Court Opinion

ID: 9575918
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:18:36.027048+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:50:29.858252
License: Public Domain

Neely, Justice,
Concurring:
I would point out that this case does not provide anything even close to an absolute right to partition when a wife has been awarded possession of a house. All it does is provide a hearing through which the judge must inquire into the equities of a possible partition. It is important to observe one critical factual element in this case, namely that this action is brought by a prominent, middle-aged doctor against his former wife of many years. It is conceivable that a married couple in this economic bracket might have purchased an enormous house which would be far in excess of reasonable housing for one person. Under that circumstance, it may be equitable to permit partition.
*803However, I am fearful that this case may be misused by middle income persons. While Dr. Stillings in this case is probably able to pay an increase in alimony of $1,000 a month to compensate his wife for her loss of the use of the house and to permit her to rent and maintain another smaller but suitable abode, such is not usually the case.
The use of jointly held property is security for a woman. If a jointly owned house is sold, the husband can take his share of the proceeds and flee the jurisdiction — not an uncommon occurrence. Furthermore, anyone who has practiced domestic relations law knows that getting alimony and child support out of a husband is more often than not like pulling teeth. America is a mobile society and once a husband decides to leave a West Virginia mine, for example, to go to Montana, as a practical matter, it is almost impossible for a wife to enforce her alimony award. Where a court gives the use of jointly held property, at least there is security that the wife will have a roof over her head. Thus some important elements of a court’s overall equitable considerations must be the moral risk of precipitous departure by the husband, his overall solvency, his past record of making timely payments without dispute or litigation, and his life expectancy along with the ability of his estate to respond to a wife’s right to alimony if it is awarded for her lifetime.
While a husband can bring an action for partition where he can show compelling equitable circumstances, such as an unreasonable tying up of his capital in a palatial house, a spiteful action for partition should never be countenanced. I suspect, but cannot prove, that this is such an action. Where a woman has made a home and wants it for sentimental purposes and to make a refuge for emancipated children, partition should not be permitted if the circuit court merely plans to cancel the economic advantage to the husband of the partition by raising the alimony award. Continued prosecution of a partition action under those circumstances is per se spiteful and for that reason inequitable. Finally, while sentimental attachment alone cannot be a defense to partition, all other things being equal a woman should be permitted to continue to enj oy the *804house she has made rather than an apartment or new house, when the cost is comparable.