Supreme Court Advisory Committee Determines Collaborative Law is Ethical in Missouri

On August 20, 2008 the Advisory Commitee of the Supreme Court of Missouri issued a formal opinion that the practice of Collaborative law, a form of practice where clients agree from the outset to settle their case out of court through negotiation rat… Read More
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Separate Property Not Transmuted to Marital Property: Recent Case

To show transmutation of separate property to marital property requires evidence of owner’s clear intent to contribute the property. Commingling is not enough. Wife’s contributions to Husband’s separate property did not transmute into marital p… Read More
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"Incomplete" Grades in College Later Completed With Passing Grades Do Not Terminate Child Support Obligation

The Missouri Court of Appeals for the Western District of Missouri has recently held that Incompletes, later completed with passing grades, count as college credit hours under statute determining continuation of child support obligation past the age… Read More
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What California's Same Sex Marriage Law Means to Missourians

As most people know, the California Supreme Court recently ruled that the state’s ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. So what does that mean for Missourians? In California, there were two statutes that said that a marriage is between… Read More
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Missouri Supreme Court Adopts New Requirements and Forms For Parties Not Represented by Counsel in Dissolution of Marriage, Paternity, Legal Separation, and Modification Proceedings

Effective yesterday, July 1, 2008, Supreme Court Rule 88.09 comes into effect which requires parties not represented by counsel to participate in a litigant awareness program that explains the risks and benefits of self representation, as well as req… Read More
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Why You Need a Divorce Lawyer

The Pennsylvania Family Law Blog had a great post yesterday about why you need a lawyer for your divorce case. The full article can be read here, and is summarized as follows: A good divorce lawyer is part lawyer, part psychologist and part clergy. A… Read More
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Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act (House Bill 1358) and the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (House Bill 1360), failed to pass during final week of 2008 legislative session

Two proposals by the Family Law Section of the Missouri Bar failed to pass in 2008. House Bill 1358 proposed to enact the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act. Missouri remains one of only four jurisdictions that has not adopted the Act… Read More
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Case Law Update: Favorable Judgment No Defense To Interest On Maintenance

Recent Case Summary Statute requires interest on maintenance not paid. Neither “good faith . . . reliance upon what [Obligor] understood to be a valid court order” that no interest was due, nor Obligee’s inconsistent theories on amo… Read More
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Should Your Child Have a "Gap Year" Before College

Princeton encourages it. Harvard’s a big fan. From Tufts to MIT, some of the most prestigious universities in the nation are urging students to consider something that would make most parents cringe: The idea of putting off college for a year in fa… Read More
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Recent Family Law Rulings From the Missouri Court Of Appeals

Circuit Court May Depart From Recommendations On Physical Custody Guardian ad litem and court-appointed therapist both recommended joint legal custody and supervised visitation for Father. Circuit Court followed the former but not the latter. When ev… Read More
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