Hipps v. Hipps

CARLEY, Justice.

Thomas (Husband) and Miriam (Wife) Hipps were married in 1986, and divorced in 2003. In 1972, some 14 years before the marriage, Husband retired from the Air Force. At the time of the divorce, he was receiving military retirement benefits. The final decree provided that Husband would pay Wife $1,000 per month in permanent alimony “as long as she does not remarry or until she dies” and, “[i]n addition,” she was awarded “the right to any survivor’s benefits available as a result of [his] military service.” The decree also included a provision for a “property settlement” of…