Kansas City Family Law Attorneys Serving Missouri Families
- 25+ Years of Combined Experience
- Family Law & Criminal Defense
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Kansas City Family Law Attorneys Serving Missouri Families
Family problems do not stay neatly contained in the courtroom. A divorce, custody
disagreement, or support dispute can affect your children, finances, home, and sense of stability.
Higher Level Legal represents individuals and families in family-law matters on the Missouri
side of the Kansas City metropolitan area. From our Raymore office, our attorneys help clients
understand their options, protect what matters most, and move toward a workable resolution.
Discuss your situation with a family law attorney. Call (816) 331-9968 or schedule a
consultation online.
Family-law guidance for the decisions ahead
You may be worried about where your children will live, whether you can remain in your home,
how bills will be paid, or what will happen if the other party refuses to cooperate. You may also
be unsure whether your case can be resolved through an agreement or will need to go before a judge.
Our role is to help you answer those questions and build a strategy based on your circumstances.
We handle matters involving:• Divorce and legal separation
- Child custody and parenting plans
- Child support
- Paternity
- Spousal maintenance
- Division of marital property and debts
- Orders of protection
- Post-judgment modifications
- Enforcement of existing court orders
- Relocation involving a child
- Emergency custody issues
Every family is different. The right approach depends on the history between the parties, the
needs of the children, the property and debts involved, and whether meaningful negotiation is
possible.
Divorce representation in the Kansas City area
A Missouri divorce may require decisions about much more than ending the marriage. Spouses
may need to identify and value marital property, address responsibility for debts, determine
whether maintenance is appropriate, and create a parenting plan for their children.
Missouri courts divide marital property and debts in proportions the court considers just after
weighing relevant circumstances. That does not necessarily mean an equal division. Missouri
Revised Statutes §452.330
Our attorneys can help you:
- Identify the legal and financial issues that must be resolved
- Gather and organize relevant financial information
- Evaluate proposed settlement terms
- Negotiate with the other party or counsel
- Prepare for mediation
- Present disputed issues to the court when an agreement is not possible
An uncontested divorce can still create lasting obligations. Before signing an agreement, it is
important to understand how its terms may affect your property, retirement accounts, parenting
rights, support obligations, and ability to return to court later.
Child custody and parenting plans
Custody cases are often emotionally difficult because the outcome affects a parent’s time with
their child and ability to participate in important decisions.
Missouri courts decide custody according to the child’s best interests. The law does not allow a
court to prefer one parent because of that parent’s sex, age, or financial status. Courts consider multiple factors, including the child’s relationships, adjustment to home and school, each
parent’s ability to meet the child’s needs, and each parent’s willingness to support the child’s
relationship with the other parent. Missouri Revised Statutes §452.375
We assist with:
- Legal and physical custody
- Parenting schedules
- Holiday and vacation arrangements
- Decision-making responsibilities
- Transportation and exchanges
- Communication between parents
- Relocation disputes
- Modification or enforcement of custody orders
The goal is not simply to “win custody.” It is to pursue a parenting arrangement that protects
your relationship with your child and can function in everyday life.
Child support, paternity, and modifications
Changes in employment, income, parenting time, or a child’s needs may affect an existing
support or custody arrangement. But an informal agreement between parents may not change
what the existing court order requires.
Higher Level Legal helps clients establish paternity, address child support, seek appropriate
modifications, and enforce orders that are not being followed. We can evaluate whether the
circumstances support returning to court and explain the evidence likely to matter.
What to expect when you contact our firm
- We listen to what is happening.
Your attorney will ask about your family, existing court orders, immediate concerns, and the
outcome you hope to achieve.
- We identify the legal and practical issues.
We explain which decisions must be made, what information is needed, and whether any
deadlines or urgent risks require attention.
- We develop a strategy with you.
Depending on the case, that may involve direct negotiation, mediation, court filings, temporary
orders, discovery, or trial preparation.
- We keep you informed.
You should understand what is happening in your case, what choices are available, and what is
expected of you at each stage.No attorney can promise a particular result. We can promise to help you evaluate your options,
prepare carefully, and make informed decisions.
Family law representation on the Missouri side of Kansas City
Higher Level Legal is located in Raymore and represents clients in Missouri family-law matters
throughout the Kansas City area, including communities in Cass County, Jackson County, Clay
County, and surrounding areas.
The Kansas City metropolitan area crosses the state line. Missouri and Kansas have different
laws and court systems, so the location and history of the parties can affect where a case should
be filed. Tell us at the beginning of your consultation if either party or a child lives in Kansas.
For our full range of family law and criminal defense services across Cass County and the Kansas City metro, visit our main page.
Meet our family law attorneys
Joshua Wilson
Joshua Wilson founded Higher Level Legal and leads the firm’s work for clients in Raymore,
Cass County, and the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Megan Metzinger
Megan Metzinger represents clients in matters involving divorce, child custody, maintenance,
and domestic violence.
Brady Shelton
Brady Shelton handles family-law and criminal-defense matters and earned his law degree from
the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law.
Payton Clouse
Payton Clouse is an associate attorney with Higher Level Legal and a graduate of the University
of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law. She works with the firm’s team to help clients navigate
family-law disputes and the decisions that come with them.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Missouri divorce take?
Missouri law generally requires at least one spouse to have lived in the state for the 90 days
immediately before the proceeding begins. A court cannot enter the divorce judgment until at
least 30 days after the petition is filed. Those are minimum requirements, not an estimate of how
long every case will take. Disagreements involving custody, property, support, or disclosure of
financial information can extend the process. Missouri Revised Statutes §452.305
Does Missouri favor mothers in custody cases?No. Missouri law prohibits a custody preference based on a parent’s sex. The court must evaluate
the child’s best interests using the circumstances of the individual family.
Can my custody or child-support order be changed?
Possibly. A modification generally requires legally sufficient changed circumstances and must
satisfy the applicable statutory standard. An attorney can review the existing judgment and what
has changed since it was entered.
Do I need an attorney for an uncontested divorce?
Missouri does not require every divorcing spouse to hire an attorney. Legal review can
nevertheless be valuable when the case involves children, a home, retirement benefits, significant
debts, a business, or ongoing support obligations.
How much will my family-law case cost?
The cost depends on the issues, the amount of disagreement, the volume of financial information,
and whether the case settles or requires a contested hearing. During the consultation, ask how the
retainer, hourly billing, and additional case expenses would apply to your matter.
Talk with a Kansas City family law attorney
You do not have to make every decision before asking for legal advice. A consultation can help
you understand where you stand, what requires immediate attention, and what options may be
available.
Call Higher Level Legal at (816) 331-9968 or submit the online form to schedule a consultation.
The firm’s office is located at 309 S. Washington Street, Raymore, Missouri 64083, and
virtual consultations are available.
For a full overview of our practice, visit our Family Law page, or see all the communities we serve on our Service Areas page.
