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Cook v. Cook
Citations: 237 A.D.2d 891; 656 N.Y.S.2d 1000; 1997 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 3479
Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York; March 13, 1997; New York; State Appellate Court
Judgment modified unanimously, affirming the decision with adjustments. The court holds broad authority in maintenance determinations, similar to the trial court's power. Given the established standard of living during the marriage, significant income disparity, and the defendant's need for time to build her career, the initially awarded maintenance is deemed insufficient in both amount and duration. The judgment is modified to increase the maintenance to $2,500 per month for four years. Additionally, the court recognizes the defendant's student loans as marital debt, which should be divided equally. The judgment is further modified to require the plaintiff to pay half of the defendant’s student loan balance. The appeal originated from the Supreme Court of Monroe County, presided over by Judge Bergin, focusing on maintenance issues.