Wier v. Wier, S10F0553

*All courts mentioned are at the state level.

• Court held that lump sum alimony to Wife in amount of $600,000 was not excessive when Husband owned property worth over $1.6 million and had a monthly gross income exceeding $16,600.
• Georgia law permits the Court to require a party to sell or encumber property in order to pay equitable division and alimony awards.
• Court declined to decide whether trial court improperly allowed jury to consider Husband’s misconduct in determining the amount of alimony because Husband failed to raise an objection to the charge, and such a failure to object precludes review on appeal unless charge was substantially erroneous and harmful as a matter of law. 
• Charge did not instruct jury that it would consider conduct or misconduct in fixing award of alimony, so the charge was not substantially erroneous.