Opinion
No. 13,374.
Filed February 20, 1929.
1. DIVORCE — Plaintiff's Residence Affidavit — Jurisdictional. — In order to confer jurisdiction on the trial court of a suit for divorce, the provisions of the statute requiring an affidavit showing the particular place of residence of the plaintiff for two years (§ 1097 Burns 1926) must be substantially complied with. p. 625.
2. DIVORCE — Plaintiff's Residence Affidavit — Statute Mandatory — Substantial Compliance Necessary. — The statute requiring the plaintiff to file with his complaint for divorce an affidavit stating particularly the place, town, city or township in which he has resided for the two years last past (§ 1097 Burns 1926) is mandatory and must be at least substantially complied with. p. 625.
3. DIVORCE — Plaintiff's Residence Affidavit Insufficient. — An affidavit filed with the complaint in a suit for divorce which stated that the plaintiff then was, and for more than two years last past had been, a bona fide resident of the state of Indiana, and that he then was, and for more than six months past had been, a bona fide resident of Clark county, and that he then resided at a certain place in the city of Jeffersonville, was insufficient. p. 625.
4. DIVORCE — Plaintiff's Residence Affidavit — Occupation Must be Stated. — In the affidavit which plaintiff is required to file with his complaint for divorce (§ 1097 Burns 1926), the occupation of the plaintiff is just as important as the other requirements of the affidavit. p. 625.
5. JUDGMENT — Void Judgment — Appellate Tribunal has Jurisdiction to Set Aside. — Where a court renders a judgment which is void for want of jurisdiction, an appellate tribunal will assume jurisdiction for the purpose of setting such judgment aside. p. 625.
From Floyd Circuit Court; John M. Paris, Judge.
Suit for divorce by Peter Canan against Rose Canan From a judgment for plaintiff, the defendant appeals. Reversed. By the court in banc.
Russell P. Kehoe and James L. Bottorff, for appellant.
Action for divorce by Peter Canan, appellee herein, against Rose Canan, in which appellee was given a divorce and appellant awarded $250 alimony. Appellant's motion for a new trial was overruled, hence this appeal.
It is contended by appellant that the decision of the court is contrary to law inasmuch as the trial court was without jurisdiction for the reason that the affidavit of the residence of appellee filed with his complaint as required by § 1097 Burns 1926, Acts 1873 p. 107, did not confer jurisdiction upon the court.
The affidavit filed with the complaint, after stating that the plaintiff then was and for more than two years last past had been a bona fide resident of the state and that he then was and for more than six months last past had been a bona fide resident of Clark county, stated that he then resided at "Seventh and Kentucky avenues in the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana."
Section 1097, supra, so far as it concerns the instant case, is as follows: "And the plaintiff shall, with his petition, file with the clerk of the court an affidavit, subscribed and sworn to by himself, in which he shall state the length of time he has been a resident of the state, and stating particularly the place, town, city or township in which he has resided for the last two years past, and stating his occupation, which shall be sworn to before the clerk of the court in which said complaint is filed."
In order to confer jurisdiction on the trial court, the provisions in this section must be substantially complied with. The statute requires that "the plaintiff shall" in the 1-4. affidavit state "particularly the place, town, city or township" in which the plaintiff had resided for the last two years, and "his occupation" must likewise be stated in the affidavit. This statute is mandatory to the extent that it must at least be substantially complied with. The affidavit does not state the particular place or places of residence as required by the statute. Crowell v. Crowell (1924), 82 Ind. App. 281, 145 N.E. 780; Hoffman v. Hoffman (1918), 67 Ind. App. 230, 119 N.E. 18; Miller v. Miller (1914), 55 Ind. App. 644, 104 N.E. 588; Smith v. Smith (1916), 185 Ind. 75, 113 N.E. 296; Wills v. Wills (1911), 176 Ind. 631, 96 N.E. 763. The stating of the plaintiff's occupation is just as important as the other requirements of the affidavit. Miller v. Miller, supra; Hoffman v. Hoffman, supra.
Where a court enters a judgment which is void for want of jurisdiction, this court may assume jurisdiction on appeal for the purpose of setting such judgment aside. Crowell v. 5. Crowell, supra; Foreman v. Foreman (1921), 76 Ind. App. 83, 131 N.E. 419. Judgment reversed, with directions to sustain the motion for a new trial, and to give appellee leave to file an amended affidavit if he so desires.