Missouri Divorce Basics
Divorce in Missouri is referred to as Dissolution of Marriage.
Residency Requirement:
To file for divorce or legal separation in Missouri, either party must have been a resident of the state, or is a member of the armed services who has been stationed in the state, for 90 days immediately preceding the commencement of the proceeding.
Filing:
A Petition may be filed in circuit court in the county in which either party resides. If an original proceeding is commenced in the county in which the Petitioner (filing spouse) resides, upon motion by the Respondent (non-filing party) filed prior to the filing of a responsive pleading, the court in which the proceeding is commenced may transfer the proceeding to the county in which the Respondent resides if the following is true:
The county in which the Respondent resides had been the county in which the children resided during the 90 days immediately preceding the commencement of the proceeding; or
The best interest of the children will be served if the proceeding is transferred to the county in which the Respondent resides because the children and at least one parent have significant connection with the county and there is substantial evidence concerning the present or future care, protection and personal relationships of the children in the county.
Thirty days must have elapsed since the filing of the Petition and the granting of a divorce.
The rules of the Supreme Court and other applicable court rules shall govern all proceedings for dissolution, legal separation, child support, child custody, division of property and maintenance.
Spouse’s Name:
There is no statute specifically addressing a spouse reverting to his/her former name after divorce. However, statute does allow for name change in general. Therefore, if a spouse wants to change his/her name, a Petition to that effect must be presented to the circuit court of the county of the Petitioner’s residence, verified by affidavit.
The Petition must state the Petitioner’s full name, the new name desired, and a concise statement of the reason for such desired change. If the judge is satisfied that the desired change would be proper and not detrimental to the interests of any other person, the Petition may be granted.
Public notice of the name change must be published at least three times in the county where the Petitioner resides, within 20 days after the court order is made, unless the following is true:
The Petitioner is the victim of a domestic violence crime;
The Petitioner is the victim of child abuse; or
The Petitioner is the victim of abuse by a family or household member.
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Legal Grounds for Divorce
In Missouri, there is only one ground for dissolution of marriage:
There remains no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved and that therefore the marriage is irretrievably broken.
If both of the parties by petition or otherwise have stated under oath or affirmation that the marriage is irretrievably broken, or one of the parties has made the allegation and the other has not denied it, the court, after considering the petition or statement, and after a hearing on the issue, shall make a finding whether or not the marriage is irretrievably broken and shall enter an order of dissolution or dismissal accordingly.
If one of the parties has denied under oath or affirmation that the marriage is irretrievably broken, the court shall consider all relevant factors, including the circumstances that gave rise to the filing of the petition and the prospect of reconciliation, and after hearing the evidence shall make a finding whether or not the marriage is irretrievably broken.
In order to make a finding that the marriage is irretrievably broken, the Petitioner must satisfy the court on one or more of the following facts:
That the Respondent has committed adultery and the Petitioner finds it intolerable to live with the Respondent;
That the Respondent has behaved in such a way that the Petitioner cannot reasonably be expected to live with the Respondent;
That the Respondent has abandoned the Petitioner for a continuous period of at least six months before filing the Petition;
That both parties have lived separate and apart by mutual consent for a continuous period of 12 months immediately preceding the filing of the Petition; or
That both parties have lived separate and apart for a continuous period of at least 24 months preceding the filing of the Petition.
If the court makes a finding that the marriage is irretrievably broken, it shall enter an order of dissolution. If not, it may enter an order of dismissal.
The court may also continue the matter for further hearing not less than 30 days or more than six months later, or as soon thereafter as the hearing may be scheduled, and may suggest to the parties that they seek counseling. No court shall require counseling as a condition to receiving a decree.
Annulment
Prohibited Marriages:
Marriages between parents and children, including grandparents and grandchildren of every degree, between brothers and sisters (half or whole), between uncles and nieces, aunts and nephews, and first cousins;
Marriage between persons who lack the capacity to enter into a marriage contract;
All marriages where either of the parties has a former spouse still living, shall be void, unless the former marriage has been dissolved;
Either party to the marriage is under 15 years of age;
Either party to the marriage is at least 15 years of age but under 18 years of age, and did not obtain the consent of his/her custodial parent or guardian;
It is the public policy of Missouri to recognize marriage only between a man and a woman. A marriage between persons of the same sex will not be recognized for any purpose in Missouri even when valid where contracted.
Common-law marriages contracted in Missouri are null and void.
Missouri case law shows that the state also permits annulment for other grounds, such as duress; mental illness, insanity, and retardation; lack of physical assent to the marriage; impotency; and entering into marriage due to fraud.
Property Division
In a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or legal separation the court shall set apart to each spouse such spouse’s non-marital property and shall divide the marital property and marital debts in such proportions as the court deems just after considering all relevant factors including the following:
· The economic circumstances of each spouse at the time the division of property is to become effective, including the desirability of awarding the family home or the right to live therein for reasonable periods to the spouse having custody of any children;
The contribution of each spouse to the acquisition of the marital property, including the contribution of a spouse as homemaker;
The value of the non-marital property set apart to each spouse;
The conduct of the parties during the marriage; and
Custodial arrangements for minor children.
Marital property is defined as all property acquired by either spouse after the marriage, except the following:
Property acquired by gift, bequest, devise, or descent;
Property acquired in exchange for property acquired prior to the marriage or in exchange for property acquired by gift, bequest, devise, or descent;
Property acquired by a spouse after a decree of legal separation;
Property excluded by valid written agreement of the parties; and
The increase in value of property acquired prior to a decree of legal separation or dissolution of marriage is presumed to be marital property regardless of whether title is held individually or by the spouses in some form of co-ownership such as jont tenancy, tenancy in common, tenancy by the entirety, and community property.
Property categorized a separate property shall not become marital properly solely because it may have become commingled with marital property.
Alimony and Maintenance
In a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or legal separation, the court may grant a maintenance order to either spouse, but only if it determines that the requesting spouse lacks sufficient property to provide for his/her reasonable needs; and is unable to support him/herself through appropriate employment or is the custodian of a child whose condition or circumstances make it appropriate that the custodian not be required to seek employment outside the home.
The maintenance order shall be in such amounts and for such periods of time as the court deems just. It may order that alimony be paid in gross or from year to year. The court will consider all relevant factors including the following:
The financial resources of the party seeking maintenance, including marital property apportioned to him, and his ability to meet his needs independently, including the extent to which a provision for support of a child living with the party includes a sum for that party as custodian;
The time necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the party seeking maintenance to find appropriate employment;
The comparative earning capacity of each spouse;
The standard of living established during the marriage;
The obligations and assets, including the marital property apportioned to him and the separate property of each party;
The duration of the marriage;
The age, and the physical and emotional condition of the spouse seeking maintenance;
The ability of the spouse from whom maintenance is sought to meet his needs while meeting those of the spouse seeking maintenance;
The conduct of the parties during the marriage; and
Any other relevant factors.
The maintenance order shall state if it is modifiable or non-modifiable. The court may order maintenance, which includes a termination date. Unless the maintenance order which includes a termination date is non-modifiable, the court may order the maintenance decreased, increased, terminated, extended, or otherwise modified based upon a substantial and continuing change of circumstances which occurred prior to the termination date of the original order.
When a divorce has been granted, and the court has made an order or decree providing for the payment of alimony and maintenance, the remarriage of the former spouse shall relieve the paying spouse from further payment of alimony to the former spouse from the date of the remarriage, without the necessity of further court action.
Child Custody and Support
Custody:
It is public policy in Missouri that frequent, continuing and meaningful contact with both parents after the parents have separated or dissolved their marriage is in the best interest of the child, except where proven differently. It is also public policy to encourage parents to participate in decisions affecting the health, education and welfare of their children, and to resolve disputes involving their children amicably through alternative dispute resolution.
Courts with jurisdiction, therefore, shall determine the custody arrangement which will best assure both parents participate in decision making and have frequent, continuing and meaningful contact with their children; and shall enforce visitation, custody and child support orders in the same manner.
The Petitioner and Respondent shall submit a proposed parenting plan, either individually or jointly, within 30 days after service of process or the filing of the entry of appearance, whichever occurs first, of a Petition involving custody or visitation issues. The proposed parenting plan shall set forth the arrangements that the party believes to be in the best interest of the minor children and shall include the following:
A specific written schedule detailing the custody, visitation and residential time for each child with each party including major holidays, school holidays, child’s birthday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, weekday and weekend schedules, times and places for transfer of the children, etc.;
A specific written plan regarding legal custody which details how the decision-making rights and responsibilities will be shared between the parties including educational decisions, medical, dental and health care decisions, extracurricular activities; child care providers; dispute resolution procedures, etc; and
How the expenses of the child, including child care, educational and extraordinary expenses as defined in the child support guidelines will be paid, including the suggested amount of child support to paid by each party, the party who will maintain or provide health insurance for the child, how the medical, dental, vision, psychological and other health care expenses of the child not paid by insurance will be paid by the parties, child care expenses, etc.
The court shall determine custody in accordance with the best interests of the child. In making a determination, the court shall consider all relevant factors including the following:
The wishes of the child’s parents as to custody and the proposed parenting plan submitted by both parties;
The needs of the child for a frequent, continuing and meaningful relationship with both parents and the ability and willingness of parents to actively perform their functions as mother and father for the needs of the child;
The interaction and interrelationship of the child with parents, siblings, and any other person who may significantly affect the child’s best interests;
Which parent is more likely to allow the child frequent, continuing and meaningful contact with the other parent;
The child’s adjustment to the child’s home, school and community;
The mental and physical health of all individuals involved, including any history of abuse of any individuals involved;
The intention of either parent to relocate the principal residence of the child; and
The wishes of a child as to the child’s custodian.
The court will consider the following forms of custody:
Joint physical and joint legal custody to both parents, which shall not be denied solely because one parent opposes this arrangement, and the residence of one of the parents shall be designated as the address of the child for mailing and educational purposes;
Joint physical custody with one party granted sole legal custody, and the residence of one of the parents shall be designated as the address of the child for mailing and educational purposes;
Joint legal custody with one party granted sole physical custody;
Sole custody to either parent; or
Third-party custody or visitation.
In any court proceedings relating to custody of a child, the court shall not award custody or unsupervised visitation of a child to a parent if he/she or any person residing with him/her has been found guilty of, or pled guilty to, various offenses where a child was the victim.
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