Nichols v. Nichols, 13733

CourtSupreme Court of West Virginia
Writing for the CourtCAPLAN
Citation236 S.E.2d 36,160 W.Va. 514
PartiesMary Louise NICHOLS v. Duane Guy NICHOLS.
Docket NumberNo. 13733,13733
Decision Date05 July 1977

Page 36

236 S.E.2d 36
160 W.Va. 514
Mary Louise NICHOLS
v.
Duane Guy NICHOLS.
No. 13733.
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.
July 5, 1977.

Syllabus by the Court

Questions relating to alimony and to the maintenance and custody of the children are within the sound discretion of the court and its action with respect to such matters will not be disturbed on appeal unless it clearly appears that such discretion has been abused.

[160 W.Va. 515] Wilson, Frame & Rowe, Richard E. Rowe, Morgantown, for appellant.

Edgar F. Heiskell, III, Morgantown, for appellee.

CAPLAN, Chief Justice:

Mary Louise Nichols was granted a divorce from Duane Guy Nichols by a decree of the Circuit Court of Monongalia County dated August 26, 1974. The decree ratified and confirmed a property settlement agreement previously entered into between the parties. Pursuant to the agreement, and as set forth in the final decree, Duane Guy Nichols agreed and was ordered to pay

Page 37

to Mary Louise Nichols the sum of Three Hundred Ten Dollars per month as support and maintenance for each of two children and he further agreed and was ordered to pay to Mary Louise Nichols the sum of One Hundred Ninety Dollars per month as alimony.

The decree provided that the alimony was to cease after four years or when she obtained her Master's Degree, whichever occurred first. In addition, Duane Nichols agreed to carry health insurance on the children and to be responsible for their major medical and dental bills; to pay one-half the cost of the children's musical instruction and tutoring expenses, if necessary; pay for their college education; maintain insurance on his life with the children as beneficiaries; and to certain other obligations. The exclusive possession of the marital residence was retained by Mary Louise Nichols and she assumed the obligation of paying the monthly payment on the property which amounted to $312.00 per month.

Approximately fifteen months later, in November, 1975, Duane Nichols was notified that his deposition [160 W.Va. 516] would be taken for the purpose of discovering his true and real financial standing and status. Subsequent to the taking of this deposition, Mary Louise Nichols filed a petition seeking a modification of the August 26, 1974 order, asking for an increase in the support and alimony payments. In this petition, Mary Louise Nichols alleged that there had been a change in circumstances since the August 26, 1974 order, which would merit...

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129 practice notes
  • Banker v. Banker, No. 22166
    • United States
    • Supreme Court of West Virginia
    • May 17, 1996
    ...See Syl. Pt. 2, Yanero v. Yanero, 171 W.Va. 88, 297 S.E.2d 863 (1982) (criteria for modification of alimony award); Nichols v. Nichols, 160 W.Va. 514, 517, 236 S.E.2d 36, 38 (1977) (modification should be denied where litigant "failed to demonstrate a change of circumstances sufficient to j......
  • Pearson v. Pearson, No. 23679
    • United States
    • Supreme Court of West Virginia
    • July 21, 1997
    ...such matters will not be disturbed on appeal unless it clearly appears that such discretion has been abused." Syl., Nichols v. Nichols, 160 W.Va. 514, 236 S.E.2d 36 5. " 'Alimony must not be disproportionate to a [person's] ability to pay as disclosed by the evidence before the court.' Syll......
  • Lambert v. Miller, No. 17159
    • United States
    • Supreme Court of West Virginia
    • May 22, 1987
    ...matters will not be disturbed on appeal unless it clearly appears that such discretion has been abused." Syllabus, Nichols v. Nichols, 160 W.Va. 514, 236 S.E.2d 36 3. Remarriage of a divorced parent, standing alone, is not sufficient to justify modification of a child support order. It is, ......
  • Tevya W. v. Elias Trad V., No. 35760.
    • United States
    • Supreme Court of West Virginia
    • June 21, 2011
    ...matters will not be disturbed on appeal unless it clearly appears that such discretion has been abused.” Syllabus, Nichols v. Nichols, 160 W.Va. 514, 236 S.E.2d 36 (1977). 3. “A reviewing court may not overturn a finding simply because it would have decided the case differently, and it must......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
129 cases
  • Banker v. Banker, No. 22166
    • United States
    • Supreme Court of West Virginia
    • May 17, 1996
    ...See Syl. Pt. 2, Yanero v. Yanero, 171 W.Va. 88, 297 S.E.2d 863 (1982) (criteria for modification of alimony award); Nichols v. Nichols, 160 W.Va. 514, 517, 236 S.E.2d 36, 38 (1977) (modification should be denied where litigant "failed to demonstrate a change of circumstances sufficient to j......
  • Pearson v. Pearson, No. 23679
    • United States
    • Supreme Court of West Virginia
    • July 21, 1997
    ...such matters will not be disturbed on appeal unless it clearly appears that such discretion has been abused." Syl., Nichols v. Nichols, 160 W.Va. 514, 236 S.E.2d 36 5. " 'Alimony must not be disproportionate to a [person's] ability to pay as disclosed by the evidence before the court.' Syll......
  • Lambert v. Miller, No. 17159
    • United States
    • Supreme Court of West Virginia
    • May 22, 1987
    ...matters will not be disturbed on appeal unless it clearly appears that such discretion has been abused." Syllabus, Nichols v. Nichols, 160 W.Va. 514, 236 S.E.2d 36 3. Remarriage of a divorced parent, standing alone, is not sufficient to justify modification of a child support order. It is, ......
  • Tevya W. v. Elias Trad V., No. 35760.
    • United States
    • Supreme Court of West Virginia
    • June 21, 2011
    ...matters will not be disturbed on appeal unless it clearly appears that such discretion has been abused.” Syllabus, Nichols v. Nichols, 160 W.Va. 514, 236 S.E.2d 36 (1977). 3. “A reviewing court may not overturn a finding simply because it would have decided the case differently, and it must......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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