Domestic Relations : Equalization Payment – Maintenance

Where a husband involved in dissolution challenged an order requiring him to pay an equalization payment to his ex-wife, the trial court did not err in making an award of marital property in the form of an equalization payment, but the court erred in characterizing the wife’s maintenance obligation as contractual rather than decretal.

Judgment is affirmed as modified.

Cureau v. Cureau (MLW No. 70346/Case No. ED104097 – 11 pages) (Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, Clayton III, J.) Appealed from circuit court, St. Louis County, Beach, J. (Craig G. Kallen and Rachel S. Gray for appellant) (Gary M. Siegel and Kimberly M. Metzger for respondent).

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