Messina v. Messina
Investment allowance added to wife’s permanent alimony award affirmed. Parties had a lavish lifestyle and invested monthly in a retirement fund. Alimony can exceed identified expenses.
Hartung v. Hartung
$200 per month maintenance for 18 months was not sufficient – it does not cover the minimum expenses of maintaining the household and supporting the children.
Bahr v. Bahr
Starting point for setting maintenance is 50% of joint income.
In Re Marriage of Steinke v. Steinke
Maintenance is not based solely on need – it is not limited to those situations where a spouse cannot support his or her self.
In Re Marriage of LaRocque
(1) Factors in determining maintenance are support in accordance with needs and earning capacities and to ensure fair and equitable financial arrangements between the parties. (2) Goal of maintenance is to provide support at pre-divorce standards of living and may require more than subsistence needs. (3) When couple has been married many years and achieves increased earnings, it is reasonable to use equal division of total income as starting point.
In Re Marriage of Kildea v. Kildea
(1) No abuse of discretion in granting unlimited maintenance where court noted custodial responsibilities for children and ensuring an adequate retirement. (2) Mention of disability of adult children by court when deciding maintenance was not error.
Marriage of Peerenboom v. Peerenboom
Maintenance award allowing wife to be a full time homemaker was reasonable.
In Re Marriage of Olson v. Olson
No error found in awarding wife 40% of husband’s income.
In Re Marriage of Hubert v. Hubert
(1) Court failed to individualize high standard of living. (2) Court erred in failing to consider wife’s savings and investment plans in her budget. (3) Court failed to consider wife’s non-economic contributions to the marriage. (4) Wife entitled to share in good fortune and elevated income. (5) Court must start maintenance analysis with 50-50 division of income.
In Re Marriage of Wikel v. Wikel
No abuse of discretion in ordering 8 years of maintenance in 25 year marriage – no abuse of discretion in refusing to find that wife is intentionally underemployed and does not use her ability to become self-supporting.