Question juridique clé
How should a marriage-protection court dispose of claims settled by the parties, especially spousal maintenance versus child-related claims?
Solution extraite
Claims subject to party disposition should be removed from the docket by a dismissal/order equivalent to a discontinuance; child-maintenance and other child-related matters subject to official scrutiny must be decided in judgment form, even if the parties have jointly requested the same result.
Motifs extraits
Unlike divorce law, settlements in marriage-protection proceedings do not require judicial approval. Therefore, the court must distinguish between freely disposable spousal claims and non-disposable child matters.