Menu
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.
Yes, you are always free to change attorneys and you can have any attorney you wish represent you. However, it is important to consider that changing attorneys in the middle of the divorce case will cost more money (since you are paying two attorneys), and depending on the stage of the proceeding, may directly affect the new attorney's ability to adequately represent you in the case. It is far better to choose the right attorney from the very beginning, but if a change is required, it is usually permitted by the court.
Child custody is divided into two categories in Missouri, legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody deals with decision making rights and responsibilities, whereas physical custody deals with who has the children and when. There is an overwhelming preference for joint legal and joint physical custody. Under a joint legal custody arrangement, both parents have an equal say regarding decisions for the children, such as education, healthcare, discipline, religion, and all other important decisions. Note that the day to day routine/care decisions are made by the parent who actually has physical custody at the time. In a joint physical arrangement, both parents share time on some sort of schedule, but that schedule is not 50/50 unless that is agreed by the parties. It is important to note that there are many different parenting schedules under a joint physical custody arrangement, and joint physical custody simply means that both parents have time with the children. There is no such thing as "full custody" in Missouri, although one parent will be designated for education and mailing purposes as the custodial parent. In limited circumstances, sole legal or sole physical custody can be awarded to one parent, which would exclude the other parent from decision making, physical parenting time, or both.
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.
View All Posts
© 2026 Mark A Wortman, Attorney at Law LC
| View Our Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
Law Firm Website Design by The Modern Firm
