Case ID: nj-eq_6/html/0027-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "The Chancellor.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

DAVID BRAY v. MARY ANN BRAY.
    1. Alimony allowed the wife pending a suit by the husband for a divorce for alleged adultery, on the denial by the wife, under oath, of the adultery.
    2. The answer of the wife should be put in without oath, and the denial ;;£ the adultery should be introduced in the petition for alimony, and the petition be under oath.
   The Chancellor.

The bill in this case is filed by the husband for a divorce, on the charge of adultery. The wife has put in an answer denying the adultery, and has filed her petition for alimony during the suit, and íbr a reasonable allowance for counsel fees and expenses, to enable her to defend the suit. The answer and petition are both under oath. Our statute provides that answers to bills for divorce shall not be under oath. But on application by the wile for alimony pendente lite, and an allowance to enable her to defend the suit, when the bill is filed by the husband and charges adultery, the oath of the wife, denying the charge of adultery, seems to be required to entitle her to alimony and allowance. I think the correct practice would be o file the answer without oath, and to introduce into the petition for alimony a distinct denial of the adultery, and swear to the petition. I shall consider the adultery as sufficiently denied in this case.

The defendant is entitled to alimony pendente lite, and to a reasonable allowance to enable her to defend the suit. 2 Paige 109 ; 3 Johns. Ch. 519 ; 1 Paige 83 ; 2 Ib. 621.

The court sometimes fixes the alimony without a reference, where affidavits on both sides have been presented for the purpose of enabling the court to fix the amount. It has not been done in this ease, and there must, therefore, be a reference.

Order accordingly.

Cited in Marker v. Marker, 3 Stockt. 258.