In Missouri the general concepts involved in an award of sole legal custody or joint legal custody can be simply explained. However, prior to accepting a specific legal custody arrangement, Missouri parents should be aware that the specific language contained in their court order regarding legal custody can have a…
The answer to a broad question such as this obviously depends on the type of assets a client possesses and what his objectives are. But, the place to start evaluating the answer is to begin with an understanding of why a revocable living trust can benefit a client and his…
Often clients get confused with the concept of misconduct and what impact it may have in the outcome of their Missouri divorce. Some of this confusion may be due to the accepted legal principle of Missouri as a no-fault divorce state. However, this is a separate and distinct concept from…
In 2013 we covered many issues relating to child custody in our blogs including those specific factors your judge must consider when entering an order of child custody. In today’s blog we will discuss both practical and specific information every party in a child custody case in Missouri should know.…
In Part I of our blog on The Missouri Division of Child Support Enforcement (Division) we discussed their role in establishing orders of paternity and child support and the importance of legal representation in this process. In Part II we discuss the tools that the Division uses to enforce support…
The Missouri Division of Child Support Enforcement (Division) is a state government agency that is part of the Missouri Department Of Social Services working in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Family Services whose objectives include the establishment and enforcement of child support orders. Despite this clear mission, as defined…
At your death, is it your intention to pass on a significant portion of your worldly assets to lawyers, personal representatives and other unknown entities through court supervised administration? Without simple planning that is what will happen. Even if your assets pass through the terms expressed in a will your…
If you are involved in or are faced with a potential divorce in Missouri it is critical that you understand your potential entitlements and potential obligations to an award of spousal maintenance (aka alimony). In a blog early this summer we discussed those factors used to determine if an award…
In the context of Missouri family law, there are many misconceptions as to what a legal separation is and when it is an appropriate remedy. While in many ways similar to a divorce or action for dissolution of marriage, a legal separation is a separate and distinct legal action from…
The short answer to this question is that the “marital portion” of your spouse’s retirement plan in Missouri is most likely divisible by your family court judge. Therefore, you will be entitled to a portion of those benefits. However, there are some exceptions to this general rule of thumb. If…