In Sikora v. Sikora, several errors required reversal and remand:
- In the absence of special circumstances, permanent, periodic alimony in an amount that exceeds the former wife’s established need is error.
- The trial court erred by imputing income to the former wife from her retirement accounts where there was no evidence to support the imputation.
- When the trial court awarded alimony, it abused its discretion by failing to make the award retroactive to the date of filing the petition for dissolution.
- Because the trial court failed to include the required findings, the life insurance requirement was reversed and remanded for further proceedings.
- An award of lump sum alimony of $25,000 to pay existing medical expenses was error in the absence of competent substantial evidence supporting that amount. Evidence supported that the Wife needed only $8900 for medical expenses.
- The inclusion of dissipated assets in the equitable distribution scheme was error, where there was no finding of misconduct.