Opinion ID: 1707999
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the chancellor erred by awarding periodic alimony to the appellee.

Text: ¶ 15. Next, James contends that by awarding Shirley $300 per month in periodic alimony, ordering James to pay the note on the marital home, and by ordering him to pay $600 per month child support the court completely disregarded the factors set forth by this Court in Brabham v. Brabham, 226 Miss. 165, 176, 84 So.2d 147, 153 (1955). James argues that in Brabham, this Court adjured chancellors to consider nine separate factors in awarding periodic alimony, including the earning capacity of each party, the income of each party, the necessary living expenses of the husband and the fact that the wife has free use of the home, furnishings and automobile. Brabham, 226 Miss. at 176, 84 So.2d at 152. James contends that clearly the court below failed to consider these factors, given that, taken together with child support, the judgment required him to pay Shirley substantially more than his total income and made no allowance for his own needs. ¶ 16. Shirley argues that James overlooks the fact that the Brabham factors were expanded in Hammonds v. Hammonds, 597 So.2d 653, 655 (Miss.1992). Shirley contends that there are several factors that clearly favor an award of substantial periodic alimony. For example, the financial information concerning James' income shows that he makes or is capable of making more than twice as much as she makes. Shirley contends that James is in good health and has been living since the separation in a jointly owned rental unit without paying the cost of rent. Further, James gave his brother-in-law $32,000 from the joint savings of the parties just four days prior to the filing of the divorce. Additionally James loaned his brother-in-law another $19,843.33 while litigation was pending. ¶ 17. Finally, Shirley contends that under these circumstances it is difficult to lend credence to James' argument that he should not have been required to pay permanent periodic alimony to his wife and that it cannot be plausibly argued that the Judge committed manifest error and an abuse of discretion in awarding the nominal sum of $300 per month. ¶ 18. Whether to award alimony and the amount of alimony are largely within the discretion of the chancellor. Parsons v. Parsons, 678 So.2d 701, 703 (Miss.1996); Creekmore v. Creekmore, 651 So.2d 513, 517 (Miss.1995); Cherry v. Cherry, 593 So.2d 13, 19 (Miss.1991). We will not disturb the award on appeal unless it is found to be against the overwhelming weight of the evidence or manifestly in error. Parsons, 678 So.2d at 703. ¶ 19. The following factors are to be considered by the chancellor in arriving at findings and entering judgment for alimony: (1) the income and expenses of the parties; (2) the health and earning capacities of the parties; (3) the needs of each party; (4) the obligations and assets of each party; (5) the length of the marriage; (6) the presence or absence of minor children in the home, which may require that one or both of the parties either pay, or personally provide, child care; (7) the age of the parties; (8) the standard of living of the parties, both during the marriage and at the time of the support determination; (9) the tax consequences of the spousal support order; (10) fault or misconduct; (11) wasteful dissipation of assets by either party; or (12) any other factor deemed by the court to be just and equitable in connection with the setting of spousal support. Armstrong v. Armstrong, 618 So.2d 1278, 1280 (Miss.1993); Hammonds, 597 So.2d at 655. ¶ 20. In the case sub judice, the chancellor awarded Shirley $300 per month in permanent periodic alimony. During the hearing on his reconsideration motion, James testified that he loaned the $20,000 CD to his brother-in-law, Mr. Woulard, and as of the date of the hearing, he has only received in repayment $7,000 or $8,000. However, this was not used to catch up his arrearage. There is questionable conduct on the part of James in how he calculated his income and further, the money he gave his brother-in-law. James appeared to have enough funds to purchase a new truck during litigation and also loan money. From the record, it appears that the chancellor applied the factors set out in Armstrong in awarding periodic alimony. However, given the questionable conduct of James and the calculation of his income and the loaning of money during litigation, this case should be remanded on this issue in order to fully develop James's income to provide support for the amount awarded.