In re Ongaro

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Honorable David T. Thuma, United States Bankruptcy Judge

Before the Court is the narrow issue whether certain debts owed by the Debtor to his ex-wife are in the nature of alimony or support, or alternatively are property division obligations. The issue arises because the latter can be discharged in a chapter 13 case, while the former cannot. The Court concludes that some of the debts fall in each category, as discussed below.

I. FINDINGS OF FACT

The Court finds:1

Debtor and Beverly Ongaro were married for 31 years. During most of that time they lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico,…