POWERS v. DISTRICT COURT OF TULSA COUNTY

POWERS v. DISTRICT COURT OF TULSA COUNTY
2009 OK 91
Case Number: 105611; No. 106432
Decided: 12/08/2009
As Corrected: December 29, 2009
THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA

PAUL M. POWERS, Petitioner,
v.
THE DISTRICT COURT OF TULSA COUNTY, STATE OF OKLAHOMA, and the Honorable TERRY H. BITTING, Special District Judge, Respondents.
AND
PAUL M. POWERS, Petitioner,
v.
THE DISTRICT COURT OF TULSA COUNTY, STATE OF OKLAHOMA, and the Honorable CARL FUNDERBURK, Special District Judge, Respondent.

APPLICATIONS FOR EXTRAORDINARY RELIEF

¶0 Non-resident Husband/Father challenged the in personam jurisdiction of the District Court in two proceedings wherein Wife/Mother sought, at various times, divorce, temporary child support, alimony, and property division. The District Court of Tulsa County, the Hon. Terry H. Bitting, Special Judge, and the Hon. Carl Funderburk, Special Judge, denied Husband's jurisdictional challenges in two separate trial court proceedings. Husband then filed two proceedings in this Court seeking extraordinary relief. We hold that (1) a trial court's order determining that it possessed in personam jurisdiction used an incorrect standard for the procedural posture of the case and prohibition must issue to prevent enforcement of that order, (2) circumstances in a physically and economically abusive marital relationship may show that an abusive spouse is purposefully availing him-/herself of conducting activity in the forum state by directing and controlling that the abused spouse and child reside in that forum, and that 43 O.S.Supp. 2004 § 601-201 of the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act may be applied consistent with due process, (3) in one case Husband's jurisdictional challenge was not adequately supported by a record in the extraordinary writ proceeding, and in another case the jurisdictional challenge raised by Husband was insufficient to show that Wife's petition failed to give a short and plain statement of the grounds upon which the in personam jurisdiction rested, and (4) the trial court is directed to provide a full and fair opportunity to the parties for providing any evidence on the issue of in personam jurisdiction.

APPLICATIONS TO ASSUME ORIGINAL JURISDICTION GRANTED;
WRIT OF PROHIBITION DENIED IN NO. 105,611; AND WRIT OF
PROHIBITION GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART IN NO. 106,432

Anthony Allen, James W. Feamster, III-PLLC, Tulsa, Oklahoma for Petitioner in No. 105,611. Anthony Allen, Seymour & Graham LLP, Tulsa, Oklahoma for Petitioner in No. 106,432
Jack R. Givens, Givens and Givens, Tulsa, Oklahoma, for Real Party in Interest in Nos. 105,611 and 106,432.

EDMONDSON, C.J

¶1 These two proceedings involve challenges to in personam jurisdiction made by a husband to the matrimonial-based claims of his wife. We adjudicate both proceedings by a single opinion without consolidation. We hold in No. 105,611 that the record presented in the extraordinary writ proceeding is insufficient to challenge the district court's order. We hold in No. 106,432 that the district court's order sustaining in personam jurisdiction over the husband is in error because (1) Husband's motion challenged the facial sufficiency of Wife's petition, as amended, and not the factual basis of in personam jurisdiction over Husband, and (2) the trial court's reliance upon facts appearing beyond the face of the pleadings is an application of an incorrect standard for testing the facial sufficiency of those pleadings.1 We deny prohibition in No. 105,611. In No. 106,432 we deny prohibition in part, and grant prohibition in part to prevent enforcement of the District Court's order and direct the trial court to provide a full and fair opportunity for the parties to present any evidence on the issue of in personam jurisdiction. We assume original jurisdiction pursuant to Okla. Const. Art. 7 § 4 to explain procedure when challenging the sufficiency of in personam jurisdiction allegations involving 43 O.S.Supp. 2004 § 601-201 of Oklahoma's version of the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act.

I. No. 105,611

¶2 Husband and Wife resided in the State of Missouri. Wife moved to Oklahoma and a few days later filed an action seeking legal separation, alimony, child support, child custody and attorney's fees.2 Two days later Husband filed an action for divorce in Missouri. Husband was served with process in the Oklahoma proceeding but did not answer or otherwise plead within the time allowed by 12 O.S.Supp. 2004 § 2012, and 12 O.S.2001 §§ 2026, 2027, and District Court Rule 2.3 Wife, with notice to Husband, filed a motion for default judgment.

¶3 After the time to answer or otherwise plead, Husband filed a special appearance with a motion to dismiss challenging in personam jurisdiction. The trial court held one hearing, without adjudicating the motion to dismiss, and allowed Wife time to amend her petition. The trial court then held a hearing, determined Husband was in default, declined to consider the motion to dismiss, took evidence on the issue of temporary support, and issued an order for temporary support. Husband then filed a motion to vacate the temporary support order and requested that the trial court consider his motion to dismiss.

¶4 During a trial court hearing, discussion was had whether Husband's motion to dismiss could be considered when the trial court had not granted Husband leave to file out of time, and whether a request for such leave would waive in personam jurisdiction. Prior to expiration of the time to answer or otherwise plead, a party may request additional time pursuant to 12 O.S. 2001 § 2006(B)(1) to file a special appearance and motion to dismiss for lack of in personam jurisdiction without waiving the defense of lack of in personam jurisdiction.4 A request for extension of time pursuant to § 2006(B)(2) may be granted to file a special appearance and motion to dismiss without waiving in personam jurisdiction if the failure to act timely was the result of excusable neglect. Thus, a trial court's denial of either a § 2006(B)(1) or § 2006 (B)(2) motion combined with a special appearance does not act to waive a defendant's defense of a lack of in personam jurisdiction.

¶5 Husband's special appearance and motion to dismiss filed after his time to answer or otherwise plead without leave of court, or having been treated by the court as timely, is a nullity and of no effect.5 Husband's untimely motion to dismiss and special appearance filed without leave of court was not an appearance, but the filing did not waive in personam jurisdiction. Husband's failure to answer or otherwise plead within the time allowed by the Pleading Code resulted in a default "judgment" for temporary child support, but did not waive his in personam jurisdiction defense.6

¶6 Federal court opinions discussing challenges to in personam jurisdiction, both pre- and post-adoption of the Oklahoma Pleading Code, state that when a motion to dismiss for lack of in personam jurisdiction is filed "the district court must accept as true the allegations set forth in the complaint to the extent they are uncontroverted by defendant's affidavits." Ten Mile Industrial Park v. Western Plain Service Corp., 810 F.2d 1518, 1524 (10th Cir.1987).

¶7 In courts of this state, a special appearance with a motion to dismiss is a proper method to challenge in personam jurisdiction.

The defendant initially has the burden of challenging the propriety of a summons, jurisdiction, or venue, but once this is done, the burden of proof shifts to the plaintiff. To satisfy the initial burden, a defendant will ordinarily need to accompany a motion to dismiss with an affidavit from either a person with knowledge of the facts, if possible, or otherwise by an attorney who states what the proof would show at a hearing.

David S. Clark & Charles W. Adams, Oklahoma Civil Pretrial Procedure: Jurisdiction, Service of Process, Venue, Motions to Dismiss Under Section 2012, § 10.1, 253, 257 (1995).

Normally, motions seeking a dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction are accompanied by detailed affidavits setting forth the absence of contacts with Oklahoma. Conversely, responses to the motion are also accompanied by affidavits attempting to establish the sufficiency of the contacts to warrant the assertion of personal jurisdiction.

1-A Charles W. Adams & Daniel J. Boudreau, Vernon's Oklahoma Forms 2d: Civil Procedure, Motion to Dismiss-Lack of Jurisdiction Over the Person, § 4.4, 195, 196 (1999).

This Court has often explained that when in personam jurisdiction is challenged the jurisdiction over a non-resident defendant cannot be inferred, but must affirmatively appear from the trial court record, and the burden of proof in the trial court is upon the party asserting that jurisdiction exists.

¶8 Approximately twenty years ago this Court stated that a motion may raise an issue of fact pursuant to Rule 4(c) of the Rules for District Courts. In Mott v. Carlson,

¶9 Husband filed a motion to vacate the default "judgment" with a request for the trial court to hear his previously filed motion to dismiss. Husband's Summary of Record in his brief states that the trial court's hearing decided both the motion to dismiss and motion to vacate, and that the trial court concluded that in personam jurisdiction was present under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, and that the trial court did not rely on a theory of default by Husband used by the trial court at a previous hearing. Brief at page 5.

¶10 This proceeding is not an appeal, but a challenge to a District Court's order in an action independent of the one before the trial court, and we examine the arguments presented to the trial court that appear in the record prepared for us by the parties. Christian v. Gray,

¶11 Husband's record in this Court includes the trial court docket which shows that Wife filed a response to the motion to vacate. But Husband does not include in this writ proceeding a copy of Wife's response to the motion to vacate that was filed in the trial court.

¶12 In sum, due to the state of the record presented to this Court, no conclusion may be reached whether (1) the trial court considered the temporary support order as an intermediate order

II. No. 106,432
A. Husband's Challenge to the Allegations in the Petition

¶13 Wife filed a petition for divorce in a second proceeding in Tulsa County. Husband filed a special appearance and motion to dismiss for lack of in personam jurisdiction. The trial court granted the motion to dismiss. Wife sought reconsideration, and after a response by Husband and reply by Wife, the trial court granted the motion and vacated its earlier order. The trial court's ruling stated that Oklahoma was the "home state" of the child and that a Missouri court had agreed that the divorce as well as custody and support issues should be decided in Oklahoma.

¶14 Husband filed a special appearance and motion to dismiss in the District Court. The motion states that a divorce proceeding is pending in Missouri between the parties, but the motion has no affidavit or evidentiary substitute bringing that fact before the trial court.

¶15 Wife's verified petition states that "Respondent [Husband] agreed with Petitioner that she could go to Oklahoma with their child, . . . [and] remove her own separate furniture from the marital home to Oklahoma . . . ."

¶16 A federal court is a court of limited jurisdiction and jurisdiction must be pled by the party invoking the court's jurisdiction.

¶17 Various methods may be used to place facts before a trial court to receive judicial recognition, and Professor Fraser has stated that " . . . if a long-arm statute must be used to serve the defendant the plaintiff should plead facts that show such service is proper." George B. Fraser, The Petition Under the New Pleading Code, 38 Okla. L. Rev. 245, 246 (1985). That showing of proper service is based upon a notice-pleading standard, for the facts necessary to support in personam jurisdiction must appear of record, not necessarily on the face of the petition itself.

¶18 In summary, when a plaintiff's petition invokes a court's long-arm jurisdiction

¶19 In supervisory review of a trial court's order adjudicating a motion to dismiss challenging the facial sufficiency of a petition asserting long-arm jurisdiction, we must determine if the allegations of the petition give fair notice of the factual basis for long-arm jurisdiction sufficient to comply with Due Process. Is Wife's petition facially sufficient to give Husband notice of the factual basis for her assertion of long-arm jurisdiction? We hold that the petition is facially sufficient, for reasons we now explain.

B. In Personam Jurisdiction

¶20 The trial court relied on Taylor v. Taylor,

¶21 In our present case, a Missouri court previously directed Husband to litigate the divorce and all other issues in Oklahoma instead of in Husband's Missouri divorce proceeding, and the Oklahoma trial court relied upon the orders of the Missouri court for exercising jurisdiction to adjudicate the personal support obligations of Husband. Wife seeks a divorce and child custody as well as a decree imposing personal monetary obligations against Husband. We are not presented with the circumstance of one spouse seeking a divisible divorce or seeking to impose personal obligations after a divisible divorce has been granted,

¶22 The Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U. S. Constitution limits the power of a state court to render a valid personal judgment against a non-resident defendant. World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson,

¶23 In the present cases, Husband relies on the fact of his physical presence in Missouri. He also relies upon Kulko supra, and World-Wide Volkswagen Corp., supra, for the proposition that it would be unfair for him to defend his divorce and support obligations in Oklahoma. Wife focuses on Husband's activities in Missouri that, according to her unrefuted pleadings, forced or directed her to move to Oklahoma. She distinguishes Kulko and her pleadings allege that her presence in Oklahoma did not result from her unilateral conduct and Husband's mere acquiescence, but from purposeful conduct by Husband.

¶24 Kulko was decided by the Court in 1978, during a twenty-five year period in which the Court's due process jurisprudence in the area of judicial jurisdiction was evolving substantially. In Quill Corporation v. North Dakota,

¶25 Opinions from the U. S. Supreme Court have explained in non-matrimonial disputes that when a non-resident purposefully directs activity in a state, the activity may be sufficient for the state to exercise in personam jurisdiction over the non-resident.

¶26 In our case, Wife points to Oklahoma's version of the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (U.I.F.S.A.),

We granted certiorari to address whether the trial court had jurisdiction to order child support under section 14-5-201(5) based on the Defendant's acts of domestic violence, which caused Malwitz to flee to Colorado where the child was born and now resides with Malwitz. Accepting the trial court's factual findings regarding the Defendant's abuse and harassment of Malwitz, we find that the Defendant's actions were sufficient to constitute "acts or directives" that caused Malwitz to flee Texas for Colorado within the meaning of section 14-5-201(5). We further find that, under these circumstances, the exercise of personal jurisdiction over the Defendant is consistent with due process. We therefore hold that the trial court had personal jurisdiction over the Defendant for purposes of entering a child support order.

Id

In Malwitz acts of abuse and harassment occurred in the State of Texas, the husband made harassing phone calls to his wife's father in Colorado, and these phone calls were for the purpose of "further harassing and intimidating " his wife and her family. Id. 99 P.3d at 58, 61. The Colorado court explained that the facts therein were similar to those in Franklin v. Virginia, 27 Va.App. 136, 497 S.E.2d 881 (1998), where in personam jurisdiction was found to exist:

We find that, like the family in Franklin, the pregnant Malwitz and her daughter were effectively forced to flee Texas for Colorado by the affirmative acts of the Defendant. Although the Defendant did not specifically direct Malwitz to leave, his persistent abuse and harassment left Malwitz with little choice but to leave Texas and seek safety near her father's home in Colorado. See Id. (noting that the mother "made no such choice" to leave Africa, but was forced to Virginia because "[t]hey had to go somewhere").

Malwitz

The Colorado court, noting that the husband knew that his wife's family resided in Colorado, concluded that "the Defendant knew or should have known that his actions would drive Malwitz to her father's home in Colorado." Id. 99 P.3d at 61.

¶27 In Malwitz the court noted that the abusive husband knew that the wife's only family ties were in Colorado, and that the husband should have foreseen that the abused wife would flee to the protection of her family. Malwitz, 99 P.3d at 59. The court also noted that very little time passed between the harassment and abuse and the subsequent relocation of the spouse from Texas to Colorado. Id. 93 P.3d at 61.

¶28 When we examine statutes there is a presumption that they are constitutional and we construe them, if at all possible, to be consistent with constitutional provisions. In re Baby Girl L.,

¶29 We must also consider the "fair play and substantial justice" test. Due process is satisfied if a non-resident defendant has "minimum contacts" with the forum state "such that the maintenance of the suit does not offend 'traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.' "

¶30 Here, could Husband reasonably anticipate being haled before a court in Oklahoma? The verified and uncontested allegations in Wife's pleadings are that Husband and Wife discussed separation or divorce and Husband refused to let Wife stay in their marital home in Missouri with their four-month-old child. Additionally, that Wife, with no economic means, had no choice but to move with their child into her parents' home in Oklahoma, and that Husband knew that this was her only available choice for economic support and a place to live with the assistance of her parents. She alleges that before her move to Oklahoma Husband agreed with her assisted move to Oklahoma with the child and her furniture. She also specifically alleges that Husband knew that her parents would come to Missouri to move her and their child to Oklahoma in consequence of his conduct towards Wife, and he agreed with the location to which she and the child would move. She also alleges being fearful of Husband due to his verbal abuse, threats against her person, his erratic behavior, including D.U.I. arrests, alcoholism, an instance of his breaking a locked door to gain access to her, and an instance of his falling down stairs while carrying a child.

¶31 In Malwitz, after noting that the abused spouse was directed by the acts of the abusive spouse to live in Colorado, the court noted consequences of that conduct, including the abused spouse receiving public assistance in Colorado and thereby creating a debt. Malwitz, 99 P.3d at 62-63. Malwitz also observed that "all states share a common interest in protecting victims of domestic abuse and providing an effective means for redress for such victims." Id. 93 P.3d at 63. An interest to protect children and spouses that is shared in common with other forums, whether from abuse or lack of economic support, is insufficient, by itself, to make Oklahoma a fair forum as to a nonresident.

¶32 Although acts of child and spouse abuse in one state are insufficient, by themselves, to create in personam jurisdiction over a non-resident spouse in a different state, we do agree with the Supreme Court of Colorado that affiliating circumstances such as those in Malwitz may provide the facts necessary to show that an abusive spouse is purposefully availing himself or herself of conducting activity in the forum state by directing and controlling where the abused spouse and child reside. It is alleged herein that Husband directed and controlled the location of residence by agreeing to, and desiring, that location for his family, that this location is the result of Husband's physical abuse, that this location is the result of his complete and abrupt failure of both spousal and child economic support in both Husband's state of residence and the state to which he directed and compelled them to move their residence, and that he was aware that his lack of support required this specific change in residence.

¶33 In Malwitz the wife was afforded a hearing in the trial court on the issues of fact relating to the in personam jurisdiction of a non-resident spouse. A federal court may hold an evidentiary hearing on jurisdictional issues, Federal Deposit Ins. Corp. v. Oaklawn Apartments, supra, and an Oklahoma District Court must adjudicate motions raising contested issues of fact, Crest Infiniti, II, LP v. Swinton, supra. Our Court of Civil Appeals has concluded that contested facts related to an assertion of in personam jurisdiction pursuant to § 601-201 over a non-resident spouse must be adjudicated by the trial court. Gullo v. Gullo,

¶34 Notice pleading does not require Wife to catalogue in her petition each and every fact of alleged physical and economic abuse that could be used to support an evidentiary finding and conclusion that Husband's spousal/child abuse and intentional spousal economic failure caused her and her child to reside in Oklahoma. Similarly, notice pleading does not require her to catalogue in a petition every alleged fact that could be used to support her argument that Husband directed her to move to Oklahoma, and that he used Wife's parents as agents to complete the alleged plan for his family to live in Oklahoma. We are not concerned at this time with the sufficiency of the evidence to support Wife's jurisdictional arguments, but whether the District Court was correct that Wife satisfied her pleading burden according to the record presented to us in these extraordinary writ proceedings and the burden of the petitioner (Husband) herein to show that Wife failed her notice-pleading burden in the District Court. Whether Wife's allegations are indeed the facts present in the cases before us today is a question we may not reach in advance of the parties litigating the actual existence of such facts in the District Court.

¶35 The trial court's order in FD-2008-983 determined that the trial court possessed, in fact, in personam jurisdiction when the Husband's challenge presented only the narrower issue of the sufficiency of Wife's petition, as amended. Prohibition hereby issues (1) to prevent enforcement of the order of the District Court in FD-2008-983 which sustained a motion for reconsideration and determined jurisdiction respecting divorce and all related issues, and (2) to direct the District Court that it must provide a full and fair opportunity for parties to present any evidence on the issue of in personam jurisdiction for the trier of fact to determine that issue consistent with this opinion. We hold that the allegations of Wife's petition, as amended, in FD-2008-983 are sufficient to give notice of the grounds upon which the trial court's jurisdiction depends and the allegations thus satisfy Wife's notice-pleading burden. Thus, we grant prohibition in part, that is to prevent enforcement of the specific order challenged herein; and we also deny prohibition in part, with respect to Husband's claim that the trial court record is insufficient, according to a notice-pleading burden, to show in personam jurisdiction over Husband based upon the petition's allegations.

¶36 In summary, we conclude that allegations of spousal/child physical abuse and intentional spousal failure of economic support combined with allegations of a non-resident's spouse's agreement and purposeful conduct for the location of the residence of the other spouse and their child may be used pursuant to

¶ 37 EDMONDSON, C.J., TAYLOR, V.C.J., HARGRAVE, WATT, WINCHESTER, COLBERT, REIF, JJ., Concur.

¶ 38 OPALA, KAUGER, JJ., Concur in result.

FOOTNOTES

1 The trial court relied upon orders from a Missouri court for establishing in personam jurisdiction but the parties do not argue and brief, with authority, that the Missouri court's orders are sufficient to create in personam jurisdiction in an Oklahoma court over the Missouri resident. The effect of those orders is not before us in this proceeding.

2 In re: Marriage of Powers, Monique L. Powers and Paul M. Powers, FD-2007-3585 (Tulsa County District Court).

3 12 O.S.Supp.2004 § 2012 (A) ("A defendant shall serve an answer within twenty days after the service of the summons and petition upon the defendant, except as otherwise provided by the law of this state."); 12 O.S.2001 § 2026 (the forms in § 2027 "are sufficient under the Oklahoma Pleading Code"); 12 O.S.2001 § 2027 (Form 1, Summons) (You have been sued . . . and you are directed to file a written answer to the attached petition within twenty days after service of this summons . . .); 12 O.S.2001 Ch. 2, App. District Court Rule 2, ("Defendants . . . shall file their responsive pleading with the court clerk and serve copies on all opposing parties within 20 days after being served with process unless the time is extended by the service and filing of a motion or by the entry of an appearance . . . .").

4 Young v. Walton, 1991 OK 20, 807 P.2d 248; State ex rel. Gaines v. Beaver, 1945 OK 318, 166 P.2d 776, 780; Braden v. Williams, 1924 Ok 63, 222 P. 948, 949.

5 Brown v. Green Country Softball Ass'n, 1994 OK 124, 884 P.2d 851, 852; Durant Civic Foundation, Inc. v. Grand Lodge of Okla. of the Ind. Order of Odd Fellows, 2008 OK CIV APP 54, ¶ 8, 191 P.3d 612, 614 -615; Nard v. State, 1965 OK CR 158, 412 P.2d 489, 490.

6 A default judgment is a judgment entered against a party because of that party's failure to comply with a command imposed by law. Thus a "default judgment has been defined as a judgment rendered in consequence of the non-appearance of the defendant." Choctaw County Excise Board v. St. Louis-San Francisco Ry. Co.,1969 OK 110, 456 P.2d 545, 548. Remedies for challenging a default judgment are the statutes authorizing vacation of default judgments. Jupe v. Home Owners Loan Corp., 1946 OK 91, 167 P.2d 46, 48. If a default judgment is entered without in personam jurisdiction, the judgment must be vacated. Farmers' Union Co-Operative Royalty Co. v. Woodward, 1973 OK 128, 515 P.2d 1381, 1384.

7 See also Melea, Ltd. v. Jawer, SA, 511 F.3d 1060, 1065 (10th Cir. 2007); Behagen v. Amateur Basketball Ass'n of U.S.A.,744 F.2d 731, 733 (10th Cir. 1984) cert. denied, 471 U.S. 1010, 105 S. Ct. 1879, 85 L. Ed. 2d 171 (1985); American Land Program Inc. v. Bonaventura Uitgevers Maatschappij, N.V., 710 F.2d 1449, 1454 (10th Cir. 1983).

8 Federal Deposit Ins. Corp. v. Oaklawn Apartments, 959 F.2d 170, 174 (10th Cir. 1992). See Behagen v. Amateur Basketball Ass'n of U.S.A.,744 F.2d 731, 733 (10th Cir. 1984) cert. denied, 471 U.S. 1010, 105 S. Ct. 1879, 85 L. Ed. 2d 171 (1985) citing American Land Program, Inc. v. Bonaventura Uitgevers Maatschappij, N.V., 710 F.2d 1449 (10th Cir.1983), and collecting cases from the Second, Fifth, Seventh, and Ninth Circuit Courts. See also OMI Holdings, Inc. v. Royal Ins. Co. of Canada, 149 F.3d 1086, 1091 (10th Cir.1998) ("When a district court rules on a Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(2) motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction without holding an evidentiary hearing, as in this case, the plaintiff need only make a prima facie showing of personal jurisdiction to defeat the motion.").

9 Federal Deposit Ins. Corp. v. Oaklawn Apartments, 959 F.2d 170, 174 (10th Cir. 1992); Behagen v. Amateur Basketball Ass'n of U.S.A.,744 F.2d 731, 733 (10th Cir. 1984) cert. denied, 471 U.S. 1010, 105 S. Ct. 1879, 85 L. Ed. 2d 171 (1985). See also Marine Midland Bank, N.A. v. Miller, 664 F.2d 899, 904 (2d Cir.1981); Neiman v. Rudolf Wolff & Co., 619 F.2d 1189, 1190 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 920, 101 S. Ct. 319, 66 L. Ed. 2d 148 (1980).

10 Flynn v. Ohio Building Restoration, Inc., 260 F. Supp. 2d 156, 161 (D.D.C.2003); Davis ex rel. Davis v. U.S., 343 F.3d 1282, 1296 (10th Cir. 2003); U.S. v. Rodriguez-Aguirre, 264 F.3d 1195, 1203 (10th Cir. 2001).

11 See, e.g., Federal Deposit Ins. Corp. v. Oaklawn Apartments, 959 F.2d 170, 174 (10th Cir. 1992). (discussion of a facial attack on the complaint as well as attack raising contested facts); Wempe v. Sunrise Medical HHG, Inc., 61 F. Supp. 2d 1165 (D.Kan.1999) (A court may decide in personam jurisdictional issues by reference to affidavits, after a pretrial evidentiary hearing, or at trial if the issues are intertwined with the merits of the suit.).

12 In re Turkey Creek Conservancy District, 2008 OK 8, n. 4, 177 P.3d 558, 561; Steincamp v. Steincamp, 593 P.2d 495, 498; 12 O.S.2001 § 2012(B)(2).

13 White v. White, 2007 OK 86, ¶¶ 7-9, 173 P.2d 78, 79-80 (listing examples when certain provisions have been found inapplicable and holding that a motion for a change in child custody is not deemed confessed by application of Rule 4); Record v. Record, 1991 OK 85, 816 P.2d 1139, 1141 (Rule 4 "primarily governs pretrial motions" and does not apply to a motion for new trial).

14 12 O.S.2001 Ch. 15, App. 1, Okla. Sup. Ct. R. 1.36(a)(2) (Okla. Sup. Ct. R. 1.36 applies to "final orders in cases in which motions to dismiss for failure to state a claim or lack of jurisdiction (of a person or subject matter) under District Court Rule 4 . . . ."); Clark, David S. & Adams, Charles W., Oklahoma Civil Pretrial Procedure: Jurisdiction, Service of Process, Venue, Motions to Dismiss Under Section 2012, § 10.1, 253, 256 (1995) ("Rule 4 of the Rules for District Courts of Oklahoma establishes general guidelines for motions, including motions to dismiss under section 2012."). See also Civil Rule17, Fourteenth Judicial District, which states that motions in civil cases must comply with Rule 4 of the Rules for the District Courts. Oklahoma Court Rules and Procedure: State, 2008, Rules of the Fourteenth Judicial District [Tulsa and Pawnee Counties], 1039, 1046 (Thomson/West).

15 Gilbert v. Security Finance Corp., 2006 OK 58, ¶ 2, 152 P.3d 165, 171; Conoco, Inc. v. Agrico Chemical Co., 2004 OK 83, ¶ 20, 115 P.3d 829, 835; Union Bank v. Ferris, 1978 OK 149, 587 P.2d 454, 455; Roberts v. Jack Richards Aircraft Co., 1975 OK 72, 536 P.2d 353, 354; Crescent Corp. v. Martin, 1968 OK 95, 443 P.2d 111, 117-118.

16 12 O.S.Supp.2004 § 2012 (F)(1):

1. A defense of lack of jurisdiction over the person, improper venue, insufficiency of process, insufficiency of service of process, failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or lack of capacity of a party to be sued is waived:

a. if omitted from a motion that raises any of the defenses or objections which this section permits to be raised by motion, or

b. if it is not made by motion and it is not included in a responsive pleading or an amendment thereof permitted by subsection A of Section 2015 of this title to be made as a matter of course. A motion to strike an insufficient defense is waived if not raised as in subsection D of this section.

17 See Willis v. Sequoyah House, Inc., 2008 OK 87, n. 14, 194 P.3d 1285, 1290 (explanation that proof consists of matters tendered in probative form for admission as evidence).

18 In federal court a plaintiff has the duty to make jurisdictional allegations in the complaint sufficient for notice pleading and then support them by competent proof if the allegations are challenged. Pytlik v. Professional Resources, Inc., 887 F.2d 1371, 1376 (10th Cir. 1989). Federal Rule 12 (b)(6) motions are treated differently from 12(b)(1) & (2) motions for the purpose of whether attached materials convert the motion to one for summary judgment. See the discussion of federal procedure and authority at notes 7-10 supra. Because the record in No. 105,611 is inadequate to challenge the order of the District Court we need not discuss whether Wife met either her notice-pleading burden or her burden to produce facts in opposition to a procedurally proper jurisdictional challenge contesting facts.

19 Husband's Appendix herein contains a synopsis [see Okla.Sup.Ct.R. 1.191 (d)((3)(d)] of the order denying motion to vacate which states as follows: "Judge Bitting found personal jurisdiction over Paul Powers under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act instead of under a theory of waiver of personal jurisdiction by untimely filing." The cover of the Appendix contains the printed name of counsel, but the Appendix is not supported by an affidavit, verified by counsel, or signed by counsel. The Court has explained that unsworn statements of counsel in a motion do not constitute evidence. Crest Infiniti, II, LP v. Swinton, 2007 OK 77, ¶ 10, 174 P.3d 996, 1002.

20 S. W. v. Duncan, 2001 OK 39, n. 14, 24 P.3d 846, 855 (Court explained that an admission in a brief may supplement the record in an extraordinary writ proceeding as well as in an appeal); Brock v. Thompson, 1997 OK 127, n. 4, 948 P.2d 279, 283 (same). See, e.g., Kelley v. Kelley, 2007 OK 100, n. 10, 175 P.3d 400, 404 (in context of a writ proceeding the Court stated and applied the appellate rule that an admission in a brief may be used to supplement the record); Holmes v. Nightingale, 2007 OK 15, n. 10, 158 P.3d 1039, 1043 (same); World Pub. Co. v. White, 2001 OK 48, n. 38, 32 P.3d 835, 845 (same).

21 See, e.g., Harjo v. Johnston, 1933 OK 144, 19 P.2d 961, 963 ("Even though there be a conflict between the minutes of the court clerk and the trial court's journal entry as to the date of the proceedings of the trial court, the journal speaks the record, governs, and controls."); State v. Ford, 1977 OK 233, 573 P.2d 257, 258 (a journal entry of judgment controls inconsistent minute).

22 Ray v. Ray, 2006 OK 30, ¶ 12, 136 P.3d 634, 637 ("The appealing party must include in the record for appeal all materials necessary for corrective relief."); Pracht v. Oklahoma State Bank, 1979 OK 43, 592 P.2d 976, 978 ("The appellant bears the burden of demonstrating a sufficient record and applicable law to demonstrate in this Court that the trial court committed error since error in the lower court is not presumed.").

23 A petitioner for extraordinary relief bears the burden to raise those facts necessary to support the petitioner's request for relief. Scott v. Peterson, 2005 OK 84, ¶ 20, 126 P.3d 1232, 1237; James v. Rogers, 1987 OK 20, 734 P.2d 1298, 1299; City National Bank & Trust Co. v. Owens, 1977 OK 86, 565 P.2d 4, 9. Accord, Phelps v. Childers, 1939 OK 83, 89 P.2d 782, 788 (one of the respondents' defenses to the writ was based upon an alleged absence of a required publication, and in rejecting the argument the Court noted that the relevant legal principle "can be applied only when proof is made that no such publication occurred.").

24 This burden is similar to that of an appellant in an appeal assigning as error insufficient evidence to support a judgment. For the Court to review assigned error of insufficient evidence the record on appeal must contain the evidence submitted to the trial court. Harrison v. Harmon, 1925 OK 937, 241 P. 476. For the Court to review in an extraordinary supervisory writ proceeding the alleged error of plaintiff's insufficient showing of facts, by pleading or evidence, to support the exercise of long-arm jurisdiction a petitioner must produce plaintiff's filings as part of the record in the extraordinary writ proceeding. In the context of a supervisory writ this Court does not usually examine the sufficiency of evidence to support a trial court's order, Crest Infiniti, II, LP v. Swinton, 2007 OK 77, n. 8, 174 P.3d 996, 1001. An extraordinary supervisory writ challenge to in personam jurisdiction will not usually decide, in the first instance, a question of fact necessary for the minimum requirements of due process, but the Court does examine if the facts are sufficient to show, using the appropriate procedural burden, whether a trial court is acting beyond its jurisdictional powers. Crescent Corp. v. Martin, 1968 OK 95, 443 P.2d 111, 118.

25 We note that Husband's Appendix contains some instruments purportedly filed in the district court. These instruments are neither certified by the trial court clerk nor stated by affidavit of counsel to be correct copies of the documents filed in the trial court. Okla. Sup. Ct. R. 1.191 (d) states that the Appendix may contain copies of pertinent portions of the trial court record.

26 An order for temporary child support is not appealable as a final order. Elliott v. Elliott, 1954 OK 356, 279 P.2d 328, 329. In Kantor v. Kantor, 1994 OK 132, 886 P.2d 480 the Court stated that "The provisions of 12 O.S.Supp.1993 § 993(A)(5), by which orders directing the payment of money pendente lite are appealable, do not apply to temporary support orders or orders for the payment of temporary attorney fees in matrimonial cases. The latter are predicated on the general duty of parental or spousal support." Id. at 480.

27 Husband's motion to vacate the order of temporary support invoked 12 O.S.2001 § 1031.1. A § 1031.1 motion, when used, must be used to challenge a judgment, decree, or appealable order. LCR, Inc. v. Linwood Properties, 1976 OK 73, 918 P.2d 1388, 1393. The § 1031.1 motion did not challenge a judgment, decree, or appealable order, but challenged a ruling anterior to judgment and the motion was a premature § 1031.1 request.

28 Generally, a premature motion has the same effect as one filed too late; neither is procedurally effective in placing the substantive adjudicatory issue before the court. Brown v. Green Country Softball Ass'n, 1994 OK 124, 884 P.2d 851, 852.

29 Intermediate orders are those non-final orders made in the course of an action or proceeding that remain under the plenary control of the trial judge until the controversy has culminated in judgment. City of Lawton v. International Union of Police Associations, Local 24, 2002 OK 1, n. 14, 41 P.3d 371, 374. See also Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Auth. v. City of Oklahoma City, 2005 OK 2, n. 18, 110 P.3d 550, 557.

30 Order Sustaining Motion for Reconsideration and Determining Jurisdiction Respecting Divorce and All Related Issues, filed Sept. 19, 2008, FD-2008-983. Appendix to Petitioner's Brief in Support, etc., filed October 21, 2008, Okla. Sup. Ct. No. 106,432, Exhibit N.

31 Courts do not generally take judicial notice of the record of a different court. Manley v. Brown, 1999 OK 79, n. 45, 989 P.2d 448, 458; Salazar v. City of Oklahoma City, 1999 OK 20, n. 10, 976 P.2d 1056, 1061. Wife's Petition for Dissolution of Marriage in FD-2008-983 states the style and location of the then pending Missouri divorce proceeding. Wife's Appendices in No. 105,611 and 106,432 contain copies of the Missouri court's orders but do not show where the orders were made part of the trial court record. The trial court clearly used the orders of the Missouri court in its decision. The portion of the trial court record before us does not show the procedural propriety of the trial court using the Missouri court orders on a facial challenge to the sufficiency of a petition when the record before us does not show that the orders were incorporated as part of the petition and amended petition. In this supervisory proceeding, the procedural burden is upon Husband to show that the Missouri orders were not incorporated in the amended petition, but as indicated herein, Husband, as well as Wife, does not address either the procedural or substantive effect of the Missouri court's orders, or defend with authority the trial court's use of those orders. See note 1 supra, and notes 32 and 47 infra.

32 Husband's Appendix in this Court contains various instruments allegedly filed in a court in the State of Missouri. Appendix to Petitioner's Brief, etc., No. 106,432. They, like some of the instruments submitted by Wife's Appendix, do not appear in the Appendix as part of instruments filed in the trial court, nor are they exhibits to a trial court transcript, or accompanied by counsel's affidavit showing their introduction into the trial court record prior to the trial court's decision. Due to the nature of our disposition herein we have discussed facts that appear in Husband's Appendix (as well as Wife's) without separating or culling those facts that lack a showing of their introduction as part of the trial court record, and we also have not addressed the issue which of Husband's facts in his Appendix in No. 105,611 also show that they were part of the trial court record or may receive judicial notice in No. 106,432. House of Realty, Inc. v. City of Midwest City, 2004 OK 97, n. 1, 109 P.3d 314 (this Court may take judicial notice of its own records in litigation interconnected with the proceeding before the Court).

Generally, a request for prohibition in this Court must be preceded by the petitioner presenting the same claim to the inferior tribunal. Schofield v. Melton, 1933 OK 447, 25 P.2d 279, 282. Facts are a part of a claim and they should thus be presented in the first instance to the trial court for its consideration in issuing its order. See the discussion of this principle in Crest Infiniti, II, LP v. Swinton, 2007 OK 77, n. 8, 174 P.3d 996, 1001. As we have explained herein, facts may be presented to a District Court for adjudication of a challenge to in personam jurisdiction by special appearance without waiving that challenge.

33 Appendix to Respondent's Verified Response to Petitioner's Application to Assume Original Jurisdiction, etc, No. 106,432, Nov. 10, 2008, Exhibit 3.

34 Appendix to Respondent's Verified Response to Petitioner's Application to Assume Original Jurisdiction, etc, No. 106,432, Nov. 10, 2008, Exhibit 4.

35 Appendix to Petitioner's Brief in Support of Application to Assume Original Jurisdiction, etc., No. 106,432, Oct. 21, 2008, Exhibit F.

36 Appendix to Respondent's Verified Response to Petitioner's Application to Assume Original Jurisdiction, etc, No. 106,432, Nov. 10, 2008, Exhibit 3; Appendix to Petitioner's Brief in Support of Application, etc, No. 105,611, Feb. 27, 2008, Exhibit B.

37 Celli v. Shoell, 40 F.3d 324, 327 (10th Cir. 1994) ("Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction, and the presumption is that they lack jurisdiction unless and until a plaintiff pleads sufficient facts to establish it.").

38 Doe v. Holy See, 557 F.3d 1066, 1073-1074, (9th Cir.2009) (notice-pleading standard applied to jurisdiction); Kanter v. Barella, 489 F.3d 170, 175 (3d Cir. 2007) (notice-pleading standard stated and Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a) quoted); Carpenter v. Williams, 86 F.3d 1015, 1016 (10th Cir. 1996) (court observed that the complaint in that case did not satisfy Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a)(1) and the requirement that a pleading shall include "a short and plain statement of the grounds upon which the court's jurisdiction depends.").

39 If every fact necessary for long-arm jurisdiction were required to be listed in the petition then the federal court jurisprudence would be inexplicable since it distinguishes a facial challenge to a petition accepting allegations as true and a factual challenge contesting facts. See, e.g., U.S. v. Rodriguez-Aguirre, 264 F.3d 1195, 1203 (10th Cir. 2001) (a party may make a facial challenge to the plaintiff's allegations concerning subject matter jurisdiction, thereby questioning the sufficiency of the complaint).

40 Colton v. Huntleigh USA Corp., 2005 OK 46, ¶ 10, 121 P.3d 1070, 1073 ("The burden of proof as to any particular fact rests upon the party asserting such fact."). We have stated that the plaintiff has the burden of showing facts necessary to support in personam jurisdiction of a non-resident defendant when such jurisdiction is challenged. Gilbert v. Security Finance Corp., supra; Conoco, Inc. v. Agrico Chemical Co., supra; Union Bank v. Ferris, supra; Roberts v. Jack Richards Aircraft Co., supra; Crescent Corp. v. Martin, supra; at note 14.

41 For example, the Court has explained that publication notice is based upon a trial court record showing due diligence. Blackgold Exploration Co. Ltd. v. First Fed. Sav. and Loan Ass'n of Elk City, 1990 OK 134, 803 P.2d 1138, 1142 (factual support for the due-diligence statement required by Bomford v. Socony Mobil Oil Co., 1968 OK 43, 440 P.2d 713, must appear on the record, although those facts need not necessarily be set forth in the affidavit, they must be before the trial court in some form to "be considered in light of the circumstances.").

42 The Due Process Clause does not by itself mandate any particular form of procedure. In re A.M., 2000 OK 82, ¶ 9, 13 P.3d 484, 487. Due Process requires notice reasonably calculated under all the circumstances to inform the interested parties of the action's pendency and to afford them a full and fair opportunity to present their objections. Vance v. Federal Nat. Mortg. Ass'n, 1999 OK 73, ¶ 11, 988 P.2d 1275, 1280; PFL Life Ins. Co. v. Franklin, 1998 OK 32, n.5, 9, 958 P.2d 156, 162. Husband makes no Due Process challenge to Oklahoma's procedure, and we need not adjudicate the propriety of applying a notice-pleading standard to facts relating to long-arm jurisdiction.

43 The phrase "long-arm jurisdiction" is used descriptively merely as a reference to the factual circumstance of a plaintiff invoking an Oklahoma court's in personam jurisdiction to be exercised over a non-resident defendant. See Glidewell Motors , Inc. v. Pate, 1978 OK 46, 577 P.2d 1290, 1291 (discussed "long-arm" statutes and in personam jurisdiction).

44 Of course, conflicting or competing affidavits may not be used to adjudicate those facts, and would show the necessity of adjudicating contested material jurisdictional facts by the trier of fact. See Crest Infiniti, II, LP v. Swinton, 2007 OK 77, n. 12-13, 174 P.3d 996, 1002.

45 The adjudication of in personam jurisdiction is often a fact-specific determination and a trial court thus often makes the adjudication upon facts in affidavits, testimony, or other forms of evidence not appearing on the face of plaintiff's petition. See, e.g., Warlick v. Stevenson, 1977 OK 217, 571 P.2d 843, 845-846 (testimony considered to adjudicate special appearance, motion to quash, and objection to in personam jurisdiction); Kenitex Corp. v. Coryell, 1960 OK 104, 352 P.2d 894, 895 (defendant's special appearance, motion to quash, and plea to venue and jurisdiction were supported by an affidavit, and when plaintiff did not offer counter-affidavit or evidence the uncontroverted affidavit of defendant was taken as true).

46 In the absence of in personam jurisdiction over one spouse an ex parte divisible divorce decree may change the marital status of appearing and non-appearing spouses, but a divisible divorce is ineffectual to alter economic interests and certain other legal interests of the spouses. Shipp v. Shipp, 1963 OK 133, 383 P.2d 30, 32 (describing divisible divorce); Hudson v. Hudson, 52 Cal. 22d 735, 344 P.2d 295 (Cal. 1959) (Justice Traynor's opinion for the court explained divisible divorce and that an ex parte divorce in Idaho did not foreclose a subsequent proceeding in California for alimony). See also Ann Laquer Estin, Family Law Federalism: Divorce and the Constitution, 16 Wm. & Mary Bill Rts. J. 381, 410-419 (2007) (divisible divorce discussed).

47 Wife has not briefed or provided supporting authority for the proposition that the Missouri court orders, by themselves, are sufficient for an Oklahoma court to exercise in personam jurisdiction over Husband, and we need not reach the issue of the constitutional validity of an ex parte divorce and discuss the degree of constitutional protection afforded to marital and custodial rights which are not usually characterized as personal obligations. Fent v. Contingency Review Bd., 2007 OK 27, ¶¶ 22, 23, 163 P.3d 512, 524-525 (while exercising original jurisdiction the Court explained that it need not consider challenges which lacked convincing argument firmly supported by legal authority, and that the Court may not be forced to become an active advocate for the party whose failure to brief or argue has produced a total intellectual vacuum for that party's asserted position).

48 See, e.g., Quill Corp. v. North Dakota, 504 U.S. 298, 112 S. Ct. 1904, 119 L. Ed. 2d 91 (1992) (a state court may exercise jurisdiction over a non-resident for the purpose of taxation when the non-resident "purposefully directed" certain activities in the forum state); Van Cauwenbergbe v. Biard, 486 U.S. 517, 526, 108 S. Ct. 1945, 100 L. Ed. 2d 517 (1988); ("In the context of due process restrictions on the exercise of personal jurisdiction, this Court has recognized that the individual interest protected is in 'not being subject to the binding judgments of a forum with which [the defendant] has established no meaningful contacts, ties, or relations.'"); Asahi Metal Industry Co. v. Superior Court, 480 U.S. 102, 109, 107 S. Ct. 1026, 94 L. Ed. 2d 92 (1987) (Part II-A of Justice O'Connor's opinion, joined by Rehnquist, C.J., Powell, and Scalia, JJ) ("minimum contacts must have a basis in 'some act by which the defendant purposefully avails itself of the privilege of conducting activities within the forum State, thus invoking the benefits and protections of its laws.'").

49 Due to our disposition of the cases herein we need not discuss the extent to which the "effects test" is, or is not, appropriate for matrimonial litigation. See, e.g., Kulko, 436 U.S. at 96-97 (Court discussed the origin of the effects test in non-matrimonial jurisprudence, indicated that the test may be inappropriate to matrimonial litigation, and upon application of the facts therein found the test to be insufficient to show in personam jurisdiction over the non-resident).

50 43 O.S.Supp.2004 § 601-201 (A) (5) states that "(A). In a proceeding to establish or enforce a support order or to determine parentage, a tribunal of this state may exercise personal jurisdiction over a nonresident individual or the individual's guardian or conservator if: . . . 5. The child resides in this state as a result of the acts or directives of the individual; . . . ."

This basis of jurisdiction resembles Hines v. Clendenning, 1970 OK 28, 465 P.2d 460, 463, where this Court observed that the defendant "sent his wife back to Oklahoma, her home state and the home of her parents, and refused to permit her to return to him in California . . . ."

51 The Colorado court discussed opinions from two other jurisdiction where the spouse did not adequately show that the move to a different state was in response to abuse because of the timing of the move relative to the alleged abuse or request for support. Malwitz, 99 P.3d at 59-60, explaining McNabb ex re. Foshee v. McNabb, 31 Kan.App.2d 398, 65 P.3d 1068 (2003) (alleged abuse more than one year prior to the move "did not cause [the mother] and child to flee Virginia for Kansas"); Windsor v. Windsor, 45 Mass.App.Ct. 650, 700 N.E.2d 838 (1998) (personal jurisdiction over non-resident father was inappropriate where "mother left the father in Florida in June 1977, gave birth to their son in Massachusetts in September 1977, and filed a complaint for divorce, including a demand for child support, nearly twenty years later, in June 1995.").

52 Our Court of Civil Appeals has concluded that § 601-201 must be construed in harmony with due process and Kulko v. California Superior Court, supra. See Gullo v. Gullo, 2003 OK CIV APP 61, 74 P.3d 612, released for publication by order of the Court of Civil Appeals.

53 Gilbert v. Security Finance Corp. of Okla., Inc., 2006 OK 58, ¶ 16, n. 11, 152 P.3d 165, 173, quoting Helicopteros Nacionales de Colombia, S.A. v. Hall, 466 U.S. 408, 414, 104 S. Ct. 1868, 80 L. Ed. 2d 404 (1984) and International Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 316, 66 S. Ct. 154, 90 L. Ed. 95 (1945).

54 The trial court determined that it possessed jurisdiction and after that determination Wife filed additional material relating to Husband's criminal record for domestic assault in Missouri. Petitioner's [Wife's] Motion to Continue Hearing on Default Judgment Relief, FD-2008-983, Appendix to Respondent's Response, etc., Okla. Sup.Ct. 106,432. That Appendix also contains a medical diagnosis of the child herein and states that the child should not travel a long distance in a car due to a medical condition specified therein. The medical diagnosis statement appears in the Appendix without any procedural context of it being raised in the trial court. In the context of supervisory writ jurisdiction we have declined to consider a petitioner's affidavit when it was not filed with the trial court until after the trial court decision reviewed by extraordinary writ. Crest Infiniti, II, LP v. Swinton, 2007 OK 77, n. 8, 174 P.3d 996, 1001. Similarly, we decline to consider Husband's alleged criminal record or the child's alleged medical diagnosis when the record before us fails to show that the instruments were filed in the trial court for consideration by that court when issuing its order.

55 Appendix to Respondent's Verified Response to Petitioner's Application to Assume Original Jurisdiction, etc, No. 106,432, Nov. 10, 2008, Exhibit 3; Appendix to Petitioner's Brief in Support of Application, etc, No. 105,611, Feb. 27, 2008, Exhibit B.

56 In Kulko the Court stated that California's substantial interests in protecting resident children and in facilitating child-support actions on behalf of those children did not make California a fair forum. Id. 436 U.S. at 100.

57 In Kulko the Court also examined whether the mother could have sought legal relief in the courts of the non-resident's state. Kulko, 436 U.S. at 94-95. Wife appears to indicate that her residence is now Oklahoma and Husband's arguments do not specifically admit that Wife could, as an Oklahoma resident, bring an independent action for divorce (or dissolution) and support in the State of Missouri. We need not decide this non-briefed issue. See Fent v. Contingency Review Bd., supra, at note 47. But see, Bridgeman v. Bridgeman, 63 S.W.3d 686, 689 (Mo.App.2002) (construing Section 452.305.1(1) RSMo (2000) and stating that a proceeding for dissolution one of the parties must have been a resident of Missouri for ninety days immediately preceding the commencement of the proceeding.).

OPALA, J.,

¶1 At issue and still undecided at the end of this original action is the constitutionally permissible outer limit of the Tulsa County District Court's subject-matter jurisdiction in the divorce case now pending below.

¶2 Upon this proceeding's conclusion the trial court must decide if its jurisdiction of the subject matter is only in rem, i.e. confined to adjudicating the plea for divorce and for determining the child's custody, both issues allowable in a so-called action for "divisible divorce,"1 or may be extended to other (or to all remaining) issues incidental to the litigation for dissolution of marriage. The latter issues call for an exercise of the court's in personam jurisdiction over the nonresident (out-of-state) husband.

¶3 The trial court's decision, directed here to be made, is to deal with its personal jurisdiction's limit. Its disposition of this issue must conform to the XIVth Amendment's due process norms of federal jurisprudence for the constitutionally permissible outer reach of state judicial jurisdiction over a nonresident individual defendant in a suit brought for dissolution of marriage.2 See Kulko v. California Superior Court, 436 U.S. 84, 98 S.Ct., 1690, 56 L. Ed. 2d 132 (1978).

¶4 I write separately to express both my concern and fear that today's pronouncement is very likely to invite trial judges to extend Oklahoma's settled jurisprudence on judicial jurisdiction in divorce cases brought against nonresident spouses who were not personally served within the state beyond the extant due- process boundaries currently set by the U.S. Supreme Court. Pressing our law a step farther by following recent decisions of a few bold state courts would be fraught with great risk of embarrassment if the wished-for changes did not occur and a return to reality should subsequently force a hasty retreat. I must counsel against taking an activist posture on any unsettled point of federal constitutional law. Instead of pressing today for desired changes in the current state of the law I would much rather await further developments in the U.S. Supreme Court's jurisprudence. The risk of having to retreat later because federal law has failed to follow the anticipated course appears neither appealing nor prudent.3

FOOTNOTES

1 Federal constitutional due process norms stand firmly settled that in a proceeding for divorce against a nonresident defendant who was not served personally within the state both the marriage status and the custody of the children present within the court's jurisdiction may be considered as issues well within the state court's in rem jurisdiction. If the first lawsuit secures only an in rem adjudication, a second is needed for an in personam adjudication of the remaining issues.

2 The due process clause of the XIVth Amendment affords protection to both individuals and corporations from having to defend lawsuits brought against them in distant fora arbitrarily chosen by their advantage-seeking opponents. International Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 66 S. Ct. 154, 90 L. Ed. 95 (1945); Milliken v. Meyer, 311 U.S. 457, 61 S. Ct. 339, 85 L. Ed. 278 (1940).

3 The current constitutional test a state court must meet before it may assume personal jurisdiction over a nonresident individual or foreign corporation is based on the presence of "minimum contacts". See International Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 66 S. Ct. 154, 90 L.Ed 95 (1945). The meaning of "minimum contacts" is explained in Kulko v. Superior Court of Cal.etc., 98 S. Ct. 1589, 1697, in these words: