Echols v. Echols

• Decision Date: 17 October 1984
• Citation: 459 So.2d 910
• Parties: William F. ECHOLS, Sr. v. Macel Mae ECHOLS. Civ. 4201.
• Court: Alabama Court of Civil Appeals

Page 910

459 So.2d 910

William F. ECHOLS, Sr. v. Macel Mae ECHOLS.

Civ. 4201.

Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama.

Oct. 17, 1984.

William B. Reneau and Robert B. Reneau, Wetumpka, for appellant.

No brief for appellee.

WRIGHT, Presiding Judge.

This is a divorce case.

The parties were divorced on November 10, 1983, on grounds of incompatibility. The trial court made no finding of fault against either party. As property settlement the wife was awarded use and possession of the family residence, together with title to its contents; a 1979 Lincoln automobile; and joint ownership in a lot near the family residence.

The court required periodic payments of the husband including the balance of all mortgage payments and ad valorem taxes on all real estate owned by the parties including the family residence; hazard insurance on said residence; life insurance on the husband's life of not less than $50,000 with the wife as beneficiary or if unable to secure such amount, to make the wife beneficiary of whatever amount of insurance the husband presently has; $500 per week as alimony; and attorney fees in the amount of $5,000 plus court costs. The husband's primary contention on appeal is that the trial court erred to reversal in awarding the wife periodic payments (in addition to said property settlement) which go well beyond his financial means.

The evidence pertinent to the husband's financial picture shows that the husband is president and 98% stockholder of two corporations; Coosada Trucking Company (Coosada) and Bill Echols Trucking. The former is a hauling operation and the latter is a truck repair and maintenance service company. The office manager for the combined businesses stated that the companies have a gross annual income of approximately five million dollars. However there was substantial evidence presented at trial that the companies were heavily in debt. The office manager stated that because of the debts, Coosada was not making any money and had written approximately twelve checks on insufficient funds in the last year. There was also evidence that the husband had considered bankruptcy in 1982 but had avoided it through the help of an able attorney and cooperative creditors. The tax returns for Bill Echols Trucking showed negative income for the years 1980, 1981 and 1982, and Coosada showed a negative income for 1981. The husband and wife had a taxable income for 1981 of $20,235, and evidence showed their income had not fluctuated greatly in recent years.

The trial court in granting a divorce has the authority to order an allowance to a spouse who has no separate estate or an estate insufficient to maintain that spouse. § 30-2-51, Code of Alabama 1975 (Repl. vol. 1983). A spouse's misconduct can increase the amount of alimony that spouse must pay. § 30-2-52 of the Code (Repl. vol. 1983). There is no fixed rule for alimony and each case must be decided on its own facts. Stewart v. Stewart, 341 So.2d 490 (Ala.Civ.App.1977). It is proper to make inquiry into such relevant factors as:

"(1) the earning ability of the parties; (2) their probable future prospects; (3) their age, sex, health and station in life (4) the duration of the marriage; and (5) the conduct of the parties with reference to the cause of divorce. Steiner v. Steiner, 254 Ala. 260, 48 So.2d 184 (1950)."

The award of alimony and a division of property in the granting of a divorce are matters for the discretion of ...