Schaeffer v. Schaeffer

It is time to re-evaluate and lay aside obsolete precedents inhibiting in contested matrimonial matters a wife’s right to examine before trial into her husband’s financial affairs. This conclusion is compelled by the underlying policies of the pretrial disclosure provisions of the CPLR, the changed legislative and high court philosophies with respect to divorce, and revised social expectations prevailing as to the rights and status of women.

In this action by a wife for separation, the husband counterclaims for divorce and moves to strike his wife’s request for pretrial interrogatories seeking…