St. Louis Divorce Lawyers
A couple generally does not decide to divorce easily. Following through with it is even more trying as the complexities become overwhelming.
Our St. Louis divorce lawyers are committed to guiding our clients and their families through the divorce process with the least amount of emotional trauma and turmoil possible. We do this while keeping the interests and future of the family as a top priority.
Our Divorce Law Services
Our legal practice is focused exclusively on family law. Our staff of experienced professionals has immense knowledge of all legal issues that can arise during a divorce. We have assisted hundreds of clients with:
- Mediation services
- Child custody, visitation, and support
- Alimony and spousal support
- Division of joint assets
- Complex property division
- Uncontested divorce
Filing for Divorce in St. Louis
Missouri Residency Requirements
For a divorce petition to be heard in a St. Louis court, at least one of the parties named must be a resident of Missouri. Armed services personnel must be stationed in the state for at least 90 days before the divorce may be filed.
Grounds for Divorce
The petitioner in a St. Louis divorce proceeding must also cite the grounds for seeking a dissolution of the marriage. The grounds for the divorce request will be that the marriage has been irretrievably broken and that there is no reason to believe it can be preserved. You may have heard of this also being referred to as irreconcilable differences.
If both parties agree that the marriage is indeed irretrievably broken, the judge presiding over the proceedings will accept that as grounds and grant the petition. If the other spouse disagrees, the petitioner may be asked to prove that the marriage is irretrievably broken and that there is no chance of reconciliation between the parties. In this case, the petitioner can present evidence of any of the following circumstances:
- Adultery
- Abandonment
- Voluntary Separation of One Year
- Involuntary Separation of Two Years
- Incompatibility
Our team of experienced divorce attorneys and aides assists our clients with these difficult decisions and helps them choose the most relevant grounds for their case. Amid so much emotional upheaval, it can be difficult for the petitioner to face these choices. Our team of considerate attorneys will be there to help see you through these rough times.
The Divorce Filing Process
The formal request for divorce in St. Louis is the petition for dissolution of marriage. This legal document states that you, the petitioner, wish to terminate your marriage to your spouse, the respondent. The process includes:
- Filing with the correct court
- Serving your spouse with the petition
- Waiting for a response within the allocated timeframe
- Resolving key issues (custody, support, property division)
- The final decree from the judge
Several issues may arise during divorce proceedings, including Custody and support of minor children and division of joint properties. Your divorce attorney will walk you through these issues and work to ensure they are resolved to your satisfaction.
The judge will grant the divorce once all the divorce issues have been resolved. There is no exact time frame, as every divorce proceeding has its own unique set of circumstances. After the judge has granted the divorce, the court will issue a legal document known as a Decree of Dissolution of Marriage. This document names both parties and states they are no longer legally bound by marriage.
Protecting Children During Divorce
The pending break-up of parents is particularly hard on the children who are still living at home. Our experienced family law team understands your family’s emotional challenges during this transition. We help parents create solutions that prioritize their children’s well-being while protecting parental rights, ensuring every decision puts their children’s needs first.
Understanding Child Custody in Missouri
Before finalizing your divorce, Missouri law requires the court to approve a comprehensive parenting plan. This crucial document will shape your children’s daily lives and relationships with both parents. Understanding the different types of custody arrangements is essential for making informed decisions about your children’s future.
Physical Custody Arrangements
Physical custody determines where your child lives and how time is divided between parents. The parenting plan will control your time with your children through specific schedules and arrangements, including:
- Weekend and holiday schedules
- Overnight arrangements
- Vacation time distribution
- Day-to-day care responsibilities
Joint Physical Custody
When parents can share time effectively, courts often award Joint Physical Custody. This arrangement works best when:
- Both parents live reasonably close to each other
- Parents can maintain cooperative communication
- Schedules allow for meaningful time with both parents
- Children can maintain stability between homes
Sole Physical Custody
In some cases, Sole Physical Custody may be more appropriate, particularly when parents live far apart, or other circumstances make equal time-sharing impractical. Even in sole-custody arrangements, the other parent typically maintains regular visitation rights to ensure an ongoing relationship with their children.
Legal Custody and Decision-Making
Legal custody addresses how parents make important decisions about their children’s upbringing. Missouri courts strongly favor Joint Legal Custody, which requires parents to collaborate on major decisions affecting their children.
Legal custody covers crucial decisions, including:
Medical Decisions
- Selection of a primary care physician
- Mental health evaluations and treatment
- Decisions about ADHD testing and treatment
- Approval for medical procedures
Educational Choices
- School selection and enrollment
- Decisions about Advanced Placement courses
- Special education services, if needed
- Extracurricular activity participation
Ready to Talk With a St. Louis Divorce Attorney?
Custody and parenting plan decisions can shape your family for years. If you have questions about how custody may work in your situation, we are here to help you understand your options.
Call us at (314) 801-8488 or reach out below to get started.
Types of Legal Custody
Joint Legal Custody
The courts strongly prefer this arrangement, where both parents share decision-making responsibilities. This requires:
- Regular communication between parents
- Mutual agreement on major decisions
- Ability to cooperate on the children’s behalf
- Shared responsibility for important choices
Sole Legal Custody
When parents struggle to communicate effectively, Sole Legal Custody might be necessary. In these cases:
- One parent receives primary decision-making authority
- The other parent maintains the right to stay informed
- Non-custodial parent receives updates about grades, medical appointments, and important events
- Information sharing remains required even without decision-making authority
Creating an Effective Parenting Plan
Developing a comprehensive parenting plan requires careful consideration of your children’s needs and practical realities. While these decisions can be challenging, reaching an agreement between parents typically leads to better outcomes than leaving decisions to the judge.
Your parenting plan should address the following:
- Detailed time-sharing schedules
- Holiday and vacation arrangements
- Communication protocols
- Decision-making processes
- Financial responsibilities
- Emergency procedures
Working Together for Your Children’s Future
Our family law team brings legal experience and genuine compassion to your custody case. We focus on reducing conflict while protecting your parental rights, helping you create arrangements that work for everyone involved. We aim to help you build a strong foundation for co-parenting that will serve your family well in the years ahead.
St. Louis Divorce Attorneys At Work
Hundreds of questions come to mind as the stark reality of divorce settles in. As a firm, we aim to help you find the answers to those questions and begin the next phase of your life as easily as possible. We are dedicated to providing our clients and their families with kind, personalized, and professional legal representation throughout the divorce process.
Speak With an Experienced Attorney
Our firm uses experience, good communication, and availability to help families navigate life-changing events.