Court Opinion

ID: 9514779
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-06 22:51:39.256062+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:06:20.734875
License: Public Domain

AMUNDSON, Justice
(concurring in part and dissenting in part).
[¶74.] I respectfully dissent on issue two.
[¶ 75.] We have often stated that to obtain a modification of alimony, the moving party must establish that a change in circumstances has occurred since the original decree was entered. See Olson v. Olson, 1996 SD 90, ¶10, 552 N.W.2d 396, 399 (citations omitted). The trial court must limit its review to “changes occurring since the time of the divorce” and “whether the economic circumstances of the parties have changed since the award such that the original award is now either insufficient or excessive.” Id., ¶ 11. Further, the “trial court’s findings ... must support its conclusion on an award of alimony.” Eichmann v. Eichmann, 485 N.W.2d 206, 207 (S.D.1992) (citations omitted).
[¶ 76.] In the present case, the trial court had ordered that the custody of Stuart go to Melinda, but that Melinda must obtain her own apartment and no longer reside with her boyfriend. To support her request for an increase in alimony, Melinda presented evidence depicting her monthly expenses. She provided two breakdowns of her expenses: $2083.50 if she continued to live with her boyfriend and $2668.50 if she obtained her own apartment. A review of these two exhibits reflects that many of Melinda’s expenses were identical, regardless of whether she lives with her boyfriend or lives alone. The trial court further found that Melinda’s monthly “take-home pay” would be around $800.9
[¶ 77.] Both the trial court and the majority opinion held, in a conclusory fashion, that a change of circumstances existed to support an alimony award of $1,000. Since this alimony award, however, this Court has reversed the trial court’s decision and allowed Stuart to remain in the custody of Tom. Based upon this determination, the “economic circumstances” of the parties are not the same as what the trial court reviewed in determining the alimony award; therefore, a 1000 percent increase in alimony is not appropriate in this case.
[¶ 78.] Despite the fact that Melinda has not reached a level of financial stability like Tom has, I can not condone such a large increase in alimony based upon this record. The trial court did not detail how it came up with the $1000 alimony figure, it only stated that a “change of circumstances exist creating a great need on behalf of [Melinda] for additional income in which to be self-supporting.” Since Melinda is not going to obtain custody of Stuart, as the trial court originally ordered, the circumstances for which the alimony award *439was .based have changed. Therefore, I would reverse and remand the alimony-award back to the trial court for reconsideration based upon this Court’s decision to allow the custody of Stuart to remain with Tom.

. It is clear from the record that Melinda has undergone severe financial difficulties. She spent all of her rehabilitative alimony award and eventually filed for bankruptcy. It is also troubling that Melinda depicts here monthly income as around $800, which the trial court and this Court agreed with, but estimates her monthly expenses ranging from $2,083.50 to $2,668.50. Her estimated expenses clearly exceed her monthly income by a vast amount.