Eversbusch v. Eversbusch
293 Ga. 60
| Ga. | 2013Background
- Husband and Wife married in June 1985; marital problems arose in 2001 and the couple created a postnuptial-era document in January 2002.
- The six-page Letter of Agreement included provisions for assets, custody, and alimony and child support, signed by both parties on January 2, 2002.
- In May 2012 Wife moved to enforce the Agreement, arguing it resolved all issues of property division and permanent alimony.
- The Superior Court deemed the alimony provision vague and not agreed upon, denying enforcement of that provision.
- On appeal, the Court affirmed the trial court’s denial of enforcement as to the alimony and child support formulae, while considering related issues and definitions elsewhere in the Agreement.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether the alimony provision is enforceable despite two formulas | Wife asserts the second formula is enforceable and reflects an intent to give 50% of Husband’s total income to her | Husband argues the entire alimony provision is vague and incomplete, lacking a meeting of the minds | Alimony provision unenforceable; terms are incomplete and indefinite |
| Whether Scherer v. Scherer applies to enforceability | Wife seeks Scherer-based analysis to show enforceability | Husband opposes applying Scherer to sustain enforcement | Unnecessary to apply Scherer; alimony provision already unenforceable |
Key Cases Cited
- Spurlin v. Spurlin, 289 Ga. 818 (Ga. 2011) (trial court has broad enforcement discretion for postnuptial agreements)
- Moss v. Moss, 265 Ga. 802 (Ga. 1995) (essential terms must be present and agreed upon for enforceability)
- Allen v. Sea Gardens Seafood, 290 Ga. 715 (Ga. 2012) (terms cannot be incomplete, vague, or indefinite in contract enforcement)
- Scherer v. Scherer, 249 Ga. 635 (Ga. 1982) (test for enforceability of alimony provisions in agreements)
