Lorenz v. Lorenz
Supreme Court of New York, Appellate Division
881 N.Y.S.2d 208 (N.Y. App. Div. 2009)
Relevant factsFree
After 33 years of marriage, William (defendant), earning over $100,000, and Pamela (plaintiff), earning $20,000 as a hairdresser with back problems limiting her future work, divorced; the trial court awarded Pamela $500 weekly maintenance until she became eligible for Social Security, considering the couple's marital standard of living and each spouse's earning capacity, and William appealed.
IssueFree
Whether, in maintenance determinations, the amount of earnings necessary to enable the recipient to become self-supporting must be determined with some reference to the standard of living of the parties, as well as the earning capacity of each party.