Opinion ID: 1947487
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: did the chancellor err in denying alimony and granting only $600 per month child support?

Text: In view of the fact that the children's paternal grandfather has generously provided for their college education by setting aside in a trust fund 1/3rd of his estate (approximately $73,000), and in view of the fact that under the terms of their grandmother's will each will receive 10% of her estate (which was valued at $465,000), this Court is of the opinion that the award of $600 per month child support is adequate at this time to cover the cost of their support and maintenance. We are of the opinion, however, that the chancellor erred in not awarding any alimony to the appellant. Appellant and appellee were married in 1963, while he was attending law school. Appellant quit school to work, so that appellee could finish law school. In addition to very substantial inheritances from his parents, the appellee was devised his parents' home in Mendenhall, with all of its furnishings, debt-free. It is only fair that the appellant and their two teen-age children who live with her should also have a home debt-free, and yet the home in Collins has a $9800 mortgage against it, with monthly installments of $120 which appellant has to pay. We are of the opinion that the appellant should have been awarded $10,000 lump sum alimony, which could be used at her option to pay off the mortgage on the home. The appellant having moved for an allowance of an attorney's fee for services in this Court, in line with our usual custom of allowing 1/2 of the fee allowed in the lower court, we allow a $750 attorney's fee for services rendered in this Court. The decree is affirmed in all respects, except in the denial of alimony. The decree is reversed in that respect and $10,000 lump sum alimony is awarded to appellant. $750 attorney's fee is allowed for services of her attorney in this Court. AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART, AND RENDERED. PATTERSON, C.J., SMITH, P.J., and SUGG, WALKER, BROOM, LEE, BOWLING and COFER, JJ., concur.