I Am a Stay at Home Mom Getting Divorced. Will My Husband Be Forced to Support Me?

I Am a Stay at Home Mom Getting Divorced. Will My Husband Be Forced to Support Me?

This is a common question that is posed to attorneys and likely to judges as well. It used to be that a stay at home mom getting divorced was told by her lawyer "do not go get a job, let's force this guy to pay you maintenance (alimony) and support you for the rest of...

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How to Interact and Communicate with Your Child’s Other Parent (After You Are No Longer Together)

There are often hard feelings between couples after they split up and their children can get caught in the cross fire.If you are one of those parents, this can make co-parenting extremely difficult and stressful, for both the parents and the kids. I got to sit in on a mediation a social worker was doing...

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The New Shared Custody Bill – How to Make It Work for You

The New Shared Custody Bill – How to Make It Work for You

Three years ago, Governor Jay Nixon signed into law a "Shared Parenting" bill, known as HB 1550, which basically stated that it is in a child's best interests to have both parents in his or her life. Now there is another that was discussed in the Missouri House and Senate over the past term, but...

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WHO WILL BE AFFECTED BY ST LOUIS COUNTY PROSECUTOR WESLEY BELL’S NEW CHILD SUPPORT POLICY AND WHAT CAN YOU DO?

WHO WILL BE AFFECTED BY ST LOUIS COUNTY PROSECUTOR WESLEY BELL’S NEW CHILD SUPPORT POLICY AND WHAT CAN YOU DO?

When Wesley Bell became prosecutor of St Louis County several weeks ago, he stated that one of his new policy changes is that the St Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's office would no longer criminally charge people if they fail to pay child support. His reason for this is that the non-paying parent is not making...

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Creating a strong and stable future for the children

Missouri parents who are walking through the divorce process are likely concerned with how the decisions they make will impact the mental and emotional well-being of their children. In order to minimize the negative impact and protect the kids, some parents choose to create their own parenting plan outside of court. An out-of-court parenting plan...

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THE STATE OF MISSOURI GETS AN “F” WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING WOMEN FROM BEING SHOT BY THEIR ABUSIVE HUSBANDS

THE STATE OF MISSOURI GETS AN “F” WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING WOMEN FROM BEING SHOT BY THEIR ABUSIVE HUSBANDS

How many times have we heard this story: a woman gets an Order of Protection against her abusive husband which excludes him from the house and orders that he not come near her. Then, a few days after the order is handed down by the judge, the guy goes to her home, work or her...

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Keep holiday stress to a minimum after divorce

Keep holiday stress to a minimum after divorce

You and your spouse made a mutual decision to divorce. You agreed that you would do your best to settle all child-related, property and other issues as amicably as possible in a Missouri court, even though there were issues that have prompted disagreement between you. You have no way of predicting the future; however, you...

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Child support payments may be used for a diverse range of costs

Taking care of a child is a difficult but rewarding endeavor. Aside from the emotional and physical issues that a child may have to confront throughout their life, they also have many basic day-to-day needs that must be taken care of to ensure that they can live a happy and safe life. In Missouri, custodial...

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Establishing paternity can open legal doors for a father

There are several ways that a Missouri man may be designated as the father of a child. If he is married to the child's mother at the time of the birth, then he may be presumed to be the father. He may also acknowledge that he is the father of a child by signing a...

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Money may not be a cure for all marital woes

Depending upon who you ask, money may be considered the greatest of goods or the cause of all evil in the world. For those who do not have enough money to make ends meet, the idea of having significant wealth may seem like a dream in which all of their concerns would melt away. However,...

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