Missouri Divorce Resources
The following information is a resource on divorce in Missouri. You can find relevant divorce laws, support services, separation and divorce forms, child support calculators, and support groups. In addition to the resources listed below, you can find more help and information in our divorce article section.
ProfessionalsDivorce LawyersDivorce & Parenting Services Private Investigators Background Checks Divorce SupportSupport GroupsDomestic ViolenceShelters and Hotlines |
Divorce PapersOnline DivorceDivorce and Separation Forms Divorce Form Preparation QDRO Preparation Family Law ResourcesDivorce LawsChild Support Guidelines MO Child Support Estimator Child Support Enforcement |
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MO DIVORCE LAWYERS
Kallen Law Firm, LLC.
8000 Maryland Ave. Ste. 930
Clayton, MO 63105
Phone: 314-880-2170
Fax: 314-863-5151
email:
Counties Served: St. Louis County, St. Louis City, St. Charles, and Jefferson County
Growing up in a single-parent household, I understand firsthand the struggles that single mothers experience when trying to meet household expenses and responsibilities. This helps me to better understand my clients' situations, especially women who must balance roles as both primary breadwinner and primary caretaker of the children. At the Kallen Law Firm, LLC, I am dedicated to protecting the rights of mothers under Missouri family law. I use 19 years of experience to help mothers achieve their objectives. Staying informed of current legal trends, I do not hesitate to act forcefully when my clients' interests are at stake. For more information, please visit the website at www.stlouisdivorce.net
James Young
Lee's Summit, Missouri
Known for its compassion, competence, and determination, the Law Office of Hames H, Young and Associates, L.L.C. is dedicated to the practice of Family Law. With a combined thirty-three years of experience, the firm is equipped to handle virtually all services that relate to Family Law.
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DIVORCE FORM PREPARATION
Have All of Your Documents Completed For You! This easy to use, accurate, and up-to-date on-line divorce service is a perfect "do it yourself (without a lawyer)" solution for any uncontested divorce (with or without children) that will be filed in the state of Missouri. You can get "Real Person" customer support by phone & e-mail, plus access to 40 downloadable books (valued at over $750). Start your Missouri divorce today.
QDRO PREPARATION
QdroDesk - is an industry proven online service providing divorcing spouses with an instant, easy, accurate, and affordable method for obtaining Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs), the appropriate settlement agreement language, and processing instructions to divide a retirement account upon divorce. The service is a result that only 45 years of combined QDRO experience can provide. When combining this expertise with a smart question and answer technology, QdroDesk has easily become the ideal solution for QDRO preparation.
DIVORCE AND PARENTING SERVICES
Center for Divorce Education
1005 East State Street, Suite G
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740-594-2526
Email:
Online parenting education to keep children out of the middle of divorce.
Christian Divorce Services
1217 Hilltop Ave
Fayetteville, NC 28305
Phone: 614-774-3766
Email:
We have locations in every state. When reconciliation has failed, we provide Christian legal alternatives consistent with 1Cor 6: 1-8. Please Contact Michael Wayland at our central office for a referral to a local office.
PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS
There are currently no private investigators for this state
BACKGROUND CHECKS
Instant Background Report - Find out date of birth and marital status, address history and aliases, criminal and court records, sex offender searches, property records, general public records, business registration and property resources. Find out the truth about anyone!
DIVORCE SUPPORT GROUPS
Divorce Care can help you locate a divorce support group in your area. There are thousands of DivorceCare support groups throughout the USA and Canada, and many groups meeting internationally as well.
Partners in Prevention provides consulting and psychological services to
domestic abuse survivors before, during and post divorce. Additionally, we serve
as consulting experts in both civil and criminal domestic violence cases. We
also offer continuing medical and nursing education in domestic abuse assessment
and clinical management to healthcare professionals. You can contact us at:
13918 E. Mississippi Ave
Aurora, CO 80012
Phone: 720-222-1058
Economic Empowerment For Women - BreakFreee.org is a non-profit organization offering free, unbiased, access to financial information and education to low to middle income women. Key features of the website include: Financial issues for divorcees, financial calculators, and a database of Frequently Asked Questions where you can submit questions and receive unbiased answers from financial planners.
60 West Olsen Road #3500
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
Phone: 888-372-4155
Email:
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESOURCES
MO Domestic Violence Crisis and Support ServicesShelters and Hotlines
Coalition Against Domestic Violence - MO Chapter
SUMMARY OF MISSOURI DIVORCE LAWS
Complete Online Divorce StatutesRESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS AND WHERE TO FILE: To file for a divorce in Missouri, either party must be a resident of the state for at least 90 days prior to filing. The petition shall be filed in the circuit court in the county where either party resides. [Based on Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 452.240 and 452.305.1]
LEGAL GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE: A dissolution of marriage may be granted on the grounds that there remains no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved and that therefore the marriage is irretrievably broken. If the defendant denies that the marriage is irretrievably broken, the plaintiff must prove one or more of the following:
- The respondent committed adultery and to continue the marriage would be intolerable;
- The respondent has behaved in such a way that continuing the marriage would be intolerable;
- The the respondent abandoned the petitioner for at least six months prior to the filing of the petition;
- That the parties have lived separate and apart by mutual consent for at least 12 months prior to filing;
- That the parties have lived separate and apart for a continuous period of at least 24 months prior to filing. [Based on Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 452.305.1 and 452.320]
LEGAL SEPARATION: A legal separation may be granted on the same grounds as a dissolution of marriage. In a legal separation, the court may make provisions for the custody and the support of each child, the maintenance of either spouse and the disposition of property. The parties may also reach a mutual agreement on maintenance of either spouse, the division of any property owned by either of them, and the custody, support and visitation of their children. Custody, support, and visitation of the children is subject to modification. [Based on Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 452.305.1 and 452.325.1]
MEDIATION OR COUNSELING REQUIREMENTS: When children are involved, the court may order counseling for the children. The court may also order the parties to participate in an alternative dispute resolution program to resolve any issues in dispute, except in cases of uncontested custody cases or if there is a finding of domestic abuse. [Based on Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 452.318 and 452.372]
PROPERTY DISTRIBUTION: Missouri is an equitable distribution state, meaning that if the parties can't reach a mutual agreement concerning the division of the marital estate, the court will distribute the property and liabilities in an equitable, but not necessarily equal fashion. The court will take the following factors into consideration when making it's decision: (1) The economic circumstances of each spouse, including the desirability of awarding the family home or the right to live therein for reasonable periods to the spouse having custody of any children; (2) The contribution of each spouse to the acquisition of the marital property, including the contribution of a spouse as homemaker; (3) The value of the non-marital property set apart to each spouse; (4) The conduct of the parties during the marriage; and (5) Custodial arrangements for minor children.
Property not subject to division is considered separate property, and includes: (1) Property acquired by gift, bequest, devise, or descent; (2) Property acquired in exchange for property acquired prior to the marriage or in exchange for property acquired by gift, bequest, devise, or descent; (3) Property acquired after a decree of legal separation; (4) Property excluded by valid written agreement of the parties; and (5) The increase in value of property acquired prior to the marriage, unless marital assets including labor, have contributed to such increases and then only to the extent of such contributions. [Based on Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 452.330]
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ALIMONY/MAINTENANCE/SPOUSAL SUPPORT: Maintenance may be awarded to
either spouse if the court finds that the spouse seeking maintenance lacks
sufficient property, to provide for his or her reasonable needs, and is unable
to support himself herself through appropriate employment or is the custodian of
a child whose condition or circumstances make it appropriate that the custodian
not be required to seek employment outside the home. When awarding the
duration and amount of maintenance, the court shall consider all relevant
factors including:
- The financial resources of the spouse seeking maintenance, including marital property awarded to him, and his ability to meet his needs independently, including any provisions for child support for that party as custodian;
- The time necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to find appropriate employment;
- The comparative earning capability of each spouse;
- The standard of living established during the marriage;
- The obligations and assets of each party;
- The duration of the marriage;
- The age, and the physical and emotional condition of the spouse seeking maintenance;
- The ability of the obligated spouse to meet his needs while meeting the needs of the spouse seeking maintenance;
- The conduct of the parties during the marriage; and
- Any other factors that the court deems relevant .
Remarriage of the spouse receiving alimony shall relieve the other spouse from the obligation to pay alimony. [Based on Missouri Revised Statutes, Sections 452.075 and 452.335]
SPOUSE'S NAME: Even though there is no specific statute that addresses changing a spouses name as part of a petition for dissolution of marriage, a person may petition the circuit court for a name change. The petition shall set forth the petitioner's full name, the new name desired, and a concise statement of the reason for such desired change. The court will grant the name change if such judge is satisfied that the desired change would be proper and not detrimental to the interests of any other person. [Based on Missouri Revised Statutes, Sections 527.270]
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CHILD CUSTODY: If the parents can't reach a mutual agreement
concerning custody of the children, the court shall determine
custody based on the best interests of the child, considering all
relevant factors including:
- The wishes of the parents concerning custody and the proposed parenting plan submitted by both parties;
- The needs of the child for a frequent, continuing and meaningful relationship with both parents and the ability and willingness of parents to actively involved in meeting the needs of the child;
- The relationship of the child with parents, siblings, and any other person who may significantly affect the child's best interests;
- Which parent is more likely to allow the child frequent, continuing and meaningful contact with the other parent;
- The adjustment of the child to the child's home, school, and community;
- The mental and physical health of all individuals involved, including any history of abuse of any individuals involved;
- The intention of either parent to relocate the principal residence of the child; and
- The wishes of a child as to the child's custodial parent.
When determining custody, there shall be no preference given to either parent in the awarding of custody because of that parent's age, sex, or financial status, nor because of the age or sex of the child. [Based on Missouri Revised Statutes, Sections 452.375]
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CHILD SUPPORT IN MISSOURI: The courts use the "Income Shares" model for
child support, meaning that the level of support is based on the
combined income of both parents. The Missouri child support
guidelines contain specific, descriptive and numeric criteria which
will result in a computation of the support obligation. You
can use Form 14 (this is a pdf file) to calculate the amount of child support that will
be ordered, based on the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations (also a pdf
file). [Based on Missouri Revised Statutes,
Sections 452.340 and 452.335]
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