Domestic Relations : Relocation – Bad Faith – Child Support

(1)Where a trial court found that a mother had encouraged her daughters’ estrangement from their father, denial of relocation is affirmed based on the mother’s bad faith and on evidence that the relocation was not in the best interests of the children.

(2)Even though a trial court properly found that a mother deliberately alienated her children from their father, the record contained conflicting evidence of the children’s wishes, and the court did not err in finding that forcing contact would do more harm than good, and the court did not err in implicitly rejecting the mother’s financial evidence and in reducing the father’s child support obligation.

Judgment is affirmed.

Aubuchon v. Hale (MLW No. 67191/Case No. ED101126 – 10 pages) (Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, Ahrens, J.) Appealed from U.S. District Court, St. Charles County, Zerr, J. (Francis Pennington for appellant) (Erin R. Griebel for respondent).

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