Opinion ID: 1205111
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: s. 20-2-116

Text: Finally, appellant contends that the district court erred by refusing to invoke jurisdiction under W.S. 20-2-116 to modify the 1978 divorce decree's alimony provision so as to include the Air Force retirement benefits. Generally, a district court has continuing jurisdiction to modify a divorce decree's alimony award. Wyoming Statute 20-2-116 (1977) provides: After a decree for alimony or other allowance for a party    the court may from time to time, on the petition of either of the parties, revise and alter the decree respecting the amount of the alimony or allowance or the payment thereof   . See also Dorr v. Newman, 785 P.2d 1172, 1178 (Wyo.1990). Appellant argues that the court's jurisdiction to modify an alimony award continues beyond the duration of the time alimony is to be paid as provided in the original decree. We have not specifically addressed this issue but note that the weight of authority is contrary to appellant's position. These courts hold that the court's jurisdiction to modify alimony payments ends when the alimony award terminates, unless otherwise directed by the initial decree. Brown v. Brown, 8 Wash.App. 528, 507 P.2d 157 (1973); Mercer v. Mercer, 102 Idaho 816, 641 P.2d 1003 (1982); Russell G. Donaldson, Annotation, Power to Modify Spousal Support Award for a Limited Term, Issued in Conjunction with Divorce, so as to Extend the Term or make the Award Permanent, 62 A.L.R.4th 180 §§ 11, 15 (1988). In Mercer, a divorce decree provided alimony payments to one spouse for a limited time period. All the payments were timely paid as required. After the payments had been completed, the payee spouse moved the court for modification of the completed alimony award. The district court denied the wife's motion, and the Idaho Supreme Court affirmed, stating: A trial court ordinarily, and absent conditions not alleged here, is without power to modify an alimony award beyond the duration of the time fixed by the original decree for payment of alimony, provided that those payments have been made and there has been no appeal from the final decree which declared the obligation, and fixed its limited duration. Id. 641 P.2d at 1005. We adopt the view that a district court may not modify, under W.S. 20-2-116 (1977), a durational award of alimony after full payment is completed unless the divorce decree specifies otherwise. Were we to hold otherwise, the finality of divorce would be illusory.