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.
David Betz was great to work with. He was patient, listened carefully, and was able to make non-biased, rational recommendations that both parties would agree to. I could tell he has a lot of mediation experience as he cut right through the emotional vomit and laid out the facts. His wisdom greatly expedited a resolution to my case and avoided a costly trial. I would highly recommend the Betz Law Firm to anyone seeking a sensible, professional mediation experience.
Unfortunately, I found myself in a difficult situation and in need of mediation; Mr. Betz stepped up with only a moments notice. My previous experience with mediation was horrific, and I was very pleasantly surprised by the experience with Mr. Betz. His calm demeanor and efficiency was greatly appreciated, not to mention his willingness to step into an unknown situation and make it better, so very thankful.
I experienced a very difficult divorce process 6 years ago. There's no need to get into the details, but calling it difficult is quite an understatement. My now former spouse had unlimited funds for attorney's fees, and I did not. The whole process took 20 months from start to finish.
My primary concern was for the future of both children. David made his decisions on facts and what he believed to be best for the kids. He did an incredible job of remaining objective amidst all the distractions and what I'll call the antics of the other three attorneys, yes, three attorneys employed by the opposing side at different times during the 20 months.
David's recommendations to the judge never wavered from what was best for the kids. I am writing this review now because I can definitely state that David's recommendations were what was best for the kids. The kids are now 17 and 15, and they are thriving. Yes, I did my part as a parent, but I would never have had the chance to do so without the intelligence and integrity of David. He has the right combination of life experience, courage, and intelligence to earn the trust of anyone representing their children. I cannot say enough good things about David's commitment to being an exemplary GAL.
I will close by saying that I am a paramedic and have been for a long time. Paramedics judge each other on whether we would want a particular paramedic working on our children in an emergency. Using that benchmark, I trust David to work on behalf of my kids, and if you have the opportunity to have David represent your children, you can trust him to advocate for the most vulnerable individuals in a divorce who need protection the most.
I contacted the Betz Law Firm to handle changing my name this year.
The firm was very professional and returned my inquiry quickly. I worked with Debbye and she handled everything with accuracy and kindness.
Everything was handled quickly and easily. Debbye displayed her excellent knowledge of the process as she walked me through everything. Overall, they took great care of me. Truly a white glove experience! I cannot recommend Betz highly enough and will be back to any future legal needs.
Attorney David Betz was appointed Guardian ad Litem to represent my minor child during a highly contested divorce proceeding. Attorney Betz developed a structured and safe plan during the proceeding and recommended a final arrangement that was in the best interest of my minor child to keep him protected and ensure his safety.
David was very helpful and respectful all around. He took the time to hear my Son’s concerns and made him feel comfortable sharing these concerns. He was always on time and ready to handle our case, always prepared. I appreciate that, to me it shows that he really does care about the families he’s helping. I highly recommend him if you are considering a GAL for your case.
I appreciate Mr. Betz taking the time and effort to get to know everyone, especially including by being a part of depositions, and helping to facilitate an opportunity for us to move forward amicably in a co-parenting dynamic. I would recommend him.
I have known David for many years, working on cases and outside of work. He is a fantastic advocate, has high standards, is well respected and sticks to his principles. He gets the struggles parents can face raising kids these days. I really admire his courage and how he fights to make a positive difference in people's lives, especially for his clients.
The Betz law firm did an amazing and efficient job executing on my non-contested divorce. My ex drug his feet and the law firm kept on him and even was prepared to go forward with a non-response judgement. My ex responded the day before we went for a non-responsive judgement and agreed, finally. The judge signed off within the week and I was notified via email that my divorce was final a few days prior to receiving the email. I never had to go to their office or to court to face my ex. From start to finish, this took 6 months almost to the day. Again, my ex drug his feet, this could have probably gone faster. Thank you Debbye Laskey for keeping the paperwork straight and to Mr. Betz for the legal components.
Mr. Betz is an exceptional attorney who has been an advisor for me and represented many of my clients. He is well respected within the legal community and trusted by all.
David and his team are excellent to work with. The care, expertise, along with the ease and frequency of communications always kept me well informed and aware of the status of my situation. I cannot recommend The Betz Law Firm enough and I won’t hesitate to call them again in the future if I ever require their services again.
Mr Betz worked with both of us for us with our mediation, no matter how frustrating she was becoming. He handled the situation very calmly and professionally. Thank you for helping it come to a resolution.
I have worked with Mr. Betz a number of times and have always found him to be a wonderful GAL and mediator. He does the work, gets things done, and cares about the tasks and people involved. I highly recommend him as both a GAL and mediator.
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.
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!
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!
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 offers a smooth, affordable option for both parties. The process becomes expedited by removing questions about custody and property division. In fact, for 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 the divorce proceedings, such as child custody and division of property, must 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 can 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 children will spend the holidays with, how school holidays will be handled, and the children’s schedules 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 with. 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 adjust 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 health care decisions should be made, including the selection of doctors and a plan for a medical emergency. How will both parents determine seemingly inconsequential day-to-day decisions, such as extracurricular activities and childcare? Most important in this section is a plan to resolve disputes concerning your child’s best interests 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 child support agreement is also included in the parenting plan. In addition to the agreed-upon amount to be paid, you must confirm 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 on the division of marital property and any accumulated debt. 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 Attorneys 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.
Need Help with an Uncontested Divorce in St. Louis?
If you and your spouse are in agreement and want to move forward, The Betz Law Firm can guide you through the process from start to finish. We handle the paperwork, help you avoid errors that can cause delays, and charge a one-time flat fee for qualifying uncontested cases.
SaveFrequently Asked Questions About Uncontested Divorce in St. Louis, MO
An uncontested divorce means both spouses agree on all major issues—such as property division, debt allocation, child custody, and support—without needing a court to decide. In St. Louis, if you and your spouse can settle these matters amicably, you can often finalize your divorce more quickly and with less expense compared to a contested case.
Under Missouri law, at least one spouse must have been a resident of the state (or stationed in Missouri as a member of the military) for at least 90 days before filing. For St. Louis residents, ensure you meet this timeframe so the circuit courts have jurisdiction over your case.
In general, an uncontested divorce in Missouri can be finalized in as little as 30 days after filing, assuming all paperwork is in order and there are no delays. In St. Louis, timelines can vary depending on the court’s caseload and whether any unexpected disputes arise.
Costs can vary based on attorney fees, filing fees, and whether you need additional services (like mediation). However, uncontested divorces are generally more affordable than contested cases because they require fewer court appearances and less legal work.
While it is possible to file for an uncontested divorce without an attorney, having a St. Louis divorce lawyer can help ensure your paperwork is accurate, you understand your rights, and the terms of your settlement are fair. A lawyer can also help avoid costly mistakes that might arise if issues go unaddressed.
Missouri’s ethical rules generally do not allow one attorney to represent both spouses due to potential conflicts of interest. However, one spouse can hire a lawyer to draft documents while the other remains unrepresented—though the unrepresented spouse should still seek independent legal advice to protect their interests.
For most uncontested divorces, only minimal court appearances — or none at all — may be required—especially if all documents are properly filed, and both parties have agreed to the terms. In some cases, you may need to attend a brief hearing in front of a judge to finalize the divorce.
As long as both parents agree on a parenting plan, including custody schedules and child support, custody arrangements can be part of an uncontested divorce. The court will review the plan to ensure it serves the child’s best interests, but will typically approve it if both parents are in agreement.
Yes. Even with larger or more complex asset portfolios, a divorce can remain uncontested if you and your spouse agree on how to divide all property, debts, and retirement benefits. A detailed Marital Settlement Agreement will outline the specifics to help finalize your uncontested case.
Absolutely. Couples sometimes start with disagreements but ultimately reach a settlement on all issues through negotiation or mediation. Once both spouses are fully in agreement on all terms, the divorce can be converted to an uncontested matter, reducing the need for further litigation.
