Coffey v. Coffey

After Wife sought a divorce from Husband, the parties entered into a stipulation and agreement to divide their property and debt. The agreement awarded the martial home to Husband, divided responsibility for the two mortgages on the home, and declared that the home be sold, with the proceeds from the sale to pay off any sum remaining on the mortgages. Husband later sold the home and used the sale proceeds to pay off both mortgages. Husband requested reimbursement from Wife for the mortgage debt assigned to her, but Wife refused to reimburse him. Husband filed a motion for order to show cause asking the circuit court to hold Wife in contempt and enter a judgment against her for the amount he paid on her mortgage. The circuit court denied the motion. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) the circuit court did not err by finding that the agreement was unambiguous and did not err in its interpretation of the agreement; (2) the plain language of the agreement did not require Wife to reimburse Husband; and (3) the circuit court did not err in determining that Husband’s request for an order requiring repaying from Wife would result in an impermissible modification of a final property settlement. View "Coffey v. Coffey" on Justia Law