Opinion ID: 2621569
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: jurisdiction

Text: [¶ 26] Lastly, Husband claims that, in an effort to punish him, the district court exceeded its jurisdiction by ordering territories outside Wyoming to take action on assets held by Husband. We have said: We think the issue settled, at least since Fall v. Eastin, 215 U.S. 1, 30 S.Ct. 3, 54 L.Ed. 65 (1909), 23 L.R.A., N.S., 924 that the court of one state has no power to directly affect title to land located wholly within the borders of another. Decrees and judgments purporting to this effect are void, and to the extent the decree before us purports to so do it must fail. However, we consider it equally well established that a court of equity having authority to act upon the person may indirectly act upon real estate located in another state, through the instrumentality of its equity power over the person. Fall v. Eastin, supra; Rozan v. Rozan, 49 Cal.2d 322, 317 P.2d 11 (1957), reh. denied; Weesner v. Weesner, 168 Neb. 346, 95 N.W.2d 682 (1959); McElreath v. McElreath, 162 Tex. 190, 345 S.W.2d 722, reh. denied (1961); 34 A.L.R.3d 962. Kane v. Kane, 577 P.2d 172, 175-76 (Wyo. 1978). One equitable function of the court is the disposition of property. When the court has jurisdiction over the parties in a divorce action, the court has the power to settle property matters even if the property is not located in the jurisdiction. Id. We distinguish between a judgment directed at the property itself and one directed against the owner of the property. Id. at 176. The district court's judgment does appear to attempt to direct judgment on both the property itself and the owner of the property. The former cannot stand, but the later can. Id. We, therefore, recognize that the judgment can properly operate upon Husband himself with modification and direct such modification to strike the improper portions. The judgment ordered by the district court reads as follows: 3. All property and assets of the defendant, or under the control of the defendant, of whatsoever kind or description, whether real, personal, or mixed, and wheresoever situate, whether within the State of Wyoming or without the State of Wyoming, should be frozen forthwith; and the defendant and all other persons or entities, of whatsoever kind or description, and wheresoever located or resident, should be, and hereby are, ordered to take no action of whatsoever kind which might have the effect of removing any such asset from the jurisdiction of any court of any state or territory of the United States or from the jurisdiction of any of the Courts of the United States. 4. All property and assets of the defendant, of whatsoever kind or description, or under the control of the defendant, whether real, personal, or mixed, or under the control of the defendant, whether real, personal, or mixed, [sic] and wheresoever situate, whether within the State of Wyoming or without the State of Wyoming, are hereby assigned to the plaintiff as her sole and separate property, to the extent necessary to satisfy the judgment hereby awarded in favor of the defendant, provide for the alimony payments herein ordered, provide for the child support payments herein ordered, or to comply otherwise with the orders of this Court. The above-mentioned paragraphs should be modified to read as follows: 3. The defendant should be, and hereby is, ordered to take no action of whatsoever kind which might have the effect of removing any asset under the control of the defendant from the jurisdiction of any court of any state or territory of the United States or from the jurisdiction of any of the Courts of the United States. 4. The defendant is directed to assign property within his control to the plaintiff as her sole and separate property, to the extent necessary to satisfy the judgment hereby awarded in favor of the plaintiff, provide for the alimony payments herein ordered, provide for the child support payments herein ordered, or to comply otherwise with the orders of this Court.