Blog

A new law in Illinois will make it easier for spouses to change their name after a divorce. The law in Illinois used to require individuals petitioning for a name change to publish a notice in the newspaper. Missouri still has a publication requirement for a name change after a divorce. Will Miss...

It may not be part of the parenting plan but at some point, parents will have to deal with visitation or custody changes when either a child gets sick or if one of the parents gets sick. In general, it is helpful for parents to discuss how illness or other last-minute changes can be accommodated ...

With the financial stress of the holiday season, gloomy weather keeping people indoors, and drinking around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, it would seem like it can be a recipe for domestic violence. There is a common misconception that domestic violence peaks around the holidays in the ...

If you are waiting until the new year to file for divorce, you are not alone. There tends to be an increase in divorce filings in January. Divorce can be a big undertaking and you should make sure you have the help of an experienced Missouri divorce attorney on your side. If you have any question...

A common complaint for people trying to get help from the family court is that the employees and clerks at the court are not very helpful. It can be extremely frustrating to deal with the court when trying to figure out where to file a form, how to pay a filing fee, or where to ask the judge for ...

Christmas can be one of the most contentious times for child custody and visitation disputes. The winter holidays are supposed to be a happy time for family, festivities, and celebrating a new year. Unfortunately, the holiday can provide an opportunity for child custody and visitation disputes to...

There are lots of reasons why someone going through a divorce would want to start dating. Dating can make a person feel wanted after years of a loveless marriage. Dating can also help distract someone from such a stressful and painful process. However, there are a number of reasons why dating dur...

Thanksgiving is one of the most important family holidays for families in the U.S. Most people have at least the Thanksgiving Thursday and often following Friday off of work or school, to allow for time together as a family. For parents who share custody of a child, Thanksgiving can be a source o...

A divorce leads to big financial changes for both spouses. In addition to changes in expenses, asset division, and even retirement accounts, each spouse will have to face significant tax changes. This leads to a lot of recently divorced spouses questioning how spousal maintenance is treated for t...

A divorce represents a significant life-changing event. Parents may need to move out of the family home, move to a more affordable area, move closer to family, or move for a new job. Divorce can be hard on kids and combining a recent divorce with a new move can be stressful for both parents and c...

When people see reports on the news or social media of a crime, they often go immediately to condemn the accused and defend the alleged victim. However, it may come out that the accused was totally innocent and the victim made up the whole story. Even after the truth comes out, the accused may be...

In child custody proceedings, parents often address the major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or other religious or family holidays. The holiday may be important to the parent and the parent wants to spend time with the child during those times. However, parents often ignore other holidays...

In a divorce, one spouse may be entitled to maintenance--also known as alimony or spousal support. The purpose of a maintenance award is to assist the dependent spouse in maintaining the standard of living he or she was accustomed to during the marriage. These payments are typically made until th...

After an accident, the laws of Missouri allow the injury victim to file a claim for damages in a personal injury lawsuit. These lawsuits may take years to resolve and can result in a large financial award or settlement to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and any other damages.  Depending on t...

While many people post images and videos to social media of partying or having a good time, posting images of drinking or doing drugs can be used as evidence in a criminal case. Videos of drinking shots, smoking weed, or videos showing the individual appears impaired can be admissible in court. ...

No one gets married with divorce in mind. But over time situations and people change, and a couple may decide that separating is the best option. According to the American Psychological Association, about 40% to 50% of married couples in the U.S. end up getting divorced. However, divorce rates ea...

Stress in a relationship can be triggered by seasonal events, like the financial stress of the holidays. Couples going through a separation may even consider the tax implications of a divorce and wait a little longer to file for divorce. There may be no ideal time of year to file for divorce, but...

Many families in Missouri are seeing their kids off from home to a college or university. Whether the new college-bound students are off to the University of Missouri, to Kansas University in Lawrence, or thousands of miles away, these young people may be facing new challenges. Unfortunately, som...

An ignition interlock device (IID) is like a breathalyzer for the ignition on your car. Also referred to as a breath alcohol ignition interlock device (BAIID) in Missouri, the device is installed in a vehicle and requires blowing a “clean” breath sample in order to start and continue operating th...

When parents are fighting over child custody after a separation or divorce, a parent may go to great lengths to get the upper hand in court. This can include gathering evidence from past social media posts or activities, even if they happened before the individual ever became a parent. Even if yo...

Stores in Missouri advertise sales on kids clothes and school supplies weeks before kids return to school after a summer break. The summer may have flown by but back to school means children are starting a new year of education. As children continue to mature and start new activities, back-to-sch...

Common law marriage allows for a couple to be considered formally married even if they have not had a wedding or not been formally married under according to civil or religious ceremony. When people present themselves as being married (even without formal marriage), some states allow the couple t...

After an arrest in Missouri, a bail hearing will generally be held to determine if and how much bail should be required before the defendant can be released. Bail is supposed to give a financial motivation for the individual to show up to court and not flee the state. However, bail also favors th...

There are a number of lakes, rivers, and waterways across Missouri that give residents the chance to cool off on a hot summer's day. Recreation includes boating, fishing, kayaking, jet skis, wakeboarding, and swimming. Many people like to spend their time on the water while relaxing with a drink....

Student loan debt is increasing for young people across the country. According to one survey, 58% of 2017 graduates in the state of Missouri leave with student loan debt. The average amount of debt nationally for 2017 grads is $28,650. Students pursuing advanced degrees can end up hundreds of tho...