Tiedman v. Tiedman

In this divorce action, the judge declared, at the conclusion of a hearing, that he would grant a divorce and approve the agreed-upon property settlement, and would sign a judgment of divorce. The husband died before the judgment was signed.

We hold that where it is contemplated that a judge’s oral statement, that a divorce is or will be granted, will be followed by the signing of a judgment, the divorce and property settlement do not become effective until the judgment is signed and cannot be made effective nunc pro tunc after one of the parties dies.

I

Barbara Tiedman commenced this action…