Court Opinion

ID: 9732492
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 16:23:18.671572+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:28.440632
License: Public Domain

CIRILLO, Judge,
concurring and dissenting:
I agree with the majority that the order of the hearing court, denying alimony, should be reversed. I disagree, though, with the conclusion that we should adopt the recommendation of the Master. Instead, an evidentiary hearing is required to determine if the appellant is able to support herself through appropriate employment.
The majority concludes that the appellant’s age, lack of education and lack of work experience would “likely” pre*342vent her from obtaining gainful employment. However, there is nothing in the record indicating that the appellant made any attempt to seek employment or further education or training for employment. Clearly, the appellant is obligated to make reasonable efforts to support herself through profitable employment. See: Act of April 2, 1980, P.L. 63, No. 26, § 501, 23 P.S. § 501(a)(2).
Moreover, I cannot conclude as a matter of public policy that the appellant was justified in not seeking to procure some form of employment under the circumstances. The appellant received some property from equitable distribution, she lives rent-free with her brother, she possesses some personal property, she lives near other family members in Washington, and her decision to remove herself from the job market was voluntarily made. Additionally, for approximately ten years, the appellee paid the appellant $45.00 a week in support.
The appellant’s decision to care for her blind, aged mother was indeed commendable. However, in noting that one of the expressed intentions of the legislature in promulgating the Divorce Code is to “effect economic justice between parties who are divorced”, Act of April 2, 1980, P.L. 63, No. 26, § 102, 23 P.S. § 102, I agree with the trial court’s view that the burden of parental support which the appellant undertook should not be imposed upon the appellee.