This Court previously addressed the classification of pension rights as marital property in Cross v. Cross, 178 W. Va. 563, 363 S.E.2d 449 (1987), and observed as follows in syllabus point four: “Although W.Va.Code, 48-2-1 [1984] and W.Va.Code, 48-2-32 [1984] did not specifically mention pension plans as marital property available for equitable distribution, these two Code sections were broad enough to encompass pension plans.” The Court further observed that “[t]here is no fool-proof, scientific method regularly used by courts to divide retirement or pension benefits that have vested but not yet matured.” Id. at 568, 363 S.E.2d at 454. This Court explained as follows in Cross:

        We hesitate to dictate any specific technique for distributing pension benefits at divorce because each pension plan case presents a different set of problems. Nonetheless, courts elsewhere have established some broad guidelines that can assist our trial courts in crafting systems to divide pension rights. Perhaps the cynosure in all the reported cases is the desirability of disentangling parties from one another as quickly and cleanly as possible.

Id. at 568, 363 S.E.2d at 454.

    In syllabus point five of Cross, this Court summarized the method to be employed in dividing pension benefits as follows:

         When a court is required to divide vested pension rights that have not yet matured as an incident to the equitable distribution of marital property at divorce, the court should be guided in the selection of a method of division by the desirability of disentangling parties from one another as quickly and cleanly as possible. Consequently, a court should look to the following methods of dividing pension rights in this descending order of preference unless peculiar facts and circumstances dictate otherwise: (1) lump sum payment through a cash settlement or off-set from other available marital assets; (2) payment over time of the present value of the pension rights at the time of divorce to the non-working spouse; (3) a court order requiring that the non-working spouse share in the benefits on a proportional basis when and if they mature.

    The question presented in case sub judice, with regard to the applicability of a COLA to the valuation process, logically follows as an issue to be addressed within the framework enunciated in Cross. While this Court has not directly addressed the question presented, other jurisdictions analyzing this issue have concluded that the non-pensioner spouse in a divorce proceeding is entitled to share in COLA adjustments in retirement benefits applicable to the percentage of retirement benefits awarded to that spouse in the divorce order. See Neese v. Neese, 669 S.W.2d 388 (Tex. App. 11 Dist. 1984); In re Marriage of Bocanegra, 792 P.2d 1263 (Wash. App. 1990); Thorpe v. Thorpe, 367 N.W.2d 233 (Wis. App. 1985). Such typical conclusion is premised upon the reasoning that such benefits constitute what is essentially passive appreciation of marital property,   (See footnote 3)  not attributable to contributions made by the pensioner spouse subsequent to the divorce. Thus, the ultimate award in a deferred distribution is based upon a percentage of final benefits, rather than upon any calculation of the present value of such benefits at the time of separation. Where the parties are not attempting an immediate division of benefits and plan to divide the benefits at a later date, as in the present case,   (See footnote 4)  this approach is particularly appealing. The well-reasoned authority of other jurisdictions addressing the issue of allocation and valuation of retirement benefits supports the conclusion that recipients of a fixed percentage of pension benefits enjoy post-separation increases in pension benefits since final division is deferred; however, immediate offset recipients do not receive post-separation increases such as cost of living adjustments because they obtain their share of retirement benefits, calculated based upon present value at the time of separation, and the remaining benefits, including any changes therein, remain with the pensioner spouse.

    An excellent example of such reasoning is found in Bender v. Bender, 785 A.2d 197 (Conn. 2001), wherein the court identified three general categories of valuation and distribution of pension benefits: “(1) the present value method, also called the immediate offset method; (2) the present division method of deferred distribution; and (3) the reserved jurisdiction method of deferred distribution.” Id. at 213. The Bender court explained that the present value or immediate offset   (See footnote 5)  approach “'requires the court to determine the present value of the pension benefits, decide the portion to which the nonemployee spouse is entitled, and award other property to the nonemployee spouse as an offset to the pension benefits to which he or she is otherwise entitled.'” Id. at 213, quoting 3 Family Law & Practice, § 36.13[3], p. 36 - 72. Under the present division method of deferred distribution, the court determines “at the time of trial, the percentage share of the pension benefits to which the nonemployee spouse is entitled. . .” and “upon maturity, a fixed percentage of the pension [shall] be distributed to each spouse.” Id. at 215. The Bender court specifically rejected the distribution method that requires a court to hold reserved jurisdiction until the employee's pension rights vest. Id. at 216.

    The Bender court acknowledged that the “significant advantage to the deferred distribution approaches is that, because they delay distribution until the pension benefits have vested and matured, they impose equally on the parties the risk of forfeiture.” Bender, 785 A.2d at 215 (citations omitted).

    The Arkansas court, in Brown v. Brown, 828 S.W.2d 601 (Ark. App. 1992), concluded that recipients of a fixed percentage of pension benefits enjoy post-separation   (See footnote 6)  increases in pension benefits, reasoning as follows: “We find no valid reason for holding that the award of one-half of 90 percent of the gross retirement benefits does not carry with it the same portion of any COLA increases or decreases that occur subsequent to the divorce.” Id. at 602. In that case, the ex-wife was awarded a portion of the ex-husband's military retirement benefits earned during marriage and was entitled to a corresponding percentage share of cost of living adjustments. Id.
    
    In Seifert v. Seifert, 354 S.E.2d 506 (N.C. 1987), the North Carolina Court of Appeals also distinguished between immediate offsets, using present value calculations, and fixed percentage methods of property distribution of pensions. The court concluded that, under the fixed percentage method, “deferral of payment is possible without unfairly reducing the value of the award. The present value of the pension or retirement benefits is not considered in determining the percentage to which the nonemployee spouse is entitled.” 354 S.E.2d at 509. “Moreover, because the nonemployee spouse receives a percentage of the benefits actually paid to the employee spouse, the nonemployee spouse shares in any growth in the benefits.” Id. The percentage to which the nonemployee spouse is entitled is typically set at one half of the coverture fraction.   (See footnote 7)  Where the immediate offset method is utilized, the present value of the pension benefits is calculated, and an immediate payout is required. The Seifert court disapproved a mixing of the present value method with the deferred payment method and concluded that calculating the present value of the retirement benefits but still not distributing them until a later date would result in a double reduction for present value. Id. at 509-10.

    Calculation of present value was also determined to be unnecessary where there is no immediate distribution in Tirmenstein v. Tirmenstein, 539 N.E.2d 990 (Ind. Ct. App. 1989). The court explained as follows:

    Here, the present value is irrelevant. The trial court chose not to give Bette an immediate right to receive some portion of the present value of Robert's pension benefit, either in a lump sum or over a period of years. In other words, the trial court did not divide the present value of Robert's pension. Instead, Bette was given the right to receive a percentage of what Robert receives when he receives it. . . .

539 N.E.2d at 993.

    Similarly, in Risoldi v. Risoldi, 727 A.2d 1038 (N.J. Super. 1999), cert denied, 736 A.2d 528 (N.J. 1999), the New Jersey court recognized the two methods utilized by trial courts in equitably distributing pensions: the deferred distribution method and the present value/immediate offset method. Id. at 1045. “The major drawback of the present-value [immediate distribution] method is the difficulty inherent in fixing a present value for future benefits.” Id. The Risoldi court held that “the present-value offset distribution method is only appropriate when there are sufficient other marital assets against which to offset the non- pensioner's equitable distribution interest in the pension, or sufficient income available to facilitate a reasonable buy-out of the non-pensioner spouse's interest.” Id. at 1046.

    The Risoldi court also discussed a third hybrid method employed in Moore v. Moore, 553 A.2d 20 (N.J. 1989), involving a partial deferred distribution method to be used in “situations in which the future contingent benefit is not very likely to accrue. . . .” Moore, 553 A.2d at 26. The Moore court reasoned as follows:

        The “partial deferred distribution” approach would entail a current valuation award of the appropriate share of the non- contingent portion of the pension and a deferred distribution of the share of the contingent benefits if and when they are paid to the employee spouse. . . . This method of distribution would allow the non-employee spouse immediate enjoyment of part of his or her equitable distribution award and yet effectively protect his or her right to share future contingent benefits.

Id. at 26. The Moore court concluded that “[c]ourts must decide which to use based on sometimes competing considerations: the elimination of strife between the parties, the ease with which the present value of the pension may be ascertained, and the ability of the employee spouse to pay the non-employee spouse the current cash value of the pension.” Id. at 27.   (See footnote 8) 

    Applying the Moore court's reasoning, the Risoldi court concluded that “[a]pplication of the coverture fraction, applied at the time the benefits convert to pay status at retirement, will assure [ex-husband] maintains the fruits of his post-divorce labor.” Risoldi, 727 A.2d at 1049. The court explained its final holding as follows:

        In summary, this case involves a hybrid of the two basic methods of distributing the interest of the non-pensioner spouse, where a portion of that interest is distributed at the time of entry of the divorce judgment and a portion is distributed at the time the pension goes into pay status. We rule that the portion distributed at the time of divorce, through an offset against another asset or through a cash buy-out, must be valued using the present actuarial valuation method, reducing the future value of the pensioner's interest to present-value dollars. The deferred distribution of the remaining portion of the non-pensioner spouse's interest must be valued using a coverture fraction, multiplied by the non-pensioner spouse's percentage interest in the pension, and then multiplied by the amount of the pension benefit. Further, in accordance with the holding in Moore, 114 N.J. at 151, 553 A.2d 20, future post-retirement cost-of-living increases, limited to those attributable to the portion of the pension earned during the marriage, are distributable to the non-pensioner spouse in an amount equal to her percentage share at the time of the deferred distribution.

Id.

    In In re Marriage of Kelm, 912 P.2d 545 (Colo. 1996), the Colorado court explained its reasoning for the distinction between immediate offsets and deferred distribution. Referencing prior precedent established in In re Marriage of Hunt, 909 P.2d 525 (Colo 1995), the Kelm court stated that precedent had “held that if the pension is distributed upon dissolution under the net present value method, post-dissolution enhancements in essence are treated as separate property. This dichotomous treatment serves to compensate the nonemployee spouse for the delayed distribution and also the risks associated with the delay.” Kelm, 912 P.2d at 550. As the Hunt court simply stated, “If the non-employee spouse must bear the risks attendant to waiting, then the nonemployee should share in increased benefits that accrue during the delay.” 909 P.2d at 536.   (See footnote 9)  The Hunt court further reasoned:

    We recognize that in certain cases post-dissolution increases in a pension should be treated as separate property. However, a pension qualifies for separate property treatment of post-dissolution increases only if the trial court can award the pension under the net present value theory at the time of dissolution. If the value of the pension cannot be divided at the time of dissolution but must be divided when it is received or could be received, then post-dissolution increases are marital property . . . .

Id. at 539. Where the present value/immediate offset method is utilized, “the nonemployee spouse exchanges future contingent post-dissolution enhancements for the benefits of immediate distribution. At the same time, the employee spouse reaps the benefit of potential enhancements that occur post-dissolution.” Id.   (See footnote 10)  The court reasoned as follows with regard to utilization of the deferred distribution method:

        If, however, the circumstances do not warrant immediate distribution because there are insufficient assets in the estate to permit offset, or the present value of the future benefit is too difficult to ascertain, the trial court may find it necessary to utilize either the deferred distribution or the reserve jurisdiction method. See, e.g., Gallo, 752 P.2d at 55; In re Marriage of Nelson, 746 P.2d 1346, 1349 (Colo.1987). Use of either of these methods increases the risks to the nonemployee spouse and entails differing levels of continued interaction between the parties and with the court. In consideration of the increased risks and the continued “economic partnership” between the parties under either of the delayed methods of distribution, post-dissolution enhancements always must be treated as marital property if distribution is delayed.

Id. at 540 (footnote omitted).

    Trial courts typically have discretion in choosing the most appropriate methods of distributing the marital portion of pension benefits. In Cohenour v. Cohenour, 696 A.2d 201 (Pa. Super. 1997), the Pennsylvania court recognized that the reviewing courts are charged with the responsibility to “balance the advantages and disadvantages of each distribution method according to the facts of each case, in order to determine which method best effects economic justice between the parties.” 696 A.2d at 205.

    Based upon the foregoing analysis, we conclude that trial courts must be provided with discretion regarding the method of distribution most appropriate in any given set of factual circumstances. Such discretion was acknowledged in Cross and has been consistently granted by other jurisdictions addressing these issues of division of pension benefits. See Bender, 785 A.2d at 216 (“We emphasize that the valuation and distribution methods that we have discussed of which the trial court may avail itself are not exclusive. Beyond the present case, however . . . we do not pass on the validity of any method applied in a given case”). Despite the discretion instilled in trial courts, as necessary to sufficiently address individual factual scenarios, several foundational principles apply to all issues regarding division of pension benefits. First, where retirement benefits are distributed upon dissolution of marriage utilizing the immediate offset/present value method, all post- separation enhancements are classified as separate property. Where retirement benefits are allocated utilizing the deferred distribution method, the non-employee spouse is awarded a fixed percentage of retirement benefits to be distributed when such benefits mature.   (See footnote 11)  To achieve the final division of retirement benefits when utilizing the deferred distribution method, post-separation enhancements are allocated between the employee spouse and the non-employee spouse. The amount of benefits to which the non-employee spouse is entitled is calculated by multiplying the fixed percentage   (See footnote 12)  of retirement benefits by the coverture fraction. The coverture fraction is the ratio of the number of years of employment during the marriage prior to the separation of the parties to the total number of years the employee spouse has been employed under the pension plan being addressed.   (See footnote 13) 

    Thus, in the present case, we conclude that the lower court erred in applying the three percent cost of living adjustment to the parties' retirement accounts in the calculation of the value of those accounts. Upon remand, if the lower court determines that circumstances warrant utilization of the immediate offset/present value method of distribution, such benefit enhancements shall not be included. If, however, circumstances warrant a deferred distribution of the benefits, the cost of living adjustments will be reflected in the ultimate allocation of benefits, utilizing the deferred distribution method explained above.

    This factual scenario is not entirely dissimilar from a situation in which one spouse received a monetary gift, as separate property, and subsequently commingles the funds with other marital property funds. In Mayhew v. Mayhew, 197 W. Va. 290, 475 S.E.2d 382 (1996), the wife asserted that certain shares of stock should be considered marital property because they were “commingled in a single certificate with ten shares which clearly were purchased during marriage with marital funds and which clearly were marital property.” 197 W. Va. at 298-99, 475 S.E.2d 390-91. This Court observed that “[t]he legal argument that such commingled separate shares become marital property is based upon the theory of 'transmutation', addressed by this Court in Miller v. Miller, 189 W. Va. 126, 428 S.E.2d 547 (1993).” Id. at 299, 475 S.E.2d 391. Similarly, the lower court in case sub judice concluded that the Appellee had presented inadequate evidence that any gift from his father retained the character of separate property and was used to purchase separate property in the form of a partnership interest.