Byers v. Byers

21 Iowa 268

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: October 13, 1866
• Status: Published

Opinion

Dillon, J.

voboe^uS for alimony. All of the material facts are given in the statement. Upon these facts, we hold that the homestead was not -liable to sale upon the execution, and, therefore, the court erred in dissolving ^ ^junction.

We briefly state our reasons: The plaintiff is the head of a family, and did not cease to be such by reason of the divorce. Defendant, by the divorce, ceased to be a member of his family. The homestead law is intended for the benefit of the family, children as well as wife. If -there are children, the plaintiff, notwithstanding the decree of divorce, is bound to shelter and support them. In the divorce suit the wife obtained no special order in relation to the children (if there are any), or the property of her husband.

Admitting, that under section 2537 of the Revision, the court might have set apart the homestead to her absolutely,-or for a qualified period; admitting (though not deciding) that it might have made the alimony a lien upon the homestead and other property, still it did not, but rendered a simple money judgment for the amount, directing this to be enforced in default of payment by execution in the usual manner. With this decree the wife was content. By it she must abide while it remains in force.

Pursuant to it a general execution issued. This execution was -in the usual form. It could not have been levied upon property, such as the policy of the law exempts — -as, for example, the team with which the plaintiff habitually earned his living.

And so there was nothing in the decree of divorce, nor in the form of the writ, which would authorize the sheriff to subject to sale the homestead property of the plaintiff. Whether a decree might have been obtained to this effect is not a question before us. Nor is it a question before us whether her rights in the homestead are at an end. What has been said, sufficiently indicates that we do not concur with defendant’s counsel in considering'the allowance for alimony as a debt contracted prior-to the purchase of the homestead. Pev.-, § 2281. What we hold is, that she toot a general judgment for so much money, and with the execution issued thereunder she «an levy upon nothing which would not be subject to levy by any other money creditor. And what mates this view more satisfactory is, the consideration that the property equities (so to speat) of the parties should be settled in the divorce suit, where the chancellor has a full view of the parties and their circumstances. These circumstances are infinitely varied. The wife, it is true, should be paid her support. Put it does, not follow that her right to support is greater than the right of the children to shelter. Suppose in this case that there is a family of children, and that the property in question is all that is left. Should this be sold to pay the wife, and the children left without a home ? This is put by way of illustration, and to show that all such questions should be adjusted in the divorce suit, where the court of equity, with a delicacy of tact all its own, can adapt its relief to the peculiarities of the situation.

The order dissolving the injunction is

Peversed.