Court Opinion

ID: 9576825
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:28:50.500264+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:17:11.366128
License: Public Domain

HALL, Chief Justice
(dissenting):
An examination of the record beyond the formal findings of the trial court reveals the reasonableness of the court’s decision to limit future alimony to $100 per month.
It lies well within the discretion of the trial court to enter such orders as will assist the parties in the adjustment to single life. In this instance, the court did just that by encouraging the appellant to become basically self-supporting over a period of three years.
The opinion of the Court criticizes the award of alimony as having been made without a finding as to appellant’s future needs. However, such a finding was neither appropriate nor required. U.C.A., 1953, § 30-3-5 vests the court with continuing jurisdiction to make subsequent changes or new orders with respect to support and maintenance based upon a change *383of circumstances. Consequently, there is no need for speculation about the future needs of the parties.
The facts of this case reasonably support the conclusion reached by the trial court that the state of appellant’s health was not such as would preclude her from earning a livelihood. This Court’s conclusion to the contrary constitutes nothing more than an unwarranted substitution of its judgment for that of the trial court. In any event, at the expiration of the three-year period, should circumstances then exist requiring a further need for support, under the provisions of U.C.A., 1953, § 30-3-5, supra, further relief could then be sought.
I would affirm the judgment in its entirety-