In Re Marriage of Golden

On November 26, 1971, an interlocutory judgment of dissolution of marriage respecting the parties to this appeal was entered, which provided, inter alia, for support of the couple’s three children “until .. . majority . ...”

As of March 4, 1972 (for purposes of application), Civil Code section 25.1 became effective (see fn. 2). That statute provides: “The Legislature intends that any use of or reference to the words ‘age of majority,’ ‘age of minority,’ ‘adult’ ‘minor,’ or words of similar intent in any instrument, order, transfer, or governmental communication whatsoever made in this state:

A final judgment of dissolution of marriage was entered July 19, 1972.

In 1979, respondent, through order to show cause, sought modification of appellant’s child support obligation so as to increase the amounts payable. The petition was resisted by appellant, who urged that since the final judgment of dissolution occurred after March 4, 1972, such obligation, in terms of time, could not extend beyond the respective attainment by the minors of the age of 18 years, the theory being that the interlocutory judgment merged into the final, such that the specification “until .. . majority…