Opinion ID: 1155557
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: support alimony

Text: Wife was awarded $60,000.00 in support alimony to be paid in monthly payments of $1,666.67 for thirty-six months. Wife argues that the amount is insufficient considering the length of the marriage and the income of Husband. The trial court found that the Husband had an earning capacity of $215,000.00 per year and Wife had an earning capacity of $20,000.00. [5] The record reveals that the parties were married May 21, 1971, and that they separated on April 13, 1988. They had two children, a daughter nine years old and a son who was six years old. The parties were married before Husband entered medical school. Wife graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1971, and when the parties were married, Husband was working on a master's degree in chemistry. She went to work as a bookkeeper and later as a secretary during his medical schooling. Husband worked as a chemist during medical school. He applied for a naval scholarship which funded his tuition, books, and living costs. Husband was transferred several times and Wife moved with him. She was employed until the birth of their daughter. After that she stayed home, raising the children and tending household business. After Husband left the Navy he joined TRA. In 1985, Wife was employed part-time, earning $500.00 per month. Her top wage was $18,000.00 a year. She quit her job shortly before the divorce because the funding for her position was being stopped. At the time of trial, Wife was seeing a psychologist for depression and anxiety. This condition was caused not only by the divorce but also because she had a hysterectomy during the separation which weakened her physical condition. The psychologist stated that Wife was not currently able to work full-time or go to school fulltime. Wife testified that she wanted to go back to school for a doctorate in psychology. She estimated that it would take five years and $25,000.00 to attain this goal. The trial court's judgment will not be disturbed on appeal unless, in our opinion, it is against the great weight of the evidence. See Peters v. Peters, 539 P.2d 26, 27 (Okla. 1975); Hink v. Hink, 131 Okl. 164, 268 P. 282, 283 (1928). Because division of property and alimony are actions of equitable cognizance, we review the support alimony award, considering our ruling with regard to the property division. The trial court found that Husband's income was in excess of $215,000.00, while Wife's earning potential is virtually nothing until she is physically recovered and only $20,000.00 thereafter. We must agree with the Wife that the amount awarded is insufficient. Based on the length of the marriage, the needs of Wife for living expenses and education and her current income potential, we find that Wife should be awarded $120,000.00 in support alimony, payable in monthly payments of $2,000.00 for sixty months.