Vermont Divorce Law
Michael Grabach v. Eleanor Grabach
<h2><br> Rutland, Vermont divorce lawyers represented the husband and wife in a property division and maintenance dispute.<br> <h2><br> <br> <br> The parties were married for almost twenty years and have two daughters, who are now over eighteen. Wife obtained a master's degree in social work prior to the marriage and maintained employment in that field during the marriage, except for time off for... More...
$0 (09-14-2024 - VT)Andrew Roy v. Crystal Roy
<h2><br> Saint Johnsbury, Vermont family law lawyers represented the parties in a divorce.<br> </h2><br> <br> Father and mother met in 2012 in New Jersey and married that same year. After they were married, the parties moved to Vermont, where father had been offered work. They lived in Vermont throughout the marriage. They have one daughter, who was born in 2018.<br> <br> * * * ... More...
$0 (09-13-2024 - VT)Michael Grabach v. Eleanor Grabach
<h2><br> Rutland, Vermont family law lawyers represented the parties in a divorce.<br> </H2><br> <br> <br> The parties were married for almost twenty years and have two daughters, who are now over eighteen. Wife obtained a master's degree in social work prior to the marriage and maintained employment in that field during the marriage, except for time off for parental leave following the children's... More...
$0 (09-14-2024 - VT)State of Vermont v. Lucas Dwight <table> <td>
Defendant Lucas Dwight appeals the trial court’s restitution order requiring him to pay dental expenses resulting from defendant’s conviction for simple assault. Defendant raises two main issues: (1) whether the court erred in awarding restitution for expenses that complainant’s father paid on complainant’s behalf; and (2) whether the ordered repayment schedule, which considered defen... More...
$0 (08-01-2018 - VT)Kenneth P. Felis v. Downs Rachlin Martin, PLLC, and Gallagher, Flynn & Company, LLP
This case arises out of a divorce proceeding between plaintiff <br> Kenneth Felis and his former wife, Vicki Felis. Defendant Downs Rachlin Martin, PLLC <br> (DRM) represented Ms. Felis in the divorce proceeding, and defendant Gallagher, Flynn & <br> Company, LLP (GFC) was retained by DRM on behalf of Ms. Felis to prepare business <br> valuations related to the proceeding. Plaintiff appeals the ... More...
$0 (10-24-2015 - VT)Frazer v. Olson
Mother appeals the parent-child contact and property division orders in a final divorce decree that assign her sole parental rights and responsibilities with regard to the parties’ children. On appeal, mother argues that the trial court was bound to consider findings of fact made by the presiding magistrate at a temporary hearing and that the court’s findings do not support its conclusions. ... More...
$0 (08-02-2015 - VT)Stacey Frazer v. James Olson
¶ 1. Mother appeals the parent-child contact and property division orders in a final divorce decree that assign her sole parental rights and responsibilities with regard to the parties' children. On appeal, mother argues that the trial court was bound to consider findings of fact made by the presiding magistrate at a temporary hearing and that the court's findings do not support its con... More...
$0 (06-26-2015 - VT)Dain Goshee v. Christina Goshee
¶ 1. This case calls upon us to consider Vermont's statutory residency requirement for filing a divorce action. The trial court dismissed husband's divorce complaint on the ground that the residency requirement was not satisfied. We affirm.<br> ¶ 2. Husband, Dain Gosbee, filed a divorce action in the Superior Court, Washington Unit, Family Division, on November 1, 2013.... More...
$0 (06-12-2015 - VT)Walter Hausermann v. Donna Hausermann
¶ 1. BURGESS, J. Wife appeals the court's order modifying spousal maintenance. On appeal, wife argues that the court erred in setting the date for the modification to take effect, and reducing husband's maintenance obligation based on wife's anticipated inheritance even though it had not yet been received and absent a demonstration that it would improve wife's financial circumstanc... More...
$0 (07-12-2013 - vT)Judith Meyncke v. Robert Meyncke
¶ 1. REIBER, C.J. Ex-husband and ex-wife[1] each appeal a post-judgment order of the superior court, family division, awarding wife maintenance arrears and attorney's fees, and construing a provision in the final divorce order distributing the parties' retirement accounts, including husband's 401k account,[2] which decreased in value substantially before it could be divided because ... More...
$0 (09-13-2013 - VT)Glenn Engel III v. Holly Engel
¶ 1. DOOLEY, J. Mother appeals from a final divorce order granting father parental rights and responsibilities for the parties' two children and giving mother parent-child contact in stages beginning with supervised contact with progression through the stages determined by the children's medical and mental health providers. Mother argues that the order impermissibly delegates the c... More...
$0 (11-30-2012 - VT)Bradley Columbia v. Buffy Lawton
¶ 1. ROBINSON, J. This case requires us to consider the constitutional rights of a putative biological father who seeks an order of parentage when a court has already issued a parentage order determining the minor child's parents. We conclude that Vermont's parentage statute does not authorize a court to allow a second parentage action involving a particular child brought by or agai... More...
$0 (01-20-2013 - VT)Maura E. Breslin v. James Synnott, III
<br><br>¶ 1. REIBER, C.J. Wife appeals from a superior court, family division order requiring her to sign a waiver to correct a previously filed Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO), which erroneously gave her survivorship benefits in her former husband's pension. We affirm.<br><br>¶ 2. The underlying facts are not in dispute. Wife and husband were married in 197... More...
$0 (07-19-2012 - VT)Evelyn O. Mueller v. Juliann H. Mueller
¶ 1. DOOLEY, J. This case derives from a separation agreement made thirty-seven years ago between a now-deceased husband and plaintiff, his first wife. Plaintiff contends that her ex-husband promised to devise to her certain assets upon his death, and she brings various claims for equitable relief against defendant, her ex-husband's second wife, who survived him. The superior cour... More...
$0 (07-27-2012 - VT)Rochelle Olio v. Joseph Olio
¶ 1. The trial court dismissed wife's post-divorce motion for relief from judgment based on husband's alleged fraudulent concealment of assets without requiring completion of the discovery sought by wife, and without a hearing. We conclude that wife's motion was time-barred and affirm.<br> <br> ¶ 2. Wife and husband entered into a stipulated final divorce agreement, appr... More...
$0 (07-18-2012 - VT)Michael Chikanosky v. Margaret Chickanosky
¶ 1. JOHNSON, J. Mother appeals from a family court order granting father sole physical and legal rights and responsibilities of their child. She contends that: (1) the family court's findings and legal conclusions are inconsistent with the evidence presented at trial and are based on inadmissible evidence; (2) the family court erred in failing to consider her argument that father'... More...
$0 (09-22-2011 - VT)Sara Rutanhira v. Tinotenda Rutanhira
¶ 1. Father appeals a family division order awarding mother primary legal rights and responsibilities for the parties' daughter based on the court's conclusion that father exercised poor judgment in desiring to take his daughter to his birth country, Zimbabwe. On appeal, father contends that the trial court abused its discretion by considering evidence outside of the proceeding. He additio... More...
$0 (09-30-2011 - VT)Ann Marie DeSantis v. John E. Pegues
¶ 1. Father appeals the family court's denial of his motion to reinstate parent-child contact following a voluntary suspension of such contact due to an allegation of child sexual abuse. We hold that the court's finding of sexual abuse by a preponderance of the evidence was insufficient to support an order effectively terminating father's parental rights. We reverse and remand.<br><... More...
$0 (10-07-2011 - VT)Natalie W. Billings v. Jirch S. Billings, Sr.
¶ 1. Plaintiff wife appeals the family court's final judgment order in this divorce proceeding. Wife makes the following three arguments on appeal: (1) the family court abused its discretion by granting husband's motion in limine excluding evidence of any revocable trusts or wills under which he may be a beneficiary; (2) the family court abused its discretion when it refused to inclu... More...
$0 (10-14-2011 - VT)Sara Rutanhira v. Tinotenda Rutanhira
¶ 1. Father appeals a family division order awarding mother primary legal rights and responsibilities for the parties' daughter based on the court's conclusion that father exercised poor judgment in desiring to take his daughter to his birth country, Zimbabwe. On appeal, father contends that the trial court abused its discretion by considering evidence outside of the proceeding. He additio... More...
$0 (09-30-2011 - VT)Ann Marie DeSantis v. John E. Pegues
¶ 1. SKOGLUND, J. Father appeals the family court's denial of his motion to reinstate parent-child contact following a voluntary suspension of such contact due to an allegation of child sexual abuse. We hold that the court's finding of sexual abuse by a preponderance of the evidence was insufficient to support an order effectively terminating father's parental rights. We reverse a... More...
$0 (10-07-2011 - VT)Natalie W. Billings v. Jireh S. Billings, Sr.
¶ 1. Plaintiff wife appeals the family court's final judgment order in this divorce proceeding. Wife makes the following three arguments on appeal: (1) the family court abused its discretion by granting husband's motion in limine excluding evidence of any revocable trusts or wills under which he may be a beneficiary; (2) the family court abused its discretion when it refused to inclu... More...
$0 (10-14-2011 - VT)Michael Chickonosky v. Margaret Chickanosky
¶ 1. JOHNSON, J. Mother appeals from a family court order granting father sole physical and legal rights and responsibilities of their child. She contends that: (1) the family court's findings and legal conclusions are inconsistent with the evidence presented at trial and are based on inadmissible evidence; (2) the family court erred in failing to consider her argument that father'... More...
$0 (09-22-2011 - VT)Sara Rutanhira v. Tinotenda Rutanhira
¶ 1. SKOGLUND, J. Father appeals a family division order awarding mother primary legal rights and responsibilities for the parties' daughter based on the court's conclusion that father exercised poor judgment in desiring to take his daughter to his birth country, Zimbabwe. On appeal, father contends that the trial court abused its discretion by considering evidence outside of the proceedin... More...
$0 (09-30-2011 - VT)Ann Marie DeSantis v. John E. Pegues
¶ 1. SKOGLUND, J. Father appeals the family court's denial of his motion to reinstate parent-child contact following a voluntary suspension of such contact due to an allegation of child sexual abuse. We hold that the court's finding of sexual abuse by a preponderance of the evidence was insufficient to support an order effectively terminating father's parental rights. We reverse a... More...
$0 (10-07-2011 - VT)Carmela Limoggio Iannarone v. Robert W. Limoggio
<br><br> <br><br>¶ 1. DOOLEY, J. Wife appeals from a family court order denying a motion to enforce the property division set forth in the parties' original divorce decree. She contends the court abused its discretion by: (1) failing to enforce a provision requiring payment of $150,000 for the marital home; and (2) failing to exercise its equitable power to impose a constructive t... More...
$0 (08-12-2011 - VT)Carol A. Cote v. Alan B. Cote
¶ 1. Alan Cote appeals from the Chittenden Family Court's garnishment order directing the Social Security Administration to withhold defendant's Social Security disability benefits in the amount of $1569 per month to offset alimony arrearages. Husband receives $1569 in Social Security disability and $2721 in veterans' disability benefits each month. He contends the garnishment order violate... More...
$0 (08-12-2011 - VT)Judy Mayville v. William Mayville
¶ 1. DOOLEY, J. Husband, William Mayville, who was recently laid off from his job, seeks to terminate the spousal maintenance payable to his ex-wife, Judy Mayville, pursuant to a 2003 court order. After husband filed a motion to terminate spousal maintenance, the Chittenden Family Court issued an order requiring him to pay $3000 per month—the same amount set forth in the 200... More...
$0 (10-21-2010 - VT)Harry Clayton v. Stephen A. Unsworth
¶ 1. Harry and Lucille Clayton appeal from the trial court's order granting summary judgment to defendants on their legal malpractice claim and dismissing their remaining claims. The Claytons argue that summary judgment was improperly granted, focusing on attorney Stephen Unsworth's alleged "waiver†of a statute-of-limitations defense in an arbitration proceeding. We affirm.<... More...
$0 (08-26-2010 - VT)Daniel M. Massey v. Lucile R. Jacko Hrostek
This appeal arises from a partition action brought by plaintiff Daniel Massey against defendant Lucille Hrostek. In that action, Hrostek was ordered to sign over title to their jointly owned $450,000 vacation home on nineteen acres of land without receiving any compensation from Massey. We reverse and remand.<br><br>¶ 2. When Massey brought this partition action, the parties were th... More...
$0 (07-02-2009 - VT)Maureen Chase v. Brian J. Bowen
Mother appeals the family court's order awarding father sole legal rights and responsibilities and her sole physical rights to their two boys, and granting father unsupervised contact with the boys every other week. Mother contends that the court erred in: (1) admitting father's expert testimony on investigative techniques and giving it greater weight than the testimony of the state investigator;... More...
$0 (02-08-2008 - VT)Steve Bergman v. Margaret Marker
<P> 1. DOOLEY, J. Mother appeals an order of the family court, establishing father's child support obligation. We affirm in part and remand for further proceedings regarding the starting date of father's support obligation. <P> 2. The following facts are not disputed. Mother and father were married in Vermont in 1999, and lived in Vermont immediately following their marr... More...
$0 (12-21-2007 - VT)Dorothea E. O'Connell-Starkey v. Gordon S. Starkey
<P> 1. Defendant Gorden Starkey appeals from a family court order requiring him to pay college tuition for Kristen O'Connell-Starkey. In so requiring, the family court concluded that the latest amended divorce order was not ambiguous and found that, although it left the issue of college tuition open for contest, defendant had never contested it. Therefore, defendant remained obligated under ... More...
$0 (11-30-2007 - VT)<a href="http://dol.state.vt.us/gopher_root3/supct/current/2005-065.op" target="_new">Jo-Ellen Golden v. Peter Cooper-Ellis</a>
<P> 1. DOOLEY, J. Husband Peter Cooper-Ellis appeals from both the final divorce order dividing the parties' marital estate and orders denying his subsequent motion to modify spousal maintenance and child support. Husband makes numerous contentions of error. Most significantly, he claims that the family court erred when it included all of his unvested stock options in the marit... More...
$0 (03-02-2007 - VT)<a href="http://dol.state.vt.us/gopher_root3/supct/current/2002-235.op" target="_new">Janis Hayden v. Rex Hayden</a>
<P>Family Law - Divorce - Alimony: Plaintiff Janice Hayden appeals from an order of the Addison Family Court ordering defendant Rex Hayden to pay plaintiff $1000 per month in spousal maintenance and dividing the parties' marital property between them. Plaintiff contends that the maintenance award is insufficient to meet her reasonable needs and that the property division is inequit... More...
$0 (10-10-2003 - VT)<A href="http://dol.state.vt.us/gopher_root3/supct/current/2000-491.op" Target="_new">Morris R. Glidden v. Nyoakla Lynn Conley</a>
<P> Appellant Morris Glidden appeals from a Windham Family Court order denying his motion to reconsider the court's award of visitation rights to Lois Mech, the maternal grandmother of Glidden's biological daughter, Amanda. Glidden, whose parental fitness is unquestioned, argues that the court's order deprives him of his constitutionally-protected right to decide whether, and on... More...
$0 (02-14-2003 - VT)<a href="http://dol.state.vt.us/gopher_root3/supct/current/2000-067.op" target="_new">Jones v. Murphy</a>
Defendant Richard Murphy appeals a parentage order finding him to be the biological father of Eric Jones, the youngest son of plaintiff Julie Jones. Defendant asserts that the Orange Family Court was without jurisdiction to consider plaintiff's parentage complaint against him because: 1) a final divorce judgment between plaintiff and her ex-husband Jeffrey Jones had determined ... More...
$0 (03-02-2001 - VT)