Domestic Relations: Property Distribution-Equalization Payment

Where a husband involved in a dissolution challenged the property distribution, the trial court properly found that an increase in the value of the husband’s non-marital company during the marriage was marital property, but it was unclear whether the court intended an equal distribution of the net marital estate or an unequal distribution favoring the wife, so the matter is reversed and remanded for clarification of the net estate and the amount of the equalization payment owed by the husband.

Judgment is affirmed in part; reversed in part.

Torres v. Torres (MLW No. 74868/Case No. WD82498 – 16 pages) (Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, Mitchell, J.) Appealed from circuit court, Jackson County, Long, J. (Jonathan Sternberg, Kansas City, Missouri for respondent) (Anthony W. Bonuchi, Kansas City, Missouri, for appellant).