Court Opinion

ID: 5209329
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-06 16:09:11.463831+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:27:20.623606
License: Public Domain

Houghton, J.:
In March, 1908, a decree of separation from the defendant was granted to the plaintiff and she was given the custody of the two minor children, issue of the jnarriage. Alimony in the sum of $1,500, payable monthly, was granted to plaintiff for the support of herself and children on condition that she reside with such children in whatever county within the State of New York the defendant might be compelled to reside by reason of his business. The defendant was then and now is engaged in business at Binghamton in Broome county, and the moving papers show that plaintiff is a teacher of French and can add materially to her income if she be permitted to reside in the city of New York, to which city defendant’s business often calls him.
The plaintiff moved in pursuance of the provisions of section 1771 of the Code of Civil Procedure for a modification of the decree as to the payment of alimony by striking out the condition that it *284be payable only in case she should reside in such county as the defendant was compelled to reside by reason of his business, and inserting in place thereof that she be permitted to reside in the county of New York during the period between October and June in each year, and her motion was denied.
We think the modification should have been granted. The condition imposed was a very harsh and unusual one. It was doubtless inserted for the purpose of allowing the defendant to more easily visit his children. Its effect was to make the plaintiff and the children practically prisoners in the county in which the defendant chanced to be carrying on business on pain of forfeiture of any means of support. The defendant frequently has occasion, as the affidavits show, to go to the city of New York on business and can take advantage of those occasions to visit the children. The plain-. tiff by being permitted to reside in that city can add quite materially to her income by giving lessons in French.
There appears to be no reason to suspect that the application is not made in good faith. If it shall turn out not to be beneficial to herself and the children, the defendant will have the right to show the facts to the court and ask for any further modification of the decree that may be proper.
The order should be reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and the motion granted, with ten dollars costs.
Ingraham, McLaughlin, Clarke 'and Scott, JJ., concurred.
Order reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and motion granted, with ten dollars costs.