Missouri Divorce Law Editorials
A series of fascinating writings addressing all things Missouri divorce.
Articles
- What is an Uncontested Divorce?
- Divorce Timeline: Uncontested vs. Contested
- Filing for Divorce without an Attorney
- Legal Separation vs. Divorce
- Same-Sex Divorce in Missouri
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Upcoming Articles
- Missouri Divorce in a Nutshell: Price, Pleadings, and Process
- Cheap Divorce? Depends How You Go About It
- Do I Have Pay Alimony? A Discussion on Maintenance
- Missouri Uncontested Divorce Timeline
- The Divorce Lawyer's Role in an Uncontested Divorce Case
- Comparing Advantages and Disadvantages of Uncontested vs. Contested Divorce
- Missouri Uncontested Divorce Timeline [infographic]
- Getting a Divorce When Your Spouse is in Jail
- Comparing Advantages and Disadvantages of Uncontested vs. Contested Divorce
- Is Your Divorce Truly Uncontested?
- Can I Get an Annulment Instead of a Divorce?
- Steps to Take When You Are Ready to Start Your Uncontested Divorce
- Can I Get my Spouse to Pay for Part of an Uncontested Divorce?
- Service of Process in an Uncontested Divorce
- Online Uncontested Divorce: Fact or Fiction?
- Getting a Divorce When Your Spouse is Missing
If you've spent some time on this website, you know that Linnenbringer Law is a big proponent of uncontested, amicable divorce. When parties are able to put their feelings to the side and handle the dissolution of their marriage in a professional, rational manner, they allow themselves the opportunity to mitigate the financial and emotional trauma that can come from a traditional, contested case. In this article, I explain exactly what an uncontested divorce is, and what needs to be agreed-upon in order for your case to be considered uncontested (spoiler alert: everything).
One of the many benefits of an uncontested divorce is how quickly the process moves. Where it is not uncommon for contested divorce cases to drag on for a year or more, an uncontested divorce can be completed in just over thirty days, provided everyone is cooperating and moving at a prompt pace through the process. This article provides general timelines for both contested and uncontested divorce cases.
Filing for divorce without an attorney is easy. The hard part is correctly filing for divorce without an attorney so that you do not waste your time, energy, and filing fee on a self‑represented (pro se) divorce that does not conform with legal standards. I have seen many individuals lose multiple filing fees on pro se divorces before eventually throwing in the towel and hiring me to complete their uncontested divorce in a fast, affordable manner. This article outlines the benefits and potential pitfalls of filing your divorce without the assistance of a lawyer.
There is a common misconception that legal separation is an "easier" case than a divorce. I often have individuals call and say that instead of going through a divorce, they "just" want to get a legal separation. Unfortunately, the same issues that must be resolved in a divorce must also be resolved in a legal separation. The cases do not differ in difficulty, nor is there any difference in what needs to be resolved with regards to property distribution, child custody/support, etc. In this article, I dive into what makes legal separation and divorce different, as well as the most common reasons spouses may choose to pursue a legal separation over a divorce.
The 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling recognized that same-sex couples have the same rights as everyone else - namely, the right to marry, and the right to take advantage of Linnenbringer Law's flat-fee uncontested divorce service. Since the landmark decision, my office has completed roughly twenty same-sex divorces. This article provides some background on same-sex marriages and same-sex divorce, as well as how the same-sex divorce process works (it's a lot like the process for non-same-sex divorces).