District Court limits repayment of $600 rent transfer to one paycheck

The District Court ordered Evan Calder to turn over the paycheck he received after a $600 rent transfer from Nina Calder, limiting repayment to that paycheck rather than ordering the full amount she sought. Presiding Judge Ray signed the judgment on October 30, 2026.

The separated parties disagreed over whether the money was a loan due after Evan’s next paycheck or rent support he would repay only if he could afford to.

The judgment said the court took account of a verbal agreement between Nina and Evan. It also said Evan’s text messages to Nina had not been verified by her side.

On that basis, the court limited repayment to the paycheck Evan had promised Nina when they made the transfer. If the paycheck did not cover the full $600, the judgment said, the court could not order payment of the difference.

Evan testified that he had received a paycheck after the transfer, but did not have it or its amount available in court. He said he could not say whether it would have covered the full $600.

Nina said Evan agreed to repay her after his next paycheck. She described the transfer note, “rent help,” as identifying the payment’s purpose rather than making it a gift.

Evan said Nina offered the money as rent support, not an unconditional loan. He acknowledged discussing repayment and sending a later text, but said both were conditional on his ability to pay.

Nina said she had not checked the full text conversation and could not say what it would show. Evan said he had not reviewed or prepared an exact copy of the exchange and could not verify its dates.

The parties were separated in Portland when the $600 was transferred for rent. Nina told the court that the transfer receipt showed the payment and the words “rent help.”

The judgment does not state the paycheck’s amount or determine how much Nina will ultimately receive. It orders Evan to turn over that paycheck, but does not order payment of any shortfall.