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.
I hired the services of David Betz for purposes of getting a name change and him and his paralegal Debbye were professional, answered emails promptly, and were able to handle a complication in my case with no problems. Would highly recommend Mr. Betz.
Mr. Betz is a knowledgeable and helpful straight shooter who truly cares about kids! Highly recommend.
The Betz Law Firm assisted my son with legally changing his name. They were extremely easy to work and very helpful!!!
David Betz and Debbye Lasky were both wonderful to work with and accomplished what I needed done.
David was very professional and helpful for our child during a recent litigation. I would highly recommend his firm for GAL service or attorney service!
Fair Guardian Ad Litem who has walked a tightrope of a custody case
I was very impressed with Mr. Betz’s service. He was the GAL for my children. He was very professional, fair-but-caring and advocated tireless for the children’s best interests. He took his time to talk to them about their wishes, giving us sound advice and guided us through an otherwise contentious process. I appreciated his professionalism, ethics and would highly recommend him.
My son and I have worked with David Betz for several years in custody matters concerning my grandson. I have found him to be genuinely concerned with our situation and responsive to our needs. He listens carefully and handles matters promptly. He is realistic in evaluating situations and helps us to arrive at the best possible alternatives. I highly recommend him for family law matters.
I am a transfeminine nonbinary person that used The Betz Firm to get my name changed. They were extremely affirming, and excited to work with me through this as it was an immensely huge deal for me. Thank you Betz Firm, for making this a reality for me!
Joel and David are extremely helpful and helped with everything I needed. They are kind and worked with me with all of my needs regarding my case! I would recommend to everyone!
David was phenomenal in helping me secure protection and safety for myself and my daughter during the divorce and custody case. We ultimately prevailed at the end with 100% custody and a judgement in favor of the petitioner for support, with heavy stipulations in place for visitation. David by your side in the courtroom is a sure fire win. Place your bets on Betz!
David was super helpful in getting all of my questions answered. He was kind and patient while I explained the situation I was dealing with, and outlined numerous options and avenues that I had as choices. He didn't sugar coat things and was honest where he thought struggles would appear in the case, and talked through best and worst case scenarios. He also was nice enough to offer additional phone calls if more questions came up while choosing how to move forward with the case. I would highly recommend talking to David about your case if you need a family lawyer, as it's obvious that he is kind, and extremely knowledgeable about family law and the complications it can involve.
The Betz Firm has handled all of our family law needs. They are an impressive team to work with and they have the ability to find the best solution for their clients.
I have all the world to say about this man. He helped me piece my life back together.
David Betz took the time to answer all of my questions and was very kind, thoughtful, considerate, and most importantly of all knowledgeable. I very much appreciated his time and help!
The staff is very professional and friendly and comforting to their clients (the children). They definitely put us all at ease during an uncomfortable time.David himself is very easy to talk to, and both of my kids really liked him. I am very impressed with their involvement in our case. He has been easy to work with and good at getting back to us in a timely manner with issues regarding our case.I would highly recommend his office to anyone in need of legal help for their children.10 months later...I wanted to add, we have been in this case for 22 months and it’s about to wrap up. David has been amazing. My 16 year old daughter had kind of lost her faith in the system and in adults - David really worked with her and helped hold her accountable, but also gave her a voice, great advice, and really won her over. She really trusts him. When she was struggling, she would ask to call David. When I was struggling with her, I would threaten to call David and she would become more agreeable. She really trusts and respects him. Which for me, takes a unique skill set. Not everyone can get an unhappy teen to comply and also still keep their trust and respect. My son loved David too. Both kids looked forward to our apts with David. Which when you are fighting a child support/ custody case and your drained, it’s so nice to have parts of the process be so easy and helpful. And that’s what we got from David and his staff.David has offered to be available if he can help after the case with questions or getting a teenager in line. They were understanding and more than fair with my payment options. Joel, his assistant- is a joy to talk to and prompt to respond and he chatted with the kids and put them at ease in a very uncomfortable situation. I can’t say enough good things about them.We drive past their office every day on the way to school and my daughter said she wanted to stop by and take David a Christmas present. That’s pretty impressive for a 16 year old.They really made a very unbearable situation so much better; David even made us smile and laugh during a very nerve wracking time.I would highly recommend them to anyone. Definitely 5 plus stars!
David helped me successfully navigate through a challenging legal scenario, where timely direction and counsel were paramount to a positive outcome. He quickly understood the issues at hand, provided very practical advice, all the while demonstrating his firm understanding of the law. Just as importantly, his advice was grounded in how the practical application of that knowledge would lead to a positive outcome. He was easy to talk with, a focused listener, honest, and it was obvious that he was not out for his own gain. It was nothing short of a positive experience from start to finish!
I retained David Betz for my divorce and very happy with how things turned out. David and his team went straight to work and kept me updated every step of the way. If you looking for someone to get the job done, then look no further. Thank You David and Joel for all you have done for me!!
I felt comfortable with David and was always treated with respect and listened to.
Such a great experience working with David. He truly was looking after my child's best interest and that's what it's all about. But he also was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and explained everything so that even my 7 year old could understand. Well done.
David is a great person and lawyer. He was on top of the situation instantly also very professional. I would recommend him to anyone that wants not only a lawyer but a friend he listened to my concerns and took action thats what I like about him. Thanks David ! My life is forever changed !
David actually cared and unlike most attorneys, did not try to take as much as possible. I am satisfied and got everything I needed.
David Betz is professional and is very to the point! He knows the law and helps to get you a fair deal. He helped me get 50 percent custody of my kids and my home back from my ex. His staff are very knowledgeable and helpfully as well! I highly recommend him to anyone going though a custody battle!
I was in a very tough spot legally with a family situation. David was able to help me out and I got much more than I ever expected from the court. I give David the highest possible rating!!! He will do what is necessary to help you with your family law situation.
David Betz is very kind and will answer any questions you have regarding your case in a timely manner. I highly recommend him.
Really listened and provided solid advice and assistance. Always made himself available and never rushed our meetings. He really cared about our outcome, I felt like a friend rather than a client. A great attorney and true professional.
Our legal practice is focused exclusively on family law. It comprises a staff of experienced professionals with immense knowledge of all the legal issues that can arise during a divorce. Hundreds of clients have been assisted with the problems of child custody, visitation, and support, as well as alimony, division of joint assets, and much more.
Obtaining a Divorce in St. Louis
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.
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 any longer. 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 has been irretrievably broken and there is no chance of reconciliation between the two 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.
How a Divorce Petition is Filed in St. Louis County
The formal request for a divorce in St. Louis is the petition for dissolution of marriage. It is a legal document stating that you, the petitioner, would like to terminate your marriage with your spouse, the respondent. The divorce attorney in charge of your case will ensure it is filed with the correct court.
After the dissolution of marriage paperwork has been filed with the court, they will serve your spouse, the respondent, with a copy of the petition. They will be allocated a time frame in which to respond.
Several issues 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.
Once all the divorce issues have been resolved, the judge will grant the divorce. There is no exact time frame, as every divorce proceeding has its own unique set of circumstances. After the judge has agreed to give the divorce, the court will create 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.
Minor Children in Divorce Proceedings
The pending break-up of parents is particularly hard on the children who are still living at home. Our firm is aware of the delicate nature of proceedings when children are involved and strives to help both parties reach a decision that first serves the children’s needs.
In divorce proceedings involving minor children’s custodial rights, the presiding judge will ask to see a parenting plan before granting the petition. The agreement made by both parties regarding the physical Custody, visitation, and financial support should be outlined clearly. Our firm has prepared many parenting plans, and we can help prepare yours. As difficult as these decisions may be, it is in all the party’s best interests to reconcile these issues on their own. Otherwise, any unresolved issues will be decided by the presiding judge.
Divorce with Children:
Ensuring the health and welfare of your children is your priority. Helping you achieve custody goals to do just that is our priority. You will be exposed to two custody terms during your divorce: Physical Custody (Sole or Joint) and Legal Custody (Sole or Joint).
Physical Custody is most easily explained as how much time or how many overnights a parent has with their child or children. The parenting plan will control your time with your child or children, whether you call it Sole Physical Custody or Joint Physical Custody. This parenting plan will determine whether it’s “your weekend” or not, how many overnights per year you have, etc. When one parent has the majority of custody time with a child or children, the characterization of Sole Physical Custody is applied. When the parents each have substantial periods of Custody, the term Joint Physical Custody is used.
Legal Custody is essentially the legal authority to make decisions that affect your child or children regarding medical issues, school issues, and others, but these are the big ones.
- Who will their doctor be? Should your child or children get tested for ADHD? Should they have a particular procedure performed? These are some medical issues for which legal custody gives a parent authority to decide.
- Where will your child go to school? Which classes does your child take? Should they play football? Should your daughter take Advanced Placement courses? What about extracurricular activities? These are some school issues for which legal custody gives a parent authority to decide.
Sole Legal Custody: If you do not feel your spouse will effectively communicate and jointly make these decisions with you, you may wish to pursue sole legal Custody. The other parent would still have the legal right to be informed of these matters, e.g., school grades, doctor visits, etc., but you would have the sole legal authority to decide the issues.
Joint Legal Custody: The Courts favor parents sharing joint legal Custody. This would obligate both parents to confer and reach a consensus on these issues. In other words, you must agree on changes in school or doctors, summer camp, etc.
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 with as much ease 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.
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