In an interesting unreported decision released on August 3, 2009 entitled Mathias v. Mathias, a wife was granted both permanent and rehabilitation alimony after a 15 year marriage.
In this case, the husband was a state trooper. The wife had cared for the children, by agreement, though she had worked on and off as a cosmetologist. She was attending college seeking to be a registered nurse at the time of trial.
The trial judge imputed two income figures to the wife. One as to what she was earning at the time and what she could earn in the future as a nurse. The matter was reversed and remanded for further consideration as to both. For the current income, there was a finding that the wife was underemployed yet the Court used her current income. For the future, the statistics from the department of labor as to what a registered nurse could earn were used.