Stange Law Firm, PC: St. Charles Divorce Law Blog

High net worth divorces present unique issues

October 8, 2014

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in High Asset Divorce on Wednesday, October 8, 2014. A divorce is frequently difficult to go through. Even the most amicable divorces still represent the breakdown of a relationship between two people. A divorce is the legal recognition that two people are ending a chapter of their lives, and that change can be difficult to manage for many people. An added concern in certain cases is the fear that your lifestyle will be altered for the worse. A high net worth divorce seems to compound these fears, because the division of marital

Family law deals with the challenges of changing families

October 2, 2014

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Family Law on Thursday, October 2, 2014. As society evolves, its foundation adapts along with its changes. Nowhere is this more evident than in the American family. While the traditional nuclear family made up of a father, mother, and one or more children is certainly still in existence in Missouri and across the country, it has been joined by other forms of familial arrangements. What has not changed is the value placed on having a supportive and stable family, regardless of its makeup. Unfortunately, not every family unit is best suited

What is a paternity suit, and when should a father file one?

September 25, 2014

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Paternity/Child Support on Thursday, September 25, 2014. When parents disagree about who a child’s father is, a paternity suit can clarify the situation. Mothers and children can bring paternity suits. So can men who have been told they are a child’s father. Often, the goal of a paternity suit is to figure out who must pay child support and who should have child custody or visitation rights in the case of a dispute. In these cases, a judge can order a DNA test to determine who a child’s father is. In

How is the award of spousal support determined in Missouri?

September 18, 2014

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Family Law on Thursday, September 18, 2014. That one spouse may be awarded support from the other in a divorce in Missouri is common knowledge. Questions may arise about how the court determines spousal support obligations. Someone being ordered to pay spousal support will wonder what safeguards are in place to ensure that a spousal support award is not arbitrary? The answer to this question is found in Missouri statutory law. Section 452.335 of the Missouri Revised Statutes requires the court to consider several factors in calculating an award of spousal

An overview of marital property distribution in Missouri

September 12, 2014

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Family Law on Friday, September 12, 2014. Married couples who are considering a divorce can, depending on the duration of their marriage and their means while married, accumulate significant assets that may be subject to distribution. This post addresses some of the considerations that go into deciding who may receive which assets. Missouri is in the majority of states that use equitable distribution. This means that instead of an automatic equal split, the division of property will depend on a more loosely defined concept of fairness. One ex-spouse may, under equitable

Drama in the skies as FBI arrests mom in child custody dispute

September 11, 2014

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Custody on Thursday, September 11, 2014. We recently commented on a study showing that co-parenting arrangements, in which divorcing parents share joint custody of a child, are becoming increasingly popular with judges. In that post, we recommended that Missouri parents should be cautious when entering into such agreements, and they should make sure that their rights and the best interests of the child are protected. As popular as the concept of joint custody might be, it is not for everyone. Sometimes, a lack of cooperation or trust between parents forces

Considerations when contemplating a prenuptial agreement

September 4, 2014

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Family Law on Thursday, September 4, 2014. There is a good chance that no matter where you live, in Missouri or elsewhere, your life has been touched by divorce in some way. So if you are thinking about getting married or remarried, you may be wondering how a prenuptial agreement works and whether you should enter into one before taking your vows. The concept of a prenuptial agreement is simple: it lets you take more control over things such as particular roles of the spouses during a marriage, as well as

If child custody becomes a source of dispute, we are here to help

August 26, 2014

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Custody on Tuesday, August 26, 2014. Parenting can be all about balance. Raising a child is a constant exercise in finding the right balance between not doing enough and going too far. From helping your toddler to take his or her first steps, to watching what and how much he or she eats, to measuring discipline and praise. This is so when you raise a child together with your spouse or partner and it remains so even if you decide that it is time to part ways with each other.

Paternal rights are more than the right to pay for child support

August 25, 2014

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Paternity/Child Support on Monday, August 25, 2014. An ancient saying goes, “The end is not always visible from the beginning.” It is still remembered today because in so many of life’s situations, it is true. Something that began with so much promise may turn out to be very different after the passage of time: it can be as mundane as a purchase decision that became a case of buyer’s remorse or a mistaken career choice. It can also be something much more significant — like a decision to get married and

What are some of the considerations to calculate child support?

August 8, 2014

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Paternity/Child Support on Friday, August 8, 2014. In Missouri when a couple have had children and later decide to part ways — through divorce, legal separation or otherwise — a court can become involved in establishing the arrangement by which either or both parents incur a continuing obligation to financially support their offspring through child support payments. To avoid arbitrary results in determining how those payment obligations are arrived at, Missouri state law establishes extensive child support guidelines. The purpose of this post is to provide an overview of some of

What is the difference between legal and physical custody?

July 30, 2014

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Custody on Wednesday, July 30, 2014. In judgments of divorce involving custody matters, custody is generally awarded to the parties in two separate ways: legal custody and physical custody. For example, the custody order may say that both parties share joint legal custody of a child, while one party retains sole physical custody. So, what exactly does this mean? The term legal custody refers to a parent’s right to make important decisions on behalf of a child for such things as the child’s health, education, and welfare. If both parents

Missouri same-sex marriage may be law of the state in 2015

July 23, 2014

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Family Law on Wednesday, July 23, 2014. The family law question of whether same-sex couples can legally marry in the state of Missouri continues to evolve. At the present time, the state does not recognize same-sex marriages. The issue has become clouded based on the apparent willingness of the municipal government in St. Louis to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples and an ongoing lawsuit against the state by the American Civil Liberties Union seeking to overturn the ban on same sex marriage. The state of uncertainty has caused some same-sex

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