Tom C. Knickerbocker v. Robbyn E. Knickerbocker

Opinion issued January 6, 2005. In The Court of Appeals For The First District of Texas NO. 01-03-00677-CV TOM C. KNICKERBOCKER, Appellant V. ROBBYN E. KNICKERBOCKER, Appellee On Appeal from the 328th District Court Fort Bend County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 88,671 MEMORANDUM OPINION Appellant, Tom C. Knickerbocker, challenges the trial court’s order denying his “Motion for Clarification Order In the Decree of Divorce Relating to Division of Military Retirement Benefits.” In his sole issue, appellant contends that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to issue a clarification order on the ground that it would substantially change the division of property, as provided by the divorce decree between him and appellee, Robbyn E. Knickerbocker, his former wife. We affirm. Background Tom entered the United States Navy on September 22, 1960 and served continuously on active duty until he transferred to the United States Naval Reserve on September 1, 1964. On February 22, 1969, Tom and Robbyn were married. They divorced on April 29, 1996, and, on May 1, 2000, Tom retired and became eligible for Navy retirement once he reached 60 years old in July 2001. On or about August 2001, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (“DFAS”) remitted the first retirement benefit payments to Tom and Robbyn. Robbyn received 38 precent of Tom’s retirement benefit. This 38 percent distribution was drawn against the entire retirement benefit and included benefits earned before and after the marriage. After the first payments were received, Tom contacted the DFAS to reconcile the application of 38 percent to the entire benefit, rather than the community property portion of the benefit. In response to this request, DFAS issued a letter stating that the benefit payments were calculated in accordance with the Knickerbocker’s final divorce decree. DFAS further instructed Tom to petition the court for a clarification order if he thought that Robbyn’s award was incorrectly stated in the divorce decree. Tom filed a Motion for Clarification asserting his rights to his separate property, which consisted of time in service prior to the marriage and time in service after entry of the divorce decree. The trial court denied the Motion for Clarification.Clarification Request In his sole issue, Tom asserts that the trial court abused its discretion because Texas law permits the trial court to issue a clarifying order to enforce the divorce decree. We disagree. In a divorce, a trial court shall divide the parties’ marital estate in a manner that the court determines is just and right, having regard for the rights of each party and any children of the marriage. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 7.001 (Vernon 2003). However, once the marital estate is divided, a court may not amend, modify, alter, or change the division of property made or approved in the decree of divorce or annulment. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 9.007 (b) (Vernon 2003). An order to enforce the division is limited to an order to assist in the implementation of or to clarify the prior order and may not alter or change the substantive division of property. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 9.007 (a) (Vernon 2003). An order that amends, modifies, alters, or changes the division of property made or approved in a final decree of divorce is beyond the trial court's power and is unenforceable. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 9.007 (b). If it finds that the original form of the division of property is not specific enough to be enforceable by contempt, the trial court may render a clarifying order setting forth specific terms to enforce compliance with the original division of property awarded by the divorce decree. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 9.008 (Vernon 2003). Clarifying orders may more precisely specify the manner of carrying out the property division previously ordered so long as the substantive division of the property is not altered. See McPherren v. McPherren, 967 S.W. 2d 485, 490 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1998, no pet.). We review a trial court’s denial of a motion for a clarification order for an abuse of discretion. Worford v. Stamper, 801 S.W.2d 108, 109 (Tex. 1990). A trial court abuses its discretion when it acts in an unreasonable and arbitrary manner or without reference to any guiding rules or principles or erroneously exercises its power by making a choice that was not within the range of choices permitted the court by law. See Downer v. Aquamarine Operators, Inc., 701 S.W.2d 238, 241 (Tex. 1985). In this case, although Tom’s motion to the trial court was entitled “Motion for Clarification Order In the Decree of Divorce Relating to Division of Military Retirement Benefits,” the relief sought in the motion was a modification of the division of property in the divorce decree. In the motion, Tom specifically requested the trial court to issue an order that would apply a formula, different than the one used in the divorce decree, to calculate Robbyn’s portion of the retirement benefit. Applying this formula would alter the substantive division of property and was a request beyond the power of the trial court. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 9.007(b). Such relief can only be considered upon the timely filing of a motion to modify the divorce decree. See e.g., Bloomer v. Bloomer, 927 S.W. 2d 118 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1996, writ denied) (providing the proper method to challenge the characterization of military retirement benefits in a final divorce decree). Accordingly, we hold that the trial court properly exercised its discretion when it denied Tom’s “Motion for Clarification.” We overrule issue one. Conclusion We affirm the judgment of the trial court. George C. Hanks, Jr. Justice Panel consists of Justices Nuchia, Hanks, and Higley.