Court Opinion

ID: 9667375
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 01:44:00.674037+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:37.446318
License: Public Domain

McANULTY, Justice,
dissenting.
Respectfully, I dissent from that portion of the Majority’s Opinion affirming the trial court’s determination that the provision of the agreement regarding waiver of maintenance was unconscionable. I would affirm the opinion of the Court of Appeals that held that the antenuptial agreement, which included a clause waiving maintenance, spousal support, or alimony payments in the event of divorce, should be given full effect. I believe that the trial court, and now a Majority of this Court, set aside the provisions of the waiver of maintenance clause because it constituted a bad — not unconscionable — bargain for Paula at the time of divorce. I agree with the reasoning of the Court of Appeals that considered the lack of evidence to suggest that the marriage caused Paula to forego the completion of her education so that now her decision to forego joining the work force to pursue her education somehow makes the agreement unfair and unreasonable.
The highest number that Paula agrees that she received in the trial court’s division of marital property is $233,593.12. I do not disagree that David is in a significantly better financial position with his monthly income, as found by the trial court, of $95,728.33, but I cannot agree with Paula that the amount that she received will not support her while she sensibly and responsibly pursues her career interests. Nor can I agree that an affluent lifestyle as opposed to a comfortable lifestyle (which I believe Paula and her children can enjoy with her property award plus $3,000.00 per month child support) should necessarily render the maintenance provision unconscionable.
I believe the trial court abused its discretion in declaring the waiver of maintenance provision unconscionable when David and Paula had disparate incomes from the start of the marriage; they signed the antenuptial agreement; they signed the agreement with the assistance and advice of independent counsel and with full knowledge that the agreement substantially altered their marital and property rights, claims, or interests that they would have had but for the execution *585of the agreement; and they were married for 9⅜ years.