Opinion ID: 1806608
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Was the award of child support and alimony palpably wrong or unjust?

Text: The husband contends that the trial judge did not consider his earnings and his ability to earn income when the judge ordered the child support and alimony. The husband's gross annual income is $38,000. [1] His net income per month is $2,097.00. He was ordered to pay $1,408.33 per month in support and alimony. [2] From the balance, the husband must pay for food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and other necessities. The judge also considered the needs of the wife and children. The wife did not work during the 18-year marriage and only recently had been employed. The wife's net income is $151.89 per week. She must make a $327 per month mortgage payment and a $219 per month automobile payment. The record clearly shows that the trial judge considered the earnings of the husband when he awarded child support and alimony. In view of the disparity in the earnings of the parties and the strong presumption in favor of the trial court's judgment in a divorce case, we cannot consider the award of alimony and child support to be palpably wrong or unjust. The trial judge can consider the earning ability of both parties, their probable future prospects for earnings, the duration of the marriage, their ages, health, and station in life, and the conduct of the parties with reference to the cause of the divorce. Farris v. Farris, 532 So.2d 1041 (Ala.Civ.App.1988).