In Re Marriage of Craig

Thomas Craig seeks reversal of that portion of a dissolution judgment denying him reimbursement for a separate property contribution to the purchase of the parties’ former Washington State residence. We affirm.

I. Facts

On September 13, 1979, appellant (husband) and his wife, Vicki C. Craig (wife) purchased a single family residence in Kirkland, Washington. Husband made a separate property contribution of $5,853.40 toward the down payment. The record does not indicate the existence of any writing waiving reimbursement or describing appellant’s expenditure as a gift. The parties resided in Washington at least through December, 1983 before eventually moving to California and settling in Solano County, where they lived together until separating in the autumn of 1987. Wife filed for dissolution in November 1987 and the matter came to trial in March 1989. Prior to trial, the parties sold their former Washington residence and equally divided the proceeds.

Citing in In re Marriage of Bankovich (1988) 203 Cal.App.3d 49 [ 249 Cal.Rptr. 713 ], the trial court denied husband’s request for reimbursement of his down payment on the Washington property because the proper ty was…