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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS


BARBARA JEAN LINDERMAN, Plaintiff-Appellant, v ROBERT WILLIAM LINDERMAN, Defendant-Appellee.

UNPUBLISHED January 6, 1998

No. 200656 Van Buren Circuit Court LC No. 96-041349 DO

Before: Griffin, P.J., and Markman and Whitbeck, JJ. MEMORANDUM. In this divorce case, plaintiff challenges as inadequate and inequitable an award of alimony in the amount of $274 per week. We affirm. A divorce court has the discretion to award alimony as it considers just and reasonable. Magee v Magee, 218 Mich App 158, 162; 553 NW2d 363 (1996). The trial court's dispositive ruling should be affirmed unless we are left with the firm conviction it is inequitable, Ianitelli v Ianitelli, 199 Mich App 641, 642; 502 NW2d 691 (1993). Relevant factors for the court to consider include the length of the marriage, the parties' ability to pay, their past relations and conduct, their ages, needs, ability to work, health, and fault, if any, and all other circumstances of the case. Magee, supra at 162. The main objective of alimony is to balance the incomes and needs of the parties in a way which will not impoverish either party. Magee, supra at 162; Ackerman v Ackerman, 197 Mich App 300, 302; 495 NW2d 173 (1992). We do not have a firm conviction that the trial court's dispositional ruling concerning the alimony award was inequitable in light of plaintiff's receipt of the marital home free and clear of debt, the terms of the property settlement, defendant's obligation to provide plaintiff with medical and dental insurance, the lack of evidence that plaintiff is incapable of full-time employment and that the annual alimony obligation, when combined with plaintiff's income, provides income in an amount more than sufficient to meet her monthly expenses as detailed in the record. Magee, supra at 162.

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Affirmed. Defendant being the prevailing party, may tax costs pursuant to MCR 7.219. /s/ Richard Allen Griffin /s/ Stephen J. Markman /s/ William C. Whitbeck

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