In re Marriage of Thatcher
Annotate this CaseAfter Susan Thatcher was diagnosed with terminal cancer, she filed a petition for dissolution of her marriage to Ronald Thatcher. Susan subsequently filed a motion to bifurcate dissolution, requesting that the Supreme Court first dissolve the marriage and decide the issues of the parties’ property and debts at a later date. The day before Susan’s death, the district court granted the motion to bifurcate and dissolved the marriage, with the division of property to be “determined at a later date.” Ronald appealed. The Supreme Court reversed the order of bifurcation and decree of dissolution, holding that Iowa Code 598.21(1) requires the marital dissolution and division of property to be contemporaneous. Remanded.
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