Kenneth A. Reeves v. Linda N. Reeves

Former husband appeals from judgment of contempt. The trial court ordered husband incarcerated until he paid to his former wife back payments and interest of $10,110 in compliance with property settlement agreement incorporated by reference in dissolution decree of December, 1980. The decree incorporated a Stipulation Agreement and Property Settlement prepared by husband and approved by the parties and the court. The agreement and the decree awarded custody of the two children to wife and ordered husband to pay $37.50 per week per child for support. Husband was given reasonable rights of visitation and reasonable rights of temporary custody. The agreement provided further that neither party pay maintenance for the support of the other. Certain personal property was divided by agreement. It also directed wife to execute quit claim deeds conveying to husband any interest she had in real estate owned by the parties and ordered husband to pay $20,000 at a rate of $300.00 per month in consideration for the conveyances. The decree was not merely a money judgment for wife in the amount of $20,000. It ordered husband to pay $20,000 to wife as agreed in the property settlement agreement. In that respect the decree differs from a money judgment in the usual civil suit.