Legal Document

334 U.S. 541 68 Supreme Court Reporter 1213 92 L.Ed. 1561 ESTINv.ESTIN. Number 139. Argued Feb. 2, 3, 1948. Decided June 7, Mr. James G. Purdy, of New York City, for petitioners. Roy Guthman, respondents. Justice DOUGLAS delivered the opinion Court. 1 This case, here on certiorari to Appeals York, presents an important question under Full Faith and Credit Clause Constitution.1 Article IV, § 1. It is whether a decree awarding respondent $180 per month her maintenance support in separation proceeding survived Nevada divorce which subsequently was granted petitioner. 2 The parties were married 1937 lived together until 1942 when husband left wife. There no issue marriage. In 1943 she brought action against him separation. He entered general appearance. court, finding that he had abandoned her, awarded as permanent alimony. January 1944 went where 1945 instituted divorce. She notified by constructive service but appearance it. May, 1945, petitioner been bona fide resident since 30, 1944, absolute 'on ground three years continual separation, without cohabitation.' made provision alimony, though court advised decree. 3 Prior time payments alimony After entry ceased paying. Thereupon sued supplementary judgment amount arrears. Petitioner appeared moved eliminate provisions reason denied motion Sup., 63 N.Y.S.2d 476. affirmed Appellate Division, 271 App.Div. 829, 66 421, then Appeals. 296 N.Y. 308, 73 North Eastern Reporter, 2nd Series 113. 4 We held Williams versus Carolina, 317 287, 207, 87 279, 143 American Law Reports 1273; 325 226, 65 1092, 89 1577, 157 1366, (1) State one its domiciliaries entitled full faith credit bigamy prosecution another State, even other spouse given notice only through service; (2) while domicile prima facie weight, it not conclusive sister might be relitigated there. And see Esenwein Pennsylvania, 1118, 1608, 1396. latter course followed this consequence found, accord with 'is now has Nevada.' (63 482) 5 Petitioner's argument therefore tail must go hide—that decree, recognized are longer wife, legal incidence marriage remains. detailed analysis law show courts have power either statute or common compel man his ex-wife, payable so long relation wife exists, some states, supra, page 280, 1396, order does survive 6 difficulty highest case can petitioner's That conclusion binding us, except conflicts Clause. us say ruling squares what said earlier occasions. enough today says such policy. whete r powerless make view 7 put side personally served appears proceedings. Cf. Yarborough Yarborough, 290 202, 54 181, 78 269; Davis Davis, 305 32, 59 83 26, 118 1518; Sherrer Sherrer, 343, 1087; Coe Coe, 378, 1094. publication proceeding. requirements procedural due process satisfied foundation effecting change marital capacity both all States Union, well Nevada. 1273. But fact changed mean every necessarily affected. 8 Although point adjudicated Barber Barber, 21 How. 582, 588, 16 obtained Wisconsin from absent dissolve vinculum marriage, did freed payment York. An absolutist quarrel result demand rule once granted, whole dissolved, leaving roots tendrils any kind. there few areas black white. greys dominant among them shades innumerable. For eternal problem making accommodations between conflicting interests. why most problems end questions degree. true present Clause.2 involves considerations policy essential state. 9 situations because enforcement would contravene latter's policy, far between. See 294, 295, 210, 211, Magnolia Petroleum company Hunt, 320 430, 438, 439, 64 208, 88 149, 150 413, cases cited; supra. applied, accordion-like, accommodate our personal predilections. substituted command principles comity thus basically altered status independent sovereigns. 301, 302, 214, ordered submission hostile policies reflected practical operation federal system, Constitution designed, demanded credit, judgments concerned,3 exacting, if inexorable (Sherrer supra), mean, however, may, use service, enter changes relationship.4 10 Marital regularity integrity relation. affects legitimacy offspring basis criminal laws, Carolina dramatically illustrates. considerable interest preventing bigamous marriages protecting being bastardized. extends domiciliaries. should guard changing altering their throughout farthest reaches nation. person domiciled allowed suffer penalties living outside recognizes lawful children born carry stigma bastardy they move elsewhere. These matters legitimate concern domicile. They entitle bring service. way could maintain effective control 11 Those permitted matrimonial ex parte proceeding, Thompson Thompson, 226 551, 33 129, 57 347, we thought equally applicable established pages 300—301, those little relevancy here. evinced broken before rightly concerned lest impoverished perhaps become public charge. livelihood plainly matter community interest. having jurisdiction over parties, undertook protect granting Nevada, apparently follows dissolution puts order. Herrick Herrick, 55 Nev. 59, 68, 25 Pacific 380. circumstances adjudicate rights appear 12 Bassett Bassett, Cir., 141 Federal 954, not.5 agree view. 13 property respondent, created present. imposed obligations respondent. intangible, cannot exerted physical thing. Jurisdiction intangible indeed arise persons whose relationships source obligations. Curry McCanless, 307 357, 366, 900, 905, 1339, 123 162. 14 debtor sufficient give debt owes. can, example, levy tax transfer will (Blackstone Miller, 188 189, 23 277, 47 439; Tax Commission Utah Aldrich, 316 174,1 76, 177, 62 1008, 1009, 86 1358, 139 1436) appropriate garnishment attachment (Chicago, R.I. & P.R. Sturm, 174 710, 19 797, 43 1144; Harris Balk, 198 215, 625, 49 1023, Ann.Cas. 1084), collect administer benefit creditors. Clark Williard, 294 356, 79 865, 98 347; Fischer United insurance Co., 314 549, 553, 380, 382, 444. aware determine creditor unless existence repeatedly denied. Pennoyer Neff, 95 714, 24 565; Hart Sansom, 110 151, 586, 28 101; Life Dunlevy, 241 518, 36 613, 60 1140. 15 know take out category. wipe respondent's claim nothing less than attempt restrain asserting judgment. exercise personam court. may done. Since judgment, need phase Nevada's A render demand. Hansberry Lee, 311 40, 41, 61 115, 117, 85 22, 132 741; 229, 1094, cited. situation divisible effect insofar ineffective accommodates interests restricting each concern. 17 alter do reach further event Sistare Sistare, 218 1, 30 682, L.R.A.,N.S., 1068, 20 1061; 323 77, 137, 82, 163; Griffin Griffin, 327 220, 556, 90 635. consider discrimination shown out-of-state divorces makes 18 Affirmed. FRANKFURTER, dissenting. Court's rest grounds: consistently Clause, hold prior separate survives within scope enforceability 1273, State; 22 By virtue citizens becoming charges, constitutionally provide domestic servives sister-State respected first supra; (3) creates obligation not, process, extinguished lacking obligee, possessed terminate status, purporting extra-State recognition. To these grounds N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions assent, decision upheld. decide decrees it, provided, course, mere defeat right, guise determination law. Wechsler, 263 24, 25, 44 13, 14, 143. second difficulties. York's residents justify giving enforceable served, valid similarly obtained. As this, views brother JACKSON. If, hand, discriminate 'ex parte' arises. 26 Furthermore, Pennsylvania—which treats terminated divorce, Commonwealth, 1396—and suit based Pennsylvania clear charge refusal treat terminated. required refer Commonwealth and, enforce 27 My third purport, record discloses, survival merely status. effect, reference own law, If consequences, about Similarly, realty, but, provided dower, dower realty depending treated affected violative wished. involved violation complicated issues considered! special surviving 29 Accordingly, crucial issue, decided could. leaves doubt. decisions dispel my doubts. Neither cited Appeals' opinion, which, exception Wagster Wagster, 193 Ark. 902, 103 South Western 638, involve divorces. legitimately decline allow Cr olina, domiciled, afford gives similar jurisdictional foundation. sure am reinforced JACKSON'S dissent. lawyer assigned Second Circuit, presumably knowledge written spirit certitude contrary JACKSON assumes be. Thus, deem decisive decree—namely, support—her spoken ascertainable clarity. remand clarification rationale. '* * ambiguous obscure adjudications state stand barriers validity constitution action. Intelligent appellate powers compels ask elimination obscurities ambiguities opinions cases.' Minnesota National Tea 309 557, 676, 679, 84 920. 31 JACKSON, 32 thing people expect lawmakers, rules enable individuals tell so, whom. Today many who simply more know, learned advise confidence. uncertainties technical, nor trivial; affect fundamental relations lawfulness cohabitation, children's legitimacy, title property, law-abiding criminals. society mobile nomadic ours, large numbers create social magnitude. that, whatever do, shall add confusion. think just that. during entire life. Courts award October 1943. Three months later journeyed began No Nevada; Notified going on, choice: fight battle, hopeless keep nothing. nothing, requiring 34 Now controls pay premise remain estranged, hence support, incident continues. exists dependent ceased. 35 Solomon-like half good bad clause. free marriage; incidental Assuming requires at all, how square credit. reasons stated dissenting Nort standing clause short residence. good, rendered understand if, after right same have. accepted purposes others, former still jailed, paying woman whom compelled directs 'Full Acts, Records, judicial Proceedings State' provides 'Congress Laws prescribe Manner Proceedings, proved, Effec thereof.' Act May 1790, chapter 11, Statutes-at-Large 122, amended, Code KF62 687, Annotated KF65 U5 Congress 'records proceedings' 'shall States, usage taken.' Bingham, Matter Haddock Haddock, Corn.L.Quart. 393; Radin, Authenticated 39 Ill.L.Rev. 1; Holt, Bones 41 Mich.L.Rev. 1013, 1034; Barnhard, Reversed—Harbinger Divisible Divorce, Geo.L.J. 210; Cook, Is Overruled, Ind.L.J. 165. respects statutes, discussion 296, 212, unlike LE d. conduct forfeited laws retain jurisdiction. Miller 200 Iowa 1193, 206 Northwestern KF135 N69 262.

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