Court Opinion

ID: 9703721
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 00:06:02.550186+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:21:51.445350
License: Public Domain

M. Warshawsky, J.
(dissenting). I respectfully dissent. I cannot say that the trial court erred in ruling that defendant’s cohabitation with a man, which began after entry of the divorce judgment, was a sufficient ground for modifying the alimony provision. In Crouse v Crouse, 140 Mich App 234; 363 NW2d 461 (1985), the Court noted that continued cohabitation may constitute a sufficient change in circumstances to warrant modification of alimony, but found that modification in that case was not warranted because the wife’s cohabitation with another man existed and was well known by the husband at the time he agreed to pay alimony.
In Kersten v Kersten, 141 Mich App 182; 366 NW2d 92 (1985), the Court held that cohabitation is not a sufficient basis in and of itself to modify an alimony award, but remanded the case for a determination of whether the cohabitation amounted to a change in circumstances warranting modification.
The arrangement of defendant’s cohabiting with a man materially and specifically affects her need for alimony, and I would hold that it is a sufficient reason for modifying the alimony award. At the very least, I would remand this case for an evidentiary hearing to determine whether a sufficient change in circumstances has occurred which would warrant modification of the judgment.