John R. and Patricia G. Okerson - Page 3

                                        - 3 -                                         
                                       OPINION                                        

               LARO, Judge:  This case is before the Court for decision               
          without trial.  See Rule 122.1  Petitioners petitioned the Court            
          to redetermine a $7,031 deficiency in their 2000 Federal income             
          tax.  We decide as to that year whether petitioners may deduct as           
          alimony $21,600 that John R. Okerson (petitioner) paid pursuant             
          to his divorce from his former wife, Barbara Buhr Okerson                   
          (Okerson).  We hold that petitioners may not deduct any of that             
          amount.                                                                     
                                     Background                                       
               The facts in this background section are obtained from the             
          parties’ stipulation of facts and the exhibits submitted                    
          therewith.  Petitioners resided in Memphis, Tennessee, when their           
          petition was filed.  Petitioner and his former wife, Okerson,               
          have two children who were born on February 10, 1978, and                   
          April 3, 1983, respectively.                                                
               On August 31, 1994, a Tennessee State court (State court)              
          issued an order awarding Okerson a divorce from petitioner.  On             
          March 13, 1995, the State court entered a supplemental final                
          decree of divorce (1995 decree) that in relevant part ordered,              
          adjudged, and decreed as follows:                                           



               1 Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and           
          Procedure.  Unless otherwise stated, section references are to              
          the applicable versions of the Internal Revenue Code.                       




Page:  Previous  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  Next

Last modified: May 25, 2011