Marriage of Potter CA3

BACKGROUND

On August 17, 2023, the family court presided over a trial on Shayna’s petition for dissolution. At the trial, and throughout the subsequent proceedings, Shayna appeared in propria persona and Joshua Potter (Joshua) appeared with counsel. The court heard evidence and argument from both parties before confirming the jurisdictional facts of the marriage and granting the petition for dissolution. The court noted in the trial minutes that it “heard no testimony regarding marital standard of living and limited evidence only regarding largely unemployed because of being a stay at home parent during the marriage, very limited testimony as to [Shayna]’s health and that [Shayna] will have some financial costs for her therapy when she is no longer covered by [Joshua]’s insurance.” (Sic.) In its minutes, the family court recognized this was a long-term marriage but noted that it could not base spousal support on temporary spousal support. The court found Shayna “did not meet her burden of proof in establishing that spousal support should be ordered.” The court ordered spousal support set at zero but retained jurisdiction to modify that order “upon [a] showing of a substantial…