In Re Marriage of Liss

In this marital dissolution action, appellant Shannan Avis Liss (Wife) appeals from the trial court's further judgment on reserved issues. She contends the court improperly retained jurisdiction to award spousal support to respondent Steve Shalom Liss (Husband). Finding no merit to this argument, we affirm.

Wife's petition for dissolution of marriage and Husband's response were filed on Judicial Council official forms. In Wife's petition, by checking the appropriate boxes, Wife requested that spousal support be awarded to her. In his response, by leaving the boxes blank, Husband failed to request that spousal support be awarded to him. On November 1, 1989, the court filed judgment dissolving the marriage. Pursuant to the parties' marital settlement agreement and stipulations the court at that time decided certain property and other issues. That judgment expressly "reserve[d] jurisdiction over the issue of spousal support" and other issues.

Trial of the reserved issues came on for hearing October 1, 1990. In his trial brief, Husband urged that despite a marriage of over 13 years, the court should not award spousal support nor retain jurisdiction to do…