Domestic Relations : Paternity Judgment – Custody Provision – Subsequent Marriage

Where a trial court ordered the return of custody of a child to the father under the custody provision of a paternity judgment entered before the parties’ marriage, in a case of first impression the court finds that the parties’ marriage nullified the earlier paternity judgment, so the judgment returning the child to the father is reversed.

Judgment is reversed.

Ballenger v. Ballenger (MLW No. 67028/Case No. WD77261 – 7 pages) (Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, Howard, J.) Appealed from circuit court, Johnson County, Wagner, J. (Adam Sommer for respondent) (John H. Edmiston for appellant).

Read the full text of this opinion. (PDF)