Case Name: BALLENTINE v. BALLENTINE
Court: New Jersey Court of Chancery
Jurisdiction: New Jersey
Decision Date: 1846-09
Citations: 5 N.J. Eq. 519
Docket Number: 
Parties: BALLENTINE v. BALLENTINE.
Judges: 
Reporter: New Jersey Equity Reports
Volume: 5
Pages: 519–519

Head Matter:
BALLENTINE v. BALLENTINE.
On bill by wife, by her next friend, against her husband, for alimony and maintenance, a motion on the part of the defendant that the complainant file security for costs, was denied.
This was a bill by the wife, by her next friend, against the husband, for alimony and maintenance, and for the support of their child.
A. Whitehead, on the part of the defendant, moved that the complainant give security for costs, and relied on Rev. Stat. 925, § 11.
Wm. M. Scudder, contra.

Opinion:
The Chancellor.
Under Sections 10 and 11 of Rev. Stat. 924, 925, the bill, I think, might be filed by the wife in her own name, without a next friend. I am not prepared to say that, in that case, the 11th section, providing that in any such suit it shall and may be lawful for the Chancellor, if applied for before answer filed, to order a bond to be given in one hundred dollars, by one or more sufficient freeholders, with condition to pay such costs as may be awarded to be paid to the defendant, is imperative. Even in suits by the wife for alimony, this court, in proper cases, makes an order on the husband to pay money for the wife's costs and expenses. In this case the next friend is admitted to be a freeholder, and no question is made as to his responsibility.
Motion denied.