St. Louis Uncontested Divorce Lawyer
We often hear stories of individuals looking to marry who first need to end a previous marriage with their estranged partner.
Divorce is often associated with stress, expensive fees, and shouting matches in front of judges. Recently, our office received multiple calls asking about uncontested divorces. As a result, your trusted St. Louis legal staff at The Betz Law decided to take a moment to discuss the advantages of an uncontested divorce.
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.
We often hear stories of individuals looking to marry who first need to end a previous marriage with their estranged partner. Both parties have long been ready to end an old chapter. An uncontested divorce allows for a smooth and affordable option for both parties. The process becomes expedited by removing questions about custody and property division. In fact, in the case of uncontested cases retained by our office, we charge a one-time, flat fee!
One might then think that a few signatures on a legal document would suffice to dissolve the union. As experienced uncontested divorce lawyers, we can tell you that it is never that easy. In St. Louis, it is generally not enough for both parties to seek a divorce. For a judge to consider an uncontested divorce, all marital issues during divorce proceedings, such as childcare and division of property, will have to be resolved.
Having handled hundreds of divorce petitions, we can tell you that an uncontested divorce involves a lot of paperwork. We handle most of that for you so that no accidental errors could prolong the process.
The Parenting Plan
Creating a parenting plan is the first hurdle for a divorcing couple in St. Louis. Our state’s family law system prioritizes children’s needs and safety. To that end, it wants to ensure that a parent’s decision to dissolve the marriage has a minimal effect on their children’s lives. It encourages joint physical and legal custody of minor children so both parents can remain active in their children’s lives.
For a parenting plan to be accepted by the St. Louis court, there must be specific criteria addressed:
- A specific schedule outlining visitation times for noncustodial parents. It should include information about who the holidays will be spent with, how school holidays will be handled, and the schedules for the children during the week and on weekends. A judge would also like to see provisions made for who the child will spend long-term school vacations. The time and place where the child will be picked up and an agreement regarding how those driving chores can be shared.
- Other forms of communication between the child and noncustodial parent should be arranged, such as phone calls and e-mails. You and your parenting partner should also detail a plan for when one parent needs to change a part of the visitation schedule.
- An agreement regarding how legal custody of the child will be handled. St. Louis family court judges prefer to see joint legal custody of minor children in a parenting plan. The plan should have an outline for educational decisions and a method for both parents to receive important notifications. It should also discuss how any health care decisions should be made, including the selected doctors and a plan in case of a medical emergency. How will both parents determine seemingly inconsequential day-to-day decisions like extracurricular activities and childcare? Most important in this section is a plan to solve disputes concerning the best interest of your child if they should arise.
- If you and your spouse try to simplify this by suggesting that one parent will be responsible for all decisions in the child’s life, you must outline why joint legal custody is inappropriate.
- Your agreement for child support is also included in the parenting plan. In addition to the agreed-upon amount to be paid, you must confirm that you include who will provide health insurance for the children and how any additional expenses not covered by insurance will be paid. Educational expenses, childcare costs, and a provision for how a major, unexpected expense shall be addressed need to be addressed.
Division of Assets and Debts
In addition to the detailed parenting plan, the judge will want to see that the couple has reached an amicable agreement regarding the division of marital property and any accumulated debt the couple may have. When making these decisions, bear in mind that marital property includes all assets acquired during the course of the union, regardless of whose name may appear on the title or deed. The only exceptions are gifts made by someone other than your spouse or an inheritance.
You and your spouse must also examine your acquired debt and decide who will be responsible for each one. This will include mortgages, car payments, and credit card bills. Utility bills are not considered debt and do not need to be part of the agreement.
Spousal Support
One last item that should be covered in your uncontested divorce petition is the provision for spousal support, if any. Spousal support is not mandatory in St. Louis and, therefore, not a requirement for an uncontested divorce.
St. Louis Uncontested Divorce Attorney’s at Work
With our help, expecting an uncontested divorce petition to be granted in a relatively short period is not unreasonable. We can file your paperwork if you and your spouse can work together and use our experience as a guide. Hopefully, you and your spouse will be granted your dissolution of marriage without ever needing to enter a courtroom.
Speak With an Experienced Attorney
Our firm uses experience, good communication, and availability to help families navigate life-changing events.
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