Divorce and Family Law

 

Divorce

Technically called “dissolution of marriage” in the State of Missouri, it can involve up to four central issues: child custody, child suppport, maintenance, and property/debt division. We handle everything from simple, flat-fee divorces to the most hotly contested cases.

Trial Practice

The vast majority of divorce and family law cases can be resolved with settlement. But due to circumstances sometimes beyond your control you may prefer to take your case to trial. We’re here to help and ready to try your case. We have the experience to win.

 

Maintenance

In the divorce context, we fight for maintenance (or “alimony”) for spouses who are incapable of providing for their own financial needs. Seemingly a simple issue, this is actually one of the more complicated issues facing divorce clients.

 

Attorneys Fees

While not an actual practice area, the recovery of attorney fees is often a critically important component of many divorce and family law cases. Judges are able to award attorney fees in these cases. Whether you have access to marital funds can impact the outcome of your case.

Child Custody

Your children, their safety, well-being, education, and happiness are paramount. We work tirelessly to structure parenting plans that serve the best interests of your children, and work to help you maintain a lasting relationship with them.

Mediation and Collaborative Divorce

Interest in mediation and collaborative divorce has recently surged and rightfully so. Mediation allows the parties to negotiate a settlement with a neutral third party. The collaborative divorce process allows parties to negotiate a settlement before a case is even filed.

 

Marital Property and Debt

We can help you identify and recover your fair or equitable share of marital property and debt. We can determine whether an asset is marital or separate, and what you should expect to receive.

Modifications

For clients who experience a substantial and continuing change in circumstance, a motion to modify may be possible or even necessary. We routinely obtain modifications of custody, child support, and maintenance orders.

Child Support

Child support orders can be entered either administratively by the Missouri Family Support Division, or by a judge in a divorce or paternity context. We can help you obtain child support or defend a case.

 

Paternity

More common now than 20 years ago, we represent parents who have never been named on birth certificates, and parents who have never been listed on birth certificates. In some cases parents can simply acknowledge paternity by affidavit.