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