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What are the implications of the Sherrer v.
Sherrer and Coe v.
Coe court cases on divorce law and property division in the United States?
The Sherrer v.
Sherrer and Coe v.
Coe cases established that a state must give full faith and credit to a divorce decree issued by a sister state, even if the party challenging the decree had participated in the original divorce action in the other state.
The Supreme Court's ruling in these cases marked a significant shift in the interpretation of the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the US Constitution, which requires states to recognize and respect the judgments and records of other states.
Prior to these cases, there was confusion and inconsistency in how states handled out-of-state divorce decrees, leading to forum shopping and conflicting judgments.
Sherrer v.
Sherrer and Coe v.
Coe were companion cases, with the Supreme Court issuing a single opinion that addressed both cases simultaneously.
The Sherrer case involved a Massachusetts couple who had been granted separate support by a Massachusetts court, but the husband's petition for divorce was denied; the wife then obtained a divorce in Florida and returned to Massachusetts.
In Coe v.
Coe, the couple had been living in Massachusetts but obtained a divorce in Florida; the issue was whether the Massachusetts court should have given full faith and credit to the Florida divorce decree.
The Supreme Court's decision in these cases clarified that a defendant who has appeared and participated in a divorce action in another state cannot later challenge the resulting divorce decree in their home state.
The Sherrer and Coe cases have had long-lasting implications for divorce law in the United States, as they established the principle that divorce decrees issued by one state must be recognized and respected by other states.
The cases highlighted the importance of the Full Faith and Credit Clause in facilitating the free flow of judgments and records between states, ensuring that individuals cannot evade the legal consequences of their actions by moving to another state.
Sherrer v.
Sherrer and Coe v.
Coe have been cited in numerous subsequent court cases, solidifying their status as landmark decisions in the development of divorce law in the United States.
The Supreme Court's ruling in these cases reflected a broader trend towards greater cooperation and reciprocity between states in the post-World War II era.
The Sherrer and Coe cases have had significant implications for property division in divorce cases, as they clarified the importance of recognizing and respecting the judgments of other states in determining property rights and obligations.
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