In re the Marriage of Sowers

In 1985, Sheryl Ann Sowers (now Mel-son) petitioned to dissolve her marriage to Stephen Edward Sowers. Sheryl requested custody of the five children of the parties, division of the marital property and debts, maintenance, child support and attorney fees.

After hearing evidence, the trial court dissolved the marriage, awarded Sheryl custody of the children, $300 a month per child or a total of $1,500 a month as child support, marital property of the value of $275,639, $27,000 as a cash award, and $2,500 as attorney fees, and ordered Stephen to maintain Sheryl and the children as insureds on his…