Patterson v. Patterson

Neely, Justice:

INTRODUCTION

This appeal from a judgment in a domestic relations case presents a new and important issue. Concisely stated, the issue is whether a suit to impress a constructive trust upon property can be j oined in a suit for divorce. We see no reason why the court awarding a divorce cannot also impress a trust upon property when the spouse seeking the trust has contributed either money or services to the purchase of the property.

At the outset it must be emphasized that our simple holding concerning joinder of claims does not convert West Virginia into a jurisdiction akin to a…