Court Opinion

ID: 9681645
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 07:53:44.410642+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:34.992779
License: Public Domain

WALKER, Justice
(dissenting).
It is my opinion that the “right” of a member or former member of the armed forces to retirement benefits that are payable in the future, resting as it does on a statute that is subject to modification or repeal at any time, does not constitute property. The court granting the divorce could and should take it into consideration and, in the exercise of the broad powers conferred by Article 4638, is in position to enter an order that is just and equitable under the circumstances. See Mora v. Mora, Tex.Civ.App., 429 S.W.2d 660 (wr. dis.); Kirkham v. Kirkham, Tex.Civ.App., 335 S.W.2d 393 (no writ). Our present departure from reality in holding that “title” to benefits payable in the future “vests” or has its inception when the serviceman becomes eligible for retirement can lead to grossly inequitable results. As indicated by the concluding paragraph of the majority opinion, we may have such a case here. It seems to me that we should insist rather than suggest that the matter of statutory retirement benefits be submitted to and decided by the court granting the divorce. In my opinion the trial court was correct in holding that the divorce judgment entered on June 25, 1963, is res judicata of the claim now asserted by respondent, and I would affirm the trial court’s judgment that she take nothing.
GREENHILL and McGEE, JJ., join in this dissent.