Sam Harris Ingram v. Betty Ann White

As a part of the divorce decree awarding the appellee a divorce on the statutory ground of three years separation, T.C.A. § 36-4-101(12), the trial Judge divided the marital property and awarded the appellant alimony at $2,000.00 per month for one year and then at $1,750.00 per month for the following four years. In addition, the court ordered the appellee to reimburse the appellant for any medical expenses not covered by insurance during the same five-year period. In announcing his decision from the bench, the trial Judge indicated that he did not have the authority to order the payment of alimony on a permanent basis.