Many people in the U.S. find it a challenge to stay out of debt, even without any emergency or disaster. However, a sudden windstorm or tornado can cause so much damage that families cannot recover financially from the losses. For some families who cannot pay off their bills after a natural disas...
Effective March 16, 2020, the Missouri Supreme Court ordered almost all court activities closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The courts remained open but suspended almost all in-person proceedings, with limited exceptions. Judges and court clerks were encouraged to utilize all available ...
According to Fidelity Investments, the average balance of a 401(k) in March 2019 was $103,700. This number is based on more than 16 million 401(k) account holders in the U.S. The average amount in a 401(k) is generally tied to age. For 20 to 29 year olds, the average balance was $12,000. For 60 t...
Many Americans rely on credit cards to get them through tough times. Unfortunately, this can lead to racking up a lot of high-interest debt. During the COVID-19 outbreak, some people are having to pay more for daily necessities even in the face of reduced income or even unemployment. It is a diff...
A protection order is a court order that is intended to prevent harassment, stalking, and abusive behavior. The order is issued by a judge to prohibit the alleged abuser from contact, harassment, and a number of other limitations. The types of restrictions and timeline of the protection order dep...
More people are continuing to file for unemployment benefits. According to the Department of Labor, last week, 6.6 million filed for unemployment. There are almost 17 million people who have filed for jobless benefits in the past three weeks. With many businesses staying closed and stay-at-home o...
The COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak is a financial nightmare for many people in Missouri. Individuals and business owners who were staying just above water are ending up deep in debt because of the loss of a job, lack of customers, or paying for medical care for a sick loved one. For those who are...
Many in our community are coming together in our time of need, to look out of elderly parents and neighbors, and provide support for healthcare workers who are on the front lines. However, such a dramatic change in day-to-day life can make dealing with your personal relationships more challenging...
Towns, cities, and states are restricting gatherings and ordering the shut-down of a number of “non-life-sustaining” businesses. The restrictions on movement and operation have severely hit small businesses in Missouri and across the country. Many small business owners do not have the capital or ...
In response to the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic, the Missouri courts have authorized phone and video communication and teleconferencing to provide access to the courts. This important move will allow individuals to access the courts in emergency situations without having to put themselves or othe...
With schools closing and events canceled, there is a lot of confusion for Missouri families sharing custody. Parents may have a lot of questions about child visitation and child custody in light of the COVID-19 or coronavirus pandemic. What can parents do if they do not want to send their child t...
In this ever changing time right now, there have been a lot of closures in the entire Missouri Courts' system. We are up-to-date with all court information and closures. Today, the Missouri Supreme Court canceled almost all court activities via Court Order. There are several exceptions. We are...
We are proud to be a forward thinking law firm. We are fully operational and virtual law firm. We are proud to be open for business. We will not stop advocating for our clients during the COVID-19 situation.
Families going through a divorce, child custody hearing, or other sensitive family court matters like to keep their issues private. The U.K. is implementing a plan to livestream family court proceedings to improve public understanding of the judicial system. Would family courts in the U.S. consid...
St. Patrick's Day is coming up on Tuesday, March 17th. This means the weekend before and the day of will likely see a lot of people going out to enjoy some drinks, and maybe hear some traditional Irish music or try some Irish foods. Unfortunately, some of those people will end up behind the wheel...
Child support in Missouri is supposed to provide for the financial needs and resources of the child. Child support considers the child's educational needs and the standard of living the child would have enjoyed had the marriage not been dissolved. Generally, parents are expected to financially pr...
After finally deciding it is time to get a divorce, your spouse may still try and do what they can to make the process as difficult for you as possible. This may include avoiding service of the divorce complaint or refusing to sign a divorce agreement. Your spouse may complicate matters and make ...
Child custody is one of the most contentious parts of a divorce or separation. Unlike fights over alimony or property, the disputes involving child custody can continue long after the divorce papers are signed. Parents are often required to interact regularly for years until the child turns 18. W...
Divorce and child custody disputes are difficult for parents but they can be even more difficult for children. Kids may blame themselves for their parents' divorce. A tense divorce can also create a hostile home life, where parents and children may be exposed to abuse, violence, yelling, fights, ...
A divorce can be a difficult time, especially when the individuals are fighting over child custody, property, and alimony. With such high emotions involved, people can do things they wouldn't normally do. This includes stalking, spying, or hiring a private investigator to follow the other spouse ...
The majority of households in the U.S. have a pet. According to a survey by the American Pet Products Association, 67% of households own a pet, up from about 56% of households in 1988. The most common pets are dogs and cats, which can live for 10 years or more. It is not surprising that people be...
More and more parents are taking their children on international trips. Traveling to another country may not be that much more expensive than a trip to Disneyworld. However, before booking an international trip for your child with whom you share custody, make sure you understand your rights and r...
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 ...
Time is of the essence in the majority of legal matters. If you are in need of legal representation for your family or criminal matters, contact The Joshua Wilson Law Firm at (816)331-9968 to begin your case evaluation today.