In Re Marriage of Norton

Appellant, Betty J. Norton, and respondent, Charles V. Norton, were married on May 22, 1954, in Dallas, Texas. There were four children of the marriage: Valerie, Stephen, Vicki and Max. The parties separated on October 27, 1972; at that time Valerie was 17 years old, Stephen was 15 years old, Vicki was 14 years old, and Max was 5 years old.

In December of the same year, appellant petitioned the Superior Court of Fresno County for a dissolution of the marriage and for a division of the community property; she also prayed for the custody of the children, for child and spousal support, and for attorney’s fees and costs.

On April 8, 1974, an interlocutory judgment was entered dissolving the marriage and dividing the community property of the parties; respondent was ordered to assume all of the community obligations. The court also awarded appellant spousal support and the custody of the two minor children, Stephen and Max; the oldest child, Valerie, had turned 18, and the daughter, Vicki, had married and left home. The court fixed the spousal support at $70 a month and the child support at $125 a month for each child; it then ordered that a rehearing on the issues of…