St. Louis Family Law Services
<
Divorce (or the dissolution of marriage) is the closure of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving matrimony between the parties. The legal process of divorce may also involve issues of alimony (spousal support), child custody, child support, distribution of property, and division of debt. The Behrens Law Firm offers divorce services in St. Louis and surrounding areas in the following practice areas:
Grounds for Divorce in Missouri
Once you tell the court that your marriage is irretrievably broken, dissolution of marriage can be granted. Gone are the days when a spouse could stop a divorce unless you proved that he or she committed adultery, abandoned you or behaved in a way that is intolerable.
Hiring a divorce lawyer is essential to ensure that you reach a resolution that is satisfactory and fair. During the divorce, you and your ex will have to determine how to divide your property, custody arrangements for the children, and how much money in child support will be paid. A divorce lawyer helps reach out-of-court agreements by telling their client what their rights are and what a judge is likely to rule, as well as warning the client about the high cost of going to trial. However, while settling these issues outside of court is favorable, in some cases litigation is required.
When it comes to division of property, Missouri law requires an “equitable distribution of the assets and debts between the parties. This means the judge does not have to divide the property 50:50, but instead the court will try to divide the property in a fair, i.e. an “equitable” manner. “Equitable” does not always mean “equal” because the can take many factors into consideration when determining the equitable distribution of property.
Some of the factors the court can consider when splitting the property and debt are:
l.) Spousal contribution to the property or income of the parties; 2.) The behavior of parties during the marriage, for example adultery; 3.) and the income and resources of each party including the separate property of a spouse, if for example one party has a substantial Trust fund or inheritance.
Obviously, arguments about how to split the assets can become complex very quickly. It is essential, if you have any property or debts that you have a good divorce lawyer, one who understands the law, has experience and can help protect your interests. The Behrens Law Firm understands the unique challenges individuals face as they file for divorce in St. Louis, Missouri.
Helping You Move Forward With Your Life
If you are filing for divorce in Missouri, you need a lawyer who understands the ins and outs of St. Louis Missouri divorce law. The Behrens Law Firm has years of experience helping people who need a divorce to work out how to fairly divided the marital property, determine if maintenance is appropriate, calculate fair child support, and come up with a way to share custody of the children in a way that is best for everyone. The most important thing your lawyer can do for you is see that you leave the divorce in the best position to let you move forward successfully with your life. Please contact the firm today to learn more about our services.
