2023 Virginia Unpublished: Yazdi v. Darai: Dowry Unrelated to Spousal Support
During cross-examination, the wife admitted that she had a dowry of five hundred gold coins in Iran and that she had started the process to recover her dowry in November 2019. But she explained that she did not know the value of it and that recovering it was “a really long process.
The husband requested that the existence of a dowry should be considered and Wife’s financial resources and factor in reducing the spousal support. Trail court disagreed. Husband appealed & Confirmed.
Husband next argues that the circuit court failed to consider wife’s financial resources, primarily her dowry, “which is available to her in Iran.” Neither party, however, introduced any evidence as to the value of wife’s dowry. Moreover, wife testified that recovering the dowry was “a really long process” that would take maybe more than two years.”…
Given the lack of evidence regarding the value of wife’s dowry and when, or even if, she would receive it, the circuit court did not abuse its discretion by finding that the dowry was not relevant to its spousal support award.”
[*UNPUBLISHED: “Although not binding precedent, unpublished opinions can be cited and considered for their persuasive value.” Blowe v. Commonwealth, 72 Va. App. 457, 468 n.10 C2020} (quoting Otey v. Commonwealth, 61 Va. App. 346, 350 n.3 (2012)).]
Case file: 2023: Unvalued Dowry Has No Effect on Spousal Support (UNPUBLISHED*)
