Missouri Divorce & Family Law Blog
Staying informed is crucial when dealing with complex legal issues. Our blog provides insights and updates on Missouri divorce and family law, offering valuable information to help you navigate your case.
Attorney fee expenses cannot be considered part of reasonable monthly expenses in maintenance modification
February 22nd, 2015
Recent case: Attorney fees are not a substantial and continuing change in circumstances that supports a modification of maintenance, especially when the fees are for the modification case. Husband appeals the judgment modifying the divorce decree inc…
Read More
10 facts about divorce that every divorcing parent should consider
February 1st, 2015
The following points are from a recent article on today.com, published by a divorce mediator. If you are in the middle of a divorce or contemplating a divorce in Missouri, these are all excellent points to think about. 10 facts about divorce you shou…
Read More
Parenting plan must have written time schedule and address holidays
January 18th, 2015
Recent Case: Missouri parenting plans must have specific, written parenting time schedule and must address holidays. Mother appeals from a judgment entered in the Circuit Court of Atchison County dissolving her marriage to Father. Mother challenges t…
Read More
Trial court has the authority to enter a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) even after the death of the plan participant.
January 11th, 2015
Recent Case: Missouri Court of Appeals In a 2010 dissolution judgment, Husband and Wife agreed, per a separation agreement, that each would get one-half of Husband’s Anheuser-Busch pension “unless Wife remarries.” In 2011, Husband remarried. He…
Read More
Same Sex Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional in Missouri; Same Sex Couples Marry in Kansas City and St. Louis
November 9th, 2014
A federal judge in Kansas City ruled on Friday that Missouri’s ban on same-sex marriage violates the U.S. Constitution in a decision that would extend the right of gay couples to marry across Missouri. U.S. District Judge Ortrie Smith found tha…
Read More
Rule that a 20% change in child support amount grounds to modify does not apply if original amount was agreed deviation from Form 14
October 20th, 2014
Recent Case: Party seeking modification of previous agreed order must show that they cannot support the child in the manner contemplated at the time of the agreement. 20% rule does not apply. In a recent case from the Missouri Court of Appeals, Fathe…
Read More
Modified Child Support retroactive to personal service of the Motion
October 6th, 2014
Recent Case: Retroactive support can only go back to the date of service of the Motion, 20% change in child support amount is grounds for modification, child support can continue if child incapacitated. Father appeals the judgment and decree of modif…
Read More
Railroad Retirement benefits are partially marital property subject to division in Missouri divorce
September 20th, 2014
Recent case: Tier II railroad retirement benefits are marital property Husband appeals the circuit Court’s judgment dissolving his marriage to Wife. Husband contends that, among other things, that the Court misapplied the law in classifying as mari…
Read More
Inability to co-parent grounds for sole custody award; Guardian Ad Litem fees assessed to one party appropriate
September 9th, 2014
Recent Case: Parents’ inability to communicate, cooperate, and make shared decisions concerning their children’s welfare makes joint legal custody inappropriate. This case involved a motion to change custody from Mother to Father. The Court ultim…
Read More
Every child is entitled to a permanent and stable home
September 1st, 2014
Recent case: Termination of parental rights for failure to rectify When children are taken into protective care by the children’s division, the goal is to reunite the children and the parent(s). However, parental rights can ultimately be terminated…
Read More
Mark A. Wortman
Mark A. Wortman is a Missouri family law attorney who handles only divorce and family law matters within the state. Due to this specialty, Mark Wortman has handled thousands of Missouri divorce and family cases and has practiced extensively in front… Read More
