Case ID: sw2d_592/html/0171-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "CRIST, Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

In re MARRIAGE OF Marie A. ZIMMERMAN, Respondent-Appellant, and Albert M. Zimmerman, Appellant-Respondent.
    Nos. 40014, 40235.
    Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, Division Three.
    Sept. 4, 1979.
    Ray A. Gerritzen, St. Louis, for respondent-appellant.
    Norman A. Seiner, Seiner, Hyatt & Glaser, Clayton, for appellant-respondent.
   CRIST, Judge.

Modification of divorce decree.

The parties were divorced in 1973. Mother was awarded custody and child support for the three children of the marriage. Father was awarded two weeks temporary custody during the children’s summer vacation. Both parties now seek modification.

In this proceeding to modify, mother requested and the court below ordered, inter alia: (1) increased child support (Mother requested an increase from $20.00 to $50.00 per week but the court ordered an increase to $35.00 per week.); and (2) attorney’s fees and suit money for the modification proceeding below. The court below denied mother attorney’s fees and costs for the appeal. She appeals.

Father requested and the court below denied, inter alia, increased temporary custody of 30 days during the children’s summer vacation. He appeals from this ruling and from the award of increased child support and attorney’s fees and suit money. We affirm on both appeals.

Father concedes that it requires more money to support the children now than it did at the time of the divorce, but contends that in light of all the facts the $20.00 per week order is not unreasonable. He contends mother did not bear her burden of showing such a change in circumstances as to make the prior order unreasonable, citing Seelig v. Seelig, 540 S.W.2d 142, 145[l-2] (Mo.App.1976). We defer to the court below. There was evidence that the children were older and had increased expenses, that the cost of living had increased, that father had accumulated savings while mother had not, etc. We find no error. In re Marriage of Engelhardt, 552 S.W.2d 356, 358[4] (Mo.App.1977); Section 452.370(1), RSMo 1978.

As noted above, father also contends the court below erred in awarding mother $1,200.00 in attorney’s fees and suit money. Suffice it to say that the evidence supported a finding that mother had the greater need and father had sufficient financial resources with which to pay the attorney’s fees and suit money for the proceeding below. Barnhill v. Barnhill, 547 S.W.2d 858, 860 (Mo.App.1977); Section 452.355, RSMo 1978.

Father now lives in California with his second wife. As noted above, he requested 30 days temporary custody, but the court below gave him two weeks. We find that the order of the court below considers the best interests of the children. There was evidence tending to show the children might be unsupervised for substantial periods of time during the later part of the requested 30 days. We find no error. In re Marriage of Powers, 527 S.W.2d 949 (Mo.App.1975).

Finally, mother contends father should pay for attorney’s fees and costs of appeal. The trial court thought otherwise. We will defer to the discretion of the trial court. In re Marriage of Frankel, 550 S.W.2d 896 (Mo.App.1977).

The judgment is supported by substantial evidence and is not against the weight of the evidence. No error of law appears. Murphy v. Carron, 536 S.W.2d 30 (Mo.banc 1976). An extended opinion would have no precedential value.

The judgment of the court below is affirmed in accordance with Rule 84.16(b).

REINHARD, P. J., and GUNN, J., concur.