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.
Domestic Support Obligations and Bankruptcy
October 29th, 2008
With so many people facing bankruptcy in the current climate, it may be good news to know (depending on which side you are on, of course) that the bankruptcy does not allow a person owing a domestic support obligation to use bankruptcy as a way to av…
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Missouri Child Support Guidelines and Case Law: Part 1 - Gross Income, Overtime, and Bonuses
October 23rd, 2008
For the purposes of calculating child support in Missouri, the Form 14 calculation is used. The starting point is the Gross Income of the parties. So, what does that include and what exactly does it mean? The following is a summary of the official co…
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New Missouri Child Support Guidelines Take Effect January 2009
October 10th, 2008
On October 8, 2009 the Supreme Court of Missouri issued an order repealing the current child support guidelines and the formula for calculating the child support amount (Civil Procedure Form 14); and ordered new child support guidelines to take effec…
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Categories: Child Support
Divorce and Bankruptcy: When families are facing both, which should come first?
September 28th, 2008
In this time of economic downturn, I am seeing quite a few people filing for divorce who have substantial debt problems, and many are considering, or needing, to file for bankruptcy. This is especially true considering that a large number of those co…
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Parent Must Show Change In Circumstances Before Best Interests of Child, Statutory Factors, in Sole Custody Switch
September 22nd, 2008
Findings are not required under 452.375 (custody statute) where the trial court has determined that the party seeking to change a custody order has failed to satisfy the required burden of proof. The required findings under 452.376 do not come into p…
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Supreme Court Advisory Committee Determines Collaborative Law is Ethical in Missouri
August 24th, 2008
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…
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Separate Property Not Transmuted to Marital Property: Recent Case
August 12th, 2008
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…
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"Incomplete" Grades in College Later Completed With Passing Grades Do Not Terminate Child Support Obligation
July 18th, 2008
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…
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Categories: Child Support
What California's Same Sex Marriage Law Means to Missourians
July 12th, 2008
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…
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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
July 2nd, 2008
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…
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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
