Shepherd v. Collins

Hines, Justice.

We granted discretionary review in this action for modification of alimony and child support in order to consider the correctness of the trial court’s ruling that the language of the parties’ settlement agreement established an obligation for the payment of lump sum alimony rather than periodic alimony. For the reasons that follow, we conclude that the trial court erred in its determination, and that the obligation at issue is for periodic alimony.

The parties were granted a divorce on December 14, 1998. The final judgment and decree of divorce (“decree”) incorporated a…