Court Opinion

ID: 9553095
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 19:22:02.074651+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:29:41.197999
License: Public Domain

ROONEY, Justice,
dissenting.
Marital debts may be apportioned between the parties, as far as they are concerned, as part of the division of marital property in a divorce. The debt of one of the parties to divorce cannot be transferred to the other party to it in the divorce proceedings as far as the creditor is concerned. He can still bring his action on the debt against the original debtor, who in turn may recover from his or her former spouse pursuant to the divorce decree.
In this instance, the debt was not included in the division of marital property. The third-party creditor1 can bring her action for payment of the debt against appellant. He can present his defenses, including his contention that it was a gift to his former wife. He can bring her into the action as a third-party defendant. The matter would be settled pursuant to the action brought by the third-party creditor.
I do not believe that the divorce court has continuing jurisdiction over division of marital property. Paul v. Paul, Wyo., 631 P.2d 1060 (1981). The contingent nature of the interests in property which would re-*1311suit from the contrary position would place too great a restraint on the ability to dispose of, encumber, or otherwise handle the property, and it would create too great an uncertainty as to the property status, not only for the parties to the divorce but for third parties. This is especially true.when the property is a debt owed to a third party.
I would reverse, and let the creditor collect her debt in the normal fashion.

. The checks referred to in the majority opinion were cashier's checks payable to appellant.