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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...

After the 4th of July, many of us wake up to the sight of charred cardboard from fireworks on the street, a stray bottle rocket stick, or maybe a couple of empty cans leftover from the night before. Unfortunately, others wake up the morning after the 4th of July in jail with the possibility of cr...

A man from Columbia was arrested Sunday, June 23, 2019, on suspicion of felony robbery. The robbery allegedly occurred over the sale of a PlayStation gaming console. A spokesperson from the Columbia Police Department, Jeff Pitts, stated that Marquan Dejuan Pitre, age 18, traveled to the alleged ...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has authored a memo meant to create changes to the Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. In the memo to state agencies, the USDA encouraged state directors of SNAP programs to institute requirements that any beneficiary c...

When most people think of a DUI charge (called DWI in Missouri), they typically picture a person intoxicated by alcohol. They may even picture open containers of beer or liquor strewn about the car. However, it is just as possible to become intoxicated by marijuana and be charged with a Missouri ...

Co-parenting your children following a divorce, or during the divorce process, can be tricky and difficult. However, there are tips and tricks to better communicating and cooperating with your former or soon to be former spouse. Ultimately, as a parent, your desire is to spend time with your chil...

During the pendency of a Missouri divorce, it is not totally uncommon for one spouse to become unemployed during the proceedings. This is especially true when the issue of spousal support or child support are raised. However, your spouse (soon to be former) cannot simply become unemployed in orde...

When a Missouri court orders child support payments from one parent to the other, it is important that the person obligated to pay actually does pay what is owed. When the other parent fails to pay his or her child support obligations, you may be left asking, "What can I do about it?" There is m...

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...