Opinion ID: 1114554
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: did the court err in the amount of lump sum alimony awarded?

Text: It is hornbook law that whether to award alimony and the amount to be awarded are largely within the discretion of the chancellor. Cherry v. Cherry, 593 So.2d 13, 19 (Miss. 1991). We will not disturb the chancellor's decision on alimony on appeal unless it is found to be against the overwhelming weight of the evidence or manifestly in error. McNally v. McNally, 516 So.2d 499, 501 (Miss. 1987). In Cheatham v. Cheatham, 537 So.2d 435, 438 (Miss. 1988), the following factors were considered in awarding lump sum alimony: 1) substantial contribution to accumulation of wealth by quitting job to become housewife or assisting in husband's business; 2) long marriage; 3) separate income or separate estate meager in comparison to that of payor spouse; and 4) financial security without lump sum alimony. Most important is a comparison of the estates. Subsequent to the decision in Cheatham, this Court has consistently employed these four factors when reviewing lump sum alimony. Tilley v. Tilley, 610 So.2d 348, 352 (Miss. 1992); Smith v. Smith, 607 So.2d 122, 126 (Miss. 1992); Cleveland v. Cleveland, 600 So.2d 193, 197 (Miss. 1992). Disparity of the separate estates has continued to be the most compelling factor. Tilley, 610 So.2d at 352. Edward contends that Teresa is entitled to no lump sum alimony because his assets were not accumulated through the parties' joint efforts, but were inherited from his family. The source of one party's ownership of assets has never been a factor in the determination of a lump sum alimony award. Bland v. Bland, 629 So.2d 582, 587 (Miss. 1993); Pratt v. Pratt, 623 So.2d 258, 262 (Miss. 1993); Tilley, 610 So.2d at 352; Smith v. Smith, 607 So.2d 122, 126 (Miss. 1992). See also, Hemsley, 639 So.2d at 921 (Miss. 1994) (Hawkins, C.J., dissenting). Teresa does not dispute the chancellor's finding that she did not substantially contribute to Edward's accumulation of wealth. Then again, neither did Edward contribute to his wealth. Teresa's wages during the first five years of marriage did, however, help to conserve Edward's estate and Teresa did quit her job to become a housewife after she and Edward mutually decided that she should stay home with their daughter. Teresa worked for the majority of the time of the marriage and Edward did not. Had he worked during the marriage to increase his assets, Teresa would clearly be entitled to lump sum alimony. To preclude an award of lump sum alimony because a husband did not work during the marriage would be to punish a wife for being a dutiful wife and mother while at the same time rewarding a husband for his idleness. Moreover, this is but one factor to consider in awarding lump sum alimony. The duration of seven years is long enough to qualify for an award of lump sum alimony, which Edward himself admits. Teresa's separate income and estate are meager in comparison to Edward's and, most importantly, Teresa will enjoy no financial security without lump sum alimony. The chancellor was clearly correct in his award of lump sum alimony. The amount of the lump sum alimony award is the issue now before the court. Discussing the appropriateness of an amount of lump sum alimony, we said in Gray v. Gray, 562 So.2d 79, 83 (Miss. 1990): [a]limony, if allowed, should be reasonable in amount, commensurate with the wife's accustomed standard of living, minus her own resources, and considering the ability of the husband to pay. Teresa is accustomed to a modest but comfortable standard of living and she is limited in the resources she can contribute to that end. Teresa's financial situation is troubling and the concern is compounded by the fact that she has permanent custody of the parties' minor child, which both she and Edward agree is in the child's best interests. Edward is uninsurable, so the chancellor could not order him to obtain a life insurance policy on his own life for Gentry Shannon's benefit; any child support payments for Gentry Shannon will terminate at Edward's death. At present, however, Edward has the ability to pay a reasonable amount in order to secure Teresa's and Gentry Shannon's financial future. Twelve thousand dollars ($12,000.00), or $24,000.00, when both alimony awards are considered in combination, is a meager amount of lump sum alimony, given the parties' respective financial situations, and is grossly inadequate so as to reveal an abuse of discretion. This issue is reversed and remanded to the chancery court for a proper determination of the amount of lump sum alimony.