St. Charles Divorce Lawyer Blog
In Missouri, child support “abatement” is a process whereby a paying parent’s obligation to pay child support on a monthly basis tolls or stops, even temporarily. This most commonly occurs when the custodial parent voluntarily relinquishes custody of the child to the paying parent for a period in excess of thirty days. It can also commonly occur due to the custodial parent or minor child’s failure to fulfill certain statutory obligations which are required in order to entitle them to continue to receive child support after the child’s completion of high school.
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When Can My Missouri Child Support Obligation Abate?
For parents who are either paying or are receiving child support, knowing how long the financial responsibility of child support continues is critical to the financial planning of their family. The answer to the question of how long this obligation continues depends upon multiple factors related to your child.
Resolution is reached in the custody battle over the infant daughter of former Kansas City Chief linebacker; Recent ruling by the Eastern District of the Missouri Court of Appeals strengthens the enforceability of prenuptial agreements in Missouri and more.
This is a very common question presented to Missouri family law practitioners. Most parties either paying or receiving child support understand that the amount of money in their court order can be modified or changed by an order of their family court judge. But, in order for a family law practitioner to be able to properly advise his client on whether a child support award can be either raised or lowered, that attorney must have access very specific financial information.
For lawyers and judges, divorce is a legal process that results in a legal outcome. And, lawyers and judges play vital rolls in that process. But for parents, there is a more significant reality that they must prepare for when presented with divorce. That reality is that divorce is hard on their children. As parents it is critical that you are vigilant about what your children may be dealing with and are aware of what assistance may be available to help you in helping them.
In some Missouri family court cases, it is necessary for the Court to appoint a guardian ad litem. A guardian ad litem (“GAL”) is usually an attorney and can be appointed in divorce, paternity and custody modification cases to represent the best interests of the children involved in the domestic matter. A GAL must be appointed in child order of protection cases, or in any case where abuse or neglect is alleged by either parent, but can also be requested by either party to assist the furthering of the children’s best interest in the family court case. The best interests of the children are determined by 
Typically during the initial divorce consultation with a family law attorney, that family law practitioner will evaluate your circumstances to determine if one spouse may be required to provide financial assistance to the other spouse to help support them after the divorce process is completed. While this spouse to spouse financial support is often referred to as “alimony”, in our Missouri legal system this financial contribution is referred to as “maintenance”. What factors will your attorney and family law judge consider in making this maintenance evaluation?
Recently it was
Back in the news again this week, O.J. Simpson is set to testify on his own behalf regarding his claims of ineffective counsel in his 2008 robbery trial. Simpson is alleging that his former attorney, Yale Galanter, failed to inform him of certain details about his case and failed to make certain decisions about his defense which led to Simpson’s conviction. Further, Simpson claims he spoke with the attorney the night before the 
Just walking through your local drug store you may have noticed a recent proliferation of