Joint Duty Of Support

Joint Duty Of Support Legal Definition

Joint Duty Of Support in Connecticut

it shall be the joint duty of each spouse to support his or her family (see Family Law in Connecticut) , and both shall be liable for: (1) The reasonable and necessary services of a physician or dentist; (2) hospital expenses rendered the husband or wife or minor child (see Children Protection in Connecticut) while residing in the family (see Family Law in Connecticut) of his or her parents; (3) the rental of any dwelling unit actually occupied by the husband and wife as a residence and reasonably necessary to them for that purpose; and (4) any article purchased by either which has in fact gone to the support of the family (see Family Law in Connecticut) , or for the joint benefit of both. General Statutes of Connecticut (U.S.) § 46b-37(b)(2013).

Note: Definition based in the Connecticut Judicial Branch Family Glossary

Joint duty of support in the United States

Joint duty of support in Connecticut

The evolutionary changes in married women’s rights that enabled them to acquire and dispose of property also generated changes in the obligations of each spouse to the marriage. In the evolutionary process the primary obligation of the husband to provide support for his wife and children under the common law evolved into a joint duty of each spouse to support the family. [General Statutes of Connecticut (U.S.)] Section 46b-37(b) provides the basic statutory predicate for this change. Article fifth of the Connecticut constitution, amending 20 of article first of the Connecticut constitution, however, provides the constitutional underpinnings for contemporary departure from the primary duty of one spouse to the joint duty of each spouse to support his or her family. It must also be recognized that even when the husband had the primary duty to support his wife, his duty was not absolute and unyielding. Yale University School Of Medicine v. Esther Collier, 206 Connecticut (provision) 31, 35-36, 536 A.2d 588 (1988).