Arizona Supreme Court

Wilma Cornell Solomon and Adrienne Michelle Findley, Plaintiffs/appellants v. Lloyd Talbott Findley, Defendant/appellee

March 7, 1991167 Ariz. 409

Summary

The Arizona Supreme Court held that a post‑majority educational support provision incorporated into a divorce decree does not merge into the decree because the divorce court lacks jurisdiction to enforce support after the child reaches majority. Accordingly, the plaintiffs may pursue a separate breach‑of‑contract action. The court overruled its prior decision in Helber and approved the Court of Appeals’ judgment, remanding for further proceedings.

Holding

  • Do post‑majority support provisions in a divorce settlement merge into the dissolution decree and thereby preclude a separate breach‑of‑contract action?. The post‑majority educational support provision does not merge into the dissolution decree because the divorce court lacks jurisdiction to enforce it; the plaintiffs may pursue a separate breach‑of‑contract action.

Docket CV-90-0177-PR

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