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In Missouri, your child does not get to choose which parent to live with. The court will consider your child’s wishes as a factor, but there is no specific age where that decision becomes theirs. The weight given to what your child says depends more on maturity than age, and how those wishes are shared with the court varies from case to case. What the Court Really Considers in Missouri If you and your co-parent are working through custody decisions, it is important to understand that your child’s preference is one piece of a much larger picture. Missouri law requires the court to consider the “unobstructed wishes of the child.” That phrase sounds straightforward, but in practice, it is anything but straightforward. Judges, Attorneys, and…

Mediation can work for you and your spouse or co-parent, even if you disagree on everything, as long as you are willing to listen to each other, to the neutral third party, and to consider different ways to solve your issues. If you go into Mediation saying, “We disagree and I will not consider anything else,” you probably will not reach an agreement. But if you and your spouse or co-parent enter the process ready to listen to each other, to the mediator, and to trusted advisors, and are willing to talk about solutions together, Mediation will work for you. How Mediation Works In Mediation, a trained neutral third-party helps you and your spouse or co-parent talk through your differences and work toward solutions you…

Choosing a less adversarial divorce process like Mediation or a Collaborative Divorce will protect your family, reduce conflict, and help you build a cooperative relationship with your spouse that benefits your children now and in the future. The Problem with Litigation When you choose litigation, you are immediately pitted against your spouse, the very person you will need to co-parent with for the rest of your life. Starting your post-divorce relationship with conflict and attacks in court sets you up for failure. No one truly wins, and your children will often feel the loss the most. Custody disputes, financial battles, and court hearings can create long-lasting stress and resentment, making it difficult to maintain a positive family relationship. How Mediation and Collaborative Divorce Help By…

An attorney in a family law case serves two key roles for you: educator and advocate. They guide you through legal processes, explain options clearly, and protect your interests while helping you make informed decisions that support your family’s needs. Understanding the Legal Landscape Family law can feel confusing with its complex rules, forms, and deadlines. Your attorney helps you understand your options, whether you are considering a Collaborative Divorce, negotiating child custody, or addressing property division and financial matters. By explaining each step clearly and how it affects you and your spouse, your attorney helps you make informed decisions rather than reacting under pressure. They also help you understand long-term consequences. For example, agreements on finances, property, or support can have implications for years…

A parenting plan outlines when each parent has the children, how decisions about their care will be made, and how to handle communication, child support, healthcare, and other expenses. It will serve as a roadmap for your family, ensuring clarity and consistency, and the court will enforce it if disagreements arise. Why Missouri Requires a Parenting Plan When you and your spouse begin planning for your children’s future, one of the first things you will need to create is a parenting plan, a structured document that outlines how you will share time, responsibilities, and decision-making for your children. Missouri law requires this plan as part of finalizing custody, and it must include certain elements that help both of you manage daily life with consistency and…

In a Collaborative Divorce, you and your spouse choose a team of divorce professionals to help you resolve your divorce privately and respectfully. You each hire your own collaboratively trained attorney, select a divorce coach, a financial professional and child specialist if needed. You meet as a team to address parenting, finances, and any urgent concerns. When you reach a final agreement, the documents are drafted, reviewed, signed and then filed with the court for final approval. Step 1: Choose a Collaborative Attorney The first step in a Collaborative Divorce is finding a Collaborative Divorce attorney you feel comfortable with and want to work with. If your spouse already has a collaborative attorney, the two attorneys will begin talking about how the Collaborative Divorce process…

In a Collaborative Divorce, you may participate in several types of meetings depending on your family’s needs. These can include full team meetings, financial meetings, divorce coaching sessions, and child specialist meetings. Not every case requires all of them, and each meeting serves a specific purpose as you work toward settlement. How Collaborative Divorce Meetings Work Collaborative Divorce is built around structured conversations. Instead of going to court, you and your spouse meet with professionals in planned sessions designed to resolve issues and reach a final agreement. Each meeting has a defined role. Some focus on finances. Some address parenting. Others deal with communication or emotional concerns. Together, they help move the process forward in an organized way. Full Team Meetings The full team meeting…

The hardest stage of divorce is usually the decision to end the marriage and choose the divorce process you will use. While the final stage can bring strong emotions, most people struggle most with the initial decision and the choice of a process. The Decision to Divorce When you think about divorce, you may picture court dates or dividing property. In reality, the hardest stage often comes much earlier and begins with making that choice. The decision can affect your children, extended family, finances, employment, and where you live. It may change daily routines, parenting schedules, and long-term plans, which is why it feels so significant. For that reason, it should not be made in the heat of the moment. During an argument, the word…

A prenuptial agreement is not about planning for divorce. It is about planning for your marriage. When done thoughtfully and collaboratively, a prenup creates a space before your marriage for honest conversations about money, family, expectations, and long-term goals that can strengthen your relationship from the start. Prenups Are Really About Marriage Planning Many people hear the word prenup and immediately think about divorce. In reality, a prenuptial agreement is a tool for marriage planning. It gives you and your partner a structured way to talk about important topics before you get married, when emotions are steady and communication is easier. Rather than leaving these potential issues to be sorted out later during conflict, a prenuptial conversation allows you to talk through them early. Planning…

Divorce brings many decisions, big and small. How those problems are handled can shape your costs, your stress level, and your family’s future. Mediation and Collaborative Divorce focus on working through issues together, step by step, while litigation centers on positions and court orders. How Problems Are Handled in Litigation In a traditional court case, problem solving revolves around your position on the issues. You state what you want, the other person pushes back, and lawyers file motions. Disputes play out in public courtrooms, and the judge makes decisions for your family. This process feels combative. You may have little control over outcomes, even on issues that affect your daily life. Small disagreements become expensive quickly. Something as basic as verifying income might require subpoenas…