Saint Louis City, Missouri Family Attorneys Serving Individuals Throughout The Area
At Stange Law Firm, PC , our Saint Louis City family law attorneys can help you through the difficult times you may face. We know how overwhelming it can be to face difficult legal issues with so much at stake. We are here to help you rebuild your life.
As set forth in their biographies, a number of our attorneys have received awards for divorce and family law. For example, Founding Partner Kirk Stange has been on the list of Super Lawyers by Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers Magazine since 2015. Several attorneys at the firm have also been recognized by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys.
From our offices in St. Louis City downtown (by appointment only) at 100 S. 4th Street Suite 549, St. Louis, MO 63102, you can count on us to be there with you at every step with your St. Louis City Divorce, constantly working to put you in the best possible situation as you move into this new phase of your life. No matter where you live in St. Louis City, Stange Law Firm, PC is here for you.
To discover more about the St. Louis City Family Court, please visit the following links:
- St. Louis City Court on Missouri Judiciary: Click to view more information about the St. Louis City Court on MO Judiciary.
- St. Louis City Juvenile Courthouse: Have questions about the St. Louis City juvenile courthouse? Click this link.
- St. Louis City Local Court Rules: St. Louis City local court rules and regulations are listed here.
- St. Louis City Civil Court Directions:Google Map directions to the St. Louis City Civil Court.
St. Louis City, MO Family Lawyers Available To Help You With Your Case
Our attorneys focus their practice on family law. We prepare every case for trial unless a settlement is reached. While we always work to reach an amicable settlement without the need for a resolution in court, we are ready to boldly advocate for your interests should settlement not be possible.
We can help with a wide range of family law matters, including:
- High net worth divorce in St. Louis City, MO: Our attorneys at Stange Law Firm, PC are fully able and ready to help you with a high net worth divorce matter. Contact us today, or click here for more information.
- Annulment downtown in Saint Louis City, MO: We provide you experienced family law attorneys who can handle family matters of all kinds, annulments being one of them. Find more information here.
- Saint Louis City, MO Uncontested divorce: We are here to help you with your uncontested divorce matter whenever you need us. Click the link provided to learn more.
- Saint Louis City, MO Contested divorce: Our attorneys can help you with your contested divorce matter, find out how here.
- St. Louis City, Missouri divorce lawyers: Find divorce attorneys who represent clients in downtown St. Louis City.
- St. Louis City, MO child custody and visitation attorneys: Our attorneys at Stange Law Firm are here to help you with any child custody and visitation matters you may have. Find out more here.
- St. Louis City, MO child support lawyers: Our downtown St. Louis City, Missouri family law attorneys are experienced and ready to assist you with your child support matter needs.
- Spousal maintenance and alimony in downtown St. Louis City, MO: Are you looking for more information about spousal maintenance and alimony? Let our attorneys answer your questions. Click here for more information.
- Division of property and debts in downtown Saint Louis City, MO: We can help with your division of property and debt issues while you’re going through your divorce.
- Post-divorce modifications in St. Louis City, MO: Are you in need of a modification after your divorce? Our attorneys representing clients in Saint Louis City, MO can assist.
- St. Louis City, MO dissolution of same sex marriages: We represent clients in the dissolution of same sex marriage in downtown Saint Louis City, MO. Discover more information here.
From our webpage, you can also read articles about family law, view informational videos, seminar videos, listen to our podcast, download our mobile application or view support calculators for Missouri. You can also get more information at our St. Louis Divorce Law Blog.
What is Family Law in St. Louis, MO?
Family law refers to the practice of helping individuals with family relationships. It includes helping families pick up the pieces of their lives, while guiding them through this difficult time. Family law matters may include the dissolution of marriage, child custody and child support matters, adoption, paternity, and father’s rights issues. Because of the nature of these matters, family law cases tend to be very emotional and strenuous for the parties involved. At Stange Law Firm, PC, our attorneys are there to assists their clients through this difficult process. Family law practice may involve any of these following topics:
Divorce in St. Louis City
Divorce is the process of breaking the bonds of marriage. When parties get married, they form a legal relationship. If they decide that they would no longer like to be a part of this relationship, they must file the necessary paperwork with the courts.
Based on the state in which the divorce is being filed, the rules and procedures may vary. While all states allow for no-fault divorce, some states require a period of separation. Be advised that most states also have residency requirements that come into play when filing for dissolution.
Each state has their own guidelines for how to divide assets and debts in a divorce, but the rules are similar in most states. In most cases, the court looks to make an equitable division of the assets. This doesn’t necessarily mean dividing the assets are equal for both parties. The court can look at things like the parties’ contributions to the marriage, the length of the marriage and the needs of each party after the divorce. Misconducts such as infidelity or domestic abuse can also play into the court’s decision regarding property and debt division and spousal maintenance.
Divorce is Civil Litigation in St. Louis, MO
Divorce cases are heard in state court. Similar to other forms of civil litigation, parties may work to gather evidence through depositions, interrogatories and subpoenas. Parties may also participate in mediation sessions, the collaborative process and other forms of conflict resolution. In many scenarios, cases may settle prior to a trial. However, some cases that involve contested divorces, high-assets, and certain other factors may have to go to trial.
Maintenance and Spousal Support in St. Louis City
One of the most difficult issues in a divorce case is often maintenance and spousal support (previously referred to as alimony). Some states use a formula in order to determine the amount of support. In other cases, it’s left to the judge’s discretion. Even in cases where the court uses a formula, it’s still important to make sure that the court uses the proper procedures in order to arrive at the correct amount of support.
One of the considerations for spousal support is the length of the marriage. Other factors include the parent’s ability to pay support and the amount of debt that was jointly accumulated. The court also takes into account the age of the parties involved and their ability to work. Finally, they consider the misconduct of either party. The family lawyers at Stange Law Firm, PC work to present evidence of these factors to the court in order for them to be able to reach the best possible result.
Pre and Post-nuptial Agreements in St. Louis, MO
A prenuptial agreement is a contract that parties sign before they get married. Prenuptial agreements should contain detailed descriptions of each partner’s significant property and debts. Depending on the nature and complexity of these assets, a prenuptial agreement can be just a few pages – or a few hundred. At Stange Law Firm, we draft each prenuptial so that it meets the exact needs of our clients. There are some matters that can’t be included in a prenuptial agreement like child custody and child support agreements. Otherwise, the parties can create an agreement that outlines matters like separate property, distribution of the assets and spousal support in the event of a divorce. When the parties enter into this kind of agreement after they get married, it’s a postnuptial agreement.
Child Custody in St. Louis City
Child custody is one of the most deliberated and emotional areas of family law. When it comes to custody of the child, most states base their decisions around the child’s best interests. The court takes into account which parent has the greater relationship with the child, whether or not each parent can provide a stable home environment for the child, and whether either parent has a history of substance abuse or a criminal background.
If the parents can establish a parenting plan, the court will usually follow this agreement. However, if the parents cannot agree, the family lawyers at Stange Law Firm, PC will present evidence to the court regarding the child’s best interests. This might involve presenting school records, testimony of a psychologist or substance abuse counselor, criminal records and even medical records. Our attorneys will work to gather the necessary evidence, while also ensuring to consider the rules of evidence that are applicable in the particular local jurisdiction.
Legal and Physical Custody in St. Louis, MO
Most states divide custody into legal custody and physical custody. Physical custody is who actually, physically has the child at any given time. Legal custody is who makes major decisions about the child. Physical custody and legal custody can be shared between the parties, or the court may award primary custody to one of the parents. It’s also possible to share one type of custody without sharing the other.
It is imperative that family lawyers understand how the courts determine custody in their jurisdiction because rules between states can vary slightly. The family lawyers at Stange Law Firm, PC help their clients understand the law and form realistic expectations so that they can make wise decisions as their case moves forward.
Child Support in St. Louis City
Children have the right to support from both of their parents. The purpose of child support is to provide the child financial resources as if their parents lived under one roof, although it is common in most child support matters that the child’s parents live in separate households. The courts presume that the parent who cares for the child will provide direct support for the child.
Each state has their own respective formula for calculating proper child support amounts. Most of these formulas factor in each parent’s income, the allowable tax deductions and other expenses, a child’s health insurance expenses, and whether they have child care needs. Certain states also factor in how much time each parent spends with the child, although this is not common practice by all states.
The family lawyers at Stange Law Firm, PC work with their clients to ensure the child support is fairly and accurately calculated. If the other parents attempts to hide income, or is unemployed by choice, an experienced family attorney can assist their client in showing the entire situation. A family lawyer also reviews the calculations made by the court to ensure that no errors were made that could result in an unfair and inaccurate calculation of child support.
Abuse and Neglect Proceedings
Another sensitive area of family law practice involves abuse and neglect. If the state is under the assumption that a parent is not able to properly care for a child, they may choose to begin abuse and neglect proceedings. The state may represent a parent that is accused of abuse or neglects, or they might even represent a child.
When family lawyers represent clients in abuse and neglect proceedings, they are working to help defend their client against the reports of abuse or neglect, or they are helping their clients regain custody of their children by assisting them in complying with services and other requirements. Because the standard for terminating parental rights is high, family lawyers work hard to advocate for their clients when the state seeks to terminate those rights.
Contact Saint Louis City Family Lawyers in Missouri To Help You Navigate The Process
Please note that we also have a location nearby in Clayton, MO in St. Louis County. However, if you need help downtown at the St. Louis City Courthouse, contact us online or by phone to schedule a consultation at our St. Louis City location. Information about this location is below:
Saint Louis City, MO Office (by appointment only): 314-499-8340 Click to learn more about this location. 100 S. 4th Street, Suite 549, St. Louis, Missouri 63102 .
