Florida District Courts of Appeal, 1988

Steffen v. Steffen

Steffen v. Steffen
Florida District Courts of Appeal · Decided July 7, 1988 · Booth, Ervin, Wentworth
527 So. 2d 967; 13 Fla. L. Weekly 1580; 1988 Fla. App. LEXIS 2922; 1988 WL 70574 (Southern Reporter, Second Series)

Steffen v. Steffen

Opinion of the Court

ERVIN, Judge.

In this appeal from a final judgment of dissolution of marriage, the former husband raises two issues: (1) The trial court erred in awarding the wife permanent alimony in that the award exceeded the husband’s ability to pay and the wife did not testify as to her need for alimony. (2) The trial court erred in awarding the wife a sum equal to 40 percent of the husband’s gross military retirement pay. We conclude the first issue is without merit and affirm. As to the second issue raised, the wife concedes error, replying that the Uniform Services Former Spouses’ Protection Act (10 U.S.C. § 1408) permits the states to make an equitable distribution of the “disposable retirement pay” of the member as defined in the Act. (e.s.)

Accordingly, on remand the trial court is directed to limit the award of retirement pay to a portion of the appellant’s disposable retirement pay as provided in 10 U.S.C. § 1408.

AFFIRMED in part, REVERSED in part and remanded for further consistent proceedings.

BOOTH and WENTWORTH, JJ., concur.

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