JONES
v.
JONES
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In this Florida family law case, the court initially held the defendant in contempt for refusing to pay temporary attorney's fees and court costs, rejecting his jurisdictional challenge. Upon later discovering the plaintiff was a Canadian citizen on a temporary visa who had not established permanent Florida residency as required by divorce statutes, the court dismissed the divorce complaint without prejudice, finding the plaintiff could not pursue a divorce action despite potentially retaining jurisdiction for alimony and child support under section 65.10.
The court initially held it had jurisdiction based on the residency allegation in the complaint and could award temporary attorney's fees pending determination of the residency issue. However, upon trial, the court found plaintiff failed to establish permanent Florida residency as required by the divorce statutes and dismissed the complaint without prejudice. The court also held that while section 65.10 might permit jurisdiction for alimony and child support without residency, plaintiff's complaint could not be maintained because she sought a divorce, which requires residency, and made no claim under section 65.10.
“That allegation gave this court jurisdiction. Unquestionably this court has at all times had jurisdiction to try that issue. It is still pending before the court and must yet be determined on a proper hearing. The plaintiff is entitled to counsel to assist her in trying that issue. Until it is tried and determined, the court is vested with power to allow temporary attorney's fees and court costs.”
The court's initial basis for holding it had jurisdiction to award temporary attorney's fees based on the residency allegation in the complaint.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligencePlaintiff, a Canadian citizen on a temporary visitor's visa, filed a divorce complaint on March 24, 1954, alleging she was a bona fide resident of Wes…
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May 2,1955: This cause was heard pursuant to the petition and rule to show cause why defendant should not be adjudged in contempt of court, the rule having been issued March 25, 1955, testimony of the parties and their witnesses, and argument of counsel.
This is a proceeding to enforce payment of temporary attorneys’ fees and court costs allowed by the court to plaintiff’s solicitors of record by orders dated February 25, 1955 and March 3, 1955. The *189sole defense offered by defendant to the right of the court to adjudge defendant in contempt, is his contention that the court is without jurisdiction to enter such orders, because plaintiff is not now, was not then, and never has been a bona fide resident of the state of Florida.
The position thus taken by defendant is untenable. The bill of complaint which was filed March 24, 1954 duly alleges that “plaintiff is now, and has been for more than ninety days next previous to the filing of this bill of complaint, an actual bona fide resident of West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida.” That allegation gave this court jurisdiction. Unquestionably this court has at all times had jurisdiction to try that issue. It is still pending before the court and must yet be determined on a proper hearing. The plaintiff is entitled to counsel to assist her in trying that issue. Until it is tried and determined, the court is vested with power to allow temporary attorney’s fees and court costs. See Rollins v. Rollins, 155 Fla. 83, 19 So. 2d 562; Fairlamb v. Fairlamb, 156 Fla. 104, 22 So. 2d 580.
It is ordered and decreed that within 10 days from this date, defendant pay or cause to be paid to plaintiff’s solicitors of record, the sum of $250 for initial court costs, and $500 temporary counsel fees, as directed by the orders herein dated February 25, 1955 and March 3, 1955, and in default of such payment, plaintiff shall be entitled to a writ of attachment directing the sheriff of Palm Beach County to forthwith arrest the defendant and bring him before this court so that punishment for contempt of court may then and there be imposed.
September 28, 1955: This cause came on for disposition after trial pursuant to the order dated August 1, 1955, testimony and argument of counsel.
At the time this suit was brought, and for the period of ninety days prior thereto, plaintiff was a citizen of the dominion of Canada, and sojourning in the state of Florida on a visitor’s temporary visa. Under the law she was obligated to leave the United States not later than six months from the date of her entry. In such a status she could not become a permanent resident of the state of Florida as contemplated by the divorce statutes.
It is the view of the court that plaintiff has not established that she was a permanent resident of the state of Florida for a period of ninety days prior to the time of filing her bill of complaint herein, viz., March 24, 1954.
*190It is ordered and decreed that this cause is dismissed without prejudice, with costs taxed against the plaintiff.
November 1, 1955: This cause was heard after due notice on plaintiff’s petition, filed October 11, 1955, for rehearing, and argument of counsel.
The question presented now is whether or not the court shall retain jurisdiction of plaintiff’s bill of complaint to award alimony and child support, under the provisions of section 65.10, Florida Statutes 1953.
In Kiplinger v. Kiplinger, 147 Fla. 243, 2 So. 2d 870, the Supreme Court of Florida said that the provisions of section 65.10 “do not require nor is it essential for either party to be a resident of the state of Florida so as to confer jurisdiction of the parties and the subject matter.” In quoting from Valverde v. Valverde, the court likewise said that if claim is made for divorce along with a prayer for maintenance “then the question of residence would have been a prerequisite for relief.” It is apparent that plaintiff in the instant case has not brought her complaint under section 65.10, because there is no allegation that the husband has failed or refused to maintain or contribute to the maintenance of his wife or minor child. Accordingly, it is the view of the court that the bill of complaint was properly dismissed.
The petition for rehearing is denied.
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
Authorities Cited
- Kiplinger v. Kiplinger, 147 Fla. 243 (Fla. 1941)
- A. A. Smith & the Emp'rs' Liab. Assurance Corp. v. Williams, 155 Fla. 83 (Fla. 1944)
- Rollins v. Rollins, 155 Fla. 83 (Fla. 1944)
- Royal M. Fairlamb v. Fairlamb, 156 Fla. 104 (Fla. 1945)