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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.
This is a difficult question to answer, as every case is different. It also depends on how the attorney charges the case. Uncontested divorce cases are almost always cheaper than contested cases, and fixed fee billing arrangements are almost always cheaper than hourly arrangements. To get a true cost of the case, you usually must meet with your divorce attorney and discuss all of the issues in the case. The complexity of the case a factor, as well as the cooperativeness and reasonableness of the parties. With our Kansas City law firm, we almost always utilize a tiered fixed fee billing arrangement, where all fees are clearly explained up front with no hidden charges or unexpected costs.
Missouri is a modified no-fault divorce state. This means that fault or misconduct does not need to be proven to get the divorce itself. The only proof must be that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." However, this does not mean that misconduct is not relevant. A spouse's "fault" or misconduct during the marriage can be a factor supporting an unequal division of property in favor of one party, the award of attorney fees, or indirectly, the amount of spousal maintenance.
In Missouri, child support is calculated using the Form 14. The Form 14 is a formula generates a "presumed" amount of child support that the court will usually adopt. However, under the right circumstances, a Missouri Court can reject the Form 14 amount and order any other child support amount deemed appropriate. Also, the parties are free to agree to any amount of child support that they want, as long as the court believes that the children will be financially taken care of. The Form 14 calculation includes the following: incomes of the parties, other child support or maintenance orders, health insurance premiums, uninsured medical costs, daycare costs, extracurricular activity expenses, other extraordinary expenses, a credit for the number of overnights the non-custodial parent has, and other factors.
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.
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