Court Opinion

ID: 5052380
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-10-01 08:11:49.714562+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:19:03.472347
License: Public Domain

ON MOTION FOR REHEARING
In her motion for rehearing appellant states that the judgment of the trial court lacks finality because it did not divide certain items of marital property. Appellant’s position is well taken. It would have been better practice if appellant had raised this point by filing suggestions in opposition to respondent’s motion to dismiss the appeal. See Rule 84.01.
Section 452.330 V.A.M.S. provides, in pertinent part, “[T]he court shall set apart to each spouse his property and shall divide the marital property in such proportions as the court deems just after considering all relevant factors,” including certain factors set forth in the statute itself.
The quoted portion of the statute requires the trial court to do two things: (1) determine the status of the property as separate or marital and (2) set it apart or, as the case may be, divide it. Until both steps have been taken, the trial court has not exhausted its jurisdiction and its judgment is neither final nor appealable. Anspach v. Anspach, 557 S.W.2d 3, 6[3] (Mo.App.1977), and authorities there cited. “[T]he [trial] court can, upon proper notice, vacate, modify, or correct any part of its decree.” Anspach at p. 6.
Appellant claims, and respondent does not deny, that the trial court failed to distribute certain items, all of which were stipulated by the parties to be marital property. Those items include a bank account, *33150 shares of stock in a corporation, and furniture.
One of the points relied on in appellant’s brief complains of the failure of the trial court to distribute the listed items of marital property. In light of that circumstance, coupled with the fact that the point raised is a jurisdictional one, the appeal is dismissed and the cause is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. There being no need for a rehearing or a transfer, the motion for rehearing and the alternative motion for transfer to the supreme court are denied.
All concur except PREWITT, J., recused.