Opinion ID: 1668319
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Did the chancellor make inadequate financial provisions for the appellant?

Text: Appellant first contends that the divorce should be set aside and that she should be awarded separate maintenance. It is, of course, improper to award separate maintenance to a wife whose conduct was a material factor in the separation at least equal to that of the husband. Rodgers v. Rodgers, 349 So.2d 540 (Miss. 1977); Cox v. Cox, 279 So.2d 612 (Miss. 1973). The trial court found from the evidence that appellant's conduct was the sole cause of the separation and thus this contention is without merit. In the alternative, appellant prays for alimony. While the general rule is that alimony will not be awarded to a wife where the divorce is granted to the husband, the trial court is not precluded from awarding alimony to a wife who is at fault. Yelverton v. Yelverton, 200 Miss. 569, 28 So.2d 176 (1946). However, such an award was reversed where the wife was able to earn her own living, had not contributed to the accumulation of her husband's property, and where the husband was not partially at fault. Russell v. Russell, 241 So.2d 366 (Miss. 1970). We think appellant's situation is analogous to that of the wife in Russell on all of these points. Therefore, we opine the chancellor did not err in refusing alimony. Our cases which have reversed denials of alimony where the wife was at fault may be distinguished. Appellee earns a salary of $800 per month and is not a substantial landowner as was the husband in Bond v. Bond, 355 So.2d 672 (Miss. 1978). In Gatlin v. Gatlin, 248 Miss. 868, 161 So.2d 782 (1964), the wife was seriously ill; here the appellant is not. Appellant also contends the award of $250 per month for the support of the parties' younger son is inadequate. Based on the criteria set out in Brabham v. Brabham, 226 Miss. 165, 84 So.2d 147 (1955), we find this contention without merit. Appellee pays approximately $350 per month for apartment rent and utilities. He also must support the parties' older son who lives with him. Appellant has the use of the marital residence until the younger son reaches majority or becomes self-supporting. We find that in light of these facts, the award of $250 per month, almost one-third of appellee's salary, is adequate. We therefore affirm. AFFIRMED. WALKER and BROOM, P.J.J., and ROY NOBLE LEE, BOWLING, HAWKINS, DAN M. LEE, PRATHER and ROBERTSON, JJ., concur.