Opinion ID: 1317841
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Full Faith and Credit The Judgement for Arrears

Text: As we analyze the proceedings in New Jersey filed in the district court, there are really two judgments, the judgment nisi as amended being the continuing order of the court that defendant do certain things and pay certain amounts of money, which judgment we think is properly entered in Wyoming and becomes an effective judgment as though entered by a court in this state. This judgment, under our law and the New Jersey law, is subject to modification in certain respects. The second judgment is the final judgment of the New Jersey court having jurisdiction of the matter that there is a definite and fixed sum of money due from the defendant to the plaintiff, which judgment recorded in accordance with New Jersey law has the same force and effect as any other money judgment in that state, constitutes a lien upon the property of the defendant, and permits the issuance of execution to collect the same. [10] We think that under the decisions of the state of New Jersey this judgment is unassailable in that state except for material defects in the proceedings that would permit the vacation of any other judgment. It is not subject to the discretionary control of the courts. If, then, we are to give full faith and credit to that judgment we must hold that it is not subject to attack in this state except on grounds that would permit attack upon any other money judgment, such as want of jurisdiction in the court entering the judgment or lack of service so as to vest jurisdiction over the defendant. Nor do we find in the New Jersey law or in our law [11] any provision which permits the court, having entered a final and complete judgment, to allow the judgment to be paid over a period of time or to be subject to qualifications that do not pertain to other judgments. [12] We cannot interpret our statute authorizing the court to alter a decree for alimony or allowance for children as permitting it to interfere with or modify what has become a money judgment. Just because the final judgment for a fixed sum of money grows out of a divorce action does not continue the power of the court granting the divorce or a subsequent court having jurisdiction of the matter to extend the time for payment thereof or otherwise modify the same. When the final judgment is entered the discretionary powers of the courts are exhausted. In the present case there was no application to the court for any orders of this court with respect to the enforcement of the judgment of June 20, 1974. That judgment was final in New Jersey and upon filing in this state in accordance with our Uniform Act was final in this state. All that was left was the ministerial act of issuing a writ of execution. There was no need for the entry in the district court of another judgment and insofar as the judgment in the district court here attacked sought to include therein an amount that had already been reduced to final judgment we think that it was superfluous. The judgment of the New Jersey court has been filed for record and remains as the final judgment on that particular obligation of the defendant. Upon entry of a judgment for money by any court in Wyoming the applicable law, § 1-308.1, W.S. 1957, 1975 Cum.Supp., specifically directs that it shall bear interest at 10% per year from the date of rendition until paid. Such allowance of interest is not in the discretion of the court entering judgment, it is a grant from the legislature of the state and we do not think that any court may refuse to give it effect. [13] The district court directed that the total judgment of $11,176.20 entered by it be paid in 117 installments of $100 per month, commencing September 1, 1978, the last such payment to be in the amount of $76.20. Such language must be construed as carrying the inference that compliance with that order would satisfy all obligations of the judgment debtor and he would then be entitled to satisfaction of the judgment. So construed, we think the judgment was beyond the jurisdiction and power of the court. We think that our action gives to the New Jersey judgment of June 20, 1974 the full faith and credit that is required by the federal constitution and is consistent with the decision in Barber v. Barber, 323 U.S. 77, 65 S.Ct. 137, 89 L.Ed. 82 (1944). In that case plaintiff had obtained a judicial separation with alimony provisions by judgment of the Superior Court of North Carolina. She later obtained judgment from the North Carolina court fixing the amount of arrearages and then filed suit on that judgment in the courts of Tennessee. The Supreme Court of Tennessee reversed a judgment of the lower Tennessee court enforcing this judgment, on the ground that the judgment was without the finality entitling it to full faith and credit. The Supreme Court of the United States reversed. As we read the opinion the court distinguishes between the judgment or order making the allowances and the subsequent money judgment for arrearages. The first, being subject to modification, is not entitled to full faith and credit; the second, not subject to modification, is within the constitutional mandate.    The present judgment is on its face an unconditional adjudication of petitioner's right to recover a sum of money due and owing which, by the law of the state, is a debt.    Upon full consideration of the law of North Carolina we conclude that respondent has not overcome the prima facie validity and finality of the judgment sued upon. We cannot say that the statutory authority to modify or recall an order providing for future allowances of installments of alimony extends to a judgment for overdue installments or that such a judgment is not entitled to full faith and credit. 323 U.S. at 86, 65 S.Ct. at 141. We therefore hold that the judgment of the New Jersey court of June 20, 1974, fixing the then amount of arrearages due from the defendant, filed in the district court on September 4, 1974, became a full and complete judgment having the same effect as any money judgment entered in any court of this state, and that the same was not subject to extension as to payments, elimination of interest or other order hampering or restraining its enforcement just as any other judgment. Insofar as the judgment of the district court seeks to do this, it must be reversed.