As we have mentioned before on this blog, issues regarding alimony can sometimes arise in connection to a divorce. How alimony issues in a divorce are ultimately resolved can have major impacts on the parties involved. Recently, the Tennessee Supreme Court reached a decision in an alimony case which could have major effects on alimony in Tennessee.

The case involved a man and a woman who got divorced in 2009. The woman reportedly made about $72,000 a year at her job at the time of the divorce. This reportedly is about half what the man made at his job.

In connection to this divorce, an appeals court in Tennessee awarded the woman lifetime alimony, reversing the ruling of a county judge in doing so. It was this appeals court decision that was reviewed by the Tennessee Supreme Court.

As we mentioned above, the Tennessee Supreme Court recently reached its decision in its review of the appeals court ruling. The court decided to overturn the ruling of the appeals court. The court ruled that granting the woman lifetime alimony was inappropriate because the woman received a substantial amount of assets in the property division connected to the divorce, is healthy and makes a good amount of income.

Thus, the Tennessee Supreme Court's decision appears to put certain limits on when lifetime alimony awards are to be given in Tennessee. This decision could potentially be very impactful. It will be very interesting to see what effects this decision ultimately has on alimony cases in Tennessee.

Source: The Tennessean, "Reversal of lifetime alimony will shape divorce awards," Brandon Gee, Sept. 18, 2011