Starting Your Missouri Uncontested Divorce

Step 1 Confirm agreement with spouse.

If you have read through this site, it should be evident to you that the first step in an uncontested divorce is to make sure that your divorce is uncontested. If you've taken a look at the Uncontested Divorce Checklists, you have a good idea what issues need to be agreed upon in order for your divorce to fit this system. In short, you've got to agree on everything - the distribution of property, the allocation of debt, and whether spousal support will be paid and, if so, how much. If you and your spouse have children together, you'll need to have an agreement as to child custody, including the visitation schedule, as well as child support arrangements. Both parties must be ready, willing, and able to sign off on the paperwork necessary to facilitate the divorce along the lines you and your spouse have agreed upon.

If you have confirmed that your divorce is truly uncontested, the next step in the process is to provide me with the information I need in order to complete your uncontested divorce paperwork.

Step 2 Choices for Providing Information

This is the first fork in the road. You have to make a choice as to how you're going to get me the information I need. In order to handle your uncontested divorce, I have to draft quite a bit of paperwork. In order to draft that paperwork, I need some information. How you provide that information to me is up to you. Your two options are to complete an Intake Packet or to submit your information online, through my Online Uncontested Divorce Submission Form. Both options get the job done, but the online submission system is probably best for less complex cases. Either way, frequent and quick correspondence following the submission of your information will make sure we've got all the details of your case locked down and accurate.

So, what will it be? Intake packet or Online Submission?

Step 3Submit Your Information

If you complete your uncontested divorce through my online submission form, this step will be done for you. At the conclusion of that form, you'll simply submit and then move straight on to making payment and getting everything started.

On the other hand, if you fill out an intake packet, you'll need to send me that intake packet so I can take a look and get back to you with a confirmed price (which will be almost always the fees you see quoted on this site). I prefer you email me a PDF of it, but you can also fax it to my office at (314)238-1250, mail it, or hand-deliver it. Please remember, an appointment is required if you wish to meet to discuss your intake packet information. I'm happy to do that though, and there is no charge for the appointment.

With your intake information, I'll give you a price quote or, if the case was submitted online, the system will tally up your total fee.

Step 4 Make Payment of Attorney Fees

Again, if you're proceeding through the online system, you will be prompted for payment through credit or debit at the conclusion of the form. If you have submitted an intake packet, you'll simply let me know which payment method you prefer. If you'd like to pay online, I will send you a secure payment link via email. You can also pay over the phone, through the mail, or in-person at my office (by appointment only, please).

With your information now submitted and payment having been made, your representation has commenced, so now what?

Step 5 We get to work

It's fairly rare for me to receive an online submission or intake packet that does not require some degree of clarification here or there. A good amount of information is requested from the parties, so it's completely understandable that a detail or two may be omitted or communicated unclearly. That being the case, if the client makes themselves available for regular communication and feedback, especially through e-mail, the process moves smoother, and the case generally wraps up faster.

The focus of this particular section of the site is to explain how one goes about starting their uncontested divorce. The Uncontested Divorce Process section, above, gives a more overarching view of the entire process. Basically though, from this point, where representation has begun as we're working on your case, the rest goes like this: First, the drafts of your settlement agreement and, if children are involved, your parenting plan, are bounced back and forth until they look just right to both parties. Once both parties are in agreement with how everything is drafted, we proceed to getting everything signed, which can be done remotely or in my office, by appointment only. Once I have everything signed, your parts are essentially done and I take it from there. I file the case immediately, which starts the mandatory 30 day waiting period. At the conclusion of the 30 day waiting period, I submit the final pleadings to the Judge for review. Once the Judge reviews, approves, and signs off, the divorce is final and the case is complete. PDFs of the final paperwork will be distributed via email at that time, as well as hardcopies through regular mail.