Wilton v. Wilton, 21390

Decision Date04 December 1950
Docket NumberNo. 21390,21390
Citation235 S.W.2d 418
PartiesWILTON v. WILTON.
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals

Preston H. Longino, Kansas City, for appellant.

Thomas C. Swanson, Kansas City, for respondent.

BOUR, Commissioner.

This is an appeal from an order modifying the provisions of a divorce decree relating to the custody of two minor children. The wife, appellant herein, was the plaintiff in the original divorce action which resulted in the entry of a decree in her favor on March 8, 1947. Plaintiff was awarded custody of the parties' minor children, Joseph Wilton, Jr., and Joenne Wilton, with an allowance of $200 a month for the support of the children. The decree included a provision that defendant should have the right to visit the children 'at all reasonable times upon reasonable notice.' There was no appeal from that decree.

On October 10, 1947, the court entered an order modifying the decree so as to provide that defendant should have the custody of the children 'on Friday evening from 5:30 p. m. to 10:00 p. m., and on Sunday evening from 2:00 p. m. to 8:00 p. m. of each week until the further order of the court.' No appeal was taken from this order.

On June 6, 1949, defendant filed a motion which reads as follows: 'Comes now defendant, Joseph C. Wilton, and moves the court to make such orders as may be necessary to cause the children, Joenne and Joseph, Jr., to be domiciled with the defendant in Kansas City, Missouri, during June, July, and August, 1949, or so much thereof as the court may deem fair and reasonable.' It will be noticed that the motion does not allege any change in conditions after the entry of the order of October 10, 1947.

No objection was made to the sufficiency of defendant's motion and the parties proceeded to trial on July 29, 1949. At the conclusion of the hearing the court entered the following order: 'It is ordered and adjudged by the court that the plaintiff be and she is hereby awarded the care, custody and control of the two minor children, Joseph Wilton, Jr., and Joenne Wilton, during the school term period; that during this period defendant shall have their custody from 6 p. m. Friday to 8 p. m. Sunday every other week end. Defendant is hereby awarded the care, custody and control of the said minor children during the months of June, July, and August of each year; that during this period plaintiff shall have their custody from 6 p. m. on Friday to 8:00 p. m. Sunday every other week end; that plaintiff have and recover of and from said defendant the sum of Two Hundred ($200.00) Dollars per month for the support and maintenance of the said minor children during the nine months she has their custody, for which let execution issue.'

On August 6, 1949, plaintiff filed a motion to set aside the above order, and in the alternative a motion for a new trial in the event the motion to set aside was not sustained. As the basis for her motions, plaintiff charged that defendant's motion to modify the decree was not sufficient to support the court's order; and that there was no evidence of any change in conditions which would warrant the modification of the decree. Since plaintiff's motions were not passed on within ninety days after the filing thereof, they were deemed overruled. Laws 1943, p. 389, sec. 118, Mo.R.S.A. Sec. 847.118; Supreme Court Rule 3.24. In due time thereafter plaintiff appealed from the order modifying the decree.

Plaintiff first questions the sufficiency of defendant's motion to modify the divorce decree. It is settled law in this state that the provisions of...

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11 cases
  • Smith v. Smith, 32966
    • United States
    • Missouri Court of Appeals
    • 17 Diciembre 1968
    ...a divorce decree is itself treated as a petition in an original action. North v. North, 339 Mo. 1226, 100 S.W.2d 582, and Wilton v. Wilton, Mo.App., 235 S.W.2d 418, 419. Such motions are not 'mere adjuncts to the original proceeding,' Olson v. Olson, Mo.App., 184 S.W.2d 768, and while such ......
  • Hayes v. Hayes
    • United States
    • Missouri Supreme Court
    • 10 Noviembre 1952
    ...as a petition in an original action. North v. North, 339 Mo. 1226, 1236, 100 S.W.2d 582, 587[13-15], 109 A.L.R. 1061; Wilton v. Wilton, Mo.App., 235 S.W.2d 418, 419[2, 3]; Burgess v. Burgess, 239 Mo.App. 390, 393, 190 S.W.2d 282, 284[1, 2]; Fernbaugh v. Clark, 236 Mo.App. 1200, 1208, 163 S.......
  • Noll v. Noll
    • United States
    • Missouri Court of Appeals
    • 9 Enero 1956
    ...of action based upon new facts and circumstances and must state a cause of action on that theory. Hayes v. Hayes, supra; Wilton v. Wilton, Mo.App., 235 S.W.2d 418; Olson v. Olson, Mo.App., 184 S.W.2d It follows that the judgment should be reversed. It is so ordered. All concur. ...
  • Roberts v. Roberts
    • United States
    • Missouri Court of Appeals
    • 11 Julio 1956
    ...v. Samland, Mo.App., 277 S.W.2d 880; Prudot v. Stevens, Mo.App., 266 S.W.2d 756; Wilson v. Wilson, Mo.App., 260 S.W.2d 770; Wilton v. Wilton, Mo.App., 235 S.W.2d 418. This because, the court having theretofore made its judgment upon facts which existed at the time, the questions were resolv......
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