Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Feb 24, 2026
Stacey L. Noble appealed the trial court's amended judgment dissolving her marriage to Bradford R. Noble, challenging the denial of maintenance and an alleged judicial impropriety. The appellate court affirmed the judgment. It found no judicial impropriety in the trial court's use of an online calculator for judicially noticeable tax rates. The court also affirmed the denial of maintenance, concluding that Husband lacked the ability to pay regardless of the income calculation method, and that maintenance is not mandatory if the paying spouse cannot afford it.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Dec 9, 2025
Deborah S. Starke (Wife) appealed the trial court's judgment dissolving her marriage to James A. Starke (Husband), specifically challenging the order to convey marital real estate to a third-party trust. The Wife contended that the trial court erred by ordering the conveyance of marital property to a non-party to the dissolution action, which violates Missouri law. The appellate court agreed, reversing the judgment and remanding the case for further proceedings consistent with its opinion.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Dec 2, 2025
Randa Techtow filed for dissolution of marriage, and a default judgment was entered against Jesse Techtow after he failed to respond. Jesse Techtow subsequently filed motions to set aside the default judgment, arguing good cause for his failure to respond and intrinsic fraud by Randa regarding marital property. The trial court denied these motions. On appeal, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, affirmed the trial court's judgment, finding no abuse of discretion in denying the motions or in excluding certain evidence.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Nov 25, 2025
Danielle Callow (Mother) appealed the circuit court's judgment dissolving her marriage to Matthew Callow (Father). Mother challenged the denial of maintenance, the child support calculation, the division of marital property and uninsured medical bills, and the denial of her motion for newly discovered evidence. The appellate court affirmed the circuit court's judgment on all points, finding no abuse of discretion.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Aug 26, 2025
William J. Scalise appealed a contempt order finding him in violation of his maintenance obligations to Donna J. Scalise, stemming from their dissolution judgment. The appellate court questioned whether the appeal was from a final, appealable judgment, and Husband subsequently filed a document purporting to certify findings under Rule 74.01(b). The court dismissed the appeal, holding that neither the initial contempt order nor the subsequent certification attempt constituted a final, appealable judgment under Missouri law.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Jul 15, 2025
Mary D. Weiss (Wife) appealed the trial court's denial of her motion to set aside a consent judgment of dissolution of marriage to Matthew J. Weiss (Husband). Wife argued the judgment was not entered into freely and voluntarily due to duress, and challenged the appointment of a Special Master, the timing of the judgment, and the award of attorneys' fees to Husband. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, finding no abuse of discretion in denying Wife's motions and concluding that some of her points on appeal were moot or not properly before the court.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Jun 27, 2025
Anthony David McVean appealed the judgment dissolving his marriage to Joy Janelle McVean, challenging the trial court's imputation of income, awards of maintenance and child support, and division of marital property. Husband argued the court erred in imputing income after he voluntarily quit his job, and that the support awards were beyond his ability to pay. He also claimed the property division was disproportionate. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, finding no abuse of discretion in any of the challenged rulings.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Mar 11, 2025
Appellant Linda Tierney appealed a contempt judgment issued against her for failing to comply with a dissolution of marriage judgment, which also amended the original judgment by reallocating property sale proceeds. The appellate court first concluded the appeal was not moot. It then reversed and remanded the contempt judgment, holding that it failed to recite the facts constituting contempt and improperly amended the dissolution judgment in violation of the separation agreement and statute. The court affirmed the trial court's decision to hear a video used to refresh recollection, finding no reversible error.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Mar 4, 2025
Drew B. Carter (Husband) appealed the dissolution of marriage judgment, challenging the calculation of spousal maintenance, imputation of his income for child support, the order to pay private school tuition, and the characterization of a trust account as marital property. The appellate court reversed the trial court's calculation of Wife's net income for maintenance, agreeing that it was incorrectly reduced by itemized deductions and a child tax credit. However, the court affirmed the trial court's decisions regarding Husband's imputed income, the private school tuition order, and the classification of the trust account as marital property. The case was remanded for recalculation of maintenance and child support consistent with the corrected income.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Feb 24, 2025
Appellant Holly Jessica Flood (Wife) appealed the trial court's judgment dissolving her marriage to Respondent Brian Flood (Husband), raising four points on appeal concerning marital property, debt, child support, and child custody. The appellate court dismissed Wife's appeal, finding that each of her points relied on violated Rule 84.04(d) by combining multiple allegations of error and failing to explain why the legal reasons supported the challenge in the context of the case. Consequently, the court held that Wife's points preserved nothing for appellate review.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Feb 18, 2025
Roberta Peasel, as guardian for Patricia S. Mennerich (Wife), appealed the circuit court's judgment dissolving Wife's marriage to John R. Mennerich (Husband). Wife challenged the settlement agreement, the appointment of a guardian ad litem (GAL), and the GAL's performance. The appellate court affirmed the judgment, holding that Wife failed to preserve her claims for appeal because she did not object at trial or file a Rule 78.07 after-trial motion, and the issues were not previously presented to the circuit court.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Dec 24, 2024
Aylicia Mickow (Wife) appealed the trial court's judgment dissolving her marriage to Cody Mickow (Husband), challenging the joint legal and physical custody order for their two minor children and the valuation of two marital properties. The appellate court affirmed the judgment, concluding that the trial court adequately addressed all relevant best-interest-of-the-child factors and that the custody order was not against the weight of the evidence. Additionally, the court found the property valuations were supported by the record and within the trial court's discretion.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Nov 19, 2024
Bradley J. Bakula, Personal Representative of the Estate of Byrle Northup (Husband), appealed the circuit court's judgment dissolving his marriage to Carolyn Northup (Wife), challenging rulings on temporary maintenance, marital debt allocation, and attorney's fees. Husband died during the appeal, but the court retained jurisdiction after substitution of parties. The appellate court dismissed Husband's appeal for failure to comply with Missouri Supreme Court Rule 84.04's appellate briefing requirements, finding his points relied on multifarious and his brief deficient in other aspects.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Nov 5, 2024
In a marriage dissolution case, a default judgment was entered against Christina Wolo (Wife) after she failed to respond to Francis Wolo's (Husband) petition. Wife later filed a motion to set aside the default judgment, claiming it was void due to defective service of process. The trial court denied her motion. The Eastern District affirmed, holding that Wife was estopped from challenging the service of process because she had previously filed and litigated a motion to modify the judgment without raising any issues regarding service or jurisdiction.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Jul 17, 2024
Leroy Gilbert filed for dissolution of his marriage to Andrea Chrismer-Still. The trial court valued a marital savings account at its initial higher value, finding Appellant squandered funds, and ordered her to pay Respondent to equalize the marital estate. Appellant appealed, arguing the trial court misapplied the law regarding the burden to account for diminished funds and erred in finding squandering without direct evidence. The appellate court affirmed, holding that the trial court correctly applied the law, Appellant failed to provide a credible accounting, and her challenge to a single asset's valuation was insufficient without challenging the overall property division.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / May 28, 2024
Robert H. Bernstein appealed and Carol A. Cullen cross-appealed from a judgment modifying Bernstein's maintenance obligation from $10,000 to $5,000 per month and ordering Cullen to pay $25,000 of Bernstein's attorney fees. Bernstein sought to terminate or reduce maintenance, alleging substantial changes in Cullen's circumstances, including her failure to seek employment, increased assets, and a relationship substituting for marriage. The appellate court reversed the modification judgment, finding Bernstein failed to meet his statutory burden to prove a substantial and continuing change in circumstances, and reinstated the original $10,000 per month maintenance award.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / May 28, 2024
Darryl Olive appealed the dissolution of his marriage to Shawn Bitters, challenging the trial court's decision to grant his counsel's motion to withdraw, the award of attorney's fees to Bitters, and the denial of maintenance to Olive. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's decision to allow counsel to withdraw and the award of attorney's fees, finding no abuse of discretion or lack of substantial evidence. However, the court reversed the denial of maintenance, concluding that the trial court's finding that Olive had not requested maintenance was unsupported by substantial evidence, and remanded for further proceedings on that issue.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / May 6, 2024
Christopher J. Gardner (Husband) appealed from an amended judgment dissolving his marriage to Cathy Jo Gardner (Wife), challenging the child support order, the valuation of his business, and the exclusion of certain debts. Husband filed post-trial motions seeking a new trial based on his oldest child's emancipation and to reopen evidence regarding the emancipation and two SBA loans, which were denied. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, finding no merit in Husband's seven points on appeal, including the denial of his post-trial motions and the valuation of marital property and debt.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Mar 5, 2024
Joseph L. Gipson appealed the trial court's judgment dissolving his marriage to Katey L. Gipson, challenging the division of marital assets and debts, and the denial of child support. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's findings regarding the designation of marital debt and the denial of child support. However, the court reversed the marital property division, finding it inequitable, and exercised its authority to amend the judgment by reducing Husband's equalization payment.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Feb 27, 2024
Donet C. Main (Husband) appealed the circuit court's judgment denying his motion to terminate nonmodifiable maintenance to Kristen L. Main (Wife), arguing her relationship with a partner constituted a substitute for marriage. Husband also challenged the denial of his motion to compel discovery of bank records and an order to pay a portion of Wife's attorney's fees. The appellate court affirmed the circuit court's judgment, finding no error in the application of law regarding maintenance termination, no abuse of discretion in the discovery ruling, and no abuse of discretion in the attorney's fee award.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Feb 27, 2024
Melissa A. Greene appealed the circuit court's judgment dissolving her marriage to Jeffrey A. Greene. She argued the court failed to distribute all marital property, specifically income tax refunds, and failed to include a complete parenting plan. The appellate court affirmed the judgment, holding that the wife failed to preserve the issue of tax refunds for review by not presenting it to the circuit court. The court also found the parenting plan issue moot because the youngest child had reached the age of eighteen, making a plan no longer statutorily required.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Sep 12, 2023
Jane Zamora appealed the trial court's judgment in her dissolution of marriage action, challenging the classification of two real properties as marital property. Jane argued that the properties were excluded by written agreement or gifted to her by Hugo, her former husband. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, finding that Jane failed to overcome the presumption that the properties, acquired during the marriage, were marital property. The court concluded that the acknowledgements signed by Hugo did not constitute a valid written agreement to exclude the properties from marital property nor did they evidence a gift.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Aug 15, 2023
Sophia D. Chatman appealed the circuit court's judgment dissolving her marriage to Thomas Chatman, which incorporated a property settlement agreement the parties had consented to. Wife raised issues regarding the division of marital property, arguing the court erred in approving the judgment and not considering certain factors. The Eastern District dismissed the appeal, holding that a party lacks statutory authority to appeal a judgment entered by consent of the parties, as such a party is not "aggrieved" under Missouri law.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Jun 13, 2023
Bryan Williams (Husband) appealed from a dissolution judgment and the denial of his motion to set aside the judgment, which was denied by operation of law. The appellate court dismissed Husband's third point on appeal for failing to comply with Rule 84.04's briefing requirements, including the proper formulation of a point relied on and an adequate statement of facts. The court denied Husband's remaining four points, finding they were not preserved for appellate review due to his failure to appear at trial or properly raise the issues in a post-trial motion. Consequently, the amended dissolution judgment was affirmed.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Jun 6, 2023
Kevin Cheek appealed the circuit court's judgment dissolving his marriage to Leslie Cheek, specifically challenging the division of marital property. The appellate court reversed the circuit court's award of a real estate commission to Wife, finding it contrary to the parties' consent agreement and Wife's waiver. The court affirmed the circuit court's judgment on Husband's remaining three points of error regarding other marital property calculations and characterizations. The case was remanded for recalculation of amounts owed without the real estate commission.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / May 22, 2023
Timothy Campbell appealed the denial of his motion to terminate maintenance payments to Tammy Campbell, arguing that her remarriage statutorily terminated the obligation. The circuit court had found an implied agreement to continue maintenance despite remarriage. The appellate court reversed the circuit court's judgment regarding future maintenance payments, holding that the property settlement agreement did not implicitly rebut the statutory presumption of termination upon remarriage. However, the court also found that Husband had waived his right to appeal past voluntary payments made after Wife's remarriage.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Apr 18, 2023
Husband appealed a default judgment dissolving his marriage and denying his motion to set it aside, arguing the court lacked personal jurisdiction over him. The appellate court affirmed the dissolution of the marriage and the restoration of Wife's maiden name, as these were in rem judgments. However, it reversed and remanded the portions of the judgment pertaining to maintenance, attorney's fees, and the division of marital property and debts, finding the trial court lacked personal jurisdiction over Husband for these in personam judgments because there was no evidence the parties lived in lawful marriage in Missouri.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Apr 14, 2023
Kenneth Livingston appealed his convictions for murder and assault, arguing the trial court improperly admitted audio recordings of conversations with his wife and expert testimony on domestic abuse. Livingston contended the recordings were protected by marital privilege and the expert testimony lacked evidentiary basis. The appellate court affirmed the convictions, holding that marital privilege did not apply to threats of future crime or when the marriage was effectively over, and that sufficient evidence of domestic violence existed to support the expert testimony.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Jan 17, 2023
James Kalish (Husband) appealed the trial court's denial of his motion to set aside a 2014 order nunc pro tunc. The 2014 order purported to correct a 2013 divorce judgment by granting Gina Kalish (Wife) the entire pension instead of half. The appellate court agreed that the 2014 order was an improper modification of a final judgment, not a mere clerical error. However, the court affirmed the denial of Husband's motion because his six-year delay in filing the motion was not within a "reasonable time" as required by Rule 74.06(c).
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Dec 13, 2022
Sandra Kaderly (Wife) appealed the trial court's judgment dissolving her marriage to Kevin Kaderly (Husband), specifically challenging the classification of proceeds from the sale of her court reporting business. Wife argued that half of the proceeds were erroneously deemed marital property, contending the business interest was acquired by a corporation or with nonmarital funds. The Western District affirmed the trial court's judgment, finding no abuse of discretion in classifying 50 percent of the business sale proceeds as marital property.