This section contains the nature of the case and procedural background.

H and Mary were married in Wyoming in 1950. They traveled extensively throughout the United States and the world. In August 1979, they returned to the United States from Singapore, where H had worked for Union Oil Company of California. The parties became domiciled in California. They bought a townhouse in Prescott, Arizona as a planned retirement home. w moved into the Prescott townhouse in December 1979, taking with her a substantial portion of the furnishings from the couple's California home. H remained in California, intending to join his wife upon his planned retirement. During the period they remained separated, H gave W money for living expenses and payments on the townhouse mortgage. W filed this action in Arizona seeking dissolution of the marriage in 1982. At no time has H ever resided in Arizona. The trial ruled in part that, under Arizona law, H's post-separation earnings in California were community property. H appealed. H contends that the trial court erred by applying Arizona rather than California law to the issue of whether his post-separation earnings were separate or community property.

The legal issues presented in this case will be displayed here.

The court's holding and decision will be displayed here.

Legal analysis from Dean's Law Dictionary will be displayed here.