In re the Marriage of Allen

59 P.3d 1030, 31 Kan. App. 2d 31, 2002 Kan. App. LEXIS 1148
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kansas
DecidedDecember 20, 2002
DocketNo. 87,403
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 59 P.3d 1030 (In re the Marriage of Allen) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re the Marriage of Allen, 59 P.3d 1030, 31 Kan. App. 2d 31, 2002 Kan. App. LEXIS 1148 (kanctapp 2002).

Opinion

Lewis, J.:

This is a domestic action in which the appellant, Diane L. Allen, n/k/a Coates, appeals the trial court’s decision holding that a separation agreement from Diane’s prior divorce from her husband Robert L. Allen did not control the division of property after the couple had remarried and divorced again. She argues the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction to divide the couple’s prop[32]*32erty in any way except as set out in the prior agreement. Robert argues that the early settlement agreement does not apply and that the trial court should be affirmed.

These parties were first married in March 1993. They were then divorced in August 1998, and the decree of divorce incorporated a separation and property settlement agreement, which was approved by the court.

On March 7, 1999, the couple remarried. There was a second round in the divorce action, and a petition for divorce was filed on June 19, 1999. In the second divorce, appellant argued that the property settlement entered into in the first divorce should control the disposition of property in the second divorce. Robert argued that the prior property settlement agreement was abrogated by the remarriage and had no force and effect on the division of property in this divorce.

The court agreed with the contentions set forth by Robert and proceeded to divide the couple’s property. The divorce decree in this case was filed February 2, 2001.

Essentially, the appellant contends that the trial court erred in finding a property settlement from the couple’s prior divorce was not binding on the court after the couple had remarried and again were divorced.

Diane frames her issues as jurisdictional. She argues that the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to divide the couple’s property.

We disagree with appellant on her contention that the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction. “Subject matter jurisdiction is the power of the court to hear and decide a particular type of action.” Gentzel v. Williams, 25 Kan. App. 2d 552, 559, 965 P.2d 855 (1998). K.S.A. 60-1610 and K.S.A. 23-201 vest the court with jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action, which was a divorce between two residents of Kansas and the division of property located in Kansas.

Despite the fact that this is not a subject matter jurisdiction case, the question still remains as to whether the settlement agreement is binding on the court in a subsequent divorce proceeding between the same parties after they have remarried. Our scope of [33]*33review on this issue is unlimited. Foulk v. Colonial Terrace, 20 Kan. App. 2d 277, Syl. ¶ 1, 887 P.2d 140 (1994), rev. denied 257 Kan. 1091 (1995).

The first divorce separation and property settlement agreement reads in relevant part:

“WHEREAS, it is the desire and intention of both parties by execution of this agreement, to fully and for all time settle and determine all property rights of the parties [,] all rights of wife and husband concerning maintenance, and all rights and claims arising out of the marriage relationship, including dower, curtesy, maintenance, inheritance and homestead, together with any and all other rights existing between the parties or claims one against the other, arising out of the marriage relationship or the termination of the said relationship, or otherwise, independent and regardless of the disposition, judicially or otherwise, of the marriage relationship.
“(12) Absolute Agreement: That this agreement is absolute and irrevocable and is not conditioned upon the parties being divorced or upon approval of the Court; that this agreement shall be considered to be contractual between them and binding upon the parties, their executors, administrators, heirs, devisees, beneficiaries, assigns, or other legal representatives, where applicable for the purpose of carrying out the terms hereof; that if, at some later date, any modification hereof is agreed upon between the parties, the same shall be reduced to writing, signed and acknowledged by them before it shall become effective.
“(13) Submission to the Court: That in the event of a hearing on the Petition for Divorce as herein filed by the parties, this agreement may be submitted to any Court during the hearing for such action as the Court may determine proper, and each of the parties hereto agree that they will request the Court enter its decree in accordance with the terms and provisions herein.”

The relevant statutes applying to this particular situation read as follows:

K.S.A. 2001 Supp. 23-201 reads:

“(a) The property, real and personal, which any person in this state may own at the time of the person’s marriage, and the rents, issues, profits or proceeds thereof, and any real, personal or mixed property which shall come to a person by descent, devise or bequest, and the rents, issues, profits or proceeds thereof, or by gift from any person except the person’s spouse, shall remain the person’s sole and separate property, notwithstanding the marriage, and not be subject to the disposal of the person’s spouse or liable for the spouse’s debts.
“(b) All property owned by married persons, including the present value of any vested or unvested military retirement pay, or, for divorce or separate mainte[34]*34nance actions commenced on or after July 1, 1998, professional goodwill to the extent that it is marketable for that particular professional, whether described in subsection (a) or acquired by either spouse after marriage, and whether held individually or by the spouses in some form of co-ownership, such as joint tenancy or tenancy in common, shall become marital property at the time of commencement by one spouse against the other of an action in which a final decree is entered for divorce, separate maintenance, or annulment. Each spouse has a common-ownership in marital property which vests at the time of commencement of such action, the extent of the vested interest to be determined and finalized by the court, pursuant to KS.A. 60-1610 and amendments thereto.” (Emphasis added.)

K.S.A. 23-207 states: “Nothing in this act contained shall invalidate any marriage settlement or contract now made or to be hereafter made.”

K.S.A. 2001 Supp. 60-1610(b) reads in relevant part:

“(3) Separation agreement. If the parties have entered into a separation agreement which the court finds to be valid, just and equitable, the agreement shall be incorporated in the decree. A separation agreement may include provisions relating to a parenting plan.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
59 P.3d 1030, 31 Kan. App. 2d 31, 2002 Kan. App. LEXIS 1148, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-the-marriage-of-allen-kanctapp-2002.