Friday, June 3, 2011

TN Supreme Court Hears Unusual Case on Alimony

Yesterday the Tennessee Supreme Court heard oral arguments on an alimony issue, which is fairly unusual for the Court.


The Tennesean reports today on the Court's deciding whether a woman who earns $72,000 a year should get $15,000 a year in alimony for the rest of her life or until she remarries. The case is important because it could determine how money is awarded in divorce cases across the state. The husband's income is nearly $140,000, including his base salary and bonus.


In the lower courts, a Sumner County Judge split the couple’s assets nearly evenly and ruled that the wife did not deserve alimony. The couple have two adult children. The Tennessee Court of Appeals unanimously overturned the trial court and ordered the husband to pay $1,250 a month in alimony. The Husband  appealed, and the Tennessee Supreme Court took the case.


In accepting this case the Supreme Court should clear an unsettled area of law by setting guidelines on when courts should award alimony on a permanent or limited basis.


The case is Gonsewski v. Gonsewski, Sumner County.

1 comment:

  1. re-read the real article - husband's income is $100,000 with a $38,000 bonus.

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