Domestic Relations-Child Custody and Support-Sufficiency and Weight of Evidence of Income

Staff Report//February 11, 2026//

Listen to this article

Father appealed the trial court’s child custody and support judgment, arguing that the decision was against the weight and sufficiency of the evidence because the trial court used an incorrect income for mother and erroneously denied him a credit after awarding the parties equal visitation time. Father also challenged the share of GAL fees allocated to him and the award of legal fees to mother.

Where father’s brief failed to follow required analytical steps, he abandoned his challenge to the trial court’s support calculation. Father’s failure to exercise visitation also justified the denial of a credit. Although the allocation of fees to father seemed disproportionate, the award was not so far beyond the trial court’s broad discretion.

Judgment is affirmed.

M.D.M. v. A.W.S. (MLW No. 84338/Case No. ED113141 – 12 pages) (Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, Clark, J.) Appealed from circuit court, St. Louis County, McNelley, J. (Nicholas John Tindall for appellant) (Nina McDonnell for respondent)