Document: 330 U.S. 610 67 S.Ct. 903 91 L.Ed. 1133 PEOPLE OF STATE NEW YORK ex rel. HALVEYv.HALVEY. No. 384. Argued Feb. 5, 1947. Decided March 31, Mr. B. E. Hendricks, of Miami, Fla., for petitioner. Samuel Shapiro, New York City, respondent. Justice DOUGLAS delivered the opinion Court. 1 The Halveys were married in 1937 and lived together until 1944. In 1938 a son was born. Marital troubles developed. 1944 Mrs. Halvey, without her husband's consent, left home with child, went to Florida, established residence there. 1945 she instituted suit divorce Florida. Service process on Halvey had by publication, he making no appearance action. day before Florida decree granted, knowledge or approval his wife, took child back York. next entered court, granting awarding permanent care, custody, control child. 2 Thereupon brought habeas corpus proceeding Supreme Court, challenging legality Halvey's detention After hearing, court ordered (1) that custody remain mother; (2) father have rights visitation including right keep him during stated vacation periods each year, (3) mother file surety bond sum $5,000, conditioned delivery removal when him. 185 Misc. 52, 55 N.Y.S.2d 761. Both Appellate Division, 269 App.Div. 1019, 59 396 Court Appeals, 295 N.Y. 836, 66 N.E.2d 851, affirmed opinion. case is here petition writ certiorari which we granted because it presented an important problem under Full Faith Credit Clause Constitution. Article IV, § 1. 3 not irrevocable unchangeable; power modify at all times.1 Under law 'welfare child' 'chief consideration' shaping subsequently modifying changing it. Frazier v. Frazier, 109 Fla. 164, 169, 147 So. 464, 466; See Phillips Phillips, 153 133, 134, 135, 13 So.2d 922, 923. But 'the inherent parents enjoy society association their offspring reasonable opportunity impress upon them father's mother's love affection upbringing, must be regarded as being equally important, if controlling, consideration adjusting between ordinary cases.' page 466. Facts arisen since original are one basis modification decree. 168, 464; Jones Jones, 156 524, 23 623, 625. so restricted. It held Meadows Meadows, 78 576, 83 392, 393, proper minor subject chancellor any time, even facts issue could been considered previous such former hearing.' (Italics added.) Or, 465, 'is materially amended changed afterward, unless altered conditions shown decree, material bearing question existing time but unknown then only welfare child.' result decrees courts ordinarily res judicata either elsewhere, except judgment. Minick Minick, 111 469, 490, 491, 149 483, 492. 4 Respondent did appear proceeding. What evidence adduced does appear. know see respondent nor hear behalf concerning fitness claim 'to association' son. 469. seems us plain, therefore, rule supra, would empowered interests grant visitation, applied rather than version controversy first application modification. 5 So far concerned, what do may do. Constitution provides 'Full shall given State public Acts, Records, Judicial Proceedings every other State. And Congress general Laws prescribe Manner acts, Records proved, Effect thereof.' Act May 26, 1790, c. 11, amended, R.S. 905, 28 U.S.C. 687, U.S.C.A. declared judgments 'shall faith credit within United States they usage from taken.' this command requires judgment sister full, partial, forum. Davis Davis, 305 32, 3, 118 A.L.R. 1518; Williams North Carolina, 317 287, 63 207, 87 279, 143 1273. has constitutional more conclusive final effect forum where ren ered. Reynolds Stockton, 140 254, 264, 11 773, 775, 35 464. If rendered jurisdiction over person matter, jurisdictional infirmity saved Clause. Thompson Whitman, 18 Wall. 457, 21 897; Griffin Griffin, 327 220, 556. amount payable decree—as alimony—is discretionary it, full protect Sistare Sistare, 218 1, 17, 30 682, 686, 54 L.R.A., N.S., 1068, 20 Ann.Cas. 1061. Whatever authority undermine grounds cognizable (Cf. 325 226, 230, 65 1092, 1095, 89 1577, 157 1366), clear least much leeway disregard judgment, qualify depart rendered. 6 having both hearing determined warranted exceeded limits permitted law. There therefore failure proof received less 7 narrow ground rest decision makes unnecessary consider several questions argued, e.g., whether child,2 removed after proceedings started entered; absence personal service binding husband; greater Florida's power; may, regardless another State, make orders requires. On these problems reserve decision. 8 Affirmed. 9 JACKSON concurs record show court. 10 FRANKFURTER, concurring. Conflicts arising out family relations raise involve considerations very different controversies debtor-creditor give rise. Such cardinal differences life properly reflected so, use same legal words phrases enforcing involving two types ought obliterate great difference affected them, should lead irrelevant identity result. 12 policy formulated cannot fitted into tight little categories too abstract generalities. That nation-wide restriction litigiousness, extent States, autonomous certain purposes, exploited permit repetitive litigation. substance, Framers deemed against national truly litigated relitigated another. limitation foreclose inquiry o adjudicated. scope bounded its underlying procedural unrelated Thus, affecting domestic technical 'finality' alimony seem me deciding respect accorded valid prior touching concurring Barber Barber, 323 77, 86, 137, 141, 82, 163, dissenting opinions pages 236 248, 556, 564 570. Compare Yarborough Yarborough, 290 202, 181, 269, 90 924. Which brings present case. there provide manner did, I think decreed, called change custodial care. respond circumstances. child's controlling whenever can actually lay hold appealed Short that, set aside simply independent consideration, own view appropriate. 14 Here lower While professed acted though dispersion family. Its action seemed controlled right, assumption test order specifically noted 'not adopt entirety views expressed' below. intermediate tribunal was, turn, Appeals. Of course, entitled respect, upset provisions sanctioned highest Although afforded guidance moved Appeals sustain slim am justified finding unmindful duty 15 determining stand fall account taken competing considerations. presumptive State—here Florida—to render asked. court—here York—which actual provision welfare. Where, here, prevail yield. Since doubtful, exercising interest 1366. 16 A close analysis precise require conclusion. validity providing power. our upsetting Apart previously done, York's enter unquestioned. qualified judgmen . arises themselves kind made. meager uncertainties law, necessary assurance precisely like us. long uncertainty, vitiated light applicable securely ascertained inquiry, might As is, concur affirmance 17 RUTLEDGE, join dubitante, award custody1 lacking finality prevent rendering acquiring status, altering it.2 19 unfortunate apparently, possible continuing round litigation perhaps also abduction, alienated parents. consequence hardly thought conducive And, possible, avoid distressing result, best disposing cases matter local policy, York,3 formulating federal policies well due relation dispositions. sure mother, once returned Florida,4 will able secure nullifying decree,5 event lawfully repeat abduction restoration those up unseemly litigious competition states respective Sometime, somehow, end matters. function limited clause. agree notions generally purposes strict decrees.6 But, concerned effects judgments. clearly settled while clause rendered, more.7 22 Accordingly, state gives alternation, unable how others parties required virtue credit.8 require, changes incorporated Whether bound observe changes, however desire along reserved Court's 'In alimony, stage cause maintenance children marriage, what, any, security same, circumstances nature fit, equitable just, spiritual require.' Fla.Stats.1941, 65.14, F.S.A. domicile usually father. 483; Dorman Friendly, 146 732, 738, 734, 736. dependent legally domiciled physically supra; Clark Clark, 14, 452, 517. 492, quoted statement Schouler Marriage Divorce (6th ed.) 1896: 'These (of custody) necessarily provisional temporary character, judicata, foreign jurisdiction, judgment.' 392. trial gave lip observing awarded 'of visitation' allowed decree; included specified hours three months visiting rights. appellate made Fla.Stat.Ann. 65.14; 527, 623; Green Green, 137 359, 361, 188 355. Matter Rich Kaminsky, 254 6, 689; Bull, 266 290, 42 53, 291 792, 53 368; N.Y.Domestic Relations Law, Consol.Laws, 70; Finlay Finlay, 240 429, 433, 148 N.E. 624, 40 937. permits mo take note 2, surrendering beginning prescribed custody. consistently remove Once there, acquire status further awards indeed purpose. notes 4. relieve compulsion bond. part 247, 569; 163. Rev.Stat. cited 236, 564, Note Commentators who suggested assumed modified new occurring subsequent See, Custody Decree Other Than Where Rendered (1933) 81 U.Pa.L.Rev. 970, 972. points circumstance.

Category: 10