A St. Louis Divorce Lawyer
In a divorce, all property and debt of the couple must be divided and awarded to
one of the spouses. Maintenance, also known as alimony or spousal support, is
also considered. If the parties have children under the age of 18 (minor children),
custody and child support must be considered.
Martha Moran – A Missouri Divorce Attorney
Minimal conflict divorce:
When a couple has already decided how their property and debt will be divided, and arranged custody matters, we help clients resolve their case on their own. Some couples in these circumstances work with a mediator to resolve the issues in their divorce. A mediator cannot legally file a divorce or represent a party in court, and the parties usually hire attorneys to finalize a mediated case.
Traditional divorce:
When a divorce is filed, one party files a petition for dissolution and the other party typically files an answer and counter-petition. Both parties to the divorce file financial statements. The parties continue work toward settlement of the issues in their divorce. The attorneys may subpoena documents to obtain information they need to consider the issues in the case. If the two parties are not able to resolve their case between themselves or with the help of their attorneys, there may be settlement conferences with the judge, where the judge will offer his or her input into the resolution of the issues. If the parties cannot reach a settlement, they may have no choice but to set their case for trial. Very few cases reach the point of going to trial.
We have represented clients in complex divorce litigation involving children, retirement, and investment accounts.
Custody in divorce cases:
In Missouri, the Court determines the rights of parents with respect to Legal Custody and Physical Custody. If two parents are unable to come to an agreement on how much time each parent should have with the child(ren), the attorneys can work together to come to an agreement. If parties cannot reach an agreement, the case will proceed to trial, where the Judge will decide the schedule. Martha can be your advocate throughout these negotiations and proceedings, and ensure that you put your best foot forward and achieve an outcome that fits you and your children’s needs.
Child support in divorce cases:
Both parents have an obligation to support their children. We help clients establish reasonable child support arrangements that meet the needs of both children and parents. We have helped families with children with exceptional needs and require unique child support agreements.
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