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Welcome to the law office of Mark A. Wortman. Mark is a Kansas City divorce and family law attorney with over 23 years of experience. Because Mark focuses only on Missouri divorce and family law — and has put all of his experience in these areas — he has more knowledge and expertise in these areas than a general practice firm. He knows the law, the courts, and probably the opposing counsel. So he knows he can help you.
Mark is the author of the Missouri Divorce and Family Law Blog, which we welcome you to visit. The firm has provided all of the information on this website to be of help to you if you need assistance in a Missouri family law matter.
We work together to provide people going through one of life’s most difficult transitions with the guidance and support they need. We help you understand what to expect, explain your options and the legal process, and ensure that you know you’re not alone in the family law process. We’re at your side every step of the way.
No. If a person is unemployed or underemployed, the courts in the Kansas City area can and usually will "impute," or assign, an amount of income to that person, and require child support to be paid anyway. The court may be somewhat lenient in allowing the person time to become employed, but the position of almost every Kansas City area court is that a child requires financial support, and the parents must find income to satisfy the obligation.
If you have made all efforts to locate your spouse, and he or she cannot be found, Missouri courts will allow service by publication in lieu of personal service. This means that an notice is published in a local legal publication or newspaper for a period of 4 consecutive weeks, and if no response is filed, then the other party is deemed to be served, and a default divorce proceeding can then occur. However, it is very important to understand that the only thing the court can do is dissolve the marriage, and award custody of the children if jurisdiction is proper. The court cannot divide property, award spousal support, child support, attorney fees, or any other money judgment. Also, the Petitioner must sign an affidavit and testify as to the reasons the other spouse cannot be located, and the efforts made to locate them.
This is a difficult question to answer, as every case is different. It also depends on how the attorney charges the case. Uncontested divorce cases are almost always cheaper than contested cases, and fixed fee billing arrangements are almost always cheaper than hourly arrangements. To get a true cost of the case, you usually must meet with your divorce attorney and discuss all of the issues in the case. The complexity of the case a factor, as well as the cooperativeness and reasonableness of the parties. With our Kansas City law firm, we almost always utilize a tiered fixed fee billing arrangement, where all fees are clearly explained up front with no hidden charges or unexpected costs.
Your choice of family law firm can affect your whole future and that of your children. It’s important to work with a law firm that will give you the advice and support you need throughout the legal process, and a strong foundation for your life after your family law case.
Knowledge is power, and we believe that the more you know about family law, the better equipped you will be to make decisions in your case. Review our latest articles.
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