Ex Parte Elliott

Patricia Elliott (the "wife") sued for a divorce from Stephen Elliott (the "husband"). The Jefferson Circuit Court granted the divorce, and, among other things, divided the marital property and awarded the husband $500 a month in periodic alimony. The Court of Civil Appeals, among other things, reversed the trial court's division of marital property and its award of alimony, holding that the trial court had abused its discretion with respect to these issues. Elliott v. Elliott, 782 So.2d 303 (Ala.Civ.App. 1999). We reverse and remand.

I

The husband and the wife married in September 1973. Their…