Court Opinion

ID: 9883942
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-06 02:26:48.346279+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:48:33.586193
License: Public Domain

POPOVICH, Chief Judge
(dissenting).
I respectfully dissent from the portion of the majority opinion affirming the trial court’s award of $800 per month in permanent maintenance. Specifically, the trial court erred because it did not consider Diane Swanstrom’s future receipt of social security payments when determining spousal maintenance.
The Minnesota Supreme Court has unequivocally stated:
In determining a just amount for spousal maintenance, we are directed by Minn.Stat. § 518.552, subd. 2 (1980), to consider all relevant factors, including:
(a) The financial resources of the party seeking maintenance, including marital property apportioned to him, and his ability to meet his needs independently * * .
Future receipt of social security payments is a financial resource and must be considered in determining spousal maintenance.
Taylor v. Taylor, 329 N.W.2d 795, 799 (Minn.1983); see Elliott v. Elliott, 274 N.W.2d 75, 78 (Minn.1978). I would remand this issue to the trial court with instructions to adjust Diane Swanstrom’s maintenance award to reflect her anticipated social security income.