Court Opinion

ID: 1081197
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 20:47:06.081867+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:18:12.924348
License: Public Domain

952 S.W.2d 836 (1997)
Charles LORIA, Plaintiff/Appellant,
v.
Florence M. LORIA, Defendant/Appellee.
Court of Appeals of Tennessee, Middle Section, at Nashville.
March 12, 1997.
Permission to Appeal Denied September 8, 1997.
Mark W. Henderson, Gallatin, for Plaintiff/Appellant.
William Carter Conway, Franklin, for Defendant/Appellee.
Permission to Appeal Denied by Supreme Court September 8, 1997.

*837 OPINION

TODD, Presiding Judge, Middle Section.
In this appeal by the husband from a divorce decree, the only issue is the award of alimony in futuro rather than rehabilitative alimony. Subordinate issues are the ability of the wife to work, her needs, and the ability of the husband to supply her needs.
At the time of the divorce, each of the parties was 56 years old; they had been married for 35 years and separated for 2-1/2 years; and their children were adults. The husband received a monthly retirement of $2,442.10 and earned $2,499.40 per month from his present employment. The wife was a homemaker during the marriage and worked only at brief intervals. She claims disability for work. The parties owned two residences, four vehicles, and other personalty which were divided to their satisfaction.
As pertinent to this appeal, the divorce decree provided:
1. The parties were declared to be divorced pursuant to T.C.A. § 36-4-129. (No fault determined.)
2. Husband was ordered to pay alimony in futuro of $3,000.00 per month until wife's death, remarriage or modification or termination by the Court.
3. Wife was awarded one-half of husband's pension.
4. Wife was awarded one-half of husband's interest in the stock in his company.
On appeal, the husband insists that the award of periodic alimony was inconsistent with T.C.A. § 36-5-101(d)(1) which states:
It is the intent of the general assembly that a spouse who is economically disadvantaged, relative to the other spouse, be rehabilitated whenever possible by the granting of an order for payment of rehabilitative, temporary support and maintenance. Where there is such relative economic disadvantage and rehabilitation is not feasible in consideration of all relevant factors, including those set out in this subsection, then the court may grant an order for payment of support and maintenance on a long-term basis or until the death or remarriage of the recipient except as otherwise provided in subdivision (a)(3). Rehabilitative support and maintenance is a separate class of spousal support as distinguished from alimony in solido and periodic alimony. In determining whether the granting of an order for payment of support and maintenance to a party is appropriate, and in determining the nature, amount, length of term, and manner of payment, the court shall consider all relevant factors, including:
(A) The relative earning capacity, obligations, needs, and financial resources of each party, including income from pension, profit sharing or retirement plans and all other sources;
(B) The relative education and training of each party, the ability and opportunity of each party to secure such education and training, and the necessity of a party to secure further education and training to improve such party's earning capacity to a reasonable level;
(C) The duration of the marriage;
(D) The age and mental condition of each party;
(E) The physical condition of each party, including, but not limited to, physical disability or incapacity due to a chronic debilitating disease.
(F) The extent to which it would be undesirable for a party to seek employment outside the home because such party will be custodian of a minor child of the marriage.
(G) The separate assets of each party, both real and personal, tangible and intangible;
(H) The provisions made with regard to the marital property as defined in Sec. 36-4-121;
(I) The standard of living of the parties established during the marriage.
(J) The extent to which each party has made such tangible and intangible contributions to the marriage as monetary and homemaker contributions, and tangible and intangible contributions by a party to the education, training or *838 increased earning power of the other party;
(K) The relative fault of the parties in cases where the court, in its discretion, deems it appropriate to do so; and
(L) Such other factors, including the tax consequences to each party, as are necessary to consider the equities between the parties.
(2) An award of rehabilitative, temporary support and maintenance shall remain in the court's control for the duration of such award, and may be increased, decreased, terminated, extended, or otherwise modified, upon a showing of substantial and material change in circumstances. Rehabilitative support and maintenance shall terminate upon the death of the recipient. Such support and maintenance shall also terminate upon the death of the payor unless otherwise specifically stated. The recipient of the support and maintenance shall have the burden of proving that all reasonable efforts at rehabilitation have been made and have been unsuccessful.
Alimony in futuro is a designation of alimony paid periodically, as distinguished from alimony in solido which is paid in a single lump sum of cash or property. Alimony in futuro, or periodic alimony is subject to the continuing control of the Trial Court, whereas alimony in solido or lump sum alimony is generally considered a final judgment, ordinarily unchangeable by the court after expiration of the time for appeal.
Alimony in futuro may be made subject to limitations or conditions, but it nevertheless remains subject to the control of the court. In this respect, rehabilitative alimony may be considered a species of alimony in futuro. It is paid periodically and remains subject to the control of the court. It distinguishing characteristic is the purpose for which it is awarded, which is to provide a temporary income during a period of adjustment and effort of the dependent spouse to become partially or totally self sufficient. During this period, the Court retains the authority to make appropriate adjustments in keeping with changing circumstances and developments.
If a dependent spouse does not satisfactorily strive for self sufficiency, the Court may withdraw part or all of the support allocated to finance rehabilitation. If the dependent spouse demonstrates complete inability to achieve even partial self sufficiency, the Court may grant alimony in futuro to provide for the needs of the dependent spouse.
If the dependent spouse achieves partial self sufficiency but demonstrates inability to achieve total self sufficiency, the Court may grant sufficient alimony in futuro to supplement the earning capacity of the dependent spouse.
Of course, all of the foregoing must be administered within the capability of the supporting spouse to provide the needed support.
In the present case, the first factual question to be answered is, what are the needs of the dependent spouse? Other than fixing the amount of the alimony, the Trial court expressed no finding as to the amount of the wife's needs.
On May 2, 1995, the wife signed a statement reflecting a need for $720.00 per month. The items listed thereon were:

Groceries                                     $250.00
Clothing                                        75.00
Gasoline                                        80.00
Gifts                                           25.00
Laundry                                         10.00
Dry Cleaning                                    20.00
Haircuts/Hair care                              25.00
Entertainment                                  100.00
Miscellaneous                                   75.00
Church Contribution                             50.00
Books & Magazines                               10.00
                                              _______
Sub Total                                     $720.00

Installment debts not included in above schedule:

                                   Unpaid     Monthly
                                   Balance    Payments
Furniture                          $ _____    $ _____
Car Note                           _______    _______
Appliances                         _______    _______
Mortgage Note                      _______    _______
Hospital                           _______    _______
MasterCard                         _______    _______
Sub Total                          _______    _______
Total Monthly Payout                          $720.00
                                              _______

On July 24, 1995, the wife signed a statement reflecting needs of $3,153.00 per month consisting of the following:

Rent                                               $
*839 Gas Heat                                               75.00
Electric Bill                                         130.00
Water                                                  47.00
Telephone                                              95.00
Groceries & Eating Out                                450.00
Cable                                                  22.00
Recreation                                            104.00
Clothing                                              125.00
Auto Insurance                                         75.00
Gasoline                                              120.00
Other Auto Expense                                     50.00
Home Maintenance and Furniture Replacement            230.00
Gifts                                                  80.00
Taxes on Alimony                                      400.00
Vacation & Travel                                     100.00
Laundry                                                10.00
Dry Cleaning                                           20.00
Haircuts/Hair care                                     45.00
Babysitter/Day care
Life Insurance                                         50.00
Property Insurance
Hospital Insurance  Husband to pay
Doctors                                                75.00
Dentists                                               35.00
Drugs & Health Supplies                                30.00
Entertainment
Miscellaneous                                         100.00
Church Contribution                                    30.00
Books & Magazines                                      20.00
Pest Control/Trash Pickup                              50.00
Pet Expenses                                           30.00
Sub Total                                          $2,598.00

Installment debts not included in above schedule:

                                   Unpaid     Monthly
                                   Balance    Payments
Furniture                          $ _____    $ _____
Car Note                           _______    _______
Appliances                         _______    _______
Mortgage Note                      _______    _______
Hospital                           _______    _______
MasterCard                         _______    _______
Sub Total                          _______    _______
Total Monthly Payout                          $720.00
                                              _______

On July 24, 1995, the wife signed a statement reflecting needs of $3,153.00 per month consisting of the following:
The latter statement acknowledged receipt of $1,207.38 per month from husband's retirement. Thus, the net needs of the wife reflected by the latter statement were $3,153.00 minus $1,207.38, or $1,945.62. Moreover, the mortgage payment would terminate upon sale of the home which would create a need to purchase another home or pay rent. The value of the equity in the two homes was stipulated to be $185,000, so that the wife's expectation from the sale of the homes would be approximately $90,000.00, the price of a modest home or the source of approximately $500.00 per month income.
It appears from the latter statement of the wife that her needs are approximately $2,000.00 per month.
As to the ability of the husband to pay, the Trial Court made no specific finding. On July 25, 1995, the husband signed a statement reflecting monthly income (including retirement) of $3,706.90. A total of $3,493.08 expenses were listed, including:

REGULAR MONTHLY EXPENSES:
A. General Expenses:
   1. Rent or mortgage, including taxes and insurance
                                 TN Home           Apartment    Cottage
                                 $553.42            $435.00     $138.66
   2. Utilities:    Water     TN/Apt/Cottage;  Gas  0/$100.00
                    Electric    $100/100/35    Tel   $40/30 
                      Total Utilities                          $140.00 + $75
   3. Car operation (gas, oil, repair, ins.)                   $216.00
   4. Insurance (life and other) for Christine & Candice       $ 85.00
   5. Installment contracts and monthly payments:
      Personal loans __________;              Auto     $375 
      Household ins. on cottage $27.00        Other
*840                                             _______
   Furniture payment $333.00 for 6 months
    Total Installment Contracts                                $735.00
                            TN                     Apt         Cottage
    General Expense Total  $653.42               $575.00       $203.66
 B. Other Expenses (monthly) Other Expenses (monthly)
                                                 Myself             Children
    1. Food                                    $ 600.00
    2. Clothing                                   50.00
    3. Medical, Dental & Drugs                   200.00
    4. Laundry & Cleaning                         35.00
    5. Recreation (specify)                      100.00
    6. School expenses                               0
    7. Babysitting/other child care                  0
    8. Beauty or Barber Shop                      10.00
    9. Other (Specify)
   10. Other  Cable                              30.00
   11. Other
       Sub Totals
         TOTAL                                $1,025.00   Expense  $3,493.08
                                              (Monthly)

The items of rent on three residences are not reasonable. The item of automobile expense should be covered by husband's admitted "monthly expense check." With adustments for the unreasonable items, the statement reflects $3,706.90 income and approximately $1,700 per month expense, which leaves the ability to pay $2,000.00 per month.
Accordingly, the alimony in futuro for the first 36 months should be reduced to $2,000.00 per month. This alimony is to be considered "rehabilitative" in the sense that it is intended to provide for the wife during which she is expected to make a reasonable effort to become self sustaining. The award is "temporary" in the sense that it will not continue beyond 36 months unless the Trial Court finds, upon further application and hearing, that, after reasonable efforts to become self sustaining, the wife has been unable to do so and that a continuation of periodic alimony in some amount is necessary and proper.
The judgment of the Trial Court is modified to grant the wife periodic alimony of $2,000.00 per month for 36 months, and to reserve the jurisdiction to extend, modify or terminate alimony according to the circumstances demonstrated to the Trial Court.
In its discretion, this Court assesses the costs of this appeal against the husband. The cause is remanded to the Trial Court for entry of judgment consistent with this opinion and for further appropriate proceedings.

MODIFIED AND REMANDED
LEWIS and KOCH, JJ., concur.