Court Opinion

ID: 9513774
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-06 22:40:27.367165+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:06:01.994890
License: Public Domain

SANDSTROM, Justice,
concurring and dissenting.
[¶ 23] I agree with many things written by the majority, but I disagree with its analysis that permanent spousal support might be appropriate when only rehabilitative spousal support had been requested.
[¶ 24] Spousal support is appropriate when a party has been disadvantaged as a result of the marriage. Weigel v. Weigel, 2000 ND 16, ¶¶ 11-14, 604 N.W.2d 462; Brown v. Brown, 1999 ND 199, ¶ 32, 600 N.W.2d 869 (quoting Riehl v. Riehl, 1999 ND 107, ¶ 9, 595 N.W.2d 10) (“A ‘disadvantaged’ spouse is one who has ‘foregone opportunities or lost advantages as a consequence of the marriage and who has contributed during the marriage to the supporting spouse’s increased earning capacity.’ ”).
[¶ 25] In the case of long-term marriages, permanent spousal support may be appropriate, but it should not be the norm when rehabilitative support can overcome the disadvantage resulting from the marriage. In view of this Court’s longstanding position that rehabilitative, not permanent, spousal support is preferred, see, e.g., van Oosting v. van Oosting, 521 N.W.2d 93, 100 (N.D.1994); Welder v. Welder, 520 N.W.2d 813, 818 (N.D.1994); Wiege v. Wiege, 518 N.W.2d 708, 711 (N.D.1994); Roen v. Roen, 438 N.W.2d 170, 172 (N.D.1989), I would conclude that permanent spousal support is inappropriate when only rehabilitative spousal support has been requested.
[¶ 26] DALE V. SANDSTROM