Case Name: Patricia Morris GOLDEN, Appellant, v. Alton Ray GOLDEN, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1981-03-27
Citations: 395 So. 2d 1255
Docket Number: No. WW-142
Parties: Patricia Morris GOLDEN, Appellant, v. Alton Ray GOLDEN, Appellee.
Judges: McCORD, J., concurs.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 395
Pages: 1255–1256

Head Matter:
Patricia Morris GOLDEN, Appellant, v. Alton Ray GOLDEN, Appellee.
No. WW-142.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.
March 27, 1981.
James M. Barton, II, of Levin, Warfield, Middlebrooks, Mabie & Magie, Pensacola, for appellant.
T. Sol Johnson, of Johnson, Green & Westmoreland, P.A., Milton, for appellee.

Opinion:
SHIVERS, Judge.
Appellant Patricia Morris Golden appeals a final judgment of marriage dissolution, contending, among other things, that the trial court erred in awarding her rehabilitative alimony rather than permanent periodic alimony.
We reverse as to the rehabilitative alimony, but affirm the other points on appeal.
Here, an award of rehabilitative alimony for 12 months, instead of permanent periodic alimony, is an abuse of discretion. Canakaris v. Canakaris, 382 So.2d 1197 (Fla. 1980). The appellant was 16 years of age when the parties were married 23 years ago. She has only a tenth grade education and is in poor physical condition. At the husband's wish and by their agreement she has devoted her married life endeavors to him, their children and their home. Her intervals of employment during the marriage have been limited and family sheltered. The record does not establish the appellant wife's capacity or potential for self-support and the husband has the ability to pay permanent alimony.
We reverse the award of rehabilitative alimony with directions to convert the award of $400 per month rehabilitative alimony to an award of $400 per month permanent periodic alimony.
AFFIRMED in part, REVERSED in part and REMANDED.
McCORD, J., concurs.
JOANOS, J., concurs in part and dissents in part, with written opinion.