Opinion ID: 2266260
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Wife's Petition Family Court's Modification

Text: In 1993, the Wife filed a petition for modification of alimony. She alleged that there had been a substantial change in circumstances to justify an increase in alimony. [4] On February 8, 1994, at a hearing on the Wife's alimony modification petition, the Family Court granted the Husband's motion to dismiss in a bench ruling. The Wife was not represented by counsel at the hearing. The Family Court subsequently vacated its bench ruling and appointed counsel to represent the Wife. The parties briefed the issue of whether the Family Court had discretion to modify an alimony award which was based on an agreement of the parties and had been incorporated into a court order. The Family Court concluded that the Separation Agreement had merged with the final divorce decree and had become an order of the court, ceasing to be an independent contract. Therefore, the Family Court held that it had the discretion to modify the alimony award, and denied the Husband's motion to dismiss. See 13 Del.C. § 1519. The Family Court subsequently determined that the Wife had shown a substantial change in circumstances. It ordered an increase in the Husband's alimony obligation from $130 per week to $240 per week. [5] The Husband filed this appeal.