NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION In the ... - Kansas divorce
NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION In the ... - Kansas divorce
NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION In the ... - Kansas divorce
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submitted by an attorney to <strong>the</strong> district court for approval. The attorney signed <strong>the</strong><strong>divorce</strong> decree, without indicating that he represented ei<strong>the</strong>r party. The district court laterdenied <strong>the</strong> wife's petition to set aside <strong>the</strong> <strong>divorce</strong> decree, rejecting <strong>the</strong> wife's argument <strong>the</strong>record lacked sufficient documentation from which <strong>the</strong> judge could have determined <strong>the</strong>validity and justness of <strong>the</strong> separation agreement. We reversed, finding <strong>the</strong> district courthad not followed <strong>the</strong> guidance of K.S.A.2002 Supp. 60-1610(b)(3). 24 Kan.App.2d at 37,941 P.2d 385.Here, significant assets were omitted from Lula's DRA and <strong>the</strong> district court found<strong>the</strong> PSA "does not contain any facts of o<strong>the</strong>r criteria on which <strong>the</strong> Court could decide thatit provided for a fair, just and equitable division of <strong>the</strong> parties assets and liabilities."Without any supporting evidence of asset valuation, <strong>the</strong> trial judge never<strong>the</strong>less awarded<strong>the</strong> property in <strong>the</strong> PSA. Kirk would support finding that Lula's motion should be grantedas <strong>the</strong> trial judge failed to review <strong>the</strong> PSA as required by K.S.A.2002 Supp. 60-1610(b)(3). See 24 Kan.App.2d at 37, 941 P.2d 385 (<strong>the</strong> record lacked evidence ordocumentation necessary to determine whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> agreement was fair, just, andequitable).The Kirk court fur<strong>the</strong>r explained <strong>the</strong> absence of evidence to support a finding that <strong>the</strong>agreement is just and equitable constitutes "more than a technical defect." 24 Kan.App.2dat 35, 941 P.2d 385. Although a court has broad discretion in adjusting property rights,none<strong>the</strong>less, "[a]ction inconsistent with <strong>the</strong> limitations of judicial discretion amounts tomore than a 'technical defect." ' 24 Kan.App.2d at 36, 941 P.2d 385.Notably, <strong>the</strong> motion to set aside in Kirk was filed in less than 1 year, and <strong>the</strong> delay infiling was not raised as an issue. Conversely, Lula waited over 7 years to file her motionand Conley has raised Lula's delay in his defense.However, if Lula is correct that <strong>the</strong> original court's judgment is void, her failure tochallenge <strong>the</strong> judgment for more than 7 years does not prevent her from obtaining reliefunder 60-260(b)(4), as noted by <strong>the</strong> district court. Notwithstanding <strong>the</strong> language of 60-260(b), a void judgment is a nullity and may be vacated at any time. <strong>In</strong> re Marriage ofHampshire, 261 Kan. at 862, 934 P.2d 58.A judgment is void "only if <strong>the</strong> court that rendered it lacked jurisdiction of <strong>the</strong>subject matter or of <strong>the</strong> parties or if <strong>the</strong> court acted in a manner inconsistent with dueprocess. [Citations omitted.]" <strong>In</strong> re Marriage of Cline, 17 Kan.App.2d 230, 233, 840 P.2d1198 (1992). A court acts in a manner inconsistent with due process when fundamentalprocedural requirements are not satisfied, such as notice and opportunity to be heard. SeeState v. Wilkinson, 269 Kan. 603, 608, 9 P.3d 1 (2000).Lula does not argue that <strong>the</strong> district court lacked subject matter or personaljurisdiction. While Kirk suggests that a court's failure to abide by K.S.A. 60-1610(b)(3)and find a separation agreement to be valid, just, and equitable constitutes more thantechnical defect, or irregularity in <strong>the</strong> judgment, it does not indicate <strong>the</strong> instant judgmentis void because it violated Lula's right to due process. See Cline, 17 Kan.App.2d at 233,