Court Opinion

ID: 9707714
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 02:19:27.24486+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:41:46.901007
License: Public Domain

WUEST, Justice
(concurring in part and dissenting in part).
This was a paternity proceeding which the circuit court turned into a “divorce proceeding.” His pragmatic solution to the unmarried live-ins’ legal affairs is ingenious. My problem with the circuit court’s decision and the majority’s opinion is a lack of statutory authority. Because of the increasing number of live-ins accumulating joint property and children, perhaps the legislature should address the situation and provide some type of “no-marriage divorce” * laws.
The majority opinion correctly states the law regarding the income tax exemption, but then affirms the trial court’s decision. In my opinion, we should leave the income tax exemption issue to the federal authorities. We are approving an exemption which we are not empowered to decide. Perhaps, we will be overruled by the Internal Revenue Service. I don’t relish being in that position nor is it fair to the parties as it tends to mislead them as to the income tax exemption. Otherwise, I concur with the majority.

 My slang for lack of a better description.