Review De Novo in Alimony and Property Settlement: Is it Desirable?

This Comment attempts to analyze the practical effects of review de novo in one category of divorce cases: those involving alimony and property settlement. To accomplish this task, it is necessary to examine Nebraska\u27s substantive rules for determining alimony and rendering property settlements, which is followed by an exploration of the historical basis for review de novo, with particular attention to its development in Nebraska. There is then an analysis of review de novo in alimony and property settlement cases, and some of the issues are discussed. Finally, some procedural recommendations are posited with the goal of improving appellate review of trial court decisions in these cases