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Try CasePortal for FreeJ. Blanchard finds the circuit court partially erred in modifying maintenance payments the ex-husband must pay to the ex-wife under the terms of their 1999 divorce to $3,850 per month after the payments were initially lowered from $4,500 to $2,800 based on the ex-husband being unable to work for several months due to spinal surgery. The portion of the circuit court's order setting the payments at $3,850 per month is reversed, as the court failed to properly explain the basis for the award based on facts like the parties' total assets and monthly income, and on remand the court is ordered to explain the basis for whatever award it deems necessary. The circuit court did not err in ordering the ex-husband to pay the ex-wife $19,000 in attorney fees and, based on the language of the relevant statutes, the circuit court had competency to hold the hearing de novo requested by the ex-wife even though the hearing occurred more than 60 days after she requested it, as the 60-day time frame in the statute is directory and not mandatory. Reversed in part.