Side Bar - Case Study in Alimony

The wife was a majority shareholder in company started by her family. She drew a salary of $58,100 but was also entitled to distributions from the company in excess of $340,000 per year, and her shares in the company were worth between $2 million and $3 million. The husband had been employed by the company as a field sales manager with a salary of about $59,000 per year, but his salary was reduced to $38,000 when he left the company to become an officer in a bank. The wife was ordered to pay alimony to husband of $1,500 per month, subject to review by the court after twenty-four months.

Source: In re Marriage of Shinn (Illinois Appellate Court, 2000)