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In any child custody proceeding, the outcome of the case will be based on any evidence presented to the court and witness testimony. Judges in child custody cases make decisions based on what they believe is in the best interests of the child. Understanding the important role of witnesses in a ch...

If you have recently filed for divorce or are contemplating it, you may have wondered if hiring a private investigator will help your case. Speaking to an attorney about the pros and cons of hiring an investigator is best before taking this step, as hiring a private investigator can add unnecessa...

Parental alienation occurs when one parent attempts to influence a child's views of the other parent with negative statements, interference with visitation, and other actions to discourage a child from having a positive, loving relationship with the other parent. Many counselors and researchers ...

Most pet owners feel that their pets are a part of their family. Unfortunately, if you are going through a divorce, ownership of a pet is legally considered the same as ownership of other property, like furniture or vehicles. In many divorce cases, which spouse will keep a beloved pet can become ...

When you think a divorce may be in your future, or if you have already been served with paperwork by your spouse, it is a good idea to gather important documents that you will need while your case is pending. Keep these documents in a safe place such as a safety deposit box. If you are unable to ...

During a divorce, you will need to make difficult decisions regarding the division of property, such as who will take ownership of family pets and whether or not one spouse will stay in the marital home. In addition to dividing real estate and personal property, you may also need to consider inta...

Many people have heard of prenuptial agreements which allow people who going to get married to decide what will happen in the event of a divorce. If you are already married, it is not too late to ask your spouse to sign an agreement regarding what will happen in case the marriage doesn't work out...

During a Missouri divorce, a lot of issues arise, especially when there are children involved. In fact, child custody is often one of the most hotly contested parts of the divorce process. When parents cannot agree on the right course of action regarding their children, it adds a great deal of st...

When dividing marital assets, there is a great deal of exploration of documents and records that must occur. This is especially true when a business is owned during the course of the marriage. Different business types come with different challenges during division, and different methods of valuat...

There is a lot that a Missouri court must consider when making decisions regarding child support. Child support calculations are form based, and courts are expected to follow certain "formulas" when making these decisions, but there is also room for the court's discretion when it comes to income ...

A parenting plan is one of the more important documents and agreements that a divorcing couple must make together. Children and divorce are always complicated, but it is incredibly important to protect children at every stage of the divorce and beyond when you are finally separated from your spou...

One of the most important aspects of the divorce process, and often the most contentious, is the distribution of marital assets. In Missouri, courts use a process called "equitable division" in order to determine who gets what assets after the marriage is ended. "Equitable" does not necessarily m...

Couples in Missouri who get divorced often suffer negative impacts to their retirement accounts, especially if they're not properly prepared for a divorce. Statistically, individuals who have gone through a divorce are more likely to use up their assets during their retirement than married couple...

Social media is an ever-present part of most people's daily lives. This does not tend to change when a couple begins to divorce. In fact, discoveries on social media may be the reason for the divorce in the first place. Posts on social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter can be u...

A legal separation is a separate and totally distinct legal remedy from divorce in the state of Missouri. While it is similar in many ways and even uses many of the same court orders, the ultimate ending is different. The parties remain married and no divorce is granted. For Missouri couples who ...

Divorce can be a messy process and can result in significant financial loss if your assets are not protected. Sadly, some spouses try to hide assets from their significant other. The fear of losing assets that are rightfully part of the marital property is only natural. No spouse should be allowe...

When a couple is getting married, one of the last things that they are likely thinking about is a prenuptial agreement. With so many marriages ending in divorce, however, more and more couples are considering and signing these agreements. The discussion to enter into a prenuptial agreement is oft...

Parenting plans are a crucial and important part of the custody arrangement of your children after a divorce. In fact, not only are they important but they are also required under Missouri law. Divorcing parents with children under the age of 18 are required to file a parenting plan. Making sure...

The cost of raising a child in Missouri is high. For the custodial parent, the parent who has full or primary custody of the child, it is assumed that these costs are already coming out of that parent's pocket. The non-custodial parent has an obligation to pay child support to ensure that these h...

Finding out that a spouse has been unfaithful is a difficult thing to learn and handle. The feelings of betrayal of trust and anger can ruin a marriage and cause extreme difficulty for you and your family. Infidelity is often a main cause for why a married couple decides to divorce. In Missouri,...

In Missouri, parties can obtain what is commonly referred to as a "no-fault divorce." This means that generally speaking, a party does not have to prove any kind of fault in order to obtain a divorce. If both spouses agree that the marriage is "irretrievably broken," the court will grant the divo...

The complexities of divorce apply both to the legal procedures involved and the effects the process can have on your personal life. Once couples have chosen to divorce, and initiated proceedings, many feel that they are now "newly single" and are ready to date other people. In fact, one or both p...

A divorce is never easy, but when it comes after being with the other person for decades, it can be particularly difficult. Older couples who divorce after they are 50 years old (aka gray divorce) often do so after their children have grown up and have left the nest. Their intention is an underst...

It goes without saying: divorce is difficult. But if you have high net worth, then it can complicate matters. Divorces with greater assets are burdened with greater legal issues. Every divorce -- even high asset divorces -- is different, so not all issues will apply in your unique circumstances. ...