Patterson v. Patterson

PARKER, Judge.

Plaintiff challenges the portions of the judgment below relating to alimony, child support, equitable distribution and attorneys’ fees. We shall consider each of these challenges separately.

I. Alimony

General Statute 50-16.2 provides that only a “dependent spouse” is entitled to alimony when one of the ten grounds listed in that statute is present. In this case, plaintiff stipulated that he had abandoned defendant. G.S. 50-16.2(4). His challenge to the award of alimony is based on the conclusion of the trial judge that defendant is, in fact, a “dependent spouse.”

“Dependent…