In re the Marriage of Barlow

Husband appeals a judgment modifying his spousal support obligation from $1,100 per month to $900 per month. He contends that the trial court should have terminated the support obligation entirely, because wife has retired and enjoys both retirement benefits and lower living expenses. On de novo review, ORS 19.125(3), we affirm.

The parties were married for 31 years. At the time of the 1986 dissolution, wife was 64 and employed as a social worker, earning $1,500 per month. She began that work approximately six years earlier, after spending the previous 20 years at home as a homemaker, raising…