What is considered marital property in Missouri?

Many Missouri couples live by the phrase, "What's yours is mine, and what's mine is yours." That is to say, they are willing to share what they have with their partners and expect that what their partners have is also available for their use. However, this collective interpretation of martial property may not be an...

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In divorce, protecting financial well-being is fundamental

RIF is an acronym many in Missouri may be familiar with. It stands for Reading is Fundamental. The organization got its start 50 years ago as a way to improve childhood literacy by getting books into the hands of kids. It promotes the idea that reading is "fun" on one hand, and essential to overall...

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Changing Insurance after Divorce

Divorce is a challenging period of emotional highs and lows. It’s a significant change that presents both freedom and rejection, not to mention the physical assets and property division that are a key part of the process. Sorting through real estate, child custody, retirement plans and savings accounts is difficult but, with the physical property...

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Shared parenting bill is best for families

This is a reprint of an article written by Linda Reutzel for the June 7, 2016 issue of the St Louis Post Distpatch. In a future blog post I will discuss how this new change to Missouri Law will actually work.  At its core, the shared parenting bill that overwhelmingly passed the Missouri Legislature and...

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Prenups can ease divorce settlement woes

More and more couples are making the decision to draft prenuptial agreements prior to walking down the aisle. In fact, a survey conducted by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers reveals that members experienced a recent increase in prenups of 63 percent. Many Missouri residents understand that these marital contracts can be a powerful financial...

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Timing of divorce could have a big impact

When preparing to divorce, many Missouri couples are concerned about the timing. Often, this concern is based on how their children and extended family members will react to the news, or how to avoid a negative impact during the holidays. A far more practical timing issue, exists, however, of which many couples are unaware. For...

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Protecting assets in divorce without a prenup

A prenuptial agreement is a wonderful tool that many people planning to make a trip down the aisle use to plan their financial future. However, some people are unable to make such an agreement for a variety of different reasons, possibly leaving some individuals in Missouri worried about their assets in the event of a divorce....

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Division of artists’ creative works as a joint marital asset

Artists in Missouri who are divorcing may think about how to divide the house and the bank accounts without realizing that their art may be considered a marital asset as well. Any artwork that is created after a couple is married and prior to separation or filing for divorce is jointly owned. However, there may...

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Credit and divorce

Couples who obtain a divorce in Missouri may wish to reflect on how their new status will affect their credit. Joint accounts and shared liabilities can continue for years after the marital union they were based on has been dissolved. Attention to detail at the time of dissolution can save serious impact to credit ratings...

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Addressing debt within a Missouri divorce

For many Missouri spouses, the division of marital wealth is the predominant topic within their divorce. Most spouses focus on the manner in which marital assets will be divided but pay relatively little attention to issues of debt. When it comes to the property division portion of a divorce, debt plays an important role. It...

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