Opinion ID: 1865880
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Division of Bonus.

Text: The district court awarded Gary the entire bonus paid to him on April 16, 1990, in the approximate amount of $55,000, stating: Most of the earnings received by Gary from his employment are in the form of an annual bonus. Gary is permitted to draw against his anticipated bonus during the course of the year. Most of the bonus, however, is paid in a lump sum. Gary received a lump sum bonus a few days before trial. He will not receive another such bonus until April 1991. The bonus recently received by Gary is being held by him in two bank accounts. It is in the amount of approximately $55,000. That amount does not constitute property accumulated by the parties. It is Gary's current income. It is the majority of the income which Gary will receive this year. It is the majority of the income with which Gary must support himself and pay alimony and child support. It is the majority of the income which forms the basis for the court's determination of Gary's alimony and child support obligations. Since the bonus is Gary's current income, it should be awarded to him. It should not be divided between the parties. We agree that the bonus is not marital property but is part of Gary's income which has already been taken into consideration in setting the alimony and child support amounts.