Houghton v. Houghton

157 N.W. 316 | S.D. | 1916

GATES, J.

In 1903 plaintiff was granted a divorce from defendant, on the ground1 of cruelty, by a decree of the circuit court within and' for Deuel county. Said decree awarded plaintiff the custody of the twin children of said marriage, -then about two years of age, but made no provision for the maintenance, support, or education of the children. Prior to the entry of the decree of divorce the parties settled their property matters out of court, the defendant paying plaintiff the sum of $2,200 for plaintiff’s allowance, attorney’s fees, and for the support of the children. The cause before us is in form an independent action brought in the same count by the same plaintiff 'against the same defendant in September, 19x3. The relief sought, so far as we are now concerned, was a provision for the future maintenance, support, and education of the children. The trial- court found that since the divorce 'the defendant has paid nothing for their support except the sum of $70; that by reason of i'll health and the want of financial means the plaintiff is now unable to properly support, maintain, and' educate the children; that the defendant is now worth about $17,000 while at the time of the divorce he was not worth to exceed the sum of $4,000; and that the sum of $75 ■per month is required for the support and maintenance of the children. As conclusions of law, the court found that the defend1an-t was liable for the proper maintenance, support, and education of the children, and that plaintiff was. entitled to1 a decree therefor and for a reasonable attorney fee in the action. Judgment was entered requiring defendant to’ pay the sum of $75 per month for the purposes mentioned, beginning with the month of February, 1915, to G. A. Mead1, trustee, and requiring the payment of $150, attorney fee to plaintiff’s attorneys-. From the judgment and order denying a new -trial, defendant has appealed.

Appellant contends that he is not liable in any -event for the maintenance, support, or education of the children; but that if he were liable it would any be in a proceeding brought in the original divorce action.

[1] Respondent’s counsel assert in their brief that' they brought this independent action, instead of applying to the court in the original action, because of the decision of this court in Cameron v. Cameron, 31 S. D. 335, 140 N. W. 700, Ann. Cas. 1915D, 1062. If that is1 so, they are entirely mistaken in assuming that the decision in the Cameron case -modified in any respect the decision of this court in the Marks case, 22 S. D. 453, 118 N. W. 694. In the Marks case this court expressly refrained form determining ’the question that was later decided in the Cameron -case, but did expressly decide that even though the decree of divorce was silent as to a provision for -the support, etc., of the child, the court bad the power to make an order at a later date in the same action'for its support, basing the decision on the plain language of section 91, C. C., viz.:

“In an action for divorce the court may, before or after judgment, give '.such direction for the custody, care and education of the children of the marriage as may s-ee-m- necessary or proper, ■and may at any time vacate or modify the same ”

In the Cameron case this court held that when the divorce decree was silent as to an- allowance to the wife, there was nothing to modify, and therefore that under the provision of section 92, C. C., “And the court may from time to time modify its orders in -these respects,” it -could not at a future -time make an order for am allowance to' the former wife.

[2] The distinction between the language of the 'two- sections -of statute is plain anid obvious, and no one ought to be confused as to' the attitude of this- court, upon the two questions. Moreover, there is a fundamental difference between the position of divorced persons towards each other and the position of the children with -relation -to either or both of. the parents. While the former husband and wife are no longer husband, and wife, the relation- of parent and child' still exists between' the mother and children on the .one hand, and between the father and- the children on the other hand, even though the mother has their exclusive custody. In a divorce case the children are, and continue to be virtually- wards of the court. Wald v. Wald, 168 Mo. App. 377, 151 S. W. 786. It is the welfare of the cbiidiren that the.court is concerned with, not the wishes of either of the parents, and we do now declare that parents are powerless to provide by irrevocable contract what the future financial liability of either shall be with' relation to the support, maintenance, and education of the children. 27 L,. R. A. 56, note, 42 L R. A. (N. S.) 1013, note. The court 'has the power, and it is its bounden duty, to look after the welfare of the children when the matter is properly brought to its attention. The Michigan Supreme Court in a habeas corpus proceeding between parents for the possession of a child, has well said:

“In contests of this kind the opinion is now nearly universal that neither of the parties has any rights that can be allowed to seriously militate against the welfare of the child. The paramount consideration is what is really demanded -by its best Interests. It is doing no violence to what is taught by judicial experience to assume that the disputing parties will be more alive to the satisfaction' of' their own feelings and interests than to the true end of the inquisition; while the innocent subject of the contention is utterly unable to< speak or act for itself, and is in danger of ¡being lost sight of in the strife for its- possession. No other occasion can call more loudly for judicial vigilance in reaching for the exact truth, and in putting aside with an unsparing hand the mere technicalities of procedure. The fate or interest of the child is not to depend on what the parties may see proper to state or to evade in their formal altercations, nor on any artificial rule of pleading.” Corrie v. Corrie, 42 Mich. 509, 4 N. W. 213.

[3] While we agree with the appellant 'that the matter should have been brought to the attention of the trial court by proceeding in the former action, we think it our duty to brush aside this technicality, and! so for the purposes of this case w-e now consider the present action as a motion in the divorce action. As before pointed out, the parties were the same, the forumi was the same, and the merits were considered1 precisely as though respondent had proceeded, in form', in the former action. The defendant appeared in this action and answered, thereby submitting himself to fh:e jurisdiction of the court. This obviated1 -any possible question of jurisdiction of tire - court over the person of the 'defendant. Moreover, in th-e amended complaint, th-e following allegation appears:

“And plaintiff makes this as her amended supplemental complaint and petition in -said original action wherein said1 -decree was granted.”

For the purposes of this -case w-e -are of the opinion that the parties were 'actually before the trial court in the original divorce action. Morrill v. Morrill, 83 Conn. 479, 77 Atl. 1. To reverse the judgment because of respondent’s failure toi so proceed, would be to- sacrifice sub-stance for form.

[4] Neither can we -sanction respondent’s contention that the original decree of divorce is- -res judicata so far as the custody of the children is -concerned. By th-e plain wording of the statute the -court in which the divorce is- granted contmues to have jurisdiction ever the question of, the custody, care, and education of the children. The courts have usually held: -that the original decree is- not res judicata where there has- been a material change in the situation and condition of the parties as to their fitness as such custodians. 14 Cyc. 810.

[5] Not -only does the best interest of the children continue to- he the- controlling factor in the mind- of the court in regard' to the matter of an allowance for their support, hut also in regard to th-ei-r custody. People ex rel. Allen v. Allen, 40 Hun, 611; 41 L. R. A. (N. S.) 570, note II, 597, note XII.

[6] We have examined the record with care and find nothing to criticize -or alter in the decree of the trial court, except possibly that part of the decree which -enjoins th-e appellant from selling or -disposing of certain property until the further order of th-e court. Appellant claims' that under such injunction he will be powerless to collect a certain mortgage and that he ought to-be permitted toi give security for the payment o-f the judgment, if sustained, and that his property be released from- the effect of the judgment and inijunctional -order. Such, a request is certainly a reasonable o-nei and we have no -doubt but -that upon- proper security being given, the trial court will' grant it.

[7] We are -also of the opinion- that tíre trial court should; arid! -it is -hereby directed t-o-, modify the dteoree in the original action ini accordance with its judgment and decree rendered and entered, in form, in this- action as herein modified, and that It be specifically provided 'that such decree is- subject to further modification from- time to time- as changed1 conditions and the best interests of the children require.

The judgment and -order denying a new trial are -therefore affirmed.