Opinion
Docket No. 53298.
Decided February 17, 1982.
John L. Weslowski, for plaintiff.
Isackson, Neering Quinn, P.C. (by Ralph J. Isackson and Barney R. Whitesman), for defendant.
Four months before the judgment of divorce was entered herein, defendant wife filed a petition for alimony. In answers to interrogatories plaintiff husband stated that he was employed as an electrician by Bechtel and grossed over $30,000 per year.
At the hearing on the question of alimony, defendant testified that she was 53 years old, had been married to plaintiff husband for almost 30 years, had borne 4 children who were now adults, had received no support from her husband since their separation, earned about $51 or a bit more per week from her job at McDonald's, and was behind in paying doctors' bills and rent for her basement apartment. A medical emergency involving a member of his family confronted the judge. Prior to cross-examination of defendant, the judge ordered $65 per week alimony, stating that it was purely temporary, subject to adjustments upwards or downwards retroactive until the rest of the motion was heard.
In response to the inquiry by plaintiff's counsel as to a date for further hearing, he was advised to check with the judge's secretary. Plaintiff's counsel then sought entry of an order so that plaintiff could attack it in an interlocutory appeal. The judge immediately signed the order which stated that it was "subject to alteration later by court to be retroactive".
It does not appear that plaintiff's counsel took any action toward continuation of the hearing, or otherwise, to change the terms of the order. Plaintiff paid no alimony and contempt proceedings were taken against him for nonpayment.
At the beginning of trial, plaintiff's counsel stated that he believed the significant issue was alimony and defendant would have the burden of proving entitlement to it. Following a contested trial, the court determined alimony should be the sum of $50 per week, retroactive to the date of the temporary order. On appeal and cross-appeal both parties attack the court's decisions regarding alimony.
Plaintiff's contention that the trial judge erred in ordering alimony at the pre-judgment hearing is without merit.
In Farr v Farr, 63 Mich. App. 741, 745; 235 N.W.2d 31 (1975), the court approved the concept of making support orders retroactive to the date of filing of the petition therefor, and noted that our Supreme Court had implicitly approved this practice. Id., 743, fn 2. The nature of support and alimony requires that orders regarding them, whether to commence, increase, decrease or cease payments, begin as of the time of need for relief. The trial court is authorized to cancel arrearages retroactively. Pronesti v Pronesti, 368 Mich. 453; 118 N.W.2d 254 (1962). Wellman v Wellman, 305 Mich. 365; 9 N.W.2d 579 (1943). As a corollary, the court should have authority to begin payments retroactively.
Here defendant wife's petition indicated a dire need for alimony at the time of its filing. The court set an amount to begin after filing of the petition, subject to retroactive modification. Plaintiff husband neither paid anything nor noticed the petition for further hearing as his counsel indicated would be done. There occurred a full alimony hearing, and alimony was reduced retroactively to the date of the initial hearing. Plaintiff has no basis for complaint. He had his day in court. The court's power to award alimony is statutory. MCL 552.23; MSA 25.103. In determining the amount of alimony to be awarded a court must consider: (1) duration of the marriage; (2) contributions of the parties to joint estate (sources of property); (3) age; (4) health; (5) station in life; (6) necessities and circumstances; and (7) earning ability of the parties. Vaclav v Vaclav, 96 Mich. App. 584, 590; 293 N.W.2d 613 (1980). Holbern v Holbern, 91 Mich. App. 566, 569; 283 N.W.2d 800 (1979).
This Court hears a divorce case de novo on the record and will not substitute its judgment for that of the trial judge, absent a showing of abuse of discretion, Kurtz v Kurtz, 34 Mich. App. 34, 35; 190 N.W.2d 689 (1971), or unless it is clear the reviewing court could have reached a different result had it occupied the position of trial judge. Czuhai v Czuhai, 30 Mich. App. 208, 211; 186 N.W.2d 32 (1971). A review of the record shows that the trial judge considered relevant alimony factors and reached a reasonable conclusion.
Affirmed.