Karon v. Karon
Supreme Court of Minnesota
435 N.W.2d 501 (1989)
Howard Karon (plaintiff) and Frima Karon (defendant) divorced after nearly 30 years of marriage. Their divorce decree included a stipulation that Howard would pay Frima declining alimony over ten years, and that the court would have no future jurisdiction to modify spousal maintenance. Howard earned a large salary as a vice president of sales, while Frima worked low-paying jobs. Before her rehabilitative alimony expired, Frima asked the court to modify the award to permanent maintenance of $3,500 per month. A referee and the district court found jurisdiction existed despite the stipulation and awarded Frima $1,500 per month in permanent maintenance. Howard appealed.
Whether a stipulation incorporated into a divorce judgment that purports to divest the court of jurisdiction to modify maintenance is enforceable.