Opinion ID: 1652271
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: the chancery court's award of lump sum alimony, periodic alimony and other support in the aggregate was so excessive as to constitute an abuse of discretion.

Text: ¶ 10. Jackie contends that the chancellor abused his discretion in awarding Nancy lump sum alimony and Cobra insurance payments. He maintains that the court-ordered payments result in his monthly expenses exceeding his income. Jackie also alleges that the trial court used the award of alimony as punishment, contrary to Mississippi law. ¶ 11. In reviewing the propriety of a chancellor's award of lump sum and/or periodic alimony, this Court has set out the following factors for consideration: (1) the existence of substantial contributions to the accumulation of wealth of the payor either by quitting a job to become a housewife or by assisting in the payor's business, (2) the length of the marriage, (3) the lack of separate income or the existence of comparatively meager income for the recipient, and, (4) lack of financial security in the absence of an award. Crowe v. Crowe, 641 So.2d 1100, 1103 (Miss. 1994). Disparity of the separate estates has continued to be the most compelling factor. Sarver v. Sarver, 687 So.2d 749, 757 (Miss. 1997). Costs associated with starting a new life after the divorce may be considered in an award of lump sum alimony. Id. [T]he equitable division of property, awards of alimony, whether lump-sum or periodic, and all other obligations imposed upon a payor spouse should all be considered together by the chancellor. Brooks v. Brooks, 652 So.2d 1113, 1121 (Miss.1995). ¶ 12. Jackie's take home pay after expenses was $759 before the divorce decree when he was making $470 temporary support payments to Nancy. Chancellor Teel ordered Jackie to pay Nancy $350 per month in child support, $250 per month for lump sum alimony for forty months, $250 per month in periodic alimony, and to keep up her Cobra payments for as long as possible. The parties agree in their briefs that Jackie's total monthly payments to Nancy amount to $975. The court-ordered payments leave Jackie with approximately $254 per month after all expenses. Jackie's assertion that Judge Teel's order requires him to make payments in excess of his monthly income is simply not supported by the record. ¶ 13. Nancy was making approximately $520 per month with $2,438 in monthly expenses. Adding the total support payments to Nancy's monthly income, she will still be left with a monthly deficit of $943, and will presumably need to seek other, more lucrative employment. Jackie's portrayal of Nancy's financial status in his brief is simply false. Each party was awarded the personal property in their possession, including the cars. Both the house and the adjacent lot are to be sold to satisfy their debts. Unfortunately, there isn't enough money to go around in this case, as evidenced by the parties' filing for bankruptcy on June 6, 1996. However, considering the factors set out above, we find that the chancellor's award of periodic and lump sum alimony in this case was necessary for Nancy to establish financial security for herself and Ashley.