Spouse abandoned, court to adjudge maintenance
If a person leaves their spouse without a good reason and stops supporting them, a court can order that person to pay money to support the spouse and their kids from that marriage. The court can also force that person to put up some kind of guarantee that the payments will be made. As long as those payments keep going, the person who left is not responsible for any debts the spouse takes on after the court order.
452.130. Spouse , court to — to . — When a person, without , shall abandon his or her spouse, and refuse or to maintain and provide for him or her, the , on his or her for that purpose, shall and adjudge such support and maintenance to be provided and paid by such person for the spouse and the spouse's children, or any of them, by that marriage, out of his property, and for such time as the nature of the case and the circumstances of the parties shall require, and the person to give for such maintenance, and from time to time make such further orders touching the same as shall be just, and enforce such by execution, , or by such other lawful means as are in accordance with the practice of the court; and as long as said maintenance is continued, the person shall not be charged with the spouse's debts, after the judgment for such maintenance.
(RSMo 1939 § 3376, A.L. 2001 H.B. 537)
Prior revisions: 1929 § 2989; 1919 § 7314; 1909 § 8295
(1973) Judgment of dismissing Petition for with prejudice may not be unless it is clearly erroneous. Brokaw v. Brokaw (A.), 492 S.W.2d 859.
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Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.