Anderson v. Anderson, 183 N.C. 139 (1922)

March 15, 1922 · Supreme Court of North Carolina

183 N.C. 139

NANNIE ANDERSON v. T. M. ANDERSON.

(Filed 15 March, 1922.)

1. Husband and Wife — Domestic Relations — Subsistence of Wife — Statutes — Court’s Discretion.

The amount allowed for the reasonable subsistence, costs, and attorney’s fees to the wife in her proceedings against her husband under the provisions of C. S., 1667, is within the sound discretion of the judge hearing the same and having jurisdiction thereof.

2. Same — Abuse of Court’s Discretion.

The restrictions imposed upon the judge in making an allowance to the wife for alimony in suits for divorce, C. S., 1665, do not apply to the exercise of his sound discretion in proceeding under the provisions of C. S., 1667, by the wife to obtain a reasonable subsistence, costs, and counsel fees from her husband.

3. Same — Admission—Findings of Fact.

Held, from the admissions of the husband of his acts of adultery, his abandonment of his wife, and from the facts found by the judge in these proceedings of the wife for a reasonable subsistence, costs, and counsel fees, under the provisions of C. S., 1667, the amount allowed by the judge will not be held as unreasonable on appeal, or as exceeding the sound discretion given him by the statute.

4. Husband and Wife — Domestic Relations — Subsistence of Wife — Orders —Judgments—Modification of Orders — Statutes.

Where, within the exercise of his sound discretion, the Superior Court judge, having jurisdiction, has allowed the wife a reasonable subsistence, attorney’s fees, etc., in her proceedings under the provisions of C. S., 1667, the order of allowance may be thereafter modified or vacated as the statute provides, upon application to the proper jurisdiction for the circumstances to be inquired into and the merits of the case determined.

5. Husband and Wife — Domestic Relations — Subsistence of Wife — Alimony — Divorce—Statutes.

While as to technical alimony the ordinary rule is that the title to the property designated, to enforce the order of the court remains in the husband, and it will revert to him upon reconciliation with or the death of the wife, this rule does not apply to an allowance for the reasonable support of the wife,, etc., under the provisions of C. S., 1667; and the words used in the beginning of this section, “alimony without support,” will not be construed to give the word “reasonable support” for the wife, the meaning of technical alimony.

f>. Same — Order Securing Alimony.

Technical alimony is the allowance made to the wife in suits for divorce, and may be secured by a proportionate part of the husband’s estate judicially declared; or if he have no estate, it may be “made a personal charge against him,” and it materially differs from a reasonable subsistence, etc., allowable in the wife’s proceedings under the provisions of O. S., 1667, where a divorce is not contemplated, and where, in accordance with the statute, the order allowing her such subsistence may secure the same out of the husband’s estate.

7. Same — Estate of 'Husband.

The husband’s “estate,” from which the court may secure its order allowing a reasonable subsistence, etc., to the wife in her proceedings under the provisions of C. S., 1667, includes within its meaning income from permanent property, tangible or intangible, or from the husband’s earnings.

8. Marriage — Domestic Relations — Contracts—Debts—Constitutional Law —Exemptions—Debtor and Creditor.

The marriage relation, spoken of as a civil contract, is more than an ordinary business contract in that the marriage confers certain other privileges and imposes certain other duties upon the parties as between themselves and in ttheir relation to society, among them being the husband’s duty to protect and provide for his wife; and this is more than a debt, in its ordinary sense, and not merely such an one as exists in the ordinary acceptation of the word, or within the contemplation of our Constitution, Art. X, secs. 1 and 2, allowing to the creditor his homestead or personal property exemptions therefrom.

9. Same — Trusts.

Held, under the facts and circumstances of these proceedings of the wife, under the provisions of C. S., 1667, for a reasonable support, etc., an order was proper that the husband convey certain of his lands in trust to secure the allowance made to the wife, or in default thereof, the lands should so be held by the trustee designated.

10. Husband and Wife — Wife’s Subsistence— Estates — Contingencies— Defeasible Fee — Marriage—Domestic Relations.

Where the judge, in the proceedings of the wife for an allowance of a reasonable subsistence, has impressed a trust upon the husband’s land for the enforcement of the decree, the fact that hi a part of the land he has only a defeasible fee, cannot prejudice him, and his exception on that ground cannot be sustained.

Appeal by defendant from Allen, J., at chambers, 30 November, 1922, from Nash.

Application by plaintiff for an allowance for subsistence, expenses, and counsel fees, as provided in C. S., 1667, as amended by ch. 123, Public Laws 1921.

The plaintiff and the defendant were married on 10 June, 1919, and lived together until 14 June, 1921, when plaintiff alleged the defendant abandoned her and withdrew support. His Honor held that in the absence of issuable facts the only question was the amount of such subsistence, expenses, and feés; and after hearing the evidence made an allowance to the plaintiff of $100 a month, and $400 for expenses and counsel fees. The following additional decree is incorporated in the judgment: “It is further ordered and decreed that this judgment to the extent of the amount herein decreed as an allowance, and to the extent of the monthly payments herein decreed during the life of this decree, shall constitute a lien on all the real and personal property of the defendant, and the said defendant is hereby ordered and directed to execute a deed of trust, conveying all his interest in real estate in Nash and Edgecombe counties to Leon T. Yaughan, trustee for plaintiff, to secure the performance of this decree, and in default of the execution of said deed of trust within ten days from this date, 30 November, 1921, then this decree shall operate as such conveyance to said Leon T. Yaughan, trustee, with the power of sale in default of any payment or part thereof, as herein ordered. In addition, in case of ten days default on any payment, let notice be issued to said defendant to show cause before the presiding judge of the Second Judicial District why attachment for contempt should not issue to enforce payment of same.”

The defendant excepted, and appealed.

Finch & Vaughan and McLean, Varser, McLean & Stacy for plaintiff.

G. M. T. Fountain & Son and F. S. Spruill for defendant.

Adams, J.

The defendant admits, not only his moral default in abandoning his wife, but as well his legal liability' to make suitable provision for her maintenance; but he insists that the judgment of the court contravenes established principles of law, and for this reason cannot be enforced. Against the validity of the judgment he interposes four objections:

1. The payments decreed are unwarranted and excessive.

2. Subjecting to a lien the defendant’s interest in land is without warrant of law.

3. The judgment violates Art. X, sec. 2, of the Constitution.

4. The defendant has only a defeasible fee in the lands known as the Dickens place.

As to the first objection the defendant admits that ordinarily the amount allowed for subsistence under section 1667 rests in the sound discretion of the court. Gram v. Gram, 116 N. C., 288; Bradford v. Reed, 125 N. C., 311; Matthews v. Fry, 143 N. C., 384. But he argues that in view of the limitation prescribed in section 1665 and of the actual value of the defendant’s property the amount of the payments imposed constitutes an abuse of the court’s discretion. It should be noted that the limitation to one-third of the net annual income from the estate (section 1665) applies when the court adjudges the husband and the wife divorced from bed and board, but not when the wife institutes the proper proceeding for alimony pendente lite under section 1666 or for a reasonable subsistence under section 1667. The Legislature has preserved this distinction through the entire statutory history of the law of divorce and alimony in this State, beginning with the act of 1814, and has evidently intended to empower the courts to make in each case such decree as the peculiar circumstances might demand. His Honor, therefore, was not required in this proceeding to confine the subsistence to one-third part of the defendant’s net annual income. Nor can we conclude that in any respect there was abuse of discretion. The plaintiff testified at the hearing; the defendant did-not testify, but introduced his father. Besides the desertion of his wife, the defendant admitted his adultery, and in addition, that the only question for his Honor was the subsistence to be allowed. His Honor inquired into the defendant’s financial condition and found the facts. Section 1667 provides that the order of allowance may be modified or vacated; but the application must be made in the proper jurisdiction so that the circumstances may be inquired into and the merits of the case determined. The first objection, we conclude, cannot be sustained.

Concerning the second, the defendant contends that the court, while in proper instances it may sequester a part of the husband’s property for alimony, has no power to deprive the husband of the title and possession of his real estate. This contention is based on the legal proposition that where alimony is allotted in specific property the title to such property remains in tbe busband, and will revert to bim upon reconciliation or tbe death of tbe wife; and tbat tbe remedy for noncomplianee witb tbe order of tbe court is attachment for contempt. As to tbe suggested remedy, tbe answer is this: tbe object of tbe judgment is subsistence for tbe wife, not tbe punishment of tbe busband. After bis property bad been dissipated or placed beyond tbe reach of tbe wife, bis imprisonment, to say tbe least, would be but ill requital for her pecuniary loss; And as to tbe other contention, we must keep in mind tbe distinction between alimony and subsistence. It is true tbat alimony is broadly defined as an allowance to tbe wife out of tbe husband’s estate •during tbe period of their separation, but technically alimony is allowed during tbe pendency of an action for divorce, or after tbe divorce is adjudged. 1 R. C. L., 865; 19 C. J., 202. It may be a proportion of tbe husband’s estate which is judicially allowed and allotted to tbe wife, or, if be have no estate, it may be a personal charge upon tbe busband. Taylor v. Taylor, 93 N. C., 420; Miller v. Miller, 75 N. C., 71; C. S., 1665, 1666. But section 1667 applies when divorce may not be in tbe contemplation of tbe wife. Tbe words “alimony without divorce” at tbe beginning of tbe section do not convert tbe “reasonable subsistence” therein provided for into technical alimony. Cram v. Cram, 116 N. C., 292. This section provides tbat tbe wife may apply to have such subsistence paid or secured, and tbat tbe judge may secure so much of tbe husband’s estate 'as may be proper for tbe benefit of tbe wife. In Crews v. Crews, 175 N. C., 173, cited by tbe defendant, tbe definition of tbe word “estate” is not restricted to “income,” but is enlarged so as to •embrace income whether arising from permanent property or earnings, for there it is clearly said tbat alimony could be assigned from both tangible and intangible property (Reid v. Neal, 182 N. C., 199); and in White v. White, 179 N. C., 592, it was held tbat tbe court may declare alimony a lien upon tbe husband’s lands, even in tbe absence of notice to bim tbat bis wife bad instituted a proceeding for tbat purpose. Conforming to these decisions, tbe judgment does not deprive tbe defendant of tbe title or possession of bis property; but in accordance witb tbe express terms of tbe statute undertakes to secure for tbe wife tbe reasonable subsistence and expenses to which bis Honor finds she is entitled.

Tbe defendant contends tbat as against tbe amount allowed for tbe plaintiff’s subsistence and expenses be is entitled to bis homestead or personal property exemption. Waiving tbe plaintiff’s contention that tbe question is not properly presented upon tbe record, we think tbat tbe defendant’s objection is without merit. Tbe defendant’s obligation "to support tbe plaintiff during tbe existence of tbe marital relation is not a “debt” within tbe meaning of Art. X, secs. 1 and 2, of tbe Constitution. It is true that marriage is usually regarded as a civil contract; but in every contract of marriage there are elements which do not enter into an ordinary contract. In its binding force marriage is indissoluble, even by consent of the parties, and creates, moreover, a peculiar status, which, attending them through life, both confers privileges and enjoins duties. Among the latter is the husband’s duty to protect and to provide for his wife. This duty is not a mere incident of contract, J)ut it arises out of the very nature and purpose of the marriage relation-; and this relation civilized mankind regard as the only stable foundation of our social and’ civil institutions. Hence, both law and society demand that the marriage relation be recognized, respected, and maintained, and that the husband’s duty to support his wife and their offspring be awarded higher sanction than the strait contractual obligation to pay value for a yoke of oxen or a piece of land. The defendant, therefore, cannot escape the performance of his duty to support the plaintiff on the ground that he sustains toward her the relation of a mere debtor. Rodgers on Domestic Relations, see. 2 et seq.

We are not able to see how the last objection.can benefit the defendant. If his estate should be sold as a determinable fee, how the judgment rendered would cause the defendant to suffer loss by .reason of such sale is not easily perceived.

Upon the record we find no error, and his Honor’s judgment is therefore affirmed. Let this be certified.

Affirmed.