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15 November 2000

No. 2--99--1109

IN THE

APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

SECOND DISTRICT

PRESIDING JUSTICE BOWMAN delivered the opinion of the court:

On September 7, 1999, the circuit court of Carroll County entered a judgment dissolving the marriage of petitioner,Michael Gattone (Michael), and respondent, Connie Gattone (Connie). Michael appeals, arguing that the trial court erredby (1) designating certain real estate and a joint stock account as marital property; (2) awarding Connie a larger share of themarital estate than Michael; (3) awarding Connie maintenance and ordering Michael to pay for her health insurance; and (4)ordering Michael to pay $9,500 toward Connie's attorney fees as a sanction for violating a court order that prohibiteddissipation of the marital estate. We affirm the trial court in part and reverse in part.

Michael and Connie met in October 1994 and married on January 14, 1995. Michael filed a petition for dissolution on June26, 1998, and Connie filed her own petition for dissolution on July 29, 1998. They did not have any children together buteach had children by a prior marriage. At the time of the dissolution, Michael was 53 and Connie was 52.

The parties' testimony revealed that prior to the marriage Connie lived and worked in Wisconsin. She owned a house thereand a car. She worked two part-time jobs at a hospital. Through her employment she had health insurance and a retirementplan. When Connie married Michael, she quit her jobs and moved to Michael's house in New Lenox, Illinois. Connietestified that she wanted to find new employment but Michael insisted that she stay at home. After she and Michaelseparated, Connie worked as a bartender.

When the parties met, Michael was recuperating from injuries he sustained in a car accident that occurred on July 4, 1994. The accident claimed the life of Michael's then wife, Lynne. After the accident, Michael retired from his job withAmeritech and took a lump-sum settlement of $180,000 from his retirement plan. He placed those funds in an individualretirement account (IRA) in his name. The IRA remained in Michael's name throughout his marriage to Connie. At thetime of the dissolution, the value of Michael's IRA was $800,000. Michael received monthly distributions from his IRA inthe amount of $1,500.

Michael also received a settlement of approximately $175,000 as a result of the accident. He deposited the settlementfunds in a joint stock account, which the parties referred to as the "Active Assets Account" (AAA account). The AAAaccount was in both Michael's and Connie's names. The parties stipulated that the AAA account had a value of $130,000 atthe time of the dissolution.

Shortly after Michael and Connie married, Michael sold his home in New Lenox as well as property he owned inWisconsin. He received approximately $180,000 from the sale of these properties. In August 1995, Michael and Conniebought a house in Savanna, Illinois, for which they paid $57,500. They later bought an adjacent piece of property and builta carriage house on it. They spent $75,000 for improvements on the home and the carriage house (collectively, the Savannaproperty). Michael testified that all of the funds used for the purchase and improvement of the Savanna property camefrom the sale of the properties he owned prior to the marriage. Because Michael was physically unable to do so, Connieperformed most of the maintenance on the Savanna property, including mowing part of the lawn, shoveling snow, cleaningthe gutters, and cleaning the inside of the house. At the time of the dissolution, the value of the Savanna property was$175,000.

Approximately one year into the marriage, Connie sold her house in Wisconsin and received proceeds of $28,600 from thesale. Connie testified that Michael did not want to keep any of the furniture or household items from her Wisconsin house,so she gave them away. After paying bills, she initially put the remaining money in an account solely in her name. Shelater transferred the money, about $17,000, to the AAA account.

The parties owned a number of different vehicles at the time of the marriage's dissolution. One of those vehicles was a1994 Lexus. The Lexus was the last in a succession of vehicles the parties bought and then traded in for different vehicles. Prior to the marriage, Connie owned a Toyota Camry. When she moved to Illinois, Michael told Connie to leave theCamry in Wisconsin, which she did. When Connie sold her Wisconsin home, she and Michael used the Camry as a trade-in on a new car, a Corvette that Michael selected. They later traded in the Corvette for a Lincoln Towncar, and then tradedthe Towncar in for the Lexus. Connie testified that she wanted another Toyota Camry instead of a Lexus, but Michaelinsisted on buying a more expensive car. Connie said that Michael did not let her drive the Lexus. It was titled in bothparties' names.

Michael testified that prior to the marriage he owned a 1961 Corvette with current value of $20,000. After he and Conniemarried, he added Connie's name to the title. During the marriage, he purchased a pontoon boat for $17,000 and a jet skifor which he paid $7,500.

Both parties testified that they had some health problems during the marriage. When Michael and Connie met, Michaelwas still recuperating from the injuries he sustained in the car accident and was in a wheelchair. He had surgery one weekafter he and Connie were married and was on crutches for several months. Later, he broke his leg in two places and wasincapacitated for almost a year because he had a difficult time healing.

Connie testified that the health problems she experienced during the marriage included depression that requiredhospitalization, asthma, and a prolapsed heart valve. She stated that she took thyroid medication and antidepressants. Connie testified that she expected to have to return to work and that there was no reason why she could not work.

On cross-examination, Michael acknowledged that he had incurred credit card debt after he and Connie separated. Afterthe petitions for dissolution were filed, the parties agreed that each would take $15,000 from the AAA account for theirliving expenses. Later, they each took an additional $5,000. In addition, Michael received $1,500 per month from his IRA.

After he and Connie separated, Michael bought his girlfriend a fur coat and a ring, lent his girlfriend $6,000 toward thepurchase of a car, and paid for the first six months of her car insurance. He also spent over $2,000 on jewelry for hisgirlfriend's daughter. Michael admitted that he had paid approximately $24,000 on his credit cards since the separation. Hetestified that the funds he used to make these payments came either from the $20,000 he received pursuant to the parties'agreement or from the income he received from his IRA.

After hearing the parties' testimony, the court declared that the IRA worth $800,000 was Michael's nonmarital property andawarded it to him. The court further determined that the Savanna property and the AAA account were marital property. Connie received the Savanna property in its entirety and $50,000 from the AAA account. Michael received the remaining$80,000 from the AAA account. The court awarded the Lexus to Connie and ordered Michael to make the remainingpayments on it. Michael received the pontoon boat, jet ski, and 1961 Corvette. The court ordered Michael to pay Conniemaintenance of $1,000 for 72 months and to maintain medical insurance for Connie until she qualifies for Medicare or isable to obtain medical insurance through employment. Michael filed a timely notice of appeal from the trial court'sjudgment of dissolution.

CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY AS MARITAL OR NONMARITAL

Michael disputes the trial court's classification of the Savanna property and the AAA account as marital property. Heargues that the money that funded the AAA account and was used to purchase the Savanna property was traceable entirelyto his nonmarital assets; therefore, the court should have deemed the Savanna property and the AAA account nonmaritalproperty.

Before disposing of property upon a dissolution of marriage, the trial court must first classify the property as marital ornonmarital. In re Marriage of Hagshenas, 234 Ill. App. 3d 178, 186 (1992). A reviewing court will not disturb the trialcourt's classification unless it is contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence. Hagshenas, 234 Ill. App. 3d at 186.

Pursuant to section 503(b)(1) of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (Act) (750 ILCS 5/503(b)(1) (West1998)), there is a rebuttable presumption that all property acquired by either spouse after the marriage and before ajudgment of dissolution of marriage, including nonmarital property transferred into some form of co-ownership betweenthe spouses, is marital property. A party may overcome this presumption by showing by clear and convincing evidence thatthe property falls into one of the categories listed in section 503(a) of the Act (750 ILCS 5/503(a) (West 1998)). Hagshenas, 234 Ill. App. 3d at 186. One such category is "property acquired in exchange for property acquired before themarriage or in exchange for property acquired by gift, legacy or descent." 750 ILCS 5/503(a)(2) (West 1998).

Property designated as nonmarital under section 503(a) may still be presumptively transmuted into marital property by anaffirmative act of the contributing spouse, such as placing nonmarital property in joint tenancy or some other form of co-ownership with the other spouse. In re Marriage of Cecil, 202 Ill. App. 3d 783, 787 (1990). This raises the presumptionthat the contributing spouse made a gift of the property to the marital estate. Cecil, 202 Ill. App. 3d at 787. Thecontributing spouse may overcome this presumption by presenting clear and convincing evidence that he or she did notintend to make a gift of the nonmarital property. Cecil, 202 Ill. App. 3d at 787. Any doubts as to the nature of the propertyare resolved in favor of finding that the property is marital. In re Marriage of Hegge, 285 Ill. App. 3d 138, 141 (1996).

Some of the significant factors for determining whether a party has successfully rebutted the presumption of a gift include(1) the size of the gift relative to the entire estate; (2) who paid the purchase price, made improvements, paid taxes on theproperty with solely acquired funds, and exercised control and management over the property; (3) when the asset waspurchased; and (4) how the parties handled their prior financial dealings with each other. In re Marriage of Guerra, 153 Ill.App. 3d 550, 556 (1987). With these principles in mind, we conclude that the trial court's determination that the Savannaproperty and AAA account were marital property was not contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence.

A. Savanna Property

The parties purchased the Savanna property during their marriage, so a rebuttable presumption existed that it was maritalproperty. Michael argues that he rebutted this presumption by showing that the funds used to purchase the property weretraceable entirely to his nonmarital assets. Connie does not dispute the source of the funds used to buy the Savannaproperty. Thus, Michael successfully rebutted the presumption that the property was marital.

Connie argues, however, that the Savanna property was transmuted into marital property. We agree that there wassufficient evidence to support such a finding. At all times during the marriage, the parties held the Savanna property injoint tenancy. Placing the property in joint tenancy was an affirmative act by Michael that raised the presumption that heintended to make a gift of the property to the marital estate. To overcome this presumption, Michael had to show by clearand convincing evidence that he did not intend to make a gift of the Savanna property. Relying primarily on Guerra,Michael asserts that the amount of the gift in relation to the size of the marital estate and the fact that all of the funds camefrom his nonmarital assets proved by clear and convincing evidence that he did not intend to make a gift of the Savannaproperty.

In Guerra, this court reversed the trial court's finding that the parties' residence was marital property. Guerra, 153 Ill. App.3d at 558-59. The husband in Guerra used proceeds from the sale of his nonmarital assets to purchase the residence. Healso paid for all household expenses, utilities, taxes, and insurance for the residence. Guerra, 153 Ill. App. 3d at 556-57.Unlike the case before us, however, the husband in Guerra placed title to the residence in a land trust and named himself asthe sole beneficiary. Guerra, 153 Ill. App. 3d at 556. Also, the husband's will demonstrated his intention to keep theresidence as his separate property. Guerra, 153 Ill. App. 3d at 557.

Michael latches onto our statement in Guerra that it was not reasonable to presume that the husband intended to make a giftof 44% of his nonmarital estate. Guerra, 153 Ill. App. 3d at 558. Michael is correct that the size of the purported gift waspart of the reason we found that property at issue in Guerra was nonmarital, but the determination of whether property ismarital or nonmarital does not hinge on a single factor. In Guerra, three out of the four factors weighed in favor ofclassifying the property as nonmarital. The size of the purported gift relative to the entire estate was large. The husbandpaid the purchase price and all of the expenses related to the house and exercised control over the house. In addition, thefinancial dealings of the Guerra parties demonstrated the husband's intent to keep the residence and other nonmarital assetsseparate from the marital assets. Guerra, 153 Ill. App. 3d at 556-58.

The facts of Guerra are quite different from those of the case before us. The size of the gift relative to the size of Michael'stotal nonmarital estate weighs in his favor, although to what degree depends upon how Michael's nonmarital estate iscalculated. Michael's calculations of the value of his nonmarital estate are based on the value of his assets at the time he andConnie married. Thus, he values his IRA at $180,000 instead of $800,000. Michael does not cite any authority that wouldsupport his method of calculating his estate. We note that in Guerra we did not determine the value of the husband's estateby looking at the value of his nonmarital assets on the date of the marriage but by looking at the total stipulated value of theassets the husband purchased from the sale of his nonmarital assets, which took place during the marriage. We also statedthat we considered the "total nonmarital estate which [the husband] had acquired." Guerra, 153 Ill. App. 3d at 558. Underthis method of calculation, it would seem appropriate to value Michael's IRA at $800,000, not $180,000. Thus, the amountof the gift is significantly lower than 68% of his nonmarital estate, as Michael proposes.

The second factor weighs partially in Michael's favor. He established by clear and convincing evidence that the purchaseprice, improvements, and taxes for the Savanna property came from money he acquired in exchange for his nonmaritalassets. However, he did not establish by clear and convincing evidence that he exercised control and management over theSavanna property.

The third factor, when the assets were purchased, weighs in Connie's favor. Michael and Connie purchased the Savannaproperty about seven months after they married, with the intention that they would live there together.

The fourth factor, how the parties handled their prior financial dealings with each other, also weighs in Connie's favor. Wefind no facts in the record that demonstrate any intent on Michael's part to keep his nonmarital assets separate from themarital assets. There are steps Michael could have taken to make sure his nonmarital assets retained their distinct identityif that was his desire. We see nothing in the record to indicate such a desire, however. Accordingly, we conclude that thetrial court's determination that the Savanna property was marital property was not contrary to the manifest weight of theevidence.

B. AAA Account

Michael argues that he funded the AAA account entirely from the settlement award and the income he received from hisIRA. This argument fails because the parties' testimony established that Connie contributed about $17,000 to the account. Further, under the analysis we engaged in above, it is apparent that the trial court correctly classified the AAA account asmarital property. The AAA account was created after Michael and Connie's marriage and was a joint account. While thenonmarital assets that funded most of the account were substantial, Michael made no effort to segregate his funds or limitConnie's access to them. The parties used the AAA account to fund their joint checking account. There was no evidencethat Connie's use of the AAA or joint checking account was restricted in any way. For these reasons, we hold that the trialcourt's classification of the AAA account as marital property was not against the manifest weight of the evidence.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE MARITAL ESTATE

Next, Michael disputes the trial court's distribution of the marital property. He contends that, because he contributed moreto the marital estate and the marriage was short, the trial court's award of the bulk of the marital estate to Connie wasagainst the manifest weight of the evidence. We disagree.

Section 503(d) of the Act instructs trial courts to divide marital property in just proportions considering all relevant factors,including the 12 factors listed in that section. 750 ILCS 5/503(d) (West 1998). Here, the trial court awarded Connie asignificantly larger portion of the marital estate than Michael. It is impossible to determine the precise percentage of theestate that each party received because there was no evidence regarding the value of certain items of property such as theLexus, the pontoon boat, or the jet ski. Of the parts of the marital estate that had a stipulated value, Connie receivedproperty totaling $225,000, which constituted 74% of the marital estate, and Michael received $80,000, or 26% of themarital estate.

It is well settled that a trial court is justified in awarding almost all of the marital property to one spouse if the other spousehas substantial nonmarital assets. In re Marriage of Holman, 122 Ill. App. 3d 1001, 1012-13 (1984). Here, Michael had$800,000 in nonmarital assets and income of $40,000 to $50,000 per year. Connie, in comparison, had no nonmaritalassets. In light of this disparity, it was not against the manifest weight of the evidence for the trial court to award Conniemost of the marital estate.

MAINTENANCE AND HEALTH INSURANCE

We disagree with Michael that the trial court's award of maintenance to Connie was against the manifest weight of theevidence. The court ordered Michael to pay maintenance of $1,000 per month for 72 months. The court based this rulingon Connie's "health and questionable employability." Michael asserts that there is no evidence in the record to support thisfinding.

An award of maintenance lies within the sound discretion of the trial court, which we will not reverse absent an abuse ofdiscretion. In re Marriage of Toole, 273 Ill. App. 3d 607, 611 (1995). Section 504(a) of the Act provides that the courtmay grant temporary or permanent maintenance after considering all of the relevant factors, including:

"(1) the income and property of each party, including marital property apportioned and non-marital property assigned to theparty seeking maintenance;

(2) the needs of the party;

(3) the present and future earning capacity of each party;

(4) any impairment of the present and future earning capacity of the party seeking maintenance due to that party devotingtime to domestic duties or having foregone or delayed education, training, employment, or career opportunities due to themarriage;

(5) the time necessary to enable the party seeking maintenance to acquire appropriate education, training, and employment,and whether that party is able to support himself or herself through appropriate employment ***;

(6) the standard of living established during the marriage;

(7) the duration of the marriage;

(8) the age and the physical and emotional condition of both parties." 750 ILCS 5/540(a) (West 1998).

Michael relies upon In re Marriage of Albrecht, 266 Ill. App. 3d 399 (1994), in arguing that the trial court abused itsdiscretion in awarding maintenance. We find Albrecht inapposite because in that case the appellate court affirmed the trialcourt's decision not to award maintenance to either spouse. In so holding, the court noted that the marriage was short, theparties' lifestyle was not lavish, and the wife was employable despite her health problems. Albrecht, 266 Ill. App. 3d at403. Contrary to Michael's argument, Albrecht does not stand for the converse proposition that it is always an abuse ofdiscretion for a trial court to award maintenance when a marriage is of short duration, the parties' lifestyle is not lavish, andthe spouse seeking maintenance is employable. We must examine the facts of the case before us to determine whetherMichael met his burden of showing that the trial court abused its discretion in awarding Connie maintenance.

While Connie and Michael's marriage lasted only four years, the evidence showed that Connie left her employment inWisconsin to move to Illinois with Michael and, at Michael's insistence, did not work during the marriage. After theyseparated, Connie worked as a bartender. Connie testified that she was not aware of any reason why she could not find ajob, although she thought her age might make it somewhat difficult. She also testified that she had both physical andemotional problems, including a heart problem and depression that required inpatient treatment.

Michael argues that Connie did not produce any documentation or opinion evidence to support her claimed healthproblems. Michael did not make this argument in the trial court and does not cite any pertinent authority. Therefore, hehas waived this argument. See Eckiss v. McVaigh, 261 Ill. App. 3d 778, 786 (1994). We also note that Connie's healthproblems were not the only basis for the court's decision on these issues.

It appears from the record that the trial court considered the relevant factors and determined that special circumstancesexisted that justified an award of maintenance to Connie. Specifically, the trial court relied on the facts that (1) Conniegave up her job and sold her house and her belongings to relocate to Illinois, (2) she did not work during the marriage atMichael's insistence and therefore had little recent job experience or contacts in the community where she lived; and (3) shehad health problems that would diminish her ability to find work that would sustain her lifestyle.

Michael has not convinced us that the trial court abused its discretion in awarding maintenance to Connie. The recordsupported the trial court's factual findings, and we find no error in the court's analysis of the relevant factors. It is unlikelythat Connie's wages as a bartender would have allowed her to maintain her standard of living. It appears that the award ofmaintenance was designed to provide Connie with income for a limited time so that she would not have to deplete all of herassets while she tried to find work.

For these same reasons, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in requiring Michael to maintainmedical insurance for Connie until she is covered by Medicare or is able to obtain insurance through employment. Conniegave up her job and the health insurance she had through her job when she moved to Illinois with Michael. She did nothave an opportunity to obtain health insurance through an employer during the marriage because Michael did not want herto work. Ordering Michael to continue to pay Connie's health insurance until she is able to obtain insurance throughemployment or Medicare was reasonable under these circumstances and did not constitute an abuse of discretion. Inaddition, Michael presented no evidence to the court regarding the cost of providing continued coverage for Connie. Absent any such evidence, we cannot from the record find an abuse of discretion.

ATTORNEY FEES

Last, Michael appeals the trial court's order that he pay $9,500 toward Connie's attorney fees because of his violation ofcourt orders prohibiting him from using credit cards and dissipating marital assets. Michael argues that the trial court wasrequired to hold a hearing to determine whether he violated a court order and whether the alleged violation was withoutcompelling cause or justification.

After the parties filed their respective petitions for dissolution, they agreed that each would take $15,000 from the AAAaccount to cover living expenses. Later, they each took an additional $5,000. Michael also received $1,500 each monthfrom his IRA, which he put in a separate AAA account in his name. On December 12, 1998, pursuant to a petition for arule to show cause filed by Connie, the court entered an order prohibiting both parties from withdrawing any additionalfunds from their accounts or using any credit or debit cards. In Connie's recommended allocation statement, she asked thecourt to require Michael to contribute $9,500 toward her attorney fees "as a result of dissipation of assets and contemptuousbehavior." The court heard testimony concerning the alleged dissipation of assets. In its judgment for dissolution ofmarriage, the trial court ordered:

"That as a result of the Petitioner's violation of prior Court Orders, he is further ordered to pay Respondent's attorney's feesin the amount of Nine Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($9,500.00) within sixty (60) days of the entry of this Judgment forDissolution of Marriage."

After the hearing on the property division issues, Connie filed "Respondent's Acknowledgment or Allegation of Dissipationof Assets." This document stated that Michael had incurred approximately $24,000 in credit card debt between June andDecember 1998, had lent his girlfriend $15,000, and had spent $9,000 on a car. At trial, Michael acknowledged that hemade a loan to his new girlfriend, financed a new car for her, and bought her a fur coat and a diamond ring.

We note initially that Michael did not raise any objection in the trial court to the award of attorney fees. It is well settledthat issues not raised in the trial court are generally deemed waived and may not be raised for the first time on appeal. Western Casualty & Surety Co. v. Brochu, 105 Ill. 2d 486, 500 (1985). The reason for this general rule is that the appellatecourt should not consider different theories or new questions on appeal if proof might have been offered to refute orovercome them had they been presented below. Carter v. Dunlop, 138 Ill. App. 3d 58, 60 (1985). However, it is equallywell settled that waiver is an admonition to the parties rather than a limitation on the reviewing court's jurisdiction and itmay be relaxed in order to obtain a uniform body of precedent or where the interests of justice so require. AmericanFederation of State, County & Municipal Employees, Council 31 v. County of Cook, 145 Ill. 2d 475, 480 (1991). Here, wechoose to consider Michael's argument on this issue despite his waiver because certain aspects of the court's ruling troubleus.

Both parties presume that, in ordering Michael to contribute to Connie's attorney fees, the court acted under section 508(b)of the Act (750 ILCS 5/508(b) (West 1998)). The trial court did not articulate the statutory basis for the award of attorneyfees, but it stated in its memorandum opinion and judgment for dissolution that the reason for the award was Michael'sviolation of a court order. Thus, it appears that the court made the award pursuant to section 508(b), which provides:

"(b) In every proceeding for the enforcement of an order or judgment when the court finds that the failure to comply withthe order or judgment was without compelling cause or justification, the court shall order the party against whom theproceeding is brought to pay promptly the costs and reasonable attorney's fees of the prevailing party. If non-compliance iswith respect to a discovery order, the non-compliance is presumptively without compelling cause or justification, and thepresumption may only be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence. If at any time a court finds that a hearing under thisSection was precipitated or conducted for any improper purpose, the court shall allocate fees and costs of all parties for thehearing to the party or counsel found to have acted improperly. Improper purposes include, but are not limited to,harassment, unnecessary delay, or other acts needlessly increasing the cost of litigation." 750 ILCS 5/508(b) (West 1998).

The first problem we have with the court's order is that the evidence did not support the finding that Michael violated acourt order. The only order in the record that prohibited Michael from using his credit cards or withdrawing any moneyfrom the marital estate was entered on December 11, 1998. The evidence Connie presented concerning Michael's improperexpenditures showed that the vast majority of them occurred before December 11. After the order was entered, there werecredit card payments totaling $4,000 made on December 16, 1998, and December 23, 1998, but it is impossible todetermine whether those payments related to purchases made before or after the December 11 order. Therefore, we cannotagree with the trial court that Michael violated the court's order.

Further, section 508(b) requires a finding that a party violated a court order "without compelling cause or justification"before the court can award attorney fees as a sanction. 750 ILCS 5/508(b) (West 1998). The trial court did not state thatMichael's alleged violation was without cause or justification.

Next, section 508(b) provides for an award of attorney fees related to a "proceeding for the enforcement of an order orjudgment." 750 ILCS 5/508(b) (West 1998). The record seems to indicate that the trial court did not limit the award ofattorney fees to Connie's efforts to enforce the December 11 order but instead ordered Michael to contribute towardConnie's attorney fees for the dissolution proceeding as a whole. If Connie wanted to seek attorney fees from Michael, theproper method for doing so was to file a petition for contribution to fees and costs pursuant to section 503(j) of the Act(750 ILCS 5/503(j) (West 1998)). It was improper for the trial court to award Connie attorney fees for the dissolutionproceeding in general under section 508(b).

Our last point of contention pertains to the amount of the award and the absence of a determination by the trial court thatthe fees requested were reasonable. This court has held that an award of attorney fees under section 508(b) is "subject to adetermination of reasonableness based on, inter alia, the time spent, the ability of the lawyers, and the complexity of thework." In re Marriage of Walters, 238 Ill. App. 3d 1086, 1098 (1992). We find nothing in the record regarding any of theabove factors. It appears that the trial court did not determine the basis for the amount of fees Connie requested or whetherthat amount was reasonable. For all of the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the trial court erred in ordering Michael tocontribute $9,500 toward Connie's attorney fees, and we reverse that portion of the trial court's judgment.

CONCLUSION

For the reasons stated, the judgment of the circuit court of Carroll County is affirmed in part and reversed in part.

Affirmed in part and reversed in part.

HUTCHINSON and GALASSO, JJ., concur.