FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, M ERCI ER and COLVI N, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

https ://w w w

. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

M ay 28, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 05 6 . PRYCE v . PRYCE.

C O LV I N

, J u d g e.

W e g ran ted M au ri ce Pry ce (“ Hu s b an d ”)’ s ap p l i cat i on fo r d i s cret i o n ary rev i ew

o f fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n al ju d g m en t an d d ecree o f d i v o rce. 1 On ap peal

, he arg u es

t h a t t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y fai l i n g t o in co rp orat e a perm an en t p aren t i n g p l an i n t h e

d i v o rce d ecree t h a t fu l l y co m p l i es w i t h OCGA § 1 9 -9 -1 an d b y fai l i n g t o i n cl u d e

u n i n s u red h eal th care ex p en s es fo r t h e m i n o r ch il d ren i n t h e ch i l d s u p p o rt wo rk s h eet

.

H u s b a n d a l so arg u es th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y req u i ri n g Hu s b an d t o p ay t h e

Gu ard i an ad Li t em fees an d W i f e ’s at t o rn ey fees

, b y o rd eri ng Hu s b an d t o p ay

al i m o n y

, b y award i n g W i fe h al f o f Hu s ban d ’ s ret irem en t p l an

, an d o t herwi s e erri n g

i n i ts al l o cat i o n o f t h e m ari t al p ro ceed s

. Fo r th e fo l l o wi n g reas on s

, we affi rm i n p art

,

1 Ap p el l ee Les i a Pry ce (“ W ife”) d i d n o t fi l e a b ri ef i n t h is co u rt

.b u t we v acat e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d i v o rce d ecree an d i nco rp o rat ed ch i l d s u p p o rt

wo rk s h eet s o t h at i t m ay

fu l l y co m p l y wi t h OCGA § 1 9 -9 -1

.

So v i ewed

, t h e reco rd s h o ws th at i n M ay 20 1 9

, H us b an d fi l ed a co m p l ai n t fo r

d i v o rce ag ai n s t W i fe. Fo l l o wi n g a t em p o rary h eari n g

, t h e tri al co u rt award ed

Hu s ban d p ri m ary p h y s i cal cu s t od y o f th e part i es ’ t w o m i n o r ch i l d ren

, o rd ered t h at t h e

p art i es h av e jo i n t l eg al cu s t o d y

, o rd ered t h at W ife hav e v isit at i o n

, award ed W i fe $ 8 0 0

p er m o n t h i n t e m

p o r a r y p eri o d i c al i m o n y an d $ 2 ,0 0 0 fo r at t o rn ey fees

, b ut d i d n ot

award an y ch i l d s u p p o rt p urs u an t t o a s ti p u la t i o n b y t h e p art i es

. Th e t ri al co u rt

ap p oi n t ed a Gu ard i an ad Li t em (“ GAL”) t o rep res en t t h e b es t i n t eres t s o f t h e ch i l d ren

,

o rd ered Hu s ban d t o p ay

$ 1

, 7 5 0 an d W i fe t o p ay $ 7 5 0 t o t h e GAL.

Fo l l owi n g a fi n al h eari n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt i s s ued a fi n al ju dg m en t an d d ecree o f

d i v o rce. In t h e d ecree, t h e tri al co u rt aw a rd ed p ri m ary p h y si cal cu s t o dy o f t h e

ch i l d ren t o Hu sb an d an d jo i n t l eg al cu st o d y

. Th e d ecree d irect ed th e p art i es t o co n s u l t

wi t h each o t h er o n m ajo r d eci si o n s ab o u t t h e ch i l d ren

, b u t Hu s b an d’ s deci s i o n wo u ld

co n tro l i f t hey co u l d n o t ag ree. It fu rt h er o rd ered t hat t h e part y wi t h p h y s ical cu s t o dy

o f t h e ch i l d ren co u l d m ak e d eci s i o n s reg ard i n g t h e d ay -t o-d ay care o f th at ch i l d,

i n cl u d i n g em erg en cy

d eci s io n s reg ard i ng h eal t h an d s afet y

.

2Th e d ecree ru l ed t h at W i fe co u l d v i s i t wi th t h e ch i l d ren as t h e p art i es m u t u al l y

ag reed an d p ro v i d ed a v i s i t at i o n s ch ed u l e i n t h e ev en t t h at t h e p art ies co u l d n o t ag ree.

Th e d e c r e e al s o ru l ed t h at each p art y s h o u l d h av e free an d op en acces s t o t h e

ch i l d ren ’ s m ed i cal an d acad em i c reco rd s an d t h at t h e s ch oo l s were d i rect ed t o rel eas e

cu s t o d y of t h e ch i ld ren t o ei t h er p a r t y. T h e d ecree d i d n o t p ro vi d e ot her ru l i ng s

reg ard i n g cu s t o d y an d v i s i t at i o n

, an d d i d n o t i n cl u d e o r i n c o rp orat e a s ep arat e

p aren t i n g p l an

.

T h e d i vo rce decree al s o award ed $ 3 9 0 i n m o nt h l y ch il d s u p p o rt t o Hu s b an d

an d $ 1 1 9 0 i n m on th l y al i m o n y t o W ife u n t i l W i fe d i ed o r rem arri ed

, an d d i rect ed t h e

p art i es t o “ n et o u t ” t h ei r res p ect i ve ch i ld su p po rt an d al i m o n y p ay m en t s s o t h a t

Hu s ban d was t o p ay M o th er $ 8 0 0 m o n t h l y wh i l e b o t h ob l i g at io n s l as ted

. Th e d ecree

o rd er fu rt h er award ed o n e

- h a l f o f Hu s ban d’ s ret i rem en t p l an

, wh i ch am o u n t ed to

ap p ro x i m at el y $ 1 3 1 ,0 0 0

, t o W i fe, an d d i rect ed Hu s b an d t o m ai n t ai n heal t h i n s u ran ce

fo r t h e t wo m i n o r ch i ld ren

. It al s o o rd ered Hu s b an d to p ay $ 2,0 0 0 o f W i fe’ s at t o rn ey

fees an d ex p en s es an d t o p ay t he b al an ce o f t h e GAL fees

.

1

. Hu s b an d arg u es t h at t h e t ri al c o u rt erred b y fai l i ng t o in co rp o rat e a

p erm an en t p aren t i n g p l an i n t o t h e fi n al o rd er. W e ag ree.

3OCGA § 1 9-9 -1 (a) s t at es i n p ert i nen t p art “ [t ] h e fi n al o rd er i n an y l eg al act i o n

i n v o l v i n g t h e cu s t o d y o f a ch i ld

, i n cl u d i n g m o d ifi cat i o n act i o n s

, s h a l l i n co rp o rat e a

p e r m a n e n t p aren t i n g p l an as fu rt h er s et fo rt h i n th i s Co d e s ect i o n [.] ” (Em p h as i s

s u p p li ed .) Un d er OCGA § 1 9 -9 -1 ( b ) ( 1 )

, u n l es s o t h erwi s e o rd ered b y th e co u rt

, a

p aren t i n g p l an “ s hal l i n cl u d e” t h e fo l l o wi n g :

(A) A reco gn i t i o n t h at a cl o s e an d co n t in u i n g p aren t -ch i l d rel at i o n s h i p

an d co n t i nu i t y i n t h e ch i l d ’ s li fe wi l l b e i n t he ch i l d ’ s bes t i n teres t ; (B)

A reco g ni t i o n t hat th e ch i l d ’ s n eed s wi l l ch an g e an d g ro w as t h e c h i l d

m at u res an d d em o n s trat e t h at t h e p a r en t s wi l l m ak e an effo rt t o paren t

t h a t t a k es t h is i ss u e i n t o acco u nt s o th at fu tu re m o di fi cat io n s t o th e

p aren t i n g p l a n a r e m i n i m i zed ; (C) A reco g n it i on th at a p aren t w i t h

p h y s i cal cu s t o d y w il l m ak e d ay -t o -d ay d eci si on s an d em erg en cy

d eci si o n s wh il e t h e ch i ld i s res i d in g wi t h s u ch p aren t ; an d (D) Th at b o t h

p aren t s wi l l h av e a c c e s s t o al l o f t h e ch i l d’ s reco rd s an d i n fo rm at i o n

,

i n cl u d i n g

, b ut n ot l i m i t ed t o

, ed u cat i on

, h eal t h

, h eal th i n s u ran ce,

ex t racu rri cu l ar act i v i ti es , an d rel i g i o u s co m m u n i cat i o n s

.

Un d er OCGA § 1 9 -9 -1 (b ) (2 ), u n l es s o t h erwi s e o rd ered by t he co u rt o r ag reed u p o n

b y t h e p art i es

, t h e paren t i n g p l an “ s h al l i n cl u d e, b u t n ot b e l i m i t ed t o ” t h e fo l l o wi n g:

wh en a ch i l d wi l l be in each p aren t ’ s p h y s i cal care, h o w h o l i d ay s an d s ch o o l b reak s

wi l l b e sp en t wi t h each p aren t

, t ran s p o rt at i o n arran g em en ts

, wh et h er s u p erv i s i o n wi l l

b e need ed fo r paren t i n g t i m e, an al l o cat io n o f d eci s i o n -m ak i n g au t h o ri t y an d wh at

,

4i f a n y, l i m i t at i o ns ex i s t wh i l e o n e p aren t h as p h y s i cal cu s to d y i n t erm s o f th e o t h e r

p aren t co n t act i n g t h e ch i l d

.

In th e i n st an t cas e, th e di v o rce d ecree d i d n o t co m p l y wi t h t h e req u irem en t s o f

OCGA § 1 9

– 9 -1 b ecau se i t d i d no t (1 ) i n cl u d e an ex p l i ci t reco g n i t i o n t h at a cl o s e an d

co n ti n u i n g p aren t -ch i l d rel at i o n s h i p an d co n t i n ui t y i n t h e ch i l d ren ’ s l i fe wo u l d b e in

t h ei r b es t i n t eres t

, (2 ) i n cl u d e an ex p l i ci t reco g n i t i o n t h at th e ch i l d ren ’ s n eed s wo u ld

ch an ge an d g ro w as t h ey m at ured

, or (3 ) d em o ns t rat e th at t h e p aren t s wo u l d m ak e an

e f f o r t t o p aren t t h at t o o k th e ch i l d ren ’ s ch an g i n g n eed s in t o acco u n t s o t h at fu t u re

m o di fi cat i o n s to t h e p aren t i ng pl an wo u l d b e m i n i m i zed

. See OCGA § 19 -9 -1 (b ) (1 )

(A), (B). Fu rt h er, wh i l e t h e d ecree p ro vi d ed t h at b o t h p aren t s wo u ld h av e acces s to

t h e ch i l d ren ’ s sch oo l an d h eal t hcare reco rd s

, it d i d n ot p ro v i d e th at t hey wo u l d h av e

acces s “ to al l o f t h e ch i l d [ren ’ s ] reco rd s an d in fo rm at i on , i n cl u d i n g, b u t n o t l i m i t ed

t o

, ed ucat i o n

, h eal t h

, heal t h i n s u ran ce, ex t racu rri cu lar act i v i t ies

, an d rel i g i ou s

co m m u n icat io ns .” See OCGA § 1 9-9 -1 (b ) (1 ) (D). Th e d ecree al so fai l ed t o p ro v i d e

t ran s po rt at i o n arran g em en ts fo r v i s i t at i o n o r s peci fy wh et h er s u perv i s i o n was

req u i red fo r v i s i tat i o n

. OCGA § 1 9 -9 -1 (b ) (2 ) (C), (D). See S el va g e v. Fr an kl i n

, 3 5 0

Ga. A p p. 3 53

, 3 6 0 (4 ) (8 2 9 SE2 d 4 0 2 ) (2 0 1 9) (“ W h il e we ag ree t hat a s ep arat e co u rt

o rd er ex cl u s i v el y d ev o t ed t o a p aren t i n g p l an i s n o t req u i red

, t h e st at u t e cl earl y

5req u i res t h at t h e o rd er i n cl u d e m o re d et ai l s b ey o n d cu s t o d y an d v i s it at i o n ”) (ci t at i o n

an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed ). Acco rd W il l i a ms v. Wi l l i a m s

, 3 0 1 Ga. 2 1 8, 2 24 (3 ) (8 0 0

SE2 d 2 8 2 ) (2 0 17 ). Becau s e t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t i n cl u d e an ad eq u at e paren t i n g p l an

i n i t s d i v o rce d ecree, we v acat e t h e ju d g m en t an d rem an d t h i s cas e fo r co m p l i an ce

wi t h t h e req u i rem en t s o f OCGA § 1 9 -9 -1 . See S el va g e , s u p ra at 3 60 (4 ).

2

. In rel at ed en u m erat i o n s o f erro r, H u s b an d arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred by

fai l i n g to i n cl u d e u ni n s u red heal t h care ex pen s es fo r th e m in o r ch il d ren i n t h e ch i ld

s u p p ort wo rk s h eet i n co rp orat ed i n t o t h e Di v o rce Decree. W e ag ree.

Hu s b an d arg u es th at t h e t ri al co urt erred b y “ i m p ro p erl y ap p ort i o n in g o u t o f

p o ck et m ed i cal ex p en s es s u ch as t herap y s es s i o n ( s ) i n v i o l at i o n o f t h e b es t i n t eres t

o f th e m i n o r ch i l d ren [.] ” Th e t r i a l co u rt ’ s di v o rce d ecree m ak es n o su ch ru l i n g.

Ho wev er, OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (b ) (1 0 ) p ro vi d es t h at “ [t ] h e p aren t s s h a l l al l o cat e t h e

u n i n s u red h eal t h care ex pen s es wh i ch s h al l b e b as ed o n t h e p ro rat a res p o n si b i l i t y o f

t h e p aren t s o r as o t h erwi s e o rd ered b y t h e co u rt

. Each p aren t’ s p ro rat a res p on s i b i l i t y

fo r un i n s u red h eal t h care ex p en s es s ha l l b e en t ered o n t h e ch i l d s u p p o rt wo rk s h eet [.] ”

(Em p h as i s s u p p l i ed ). Becau s e t h e c h i l d s u p p o rt wo rk s h eet fai l s t o al l ocat e s u ch

am ou n t s

, we v acat e t h e t ri al co urt ’ s o rd er an d rem an d fo r th e t ri al co u rt t o m ak e s u ch

a fi n d i ng i n t h e ch i ld s u p p o rt wo rk s h eet

.

63

. Hu s b an d arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er erred b y ack n owl ed g i n g o n l y t wo

o f t h e th ree ch i l d ren b o r n d u r i n g t h e m arri ag e. Ho wev er, b ecau s e Hu sb an d fai l s to

p ro v id e an y

ci t at io n t o t h e reco rd o r ci tat i on o f au th o ri t y i n s u p po rt o f t h i s cl ai m

, i t

h as been d eem ed ab an do n ed

. See Co u rt o f A p p eal s Ru l e 2 5 (c) (2 ). Fu rt h er, t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s o rd er n o tes t h at th ere are t wo mi n o r ch i l d ren b o rn as i s s u e o f th ei r m arri ag e.

Th ei r t h i rd an d o l des t ch i ld was n ot a m i no r as o f t h e d at e o f t h e d i v orce.

4

. Hu s b an d arg ues t h at th e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s c r e tion b y o rd eri n g Hu s b an d

t o p ay al l o f W i fe’ s at t o rn ey fees an d ex p en s es

, i n c l u d i n g GAL fees

. W e fi n d n o

erro r.

Hu s b an d arg u es t h at th e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er req u iri n g h i m to p ay W i fe’ s $ 2 ,0 0 0

at t o rn ey fees was ex ces s i v e i n l i g ht o f h i s ot h er fi nan ci al o b l i g at i o n s

. He al s o arg u es

t h at , i n t h e o rd er ap p o i n ti ng t h e GAL, t h e t ri al co u rt n o t ed t h at “ [a] t t h e co n cl u s i o n

o f t h is cas e, t h i s Co u rt s h al l al l o cat e t he res po n s i b i li t y fo r p ay i n g t h e b al an ce o f t h e

GAL’ s fee eq u i t ab l y am o n g t h e p art i es [,] ” bu t t h at th e fi n al d i v o rce d ecree o rd ered

Hu s ban d res p o n s i b l e fo r th e b al an ce o f t he fees . Ho wev er, b ecau s e th e t ri al co urt ’ s

d i v o rce d ecree i n d i cat es t h at Hu s ban d m ak es m o re t h an t wi ce W i fe’ s sal ary

, t h ere i s

n o in d i c a t i o n t h a t t hi s was n o t an eq u i tab l e d i v i s i o n o f as set s

. See OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3

(g ) (a t ri al co u rt “ m ay o rd er reas o n ab l e at t o rn ey ’ s f e es an d ex p en s es o f l i t i g at i o n,

7ex p ert s

, an d t h e ch i l d ’ s g u ard i an ad l i tem an d o t her co s t s o f t h e ch i ld cu s t o d y act i o n

. . . t o b e p ai d b y th e p art i es i n p ro p o rt io n s an d at t i m es det erm in ed b y t he j u d g e ” );

OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2 (a) (1 ) (“ Th e g ran t o f at t orn ey ’ s fees a s a p art of t h e ex p en s es o f

l i ti g at i o n

. . . s h al l b e

. . . [w] i t h i n t h e s o u n d d i scret i o n o f t h e c o u r t

, e x c e p t t h at t h e

co u rt sh al l co ns i der t h e fi n an ci a l ci rcu m s tan ces o f b o t h p art i es as a p art o f i t s

d et erm i n at i o n o f th e am o u n t o f at t o rn ey ’s f e e s

, i f an y

, t o b e al l o w ed ag ai n s t ei t h er

p art y ”). A rev iew o f t he reco rd s h o ws t h at t h e tri al co u r t c o n s i d ered t h e rel at i v e

fi n a n c e s o f each part y

, an d Hu s b an d “ s i m pl y q u i b bl es w i t h th e t ri al co urt ’ s

co n cl u s i o n

. Th i s d o es n o t p r o v i d e a b as i s fo r rev ers al .” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) Rei d v.

Rei d , 3 48 Ga. Ap p . 5 5 0, 5 5 3 (1 ) (8 2 3 SE2 d 8 6 0 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

5

. In rel at ed en u m erat i o n s o f erro r, Hu sb an d arg ues t hat t he tri al co u rt ab u s ed

i t s d i s cret i o n b y o rd eri n g perm an en t al i m o n y t o W i fe u n t i l sh e d i es o r rem arri es an d

t h a t t h e t r i a l co u rt ’ s d i v is i o n o f t h e m ari t al es t at e was n ot i n t h e b es t i n teres t o f t h e

ch i l d ren . W e fi n d n o erro r.

Th e di v o rce decree o rd ered Hu s b an d t o p ay $ 1 19 0 a m on t h t o W i fe in al i m o ny

u n t il su ch t i m e t h at s h e rem arri es o r d i es

. It fu rt h er o rd ered th at W i fe w as t o p a y

Hu s ban d $ 39 0 a m o n t h fo r ch i l d s u p p o rt

, an d t h at t h e p art i es w ere t o “ n et o ut ” t h es e

res p ect i ve p ay m en t s s o t h at H u s b an d m u s t p ay $ 80 0 p er m o n th t o W i fe. Hu s b an d

8a r g u e s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab us ed i ts d i s cret i o n i n award i n g t h i s am o u n t of p er i o d i c

al i m o n y b ecau se it w o ul d n o t l eav e h i m wi t h ad eq u at e d is cret i o nary in co m e t o t ak e

care o f t h e ch i l d ren i n h is cu s t o d y

.

Al i m o n y i s d efi n ed i n OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 (a) as “ an al l o wan ce o u t o f o ne

p art y ’ s es t at e, m ad e fo r t h e s u p p o r t o f th e o t h er p art y wh en l i v i n g

s e p arat el y .” Su bs ect i o n (c) g o es o n t o p ro v i d e t h at “ al im o n y i s

au t h ori zed

, b u t n o t req u i red

, t o b e award ed t o ei t h er p art y i n acco rd an ce

wi t h t h e n eed s o f t h e p art y an d t he ab i l i t y o f t h e o t h er p art y to p ay .” In

ad d i ti o n

, OCGA § 1 9 -6 -5 (a) s et s o u t f a c t o rs t o b e co n si dered i n

d et erm i ni n g th e ap p r opr i a t e am o u n t o f al i m o ny t o b e award ed

, i n cl u d i n g

t h e p art ies ’ s t an d ard o f l i v i n g

, t h e d u rat i o n o f t h e m arri ag e, t h e ag e an d

co n d i t i o n o f t h e p art i es

, t h ei r fi n an ci al res o u rces

, t h e t i m e an d t rai n i n g

n eces s ary fo r ei th er p art y t o acq ui re em p l o y m e n t s k i l l s, an d th e

co n t ri b u t i o n s o f each p art y t o t h e m arri ag e.

(Ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed .) H

a m mo n d v. Ha mmo nd

, 2 9 0 Ga. 5 1 8

, 5 19 -5 2 0 (1 ) (7 2 2 SE2 d

7 2 9 ) (2 0 12 ). In m ak i n g i t s al i m o n y award

, t h e t ri al co u rt co n s i d ered t h at th e co u p l e

h ad been m arri ed s i n ce 1 9 96

, t h at W i fe h ad been a s t ay -at -h o m e m o m fo r t h ei r t h ree

ch i l d ren un t i l 2 0 0 8

, t hat W i fe d i d n o t h av e h er o wn ret i rem en t acco u n t

, an d th e v al u e

o f Hu sb an d ’ s ret i rem en t acco u n t . Th e t ri al co u rt

al s o co ns i d ered t h a t t h e p a rt i es h ad d i sp arat e i n co m es : W i fe h ad a m o n t h l y g ro ss

i n co m e o f $ 2 ,0 8 0 an d Hu s ban d h ad a m o nt h ly g ro s s i n co m e o f $ 7

, 0 8 5

. “ Bas ed o n

9t h es e co ns id erat i o n s, an d t h e wi d e l at i t u d e g i v en t h e tri al co u rt i n fi x i n g t h e am o u nt

o f al i m o n y

, it can n o t b e sai d th at t h e t ri al co urt ab u s ed i s d is cret i o n ” i n i ts award o f

al i m o n y

. Ha mmo n d , 2 9 0 Ga. at 5 2 0 (1 ).

6

. In rel at ed en u m erat i o n s o f erro r, H u s b an d arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred by

m ak i n g h i m s o l el y res p o ns i bl e fo r m ai n t ai n i n g h eal t h i n s u ran ce o n t h e t h ree ch i l d ren

.

Th e d i v o rce decree no tes t h at i t o n l y ad d res s es th e cu s t o d y a n d ex pen s es o f

Hu s ban d an d W i fe’ s t wo m i no r ch i l d ren an d n ot th ei r fi rs t ch i ld

, wh o h ad reach ed t h e

ag e o f m ajo ri t y as o f t h e t i m e o f th e d i v o r c e p r o c e e d i n g s

. It fu rt her req u i red t h at

Hu s ban d “ s h al l m ai n t ai n h eal t h i n s uran ce fo r t h e Ch i l d ren .”

OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (b ) (7 ) p ro v i d e s t h at “ t he d et erm i n at i o n o f m o n t h l y ch i ld

s u p p ort s h al l b e cal cu l at ed as fo l l o w s :

. . . Det erm i n e t h e am o u n t o f ch i l d s u p p o rt fo r

t h e cu s to d i al p aren t an d t h e n on cu s t o d i al p aren t b y as s i g n i n g o r d ed u ct i n g cred i t fo r

act u al p ay m en t s fo r h eal t h i n s u ran ce . . . fro m t h e b as ic ch i l d s up p ort o b li g at i o n [.] ”

Hu s ban d arg ues t h at t h e Ch i l d Su p p o rt W ork s h eet s h o ws t h a t t h e ad ju s t m en t fo r

W i fe’ s p ort i on was $ 2 3.3 8 an d acco u n t s fo r t wo of th e p art i es ’ t h ree ch il d ren

, b u t t h at

ad ju s t m en t fo r Hu s b an d ’ s p o rt i o n was $ 79 .6 2 an d acco u n t s fo r al l t hree ch i l d ren

. It

i s cl ear fro m t h e d ecree, h o w e v e r

, t h a t t h e t ri al co urt i nt en d ed Hu s b an d t o b e

10fi nan ci al l y res p on s i b le fo r t h e h e a l t h i ns u ran ce o f t h e m i n o r ch i l d ren

, an d n o t t h e

ad u lt ch i l d

. Becau se Hu s b an d pro v id es n o ci t at i o n t o th e reco rd fo r h is as s ert i o n t h at

h i s h e a l t h i ns u ran ce cred i t p ay s fo r al l t h ree ch i l d ren

, t h is arg u m en t can n o t b e

co n si d ered . See Co urt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 2 5 (c) (2 ).

7 . Hu s b an d arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i scret i o n b y award i n g W i fe

o n e-h al f o f h i s ret i rem en t p l an

. W e fi n d n o erro r.

Eq u i t ab l e p ro p ert y d i v i s i o n i s d i st i nct l y d i fferen t fro m al i m o ny

.

Al i m o n y i s an al l o wan ce o u t o f o n e p art y ’ s es t at e, m ad e fo r t h e s up p o rt

o f t h e o t h er p art y w h en l i v in g s ep arat el y

. . . . Eq ui t ab le d i v i s i o n o f

p ro p ert y

, o n th e o t h er h an d

, i s an al l o cat i o n o f as s et s acq u ired d u ri n g th e

m arri ag e to t h e part i es

, b as ed o n t h ei r res p ect i v e eq u it ab le i n t eres t s i n

t h o s e as s et s. On l y m ari t al p r o p e r t y i s s u b ject t o eq u it ab l e d i v i s i o n

.

M ari t al p ro p ert y i s t h at wh i ch i s acq u i red as a d i rect res u l t o f t h e l ab o r

an d i n ves t m en t s o f th e p art i es d u ri n g t h e m arri ag e. T h u s

, ret i rem en t

b en efi t s

, i n so far as t hey are acq u i red d u ri ng t h e m arri ag e, are m ari t al

p ro p ert y s u b ject t o eq u i t ab l e d i v i s i o n

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Hi p p s v. H i pp s

, 2 7 8 G a. 4 9, 4 9 -5 0 (1 ) (5 9 7 SE2 d

3 5 9 ) (2 0 0 4 ). Here, H u s b a n d m a k es n o arg u m en t t hat t h e fu n d s in h i s ret i rem en t

acco u n t were acq u i red p ri o r t o 19 9 6

, wh en t h ey w ere m arri ed

. Acco rd in g l y

, Hu s b an d

h as no t s h o wn th at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i ts d i s cret i o n i n i t s eq u i t ab l e d is t ri b u t i o n o f

t h e ret irem en t s fu n d s

.

11Ju d

g men t a ff i r med i n p a r t a n d va ca t ed in p ar t

, ca s e r ema n d

ed wi th d i r ect i o n.

Di l l a r d , P. J., a nd

Mer ci er

, J., co n cu r

.

12