In this case, the spouse remained a spouse to keep the house. (That is in Terri's name, and to get $$$$.) If the husband in name only divorced her he would have received nothing. The judge took a technicality and used it to support his own agenda.
"The judge took a technicality ....."
LOL-
" Hey baby... how about it ?
... but I'm married !
No problem, Boardwark considers that just a technicality..."
Who do you think should get his money if he gets hit by a truck, the girlfriend ?