Vigil v. Vigil

Decision Date29 February 1972
Docket NumberNo. 71--119,71--119
PartiesHilda Stella VIGIL, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. John Allen VIGIL, Defendant-Appellant. . I
CourtColorado Court of Appeals

Jarvis W. Seccombe, Dist. Atty., William O. Perry, Jr., Asst. Dist. Atty., Silvana Del Piccolo, Orrelle R. Weeks, Kathie L. Blackman, Deputy Dist. Attys., Denver, for plaintiff-appellee.

Robert W. Caddes, Denver, for defendant-appellant.

DWYER, Judge.

This case arises under the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act, C.R.S. 1963, 43--2--1, et seq.

John Allen Vigil, the defendant, and Hilda Stella Vigil, the plaintiff, were married in 1964 in Denver, Colorado. The parties and the two children born to their marriage, resided in Denver until March of 1970 when the wife moved to California and took the children with her. The wife then initiated proceedings in California under the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act to obtain an order for the support of the children. Thereafter, pursuant to the Act, this action was commenced in the Denver District Court. Upon trial of the action, the court found that the defendant father owed a duty to support the children and ordered him to pay $60 per month for their support.

The support order, which defendant challenges on this appeal, is correct, and it is affirmed.

It is the position of the defendant that no order should be entered against him. He contends that he supported his wife and children while they were residing with him in Denver; that the wife, without cause and without his consent, left the common domicile and took the children to California; and that he is willing to support the children if they are returned to his home.

The purpose of the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act is to provide for the enforcement of duties of support. If the children are present in the 'initiating state,' the duty to support the children may be enforced in any 'responding state' where jurisdiction over the father can be obtained. In such proceedings, the only real issues are the duty of support and the ability of the father to pay support. State ex rel. Terry v. Terry, 80 N.M. 185, 453 P.2d 206; Blois v. Blois, 138 So.2d 373 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App.).

In Colorado, the duty of a father to support his children is not dependent upon the residence of the children. Santo v. Santo, 120 Colo. 13, 206 P.2d 341. A father can be compelled to support his children without regard to the children's place of abode.

The...

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10 cases
  • Hodge v. Maith
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • July 28, 1983
    ...responding state where jurisdiction over the father can be obtained. Johnson v. Ross, 405 N.E.2d 569 (Ind.App.1980); Vigil v. Vigil, 30 Colo.App. 452, 494 P.2d 609 (1972). In People of State of Arkansas v. Smith, 398 So.2d 512 (Fla. 2d DCA 1981), the Second District Court of Appeal recogniz......
  • R.L.H., In Interest of
    • United States
    • Colorado Court of Appeals
    • July 24, 1997
    ...issues for the court's resolution in such proceedings were the duty of support and the ability of the obligor to pay. Vigil v. Vigil, 30 Colo.App. 452, 494 P.2d 609 (1972); see also Kansas State Department of Social & Rehabilitation Services v. Henderson, 620 P.2d 60 (Colo.App.1980); In re ......
  • Bjugan v. Bjugan
    • United States
    • Wyoming Supreme Court
    • November 27, 1985
    ...not only to determine whether a duty of support exists, but to establish an effective means of enforcing that duty. Vigil v. Vigil, 30 Colo.App. 452, 494 P.2d 609 (1972); State ex rel. Dewyea v. Knapp, Mont., 674 P.2d 1104 (1984). The power to enforce a child support order necessarily inclu......
  • Clearwater County, Minn. v. Petrash
    • United States
    • Colorado Supreme Court
    • July 23, 1979
    ...368 P.2d 561 (1962); Scheer v. District Court, 147 Colo. 265, 363 P.2d 1059 (1961); McQuade v. McQuade, supra, and Vigil v. Vigil, 30 Colo.App. 452, 494 P.2d 609 (1970), With Griffith v. Griffith, 152 Colo. 292, 381 P.2d 455 We are of the opinion that the better reasoned view is that a chil......
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