Helen C. Hopkinson - Page 11




                                        - 11 -                                         

          all the facts and circumstances.  Rather, if the payments fulfill            
          the requirements of section 71, they are to be considered alimony            
          and must be included by the payee spouse in gross income.  As we             
          concluded above, both the tuition payments and the attorney's                
          fees payments fulfill the requirements of section 71 for                     
          inclusion of such payments in gross income.  Consequently, we                
          hold that petitioner must include those payments in gross income             
          for the years in issue.                                                      
               Petitioner further argues that the requirements of section              
          71(b)(1)(D) are not met, because, pursuant to Georgia law, the               
          payments she received from her former husband are "lump-sum"                 
          alimony and therefore the obligation to continue making payments             
          does not cease upon petitioner's death.  The Georgia Supreme                 
          Court has held that "If the words of the documents creating the              
          obligation state the exact amount of each payment and the exact              
          number of payments to be made without other limitations,                     
          conditions or statements of intent, the obligation is one for                
          lump-sum alimony payable in installments."  Winokur v. Winokur,              
          365 S.E.2d 94, 96 (Ga. 1988).  The obligation to pay lump-sum                
          alimony in installments does not terminate with the death of                 
          either party.  See id. at 94.                                                
               The settlement agreement in the instant case does not state             
          the amount or the exact number of tuition payments that                      
          petitioner's former husband is required to make.  The settlement             





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

Last modified: May 25, 2011