In re the Marriage of Hughes

¶1 In a default judgment, essential due process limits the relief a court can grant to that asked for in the petition or complaint. Here, Shawnna Hughes took a default dissolution decree varying significantly from the petition served on her husband, Carlos Hughes. In the default papers, Ms. Hughes changed her pregnancy status to pregnant and denied Mr. Hughes’ paternity. Further, Ms. Hughes failed to respond to the State’s support enforcement inquiry about her pregnancy status before she entered her default decree. At the State’s urging, the court vacated the decree after a hearing. Because…