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.

Missouri Supreme Court Increases Maximum Child Support Overnight Credit

The Missouri Supreme Court has recently issued an order that, effective, January 1, 2012, increases the maximum allowable Form 14 child support overnight credit to 50%. Specifically, on the Form 14, which is Missouri’s child support calculation… Read More

December Courts Bulletin: Recent updates in Missouri Case Law

Value of a closely-held corporation must be as fair market value and application of a calculation of value via a buy-sell agreement not related to fair market value is error. Wood v. Wood, No. 96218 (Mo. App. W.D., November 29, 2011), Romines, J. Thi… Read More

Courts Bulletin: Recent developments in Missouri Family Law

Administrative child support orders are available for the support of all eligible children, including children of citizens of other countries. Lajeunesse v. State of Missouri Department of Social Services, No. 73477 (Mo. App. W.D., October 4, 2011),… Read More

Case Law Update: No Prejudice from Deficient Relocation Notice

Missouri statute requires that a parent relocating with a child give notice to the other parent. Receipt of notice starts the 30 day time limit to file a motion to bar the relocation. A deficient notice does not, alone, provide grounds to modify cust… Read More

Spousal Maintenance (Alimony) in Missouri: When Granted, Duration, Termination, Modifcation.

Spousal maintenance, formerly known as alimony, can be awarded to either spouse in Missouri divorces. To support the award, the Court must find that the spouse seeking maintenance (1) lacks sufficient property, including marital properly awarded, to… Read More

Recent case: Forum under Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act and in personam jurisdiction

www.courts.mo.gov/file.jspMissouri Constitution provides subject matter jurisdiction of circuit courts. The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act provides comity among states and determines which state is the most appropriate forum for seeking remed… Read More

Characterization of Property in Divorce - Increases in Value of Non-Marital Assets only Marital to Extent of Marital Contributions

Under Missouri Law, certain property is considered to be non-marital, and not part of the division of the marital estate in a divorce proceeding. Non-marital property includes property: Acquired before the marriage; Acquired by gift or inheritance; A… Read More

Property Not Owned by Spouses Cannot Be Divided in Divorce

The Circuit Court does not have authority to divide assets that are not owned by either spouse in a dissolution of marriage. In a recent Missouri case, the trial court entered a judgment that divided certain trusts where the children were the sole be… Read More

When Attorney Fees Can Be Awarded in Divorce/Family Litigation

While Missouri courts normally follow the “American Rule” regarding legal fees – that each party is responsible for his or her own costs – Missouri dissolution of Marriage statutes give the court the discretion to order one party to contribut… Read More

Order Requiring Parents to Share in Unlimited Expenses is Unenforcable

A dispute that Missouri family law attorneys see on a regular basis is the sharing of children’s extracurricular activity expenses. Under Missouri law, the Court can require parents to share certain expenses, over and above the monthly child suppor… Read More