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Multi-State Family Law Lawyers at Stange Law Firm

MULTI-STATE FAMILY LAW ATTORNEYS & LAWYERS HERE TO HELP YOU REBUILD YOUR LIFE
 

Stange Law Firm, PC, is dedicated exclusively to the practice of family law. We handle only family law matters, which gives us the in-depth knowledge to handle even the most complex, sophisticated, and serious family law issues for our clients.  Our attorneys have received numerous awards and accolades for divorce and family law as outlined in their biographies.

Regardless of serious matters, we encourage our clients to be cool-headed and stable. This can be not easy when so much is at stake, but our clients can trust that we will act boldly to protect their rights. We advocate effectively for our clients so that they can focus on what matters most — taking care of their families.

We handle matters related to all facets of divorce and separation, as well as the division of property and debt, and family violence. We are also well equipped to handle the complex financial matters that often affect families in a high-asset divorce.

We also handle many other family law matters, including but not limited to:

Dissolution of Marriage
Unfortunately, there are times when a marriage is irretrievably broken and a divorce is the only option. We can help with your uncontested, contested, simple or complex divorce case.
Legal Separation
There are some instances where married parties are separated, but are unsure whether their marriage can be reconciled or may later need to be dissolved. We can help with a legal separation if this is the case.
Annulment
In certain circumstances, a party may be able to seek an annulment if there are circumstances that led to a party being fraudulently induced into entering a marriage.
Collaborative Law/Mediation
If you are looking for an amicable resolution to your divorce or family law matter, we have attorneys who can help you with a collaborative family law case or mediation.
Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
These agreements help couples make critical decisions about their relationships, just in case. While prenuptial agreements are drafted before a marriage, postnuptial agreements are drafted during the marriage, usually when circumstances change.
Paternity
With approximately forty-percent of all children being born out of wedlock, we represent numerous unmarried parents in child custody and child support disputes. These cases are the twenty-first century divorce and extremely common.
Guardianships and conservatorships
We also represent clients in matters of guardianships and conservatorships, helping them protect the people they love — especially when those people can no longer care for themselves. Our work in this area often involves people facing physical and mental illnesses, alcoholism and addiction.
Surrogacy Agreements
We can help clients negotiate surrogacy agreements, drafting and executing all related documents as well as resolving any conflicts that may arise.
Step-parent adoption
We represent parents in step-parent adoptions, which usually occur when a parent marries or remarries after the birth of a biological child. Step-parent adoptions help bring families closer together by creating a solid family unit.
Adoption
We are honored to represent clients who wish to adopt a child into their family.
Minor emancipation
In some cases, minors do best when they are given the rights and responsibilities of adults. We assist in minor emancipation, representing both teens and their parents.
Grandparents' rights
Lawyers at our firm also handle grandparents' rights issues such as child custody, guardianship and grandparent adoption
Appeals
We represent parties in appeals of adverse family court judgments, including divorce, child custody, child support, maintenance and grandparent visitation.
Child Support
We represent clients in matters involving child support.
Child Custody
We represent parents in child custody disputes.
Juvenile Matters
We represent parties in juvenile matters involving the Division of Family Law Services.
Modifications
We assist clients in modifying prior child custody and child support judgments when the facts call for it.
Contempt
We help clients in contempt of court matters as well as family access motions .
Military Divorce
We are proud to represent service members in divorce and family law matters.
Name Change
If you are seeking to legally change your name, we can help.
Orders of Protection
We can help you in legal proceedings involving restraining orders.

What is Family Law?

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 assist their clients through this difficult process. Family law practice may involve any of the following topics:

The Divorce Process

Divorce is the process of breaking the bonds of marriage. When parties get married, they form a legal relationship. If they decide they would no longer like to be a part of this relationship, they must file the necessary paperwork with the courts.

The rules and procedures may vary based on the state in which the divorce is being filed. 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 its own guidelines for dividing assets and debts in a divorce, but most states have similar rules. In most cases, the court looks to make an equitable division of the assets. This doesn’t necessarily mean dividing the assets is equal for both parties. The court can look at 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

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 before a trial. However, some cases involving contested divorces, high assets, and other factors may have to go to trial.

Maintenance and Spousal Support

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 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 jointly accumulated. The court also considers the parties’ age and 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 for them to be able to reach the best possible result.

Pre and Post-nuptial Agreements

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. Some matters 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 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

Child custody is one of family law’s most deliberated and emotional areas. When it comes to the custody of the child, most states base their decisions on the child’s best interests. The court considers 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.

The court will usually follow this agreement if the parents can establish a parenting plan. 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, the 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 applicable in the particular local jurisdiction.

Legal and Physical Custody

Most states divide custody into legal custody and physical custody. Physical custody is who 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. Some states, like Illinois, however, refer to physical custody as parenting time, while legal custody is the allocation of parental responsibilities.

Family lawyers must 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

Children have the right to support from both of their parents. The purpose of child support is to provide the child with 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.

Each state has its 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 childcare 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 that child support is fairly and accurately calculated. If the other parent 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 accused of abuse or neglect, or they might even represent a child.

When family lawyers represent clients in abuse and neglect proceedings, they are working to help defend their clients 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 law attorneys work hard to advocate for their clients when the state seeks to terminate those rights.

Do I Need An Aggressive Family Lawyer?

Sometimes, individuals indicate that they want an aggressive family lawyer to represent them in their case. The reality is that aggression is rarely persuasive to a family court judge. What most clients should seek in a family law attorney is somebody who zealously represents their interests and provides competent, communicative, and diligent representation.

What About the Cost?

Some clients have questions about the cost of their divorce and family law matters. For individuals with questions about this, please read our FAQ page.

From our webpage, you can also read articles about family law, view informational videos, and seminar videos, listen to our podcast, download our mobile application, or view child support calculators for Missouri, IllinoisKansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Indiana.

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If you looking to find and hire a family lawyer, contact us online or by phone to schedule a confidential consultation at any of our convenient locations.

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Prenuptial Agreements Line by Line

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Stange Law Firm, PC

120 S. Central Avenue, Suite 450

St. Louis (Clayton), Missouri 63105

Toll Free: 855-805-0595
Fax: 314-963-9191
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