Hodges v. Hodges

Smith, C. J.

After the decision in Wilson v. Wilson, 2 Dev. & Bat., 377 , (at June term, 1837,) declaring that the “courts are not authorized to make allowances for alimony before the complaint of the wife shall be finally tried,” the act of 1852, ch. 53, was passed conferring the power in express terms. Revised Code, ch. 39, § 15. This act provides that “ in all petitions for divorce and alimony, or for alimony, when the matter set forth in such petition shall be sufficient to entitle the petitioner to a decree for alimony, the court may, in its discretion, at any time pending the suit, decree such reasonable alimony for the support and sustenance of the petitioner and her family as shall seem just under all the circumstances of the case,” including as well those cases in which alimony alone, as the final object of the suit, is sought, as those in which both separation and support are demanded.

But in the revising and superseding enactment of February 12th, 1872, entitled “ An act concerning marriages, marriage settlements, and the contracts of married women,” which went into effect on the first day of July following, (section 38, relating to alimony pendente lite and which corresponds to and is substituted for section 15 of chapter 39 of *124 the Revised Code,) there is a material modification, and the language is: “ If any married woman shall apply to a court for a divorce from the bonds of matrimony, or from bed and board, and shall,” &c., omitting therefrom the words “ or for alimony”

found in the pre-existing law. Bat. Rev., ch. 37, § 10.

The succeeding section 39 (section 11 in the Revisal) is as follows: “ If any husband shall separate himself from his wife and fail to provide her with the necessary subsistence, according to his means and condition in life, or if he shall be a drunkard or spendthrift, the wife may apply for a special proceeding to the judge of the superior court for the county in which he resides, to have a reasonable subsistence secured to her and the children of the marriage from the estate of her husband; and it shall be lawful for such judge to cause the husband to secure so much of his estate as may be proper according to his estate and circumstances,for the benefit of his said wife and children, having regard also to the separate estate of the wife.” This looks to a final decree, and leaves to judicial discretion the sum or specific property to be assigned and set apart to the complaining wife, regarding not only the property which the process and power of the court can reach and appropriate, but the husband’s condition and means, wherever situate, in determining the amount and value of the allowance. The alimony is not restricted to a maximum “ of one-third part of the net annual income from the estate, occupation or labor of the party,” as provided in eases of divorce from bed and board in section 37. Bat. Rev., ch. 37, § 9.

An examination and comparison of the legislation on the subject bring us to the conclusion that when alimony alone is demanded (and this application becomes such by the withdrawal of the prayer for other relief,) the court can only decree it upon the final hearing, and its allowance pendente *125 lite can only be made when the petitioner seeks to dissolve the marriage relation or a separation from bed and board.

The order of spring term, 1876, was improvidently made, and should have been annulled on the defendant’s motion. There is error in the refusal of the judge to do so. This will be certified to the court below, that further proceedings may be had therein in accordance with this opinion.

Error. Reversed.