Opinion ID: 1844622
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: payment of support pending appeal

Text: Husband moved for a stay of judgment pending appeal or, in the alternative, an order allowing him to deposit the monthly payments into an escrow situation. The trial court denied this motion. A grant of a stay of judgment pending appeal is based upon the desirability of maintaining the parties in status quo until a final determination is made. Wentzel v. Huebner, 78 S.D. 471, 104 N.W.2d 476 (1960). Here, although an appellate decision adverse to Wife would have forced Husband to seek reimbursement of support paid pending appeal, a stay of judgment would have placed Wife in an immediate adverse economic situation. Faced with this dilemma, and in light of our decision on appeal, we cannot say that the trial court acted improperly.