Arnold, Missouri Divorce Attorneys in Jefferson County
There may be no other circumstance you will ever have to face more importance than a divorce. In such a circumstance, you need a skilled lawyer on your side who can help protect your interests.
The Arnold divorce attorneys at Stange Law Firm, PC represent clients in dissolution of marriage and legal separation actions at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Hillsboro, MO. We focus our practice on divorce matters. We are committed to pursuing every viable option to secure a positive result for our clients.
As outlined in their biographies, many of our attorneys have received awards and accolades for divorce law. In particular, Founding Partner Kirk Stange has been named a Super Lawyers Honoree since 2015, and Managing Partner Kelly Davidzuk has been named a Rising Stars Honoree since 2020.
You can learn more about the Jefferson County Courts that serve Arnold by visiting the following links:
- Jefferson County Government: Information about the Jefferson County Government can be found here.
- Jefferson County Missouri Judiciary: Find more Judiciary information here at this link.
- Directions to Jefferson County Courthouse: Find directions to the Jefferson County courthouse provided by Google Maps.
- Child Support Estimate: Are you wishing you knew what the estimated cost was going to be for your child support payments in Missouri? Click here to use the calculator provided.
With offices in Arnold, our attorneys handle divorce cases throughout the greater St. Louis area, including the Jefferson County Courthouse in Hillsboro, MO. We take a very hands-on, results-oriented approach to every case, working tirelessly to resolve your divorce-related issues in the most efficient and stress-free manner possible.
We are prepared to help you with any aspect of divorce, including:
- Arnold, MO child custody and visitation: Information about child custody and visitation laws in Missouri can be found here.
- Child support in Arnold, MO: Our experienced and focused attorneys can assist you with all of your child custody and visitation matters in Jefferson County.
- Arnold, MO spousal maintenance and alimony: We represent clients in Jefferson County with spousal maintenance and alimony cases.
- Division of property and debts in Arnold, MO: More information can be found here about the division of property and debt in Arnold, MO
- Arnold, MO post-divorce modifications: Our attorneys at Stange Law Firm, PC can assist you with post-divorce modification matters.
From our webpage, you can also read articles about divorce, view informational videos, and seminar videos, listen to our podcast, download our mobile application, or view support calculators for Missouri and Illinois.
COMMON DIVORCE QUESTIONS IN MISSOURI
Grounds for Divorce in Jefferson County
Parties in Missouri can get divorced when there are irreconcilable differences and there is no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved. It is not necessary to show fault in Missouri to get divorced, but fault can impact property and debt division and spousal maintenance.
Residency Requirements in Arnold, Missouri
If you are going to get divorced in the State of Missouri, either you or your wife (or both of you) must be a resident in the State of Missouri and must have lived in the state for at least 90 days, before the filing of the Petition. This action should be filed in the county where the petitioner resides. Whoever is filing for divorce should generally do so in the county in which they live. In some cases, a motion for a change of venue is a possibility.
Name of the Court and Title of the Action/Parties in Jefferson County
Here are a few key names for you to make note of. First is the Circuit Court, where the petition for the divorce is filed. The first action is called a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. The final action is called the Decree or Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage. Depending on which party is filing the divorce, you are either called the Petitioner (the party filing for divorce) or the Respondent (the one who gets served).
Legal Separation in Arnold, Missouri
Deciding to file for a divorce is difficult for many parties. For those individuals who may not yet be ready to take that big next step, there is another option for you. Missouri divorce laws state that parties may file for a legal separation when there is a reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved. Many of the guidelines remain the same, in regards to things like spousal maintenance, division of property, child support, etc. One or both of the parties must have resided within the State of Missouri for at least 90 days before filing this petition. You must consider all options and factors at hand before making any legally binding decisions when it comes to legal separation and dissolution because a legal separation can be converted into a divorce.
Spousal Maintenance in Jefferson County
According to Missouri divorce laws, the court may grant spousal maintenance to either party. This depends on a finding that the party that is seeking spousal maintenance is not able to support themselves and lacks sufficient property to provide for their own needs; or that the party that is seeking spousal maintenance is the guardian of a child whose condition is such that it would be inappropriate for that party to seek outside employment.
The court will take in and consider the following factors in ruling on the amount of spousal maintenance to be compensated:
- The time necessary for the spouse seeking support to acquire sufficient education or training
- The comparative earning capacity of each spouse
- The standard of living established during the marriage
- The obligations and assets of the marriage, both separate and marital
- The duration of the marriage
- The age, physical, and mental condition of the spouse seeking support
- The ability of the supporting spouse to meet both his needs and the needs of the spouse seeking support
- The conduct of the parties during the marriage
- Any other relevant factors
The order establishing spousal maintenance must also state whether the award is modifiable or non-modifiable. If the award is modifiable, the court may modify the award only upon a showing that the circumstances have changed so considerably as to make the terms unreasonable.
Distribution of Property in Arnold, Missouri
Missouri divorce laws call for an equitable distribution of assets. This means that the court will divide the marital property between the parties as it deems equitable and fair, after setting aside each party’s separate property. This essentially means that you get to keep what belongs to you (property you owned before the marriage) and all shared property (property you owned during the marriage) will be divided equally between you and your ex-spouse. The court will consider the following factors in dividing the property between the parties:
- The economic circumstances of the parties at the time of the division of property
- The contribution of each spouse to the marital estate
- The value of the non-marital property set apart for each spouse
- The conduct of the parties during the marriage
- Custodial arrangements for minor children
Child Custody in Jefferson County
Missouri courts will determine the issue of child custody based on the best interests of the child. A partial list of aspects that the court will consider in determining the best interests of the child include:
- The wishes of the parents, the need of the child for a frequent and meaningful relationship with both parents
- The interaction and interrelationship of the child with both the parents and any siblings
- The wishes of the child
Before awarding custody, the court shall first consider awarding joint physical and legal custody to both parents. If the court decides that joint physical and legal custody awarded to both parents is not in the best interests of the child, the court shall next consider joint physical custody, with one party being awarded sole legal custody. If that arrangement is also found to not be in the best interests of the child, the court shall next consider joint legal custody with one party granted sole physical custody. If that arrangement is not in the best interests of the child, the court would next consider sole custody to either parent or a third-party custody arrangement.
There will be no preference given to either party based upon the parent’s age, sex, or financial status, nor because of the age or sex of the child, in determining custody.
When custody of a child is at issue in a proceeding for dissolution of marriage the court shall order the parents to attend educational classes regarding the effects of custody and dissolution of marriage upon the children. The court may also order the parents to attend an alternative dispute resolution program to resolve any disputes regarding issues of custody or visitation.
Child Support in Arnold, Missouri
As with every other domestic issue, the court will determine the matter of child support. The court may order either or both parties to pay an equitable amount necessary to support their child or children. Under Supreme Court Rule 88.01 and Form 14, some of the factors the court will take into consideration while determining the amount of child support include:
- The financial needs and resources of the child
- The financial resources and needs of the parents
- The standard of living the child would have enjoyed had the marriage not terminated
- The child’s physical and legal custody arrangements
Legally, your liability to pay child support shall end upon the death of the child, the marriage of the child, the child entering active duty in the military, the child becoming self-sufficient, the child reaching eighteen (18) years of age, or, if the child is enrolled in a secondary school program of education when the child reaches the age of twenty-one (21) years of age.
You may also be required to provide health insurance for your child. In addition, if you were already paying for health insurance for your children and spouse before the divorce, you are obligated to continue paying for it from the time of filing until the divorce is final (meaning you cannot cancel health insurance for your children and spouse during the divorce proceedings).
Name Change in Jefferson County
A spouse may request a name change back to their former or maiden name. This request may be granted by the court upon the divorce.