Kansas Family Law Appeals 2025

Kansas Supreme Court and Court of Appeals opinions are normally released on Friday mornings at 9:30 a.m. Published Appellate Opinions are posted to the Kansas Appellate Courts’ website within one hour of that time. Unpublished Appellate Opinions are posted on the Kansas Appellate Courts’ website but are not available until later – between one hour to one day after release. Unpublished decisions are available on this website. This page includes only Kansas Family Law and Family Law-related Appellate Decisions. The decisions on this page include both published and unpublished opinions.

Supreme Court

August 8, 2025

Published

126718 – In the Interest of K.W.D. and E.L.D. – Leavenworth – Review of Court of Appeals unpublished opinion filed September 27, 2024. Court of Appeals decision affirming the district court is affirmed. District court judgment is affirmed. [CINC, appellate standards, parental rights, constitutional rights, parent termination, unfit by reason of conduct, statutory interpretation, clear and convincing evidence, permanent custodian, felony conviction, imprisonment, “foreseeable future”, child’s best interests]

July 18, 2025

Published

127259 – In the Interest of A.K. – Johnson – Review of Court of Appeals opinion filed. Court of Appeals decision affirming the district court reversed. District Court judgment reversed, the case is remanded with directions. [CINC, appellate standards, evidentiary standards, clear-and-convincing evidence, proffer of evidence, absent party, questions of law, failure to obtain parent consent to proffer, affirmative instruction, “proffer” defined, proffer not evidence, unfitness not based on proffer]

April 18, 2025

Published

124904 – In re Marriage of Meek – Johnson – Review of Court of Appeals decision, 64 Kan. App. 2d 270, 551 P.3d 127 (2024); Court of Appeals decision reversing district court affirmed. District court reversed, case is remanded with directions. [Divorce, property division, equitable division, personal injury awards, annuity awards, method of division, appellate standards, statutory construction, theories of division, prerequisites for appeal, failure to object, motion to alter or amend]

Court of Appeals

December 19, 2025

Unpublished

128946 – In the Interest of E.M. – Cherokee – Affirmed and remanded with directions. [CINC, unconstitutional vagueness, due process, clear and convincing evidence, appellate standards, statutory ambiguity, timing of amended petition, failure to identify supporting evidence of need for care]

128199 – In re Marriage of N.B.D. and D.H. – Douglas – Affirmed in part, reversed in part, vacated in part, and remanded with directions. [Child custody, post-decree, domestic relations case management, child support, erroneous child support worksheet, correcting order, case manager child support recommendations, DCM bias, appellate standards, abuse of discretion, legal errors, factual errors, burden of proof, burden of persuasion, interstate cost-of-living adjustment, overpayments, health insurance credit, waiver of issue, substantial competent evidence lacking, unpreserved issue, work-related child care cost, credit for uncovered medical expenses, extracurricular activity fees, DCM fees allocation, absence of rationale, DCM bias or prejudice]

128141 – In re Marriage of Patel and Yendru – Sedgwick – Affirmed. [Divorce, Sealed record, appellate standards, privacy concerns, previous district court order, attempt to circumvent seal order, judicial discretion, abuse of discretion, public interest nonexistent]

December 12, 2025

Unpublished

129087 – In the Interest of L.C. – Geary – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, parent rights, constitutional rights, clear and convincing evidence, child’s best interests, case plan failure, move-away, relocation, sufficiency of evidence, foreseeable future]

129033 – In the Interest of Q.R. – Geary – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, parent rights, constitutional rights, clear and convincing evidence, child’s best interests, drug use, child endangerment, medical care, physical abuse, sufficiency of evidence, foreseeable future]

128321 – In the Interest of M.R.S. – Montgomery – Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with directions. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, parent rights, constitutional rights, presumptions favoring parent, clear and convincing evidence, child’s best interests, written vs. oral orders, sufficiency of evidence, foreseeable future]

128250 – In the Interests of S.A., S.A. and S.A. – Johnson – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, parent rights, constitutional rights, clear and convincing evidence, sufficient evidence, domestic violence, neglect, endangerment, failed reintegration]

December 5, 2025

Unpublished

128256 – In the Interest of L.H., L.H., L.H., and T.A. – Reno – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, safety concerns, appellate standards, clear and convincing evidence, child’s best interests, insufficient evidence, domestic violence, family violence, illegal drug use, failed reintegration, past terminations]

127028 – In re Marriage of Saunders and Grzesinski – Sedgwick – Reversed and remanded with directions. [Divorce, property division, appellate standards, valuation date, military retirement, property value standards, due process, failure to brief, failure to preserve issue, “marital property”, “separate property”, “federal formula”, attorneys’ fees, judicial discretion]

November 26, 2025

Unpublished

128615 – V.H. v. W.O. – Ford – Affirmed. [PFSSAHTA, sexual assault, statutory interpretation, nonconsensual touching, grabbing private parts, sexual comments, “nonconsensual sexual act”, appellate standards, judicial discretion, abuse of discretion, perjury]

November 21, 2025

Unpublished

128843 – In the Interests of D.G. and N.G. – Wyandotte – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, parent constitutional rights, incarceration, safety concerns, appellate standards, clear and convincing evidence, child’s best interests, expert testimony, expert qualifications, insufficient evidence, family violence, past terminations]

128608 – In the Interest of H.H. – Sedgwick – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, safety concerns, appellate standards, clear and convincing evidence, child’s best interests]

127540 – In the Interests of D.C.N. – Sedgwick – Reversed. [CINC, parent termination, parent constitutional rights, parental rights, incarceration, temporary guardian, unfit by reason of conduct, statutory interpretation, clear and convincing evidence, permanent custodian, felony conviction, imprisonment, “foreseeable future”, child’s best interests, absence by reason of others’ conduct, involuntary absence]

November 14, 2025

Unpublished

128535 – In the Interest of K.G. – Johnson – Appeal dismissed. [CINC, permanent custodian, substitution of custodian, appellate standards, appellate jurisdiction, statutory interpretation, authorized appeals]

November 7, 2025

Unpublished

128301 – In re Marriage of Barquist – Riley – Affirmed. [Divorce, appellate standards, spousal support, spousal maintenance, judicial discretion, abuse of discretion, future earning potential, appellate attorneys’ fees, alleged insufficient appellate record, appellants’ burden on appeal, factors for award of spousal support, no fixed rules,

127817 – In re Marriage of Finch – Johnson – Affirmed. [Divorce, appellate standards, enforcement, appellate attorney fees, appellate jurisdiction, acquiescence, voluntary compliance, inherent court authority, statutory enforcement authority, enforcement vs. modification, personal injury settlement proceeds, ambiguous agreement, marital settlement agreement, contract interpretation, nature of decree adopting settlement agreement, parties meaning vs legal meaning]

127530 – In the Interests of B.B., Ab.B. and A.B. – Cowley – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, parent termination, ineffective assistance of counsel, clear and convincing evidence, elements of ineffective assistance, deficit performance, different result would have occurred]

October 10, 2025

Unpublished

128035 – In the Interest of C.D. – Saline – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, evidentiary standards, clear-and-convincing evidence, multiple past filings, severe mental health crisis, suicidal, parental rights, foreseeable future, do not reweigh evidence, best interests judgment call]

September 19, 2025

Unpublished

128597 – In the Interests of F.M. and J.M. – Sedgwick – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, evidentiary standards, clear-and-convincing evidence, child’s best interests, emotional abuse, homelessness, incarceration, parent rights, best interests judgment call, core elements of parental care]

September 12, 2025

Published

127090 – In re Marriage of Kenkel – Wyandotte – Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with directions. [Divorce, property division, marital property defined, appellate standards, judicial discretion, equitable division not equal division, valuation date meaning, waiver of objections, abandonment of issues for failure to adequately brief, correction of calculations]

September 5, 2025

Unpublished

128712 – In the Interest of T.W. – Crawford – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, evidentiary standards, clear-and-convincing evidence, child’s best interests, history of removals, drug abuse]

August 29, 2025

Unpublished

127969 – In re Marriage of Goins – Neosho – Affirmed. [Divorce, property division, appellate standards, abuse of discretion, trial court discretion, retirement account valuation, retirement account division, equitable not equal division, valuation methods, designation of record, gifts and inheritances]

126759 – In re Marriage of R.K. and L.K. – Johnson – Affirmed. [Divorce, post-decree, child custody modifications, domestic case management, trial procedures, witness sequestration, sanctions, appellate standards, record on appeal, failure to designate record, procedural Due Process objections, preservation of record, appellant’s burden, abuse of discretion, trial court discretion, appellate attorneys’ fees, motion timeliness]

August 15, 2025

Unpublished

128378 – In the Interest of W.E.W. – Harper – Reversed and remanded with directions. [CINC, appellate standards, evidentiary standards, clear-and-convincing evidence, required procedures, inability to care or control, failing to provide home address, failure to meet burden, parent rights, best interests]

August 8, 2025

Unpublished

128382 – In the Interest of R.O. – Johnson – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, ICWA, Indian Child, appellate standards, evidentiary standards, clear-and-convincing evidence, required procedures, expert testimony, child’s best interests, narcotics, physical abuse, emergency removal, formal conclusions, parent rights, best interests judgment call]

126903 – In re Marriage of A.K. and A.K. – Johnson –  Affirmed in part and dismissed in part. [Divorce, child custody, domestic relations case management, case management fees, abuse of discretion, appellate standards, sealed records, trial time limits, judicial discretion, mootness, child aged out, child custody jurisdiction, UCCJEA, fees reallocation]

August 1, 2025

Unpublished

127799 – In re Marriage of C.M.J. and B.J.J. – Sedgwick – Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with directions. [Divorce, post-decree modifications, child custody orders, civil contempt, contempt sanctions, attorney fees, appeal bonds, change of judge, judicial bias, unilateral payment of medical fees, appellate standards, alter or amend, appellate jurisdiction, final orders, questions of law, “final order” defined, mootness, “public importance”, Due Process, direct contempt, court decorum, notice of punishments, specific procedure not required]

126443 – In re Marriage of Johnson – Sedgwick – Affirmed. [Divorce, property division, attorney fees, appellate standards, acquiescence, appellate jurisdiction, property valuation, inconsistent positions, “separability exception”, record designation, valuation date, division date, “separation date”, equitable vs. equal division, abuse of discretion, “financial involvement”, question of law vs. application of law, substantial competent evidence, marital property, pretrial order, judicial discretion, appellate attorney fees]

July 25, 2025

Unpublished

128514 – In the Interest of W.M. – Leavenworth – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, evidentiary standards, clear-and-convincing evidence, circumstances unlikely to change, adequate notice, failure to satisfy reintegration tasks, desire to parent does not negate neglect]

128409 – In the Interest of K.P. – Seward – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, clear-and-convincing evidence, circumstances unlikely to change, born under drug influence, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), ICWA, non-Indian parent, ICWA-application, serious emotional or physical damage, appellate court does not reweigh evidence, expert witness qualifications, timely objection rule, active efforts]

128398 – In the Interest of B.F. – Leavenworth – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, clear-and-convincing evidence, child’s best interests, sex offender in residence, sexual abuse, failure to protect, neglect, challenge to expert testimony, reintegration tasks]

128236 – In re Parentage of J.B. and N.B. – Johnson – Affirmed. [Parentage, contempt order, sole legal custody, parenting plans, child support, appellate standards, constitutional rights, parent rights, “best interest standard” not unconstitutional, questions of law, “parental preference doctrine”, analysis between fit parents, fit parents constitutional rights, “presumption of constitutionality”, failure to provide authority, right to “reasonable parenting time”, “sole legal custody”, subject matter jurisdiction, court authority, district court authority, statutory review, common law standing, district court powers, district court jurisdiction, Due Process, judicial bias, State not party to child custody matters, parties presumed to know the law, child support as indentured servitude, 13th Amendment, access to court not denied, invited error]

128161 – In the Interest of K.R. – Reno – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, clear-and-convincing evidence, unlikely condition will change, neglect, abandonment, reintegration not viable, narcotics, imprisonment, failure to make reasonable efforts, lack of efforts, unlikely to change in foreseeable future]

127847 – In re Parentage of M.R. – Wyandotte – Affirmed. [Parentage, retroactive child support, appellate standards, child support guidelines, appellate burdens, proffer of evidence, gifted house, valuation of gifted property, abuse of discretion, retroactive support as reimbursement, appellate burden of proof, cannot contract away child support obligation, laches, child support not waived by laches, sufficient evidence]

127229 – D.M.R. vs. B.R.S. – Dickenson – Appeal Dismissed. [Stalking, PFS, neighbors, counter-petitions, appellate standards, consolidations, failure to brief issues, appellate jurisdiction, judicial bias, failure to issue temporary orders, journal entry not including all oral orders, failure to preserve issues, appellate attorney fees, self-represented appeals]

July 18, 2025

Unpublished

128205 – S.J.M. v. K.M.A. – Cowley – Remanded with directions. [Stalking, protection from stalking, interlocutory appeal, dismissal, Kansas Public Speech Protection Act (KPSPA), personal jurisdiction, jurisdiction, appellate jurisdiction, attorneys fees, district court power during appeal, pro se parties, appellate jurisdiction, appellate standards, motion for voluntary dismissal, mootness, question of law, statutory interpretation, stay of proceedings pending appeal, statutory stay of district court action]

127809 – In re Marriage of Brown and Clark – Sedgwick – Affirmed. [Divorce, common law marriage, child support, property division, appellate standards, nominal child support, retroactive child support, temporary orders, temporary child support, abuse of discretion, questions of law, Kansas Child Support Guidelines (KCSG), burden on appellant, waiver of issues, preservation for appeal, minimal financial impact, division need not be equal, sanctions discretionary]

July 11, 2025

Unpublished

126373 – In re Parentage of M.S. and J.C. – Johnson – Affirmed. [Parentage, appellate standards, due process, parental rights, First Amendment rights, vaccinations, vaccine-denial, parental disputes, parental conflict, judicial discretion, medical advice, unilateral authority, joint legal custody, mootness, continuing issues]

July 3, 2025

Unpublished

128143 – In the Interests of E.L.-C. and V.C. – Sedgwick – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, ineffective assistance of counsel, motion to set aside, nonattendance at hearing, appellate standards, sufficient evidence, clear and convincing evidence, best interests consideration, physical abuse, burden of proof]

128192 – In the Interests of M.T. – Sedgwick – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, failure to thrive, disabled child, Down’s Syndrome, domestic violence, failure to provide proper medical care, appellate standards, sufficient evidence, clear and convincing evidence, best interests consideration, safety considerations, refusal to cooperate, refusal to provide medically necessary care]

128197 – In re Adoption of Baby Boy S. – Sedgwick – Reversed and remanded with directions. [Adoption, parent termination, failure to provide support, appellate standards, statutory interpretation, clear and convincing evidence]

June 27, 2025

Published

127662 – J.H. and J.C.H. v. TFI Family Services, Inc. and Secretary of Kansas Dept. for Children and Families – Franklin – Affirmed. [CINC, interested party, termination of interested party status, notice, required notice, review allowed, review procedure, appellate standards]

Unpublished

127075 – In re Marriage of Auten – Wabunsee – Reversed and remanded with directions. [Divorce, appellate standards, pretrial orders, property division, matters at issue, judicial discretion, amended pretrial orders]

128148 – In the Interest of R.R. – Johnson – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, judicial recusal, sufficient evidence, clear and convincing evidence, judicial bias, statutory requirements for recusal, threatening and conspiratorial messages]

June 20, 2025

Published
126575 – State of Kansas v. Ivy – Johnson – Original opinion filed April 11, 2025. Modified opinion. Conviction affirmed, sentence vacated, and case remanded with directions [Criminal, revenge porn, expectation of privacy, constitutional rights, statutory interpretation, reasonable person standard, subjective person standard]

June 13, 2025

Unpublished

127948 – In re B.S. – Rooks – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, Indian Child Welfare Act, ICWA, jurisdiction, required information for notice, adequate notice, tribe membership eligibility, appellate standards, statutory interpretation, required information to be provided]

June 6, 2025

Unpublished

127282 – In the Interests of D.H. and B.F. – Shawnee – Reversed and remanded with directions. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, clear-and-convincing evidence, best interests, abuse of discretion]

128084 – In the Interests of M.W. and R.V. – Douglas – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, clear and convincing evidence, child’s best interests, evidence sufficiency, failure to complete requirements, incarceration]

May 30, 2025

Unpublished

127765 – In re Marriage of Weighous – Barton – Affirmed. [Divorce, default judgment, set aside, KSA 60-260, appellate standards, judicial discretion, request for mandatory marriage counseling, surprise, neglect, final judgment, non-final judgment, attorney withdrawal, objection to attorney withdrawal, failure to designate sufficient record, abuse of discretion, waiver of issue on appeal]

128260 – In the Interests of K.P. – Reno – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, clear and convincing evidence, child’s best interests, drug activity, lack of suitable housing, failure to complete requirements, incarceration]

May 16, 2025

Unpublished

128124 – In re Adoption of M.B. and A.B. – Clark – Affirmed. [Adoption, step-parent adoption, parent termination, appellate standards, clear and convincing evidence, set aside, KSA 60-260, Acknowledgment of parentage, UCCJEA, interstate child custody, existing child support order, no formal child custody order, move away, failure to assume parental duties, default judgment, personal service, sufficient findings, parental rights, constitutional rights, strict interpretation, burden of proof, lack of financial support]

May 9, 2025

Published

127484 – In re Adoption of E.R.K. – Sedgwick – Affirmed. [Adoption, step-parent adoption, parent termination, appellate standards, clear and convincing evidence, Constitutional rights, parents’ rights, consent, failure to assume parental duties, monetary support, regular contact, burden of proof, “occasional gifts”, financial support]

April 25, 2025

Published

127827 – E.F. v. Kansas Dept. for Children and Families – Shawnee – Reversed and remanded with directions. [Administrative law, permanent guardianship, abuse and neglect, appellate standards, appellate jurisdiction, jurisdictional elements, administrative appeals, judicial review of administrative action, filing fees, docket fee, timeliness, failure to timely pay filing fee, attendant requirements]

Unpublished

127604 – In the Interests of S.L.S. and S.E.S. – Butler – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, clear and convincing evidence, child’s best interests, drug activity]

April 11, 2025

Unpublished

127957 – In the Interest of K.S. – Atchison – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, sufficiency of evidence, child’s best interests, abuse of discretion, substance abuse, incarceration, infrequent contact]

March 4, 2025

Unpublished

128125 – In the Interest of A.M. – Sedgwick – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, clear-and-convincing evidence, sufficiency of evidence, child’s best interests, abuse of discretion, substance abuse, repeated incarceration, infrequent contact, meaningful contact]

128193 – In the Matter of the Adoption of D.A., D.A., and Y.A. – Ford – Affirmed. [Adoption, stepparent adoption, lack of involvement, failure to exercise parental rights, divorced couple, substance abuse, incarceration, appellate standards, failure to support for 2 years, presumed to know the law]

March 28, 2025

Unpublished

127477 – In the Interest of R.S. – Pratt – Remanded with directions. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, transcript preservation, Zoom hearing, recording failure, due process, reconstruction of transcript]

March 21, 2025

Unpublished

126669 – H.R.M. v. J.L.C. – Johnson – Affirmed. [Protection from Stalking, PFS, appellate standards, criminal prosecution vs. civil action, mootness]

February 21, 2025

Unpublished

127188 – In re I.W. – Neosho – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, reintegration, “meaningful progress”, clear and convincing evidence, child’s best interests, sufficient evidence]

127951 – In re Marriage of Boorigie – Sedgwick – Appeal dismissed. [Divorce, appellate jurisdiction, property division, settle journal entry, alter or amend, modification, amended journal entry, acquiescence]

128075 – In re Marriage of S.L.W. and S.M.W. – Decatur – Affirmed. [Divorce, child custody, parenting time, parenting schedule, appellate standards, judicial discretion, abuse of discretion, failure to find “deficiency”, sufficient evidence]

January 31, 2025

Unpublished

127764 – B.K. vs. A.P. – Johnson – Affirmed. [Protection from stalking, stalking, burden of proof, failure to provide evidence at trial, allegations without support, homeowners association, “fear for safety”, “substantial emotional distress”]

126755 – In the Interests of K.S. and E.S. – Butler – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, notice of appeal verification requirement, statutory construction, technical violations, “verification”, clear and convincing evidence, child’s best interests, sufficient evidence, appellate jurisdiction]

January 24, 2025

Unpublished

127574 – In the Interests of T.M. and H.S.-M. – Butler – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, Due Process, clear and convincing evidence, child’s best interests, sufficient evidence, methamphetamine]

January 17, 2025

Unpublished

127621 – In the Interests of N.M., E.M. and Z.L. – Bourbon – Affirmed. [CINC, parent termination, appellate standards, abuse of discretion, child’s best interests, clear and convincing evidence, substantial evidence, unsanitary conditions]

January 3, 2025

Published

125862 – In re Marriage of L.F. and M.F. – Johnson – Affirmed. [Child custody, child support, modification, child custody investigations, expert testimony, appellate standards, Daubert requirements, child support income, capital gains, attorneys’ fees]