M.A.Z. v. F.J.Z

Husband and Wife appeal the judgment and decree dissolving their eight year marriage. Wife complains that the maintenance she was awarded, $180,000.00 per year, is inadequate to meet her reasonable needs. Husband maintains that the maintenance award is excessive and unsupported by substantial evidence. Husband also challenges the trial court's division of property and its determination that his obligation to pay maintenance should continue in the event of his death unless secured by a $1,000,000.00 life insurance policy for Wife's benefit. We hold that the maintenance award and the provision for continuation of maintenance in the event of Husband's death are not supported by substantial evidence and reduce the maintenance award to Husband's requested amount of $90,000.00 per year. We also modify the division of property. As so modified, we affirm the judgment. The parties were married in July, 1986 and Wife filed for dissolution in April, 1994. Both parties had been married before and their children from these prior unions were emancipated at the time of trial. No additional children were born of this marriage so the only issues at trial pertained to Wife's request for maintenance and the division of property.