Said alimony obligation was non modifiable as to term, and modifiable as to amount, only if the husband’s income increased or decreased by 25% or more, or if the wife’s income exceeded $200,000. Above and beyond the aforementioned alimony obligation, the husband was ordered to pay child support in the amount of $1,200 per week.
The Court’s Decision
Unable to reach an agreement with respect to the husband’s motion to modify, the matter went to trial. In support of his case, the husband introduced various tax returns showing that his income was reduced from approximately $500,000 in 2009 to approximately $350,000 in 2011. The Court ultimately found that the reduction of precisely 26% satisfied the terms of the Court’s original judgment of dissolution which permitted modification only under the above mentioned circumstances.
It further opined that both households should bear some of the burden of that reduction and, thus, modified the husband’s alimony obligation by 26%. Although the aforementioned change in the husband’s earnings alone was sufficient to warrant modification, the Court noted that the wife’s income also increased significantly, even though it did not exceed the $200,000 safe harbor set forth in the judgment.
Maya Murphy P.C. has proudly been included in the 2024 Edition of Best Law Firms®, ranked among the top firms in the nation. In addition, Managing Partner Joseph C. Maya has been selected to The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 for his work in Employment Law and Education Law in Connecticut. Recognition in Best Lawyers® is awarded to firms and attorneys who demonstrate excellence in the industry, and is widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor.
Our firm in Westport, Connecticut serves clients with legal assistance all over the state, including the towns of: Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Bethel, Branford, Bridgeport, Brookfield, Cheshire, Danbury, Darien, Derby, East Haven, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, Meriden, Middlebury, Milford, Monroe, Naugatuck, New Canaan, New Fairfield, New Haven, Newton, North Branford, North Haven, Norwalk, Orange, Oxford, Prospect, Redding, Ridgefield, Seymour, Shelton, Sherman, Southbury, Stamford, Stratford, Trumbull, Wallingford, Waterbury, West Haven, Weston, Westport, Wilton, and Woodbridge. In addition to assisting clients in Connecticut, our firm handles education law and employment law matters in New York as well.
If you have any questions about employment law or education law in Connecticut, or would like to speak to an attorney about a legal matter, please contact Joseph C. Maya and the other experienced attorneys at Maya Murphy, P.C. at (203) 221-3100 or JMaya@Mayalaw.com to schedule a free initial consultation today.
