Self v. Self, 8821DC598

• Decision Date: 04 April 1989
• Docket Number: No. 8821DC598,8821DC598
• Citation: 377 S.E.2d 800,93 N.C.App. 323
• Court: North Carolina Court of Appeals
• Parties: Iris Sue Apperson SELF v. John Burton SELF, Jr.

Page 800

377 S.E.2d 800

93 N.C.App. 323

Iris Sue Apperson SELF v. John Burton SELF, Jr.

No. 8821DC598.

Court of Appeals of North Carolina.

April 4, 1989.

David B. Hough, P.A., David B. Hough and Lawrence J. Fine, Winston-Salem, for plaintiff-appellant.

White and Crumpler by Fred G. Crumpler, Jr., and Christopher L. Beal, Winston-Salem, for defendant-appellee.

LEWIS, Judge.

Plaintiff sets forth in the record on appeal numerous assignments of error which she brings forward in her brief under four basic arguments. Plaintiff alleges the court failed to follow proper procedure in modifying the alimony award; abused its discretion in denying an alimony increase and instead terminating plaintiff's alimony altogether; misapprehended the law and thus erred in finding that plaintiff had no independent estate in 1977; and erred in concluding a) that there had been a substantial and material change in plaintiff's financial circumstances, b) that plaintiff was no longer a "dependent spouse" and c) that it was within its discretion to terminate alimony because such conclusions were not supported by the findings of fact.

Plaintiff first contends that the trial court did not follow the proper procedure because it failed to find certain factors required to be found in an order modifying alimony. Specifically, she alleges that the trial court was required but failed to make findings regarding defendant's 1987 assets and liabilities and plaintiff's 1987 liabilities.

Under G.S. Section 50-16.9 a court may modify an alimony award upon a showing of a change of circumstances. This power to modify includes the power to terminate alimony altogether. Sayland v. Sayland, 267 N.C. 378, 148 S.E.2d 218 (1966). The changed circumstances which will warrant a modification of an alimony award "must bear upon the financial needs of the dependent spouse or the ability of the supporting spouse to pay." Britt v. Britt, 49 N.C.App. 463, 470-71, 271 S.E.2d 921, 926 (1980), quoting, Stallings v. Stallings, 36 N.C.App. 643, 645, 244 S.E.2d 494, 495, disc. rev. denied, 295 N.C. 648, 248 S.E.2d 249 (1978) (emphasis added). Further, these changes must be substantial and based on a comparison of facts existing at the time of the original order and the time when the modification is sought. Broughton v. Broughton, 58 N.C.App. 778, 294 S.E.2d 772, disc. rev. denied, 307 N.C. 269, 299 S.E.2d 214 (1982). Our court has asserted that the trial court must look to the factors set out in G.S. 50-16.5 to modify an award under G.S. 50-16.9 and has stated:

G.S. 50-16.9 allows modification for change of circumstance, but lists no circumstances. G.S. 50-16.5 provides a list of circumstances to be regarded in the initial determination of alimony. We believe the only logical construction of G.S. 50-16.9 is that it requires application of the G.S. 50-16.5 standards again at the time of the modification hearing. If the relevant circumstances in G.S. 50-16.5 list differ materially at the time from the circumstances which obtained at the time the initial order was entered, G.S. 50-16.9 authorizes the judge to modify the order to more fairly accommodate the present circumstances of the parties.... We hold that the 'change of circumstances' in G.S. 50-16.9 refers to those circumstances listed in G.S. 50-16.5

Rowe v. Rowe, 52 N.C.App. 646, 654, 280 S.E.2d 182, 187 (1981), aff'd in part, rev. in part and remanded, 305 N.C. 177, 287 S.E.2d 840 (1982). G.S. 50-16.5 requires that the trial court give due regard to the "estates, earnings, earning capacity, condition, accustomed standard of living of the parties, and other facts of the particular case", and findings of fact to indicate proper consideration of each of these factors must be made to support an alimony award. See Skamarak v. Skamarak, 81 N.C.App. 125, 343 S.E.2d 559 (1986).

The trial court properly made findings of fact comparing the original 1977 position of plaintiff to her present situation as to income, earnings, earning capacity and property holdings. The court did not make adequate findings as to Mrs. Self's present needs and the reasonableness of her expenses, stating "both parties introduced affidavits showing their respective monthly expenses but the Court makes no finding as to the reasonableness of these expenses."

A court's determination that a party is a "dependent spouse" must be based on the factors enumerated in G.S. 50-16.5. Beaman v. Beaman, 77 N.C.App. 717, 336 S.E.2d 129 (1985). "[A] conclusion of law that there has been a substantial change of circumstances based only on income is inadequate and in error." Britt, 49 N.C.App. at 470, 271 S.E.2d 921 at 926. In Rowe our court determined that it was error for a court to modify an alimony award based only on a change in the parties' earnings and stated:

The significant inquiry is how [the] change in income affects a supporting spouse's ability to pay or a dependent spouse's need for support. The trial court should have considered the ratio of [plaintiff's] earnings to the funds necessary to maintain her accustomed standard of living.... The court's failure to consider, or to make findings of fact on, the ratio of [plaintiff's] earnings to her needs constitutes error. The court should have found as a...