, and thereby, waived any objection.

Concurrence: We should consider fault as a factor, but since we rely on precedent, we cannot consider it.

Full Decision available at http://www.utcourts.gov/opinions/mds/fairbanks021110.pdf