MEMORANDUM DECISION
{1 Ellery Bruce Summer (Husband) appeals from the trial court's rulings holding him in contempt, refusing to hold Mary Paige Summer (Wife) in contempt, and awarding alimony and attorney fees to Wife. We affirm in part and remand in part for further findings.
€ 2 Husband filed a petition for divoree on May 7, 2008. After briefing and argument, the domestic relations commissioner (the Commissioner) granted Wife's motion for temporary relief. The Commissioner's October 16, 2008 order mandated that Husband pay a number of the couple's financial obligations, including the first and second mortgages on the marital home, and premiums for "all insurance policies] existing at the time of the parties' separation." After the parties separated, Husband had stopped making premium payments for Wife's health insurance. Thus, the Commissioner's October 16, 2008 order required that Husband resume making those payments.
T3 Thereafter, Husband paid most of the bills except the premium necessary to maintain Wife's health insurance, leaving her uninsured. 1 On November 3, 2008, the Commissioner held an order to show cause hearing to determine whether Wife's allegations that Husband had failed to pay the premium were accurate. Because Husband admitted that he had not complied with the order, the Commissioner certified the issue of contempt and attorney fees to the trial court for an evidentiary hearing. Before doing so, however, the Commissioner instructed Husband to make his best efforts to reinstate the insurance policy if it was a cost-effective option. Although the open enrollment period had closed, the Commissioner and Wife indicated that the policy could be reinstated by court order. Husband raised no objections to the Commissioner's order.
T4 On February 10, 2009, the trial court held an evidentiary hearing regarding the issues certified to it by the Commissioner. At the hearing, Husband testified that he was doing everything he could to pay marital expenses but simply did not have enough money to pay Wife's health insurance premium. Husband admitted, however, that during the same period he failed to pay Wife's insurance premium, he made payments on his truck, his credit cards, the first and see-ond mortgage on the marital home, and gave money to his children from a prior marriage. He also indicated that he was living with his children and did not pay rent. The trial court concluded that Husband was in contempt of court for failing to pay Wife's health insurance premium. As a result, the court sentenced him to pay a $1,000 fine and serve thirty days in jail, but suspended the jail sentence. The parties then reached a temporary agreement that Husband would "add [Wife] back on to the ... medical insurance program," and Wife would agree to take on some additional financial obligations.
T5 Subsequently, Wife informed the trial court that she remained uninsured, and the trial court held a second order to show cause hearing on June 8, 2009. The record on appeal contains only a minute entry from this hearing, which indicates that Husband claimed he was unable to make the premium payments because Wife had withdrawn funds from a joint account Husband typically used
1 6 Eventually, the parties reached a stipulated agreement and requested an opportunity to place it in the record. At a hearing on September 24, 2009, the parties informed the trial court that as a part of their settlement agreement, they would each "immediately" file for Chapter 7 bankruptey protection to "discharge all of their debts." The trial court memorialized the parties' stipulation in an order, prepared by Husband's counsel, stating, in relevant part,
[T]he parties are to look into filing a bank-ruptey as soon as feasibly possible. Each party is to pay either one-half of the filing fee and attorney[ ] fees for the bankruptcy, if filed jointly; or each party will pay their own costs and fees if filed separately.... Following the bankruptey outcome, the parties may come back to the court for the final divorcee.
Neither party objected to this order.
T7 On June 14, 2010, the trial court entered a bifurcated divorce decree, and on September 8, 2010, held a trial regarding the parties' personal property and debts. The trial court entered the final divorcee decree on November 15, 2010, which was supported by findings of fact and conclusions of law. The decree awarded Wife the marital home with $50,000 in equity in lieu of alimony, subject to its indebtedness. It ordered Husband to pay $4,400 to Wife for the medical expenses she had incurred to date due to Husband's failure to reinstate her health insurance and to pay every medical expense to be incurred by Wife from the date of the decree until Husband deeded his interest in the marital home to her. Finally, the trial court awarded Wife attorney fees of $6,025 for the time and effort required by eight pretrial hearings. Husband now appeals.
I. Contempt Orders Against Husband and Wife
A. Husband's Contempt
18 The trial court twice held Husband in contempt for his failure to comply with the order that he pay Wife's medical insurance premium.
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We review a trial court's decision to hold a party in contempt and impose sanctions for a "clear abuse of discretion." See Barton v. Barton,
19 Here, Husband contends that the trial court erred when it held him in contempt because when he was ordered to pay the insurance premium he had already ceased making payments, was under no obligation to make the payments, and did not have the resources to do so. Husband's argument misconstrues the nature of the proceedings in the trial court. Although Husband had discontinued making the premium payments when the parties separated, the Commissioner ordered him to start making those payments again on October 16, 2008. At the November 8, 2008 order to show cause hearing before the Commissioner, Husband raised no objection to Wife's argument that, although the insurer had cancelled Wife's
T 10 Based on these facts, we cannot conclude that the trial court's first finding of contempt was an abuse of discretion. There is clear and convincing evidence that Husband knew that he had been ordered to resume making the premium payments for Wife's health insurance and had the ability to pay for the insurance but "spitefully" decided to give money to his children and pay less critical bills instead. Additionally, it appears, at least at this time, that it was within Husband's ability to reinstate Wife's insurance. Wife informed the Commissioner that she had checked and confirmed that the insurance company would reinstate the insurance "based on the [court's] order," the Commissioner agreed, and Husband raised no concerns about doing so at that time. Even three months later at the February 10, 2009 hearing to consider the Commissioner's contempt recommendation, Husband agreed to reinstate Wife's policy without offering any indication that he could not do so. It was not until the June 8, 2009 hearing that Husband first indicated that he was unable to reinstate Wife's health insurance. While Husband may have accurately reported that reinstatement was not possible at that time, there is nothing in the record on appeal that indicates he could not have done so eight months earlier if he had complied with the Commissioner's October 16, 2008 order. According ly, we affirm the trial court's contempt order with respect to the first order to make the premium payments.
$11 The trial court held Husband in contempt again at the June 8, 2009 hearing. On appeal, however, Husband has only provided the minute entry of this hearing and no transcript of the proceedings, which leaves us with no way to ascertain the trial court's basis for the finding of contempt. See State v. Nielsen,
B. Wife's Alleged Contempt
112 Husband next argues that the trial court erred by not holding Wife in contempt for failing to file for bankruptcy protection pursuant to the trial court's November 27, 2009 order. Wife argues that Husband lacks standing to raise this argument. Utah courts have previously held that "in Utah, as in the federal system, standing is a jurisdictional requirement." Brown v. Division of Water Rights of Dep't of Natural Res.,
{13 In Chen v. Stewart,
T 14 In determining whether a party "will imminently suffer an injury that is fairly traceable" to the trial court's decision to not hold Wife in contempt, we must consider the effect that the contempt order will have on Husband. See id. 150. Compare In re Marriage of Metz,
115 Here, Husband argues that Wife violated a court order that he alleges required both parties to file for bankruptcy protection. Because Husband claims he complied with the order and Wife did not, he alleges that Wife retained substantial debt and Husband was relatively debt free, which skewed the court's ultimate analysis in favor of Wife. Accordingly, if the trial court had held Wife in contempt, coercing her to file for bankruptey protection, Husband's obligations to Wife would have been less, thereby directly benefitting Husband. Therefore, we hold that Husband has standing to challenge the trial court's decision not to hold Wife in contempt. See Chen,
"16 While Husband has standing, he does not prevail on the merits of this issue. The November 27, 2009 order states, "As it is clear the parties do not make enough money to pay the marital debt, the parties are to look into filing a bankruptey as soon as feasibly possible." The plain language of the trial court's order indicates that the parties were instructed to research their bankruptcy options, not that they were required to file for bankruptey protection. Furthermore, the trial court determined that Wife did not file a bankruptcy action partially because Husband never conveyed the marital home to her as required by the November 27, 2009 order and never reinstated her health insurance. The trial court also found eredible Wife's testimony that her bankruptey attorney had advised her against filing. Under these circumstances, we cannot conclude that the trial court exceeded its discretion when it refused to hold Wife in contempt. See Utah Code Ann. § 78B-6-301(5) (2008) (listing "disobedience of any lawful judgment, order or process of the court" as contemptuous).
117 Husband contends that the trial court's findings of fact are insufficient to support the award of the marital home to Wife in lieu of alimony and the requirement that Husband pay all medical expenses incurred by Wife after her health insurance was terminated. Primarily, Husband argues that the trial court "did not assess the income or expenses of the parties with relation to the actual award" and that the trial court erred by not considering Wife's fault in the divorce. In making this argument, Husband cites no case law, provides no record citations, and offers little analysis to support his reasoning. Moreover, the analysis he does provide does not accurately portray the trial court's findings of fact. See Utah R.App. P. 24(a)(9) ("The argument shall contain the contentions and reasons of the appellant with respect to the issues presented ... with citations to the authorities, statutes, and parts of the record relied on. A party challenging a fact finding must first marshal all record evidence that supports the challenged finding.").
{18 "When challenging factual findings, the challenging party 'must begin by undertaking the arduous and painstaking marshaling process'" Kimball v. Kimball,
{ 19 We also conclude that the trial court's ruling was supported by sufficient findings of fact. "'In a divorcee proceeding, the trial court may make such orders concerning property distribution and alimony as are equitable. The trial court has broad latitude in such matters, and orders distributing property and setting alimony will not be lightly disturbed." Olsen v. Olsen,
120 Here, the trial court found that Husband received income of $2,805 per month from retirement and social security and determined that his claimed expenses were inflated by at least $1,000 per month. In contrast, the court determined that Wife's income was $1,619 per month, which included "one-half of [Husband's] State retirement, her social security, and rent from the parties' disabled son";
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the trial court determined that her $2,033 in monthly expenses were "exceedingly reasonable," and noted that Wife was also caring for the parties' disabled adult son and Wife's elderly mother who both lived with Wife in the marital home. Because of Wife's shortfall in income every
121 With regard to the award of Wife's medical expenses incurred after Husband failed to reinstate her health insurance, we note that Wife incurred these expenses only because of Husband's recaleitrance with respect to her health insurance premium. As indicated in the previous section, see su-pro 118-11, the trial court made substantial findings on this issue, and we conclude that they are sufficient to support this award.
122 Additionally, Husband argues that the trial court erred because it failed to consider Wife's fault in making its award; however, trial courts are not required to consider fault in making alimony awards. See Utah Code Ann. § 30-8-5(8)(b) (Supp.2011) ("The court may consider the fault of the parties in determining alimony."); Boyer v. Boyer,
III. Attorney Fees
A. At Trial
123 Husband argues that the trial court exceeded its discretion in awarding attorney fees because it did not make specific findings of fact detailing Wife's need, Husband's ability to pay the fees, and the reasonableness of the fees. However, these findings need not be made in every instance. 5
124 "Utah Code section 30-3-8 governs the award of attorney fees in a divorce action." Wight v. Wight,
126 With respect to the hearings to establish domestic orders or for other purposes,
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the trial court's findings indicate that Wife was in need of attorney fees because her expenses exceeded her income each month. However, we have located no findings of the trial court with respect to Husband's ability to pay the fees. Thus, we remand so that the trial court may make appropriate findings.
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See Busche v. Busche,
B. On Appeal
127 Wife also seeks attorney fees on appeal. "Generally, when the trial court awards fees in a domestic action to the party who then substantially prevails on appeal, fees will also be awarded to that party on appeal." Stonehocker v. Stonehocker,
In summary, we affirm the trial court's ruling holding Husband in contempt due to Husband's repeated failure to pay Wife's health insurance premium. However, we determine that the trial court did not
129 Affirmed in part and remanded in part.
30 WE CONCUR: STEPHEN L. ROTH and MICHELE M. CHRISTIANSEN, Judges.
Notes
. At that time, Wife was sixty-one years old and could not otherwise afford health insurance.
. Husband contends that he was held in contempt three times; however, our review of the record indicates he was held in contempt only at the February 10, 2009 hearing and the June 8, 2009 hearing. None of Husband's other record citations direct us to a third incident.
. Husband contends that the trial court failed to consider that approximately $660 of his income was paid to Wife. However, the trial court considered this factor when it mentioned that Wife's income included a portion of Husband's retirement income.
. Husband also argues that the trial court erred in awarding the marital home to Wife and requiring him to pay Wife's medical bills because Wife's debts should have been discharged in bankruptcy. As previously discussed, this argument is without merit. See supra 116.
. A trial court may award attorney fees based on its inherent power to sanction. See Miles v. Miles,
. These hearings took place on November 3, 2008 (order to show cause hearing); January 12, 2009 (hearing requesting that the case be set for an evidentiary hearing regarding contempt issues related to Husband's failure to pay Wife's medical insurance); February 10, 2009 (evidentiary hearing on the contempt issues); June 8, 2009 (order to show cause hearing); and February 8, 2010 (order to show cause hearing).
. These hearings took place on June 9, 2008 (motion for temporary relief); September 24, 2009 (stipulation to a temporary order); and June 14, 2010 (scheduling conference).
. For the first time on appeal, Husband challenges the trial court's award of attorney fees because "there are no findings" regarding their reasonableness. Although Husband argued that Wife's attorney fees were not reasonable before the trial court entered its ruling, Husband never alerted the trial court that its findings of facts were inadequate due to its failure to address facts related to the reasonableness of the fees. Thus, Husband failed to present this issue "in such a way that the trial court had] an opportunity to rule on" it, and, therefore, it is not preserved for appeal. See 438 Main Street v. Easy Heat, Inc.,
