Wyser-Pratte v. Wyser-Pratte

Decision Date17 October 1985
Docket NumberR,A,WYSER-PRATT
Citation487 N.E.2d 901,66 N.Y.2d 715,496 N.Y.S.2d 991
Parties, 487 N.E.2d 901 Guy P.espondent, v. Judith N.ppellant.
CourtNew York Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
OPINION OF THE COURT MEMORANDUM.

The order of the Appellate Division, 111 A.D.2d 99, 489 N.Y.S.2d 232 should be reversed, with costs, and the matter remitted to Supreme Court for a hearing on whether defendant's alleged inability to be self-supporting is such as to warrant an upward modification of maintenance.

Since defendant was seeking modification of maintenance on the basis of her "inability to be self-supporting" (Domestic Relations Law § 236[B][9][b] ), allegations of change in circumstance were not necessary in order for the court to grant a hearing on whether modification was warranted. As long as the party seeking modification on the basis of "inability to be self-supporting" presents allegations sufficient to raise an issue of fact as to whether he or she has been unable to be self-supporting, as defendant did here, the court should refer the matter for a hearing on whether modification is warranted. Accordingly, inasmuch as it cannot be said that defendant's allegations of inability to find employment over a six-week period were insufficient to justify upward modification of maintenance on "inability to be self-supporting" grounds as a matter of law, a hearing should be held.

JASEN, MEYER, SIMONS, KAYE, ALEXANDER and TITONE, JJ., concur.

WACHTLER, C.J., taking no part.

On review of submissions pursuant to section 500.4 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals (22 NYCRR 500.4), order reversed, with costs, and matter remitted to Supreme Court, New York County, for a hearing in accordance with the memorandum herein.

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  • Ritchey v. Ritchey
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • March 15, 2011
    ...79 A.D.3d 965, 912 N.Y.S.2d 700; David v. David, 54 A.D.3d 714, 864 N.Y.S.2d 76; see generally Wyser–Pratte v. Wyser–Pratte, 66 N.Y.2d 715, 716–717, 496 N.Y.S.2d 991, 487 N.E.2d 901). “A parent's loss of employment may constitute a change of circumstances warranting a downward modification ......
  • Rockwell v. Rockwell
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • June 15, 2010
    ...at 463, 841 N.Y.S.2d 347, quoting Vinnik v. Vinnik, 295 A.D.2d 339, 339-340, 742 N.Y.S.2d 673; see Wyser-Pratte v. Wyser-Pratte, 66 N.Y.2d 715, 717, 496 N.Y.S.2d 991, 487 N.E.2d 901; Mishrick v. Mishrick, 251 A.D.2d 558, 674 N.Y.S.2d 746; Grimaldi v. Grimaldi, 167 A.D.2d 443, 562 N.Y.S.2d 1......
  • P.S. v. M.S.
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court
    • June 1, 2016
    ...to become self-supporting or a substantial change of circumstance, including financial hardship. Wyser–Pratte v. Wyser–Pratte, 66 N.Y.2d 715, 496 N.Y.S.2d 991, 487 N.E.2d 901 (1985). Although not specifically alleged, Defendant argues both these theories; she has lost her job and can not me......
  • Conway v. Conway
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • December 21, 2010
    ...genuine questions of fact" ( Schnoor v. Schnoor, 189 A.D.2d 809, 810, 592 N.Y.S.2d 460; see generally Wyser-Pratte v. Wyser-Pratte, 66 N.Y.2d 715, 716-717, 496 N.Y.S.2d 991, 487 N.E.2d 901). "A parent's loss of employment may constitute a change of circumstances warranting a downward modifi......
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