West

Doris Althea West appeals the judgment after a court trial established her British divorce decree as a California judgment and then terminated spousal support and reduced child support to $250 per month.

Doris and John Burnard West were divorced September 6, 1967, after a marriage lasting about four years; they had been separated about two years. There was one child who remained with the mother. Support orders were made and modified several times without complaint. John moved to California and discharged his English solicitors in order to represent himself in propria persona. Doris sought modification of the support decree; John received notice Doris was asking for more money; but he claims he never got notice of the date of the hearing. At the hearing spousal support was raised from 2,000 to 4,000 pounds per year and child support from 500 to 2,000 pounds per year. John has continued to pay support at the lower levels claiming the English courts had no jurisdiction to change the support allowances; Doris argues the increases were properly granted and John is greatly in arrears.

Service of process in British divorce cases is governed by Matrimonial Causes Rules 1973.…