Eddy v. Eddy , 264 Mich. 328 ( 1933 )

The parties to this suit were divorced in June, 1929. The decree followed an agreement of the parties and ordered defendant to assign to plaintiff a policy of insurance and pay her $105 per month as long as she remained unmarried, and recited the provision to be in lieu of dower. Defendant was and is now an officer in the U. S army, has remarried, has a wife and baby to support, and, in October, 1932, he filed a petition to have the monthly allowance reduced on account of his inability to pay by reason of reduction in salary, new family obligations, and debts. The court reduced the allowance to $90 per month, and both parties have appealed.

Plaintiff contends that the allowance, being in accord with the agreement of the parties and not specified as alimony in the decree but in lieu of dower, and no fraud being claimed, the court was without power to make any change, and the modification violates the constitutional provision against impairment of obligations of contracts.

Defendant had no real estate. The agreement designated the monthly payments to be alimony. The monthly allowance was in fact alimony. The court, in adjudging alimony, could employ the agreement, and later, under power reserved by statute, modify the decree to comport with change in circumstances of the parties. 3 Comp. Laws 1929, § 12748.

As said in Camp v. Camp, 158 Mich. 221:

"It is immaterial whether the decree for alimony and the support of children is incorporated in the decree by the consent of the parties, or by a determination of the court. When once incorporated in the decree the court obtains jurisdiction to revise it at any time thereafter."

See, also, Aldrich v. Aldrich, 166 Mich. 248; Kelly v. Kelly,194 Mich. 94; Skinner v. Skinner, 205 Mich. 243;Davis v. Davis, 262 Mich. 391.

It was not necessary to state reservation of the power of modification in the decree. Exercise of the power was no violation of the mandate against impairment of obligations of contracts. The decree obligated defendant, and thedecree was subject to modification.

Defendant seeks further reduction. This we cannot grant. Defendant's present circumstances are of his own making in face of the original decree, except as to the reduction in his salary, and he still receives a salary of $422.12 per month.

He claims that his present indebtedness amounts to fifty-five or more hundred dollars, all of which he borrowed and used in paying the alimony of $105 per month, and claims that he is not able to live as his army position requires and pay $105 per month. The decree is affirmed, with costs to plaintiff.

McDONALD, C.J., and POTTER, SHARPE, NORTH, FEAD, and BUTZEL, JJ., concurred. CLARK, J., did not sit.