Uncontested Divorce in Missouri
Missouri courts represent divorce as “dissolution of marriage.” The spouse that requests the divorce is the Petitioner, while the other spouse is the Respondent. It is mandatory under the law that at least either of the spouse must have a 90-day Missouri residency before filing for a divorce in the state.
Also, all the self-represented parties involved in the proceedings are required to complete a “litigant awareness program.” There are two options here – reading the materials or watching a video, both online. The successful completion of the program is followed by the filling of a certificate of completion form by the parties, with the circuit court.
A divorce in Missouri is said to be ‘uncontested’ when both parties have no conflicting views on all the vital issues raised in the petition, including child support, property division, and custody and visitation. It simply means a total agreement between the petitioner and the respondent. When this happens, the two parties can file a petition collectively, and this is called a joint petition, alongside a copy of the written agreement between them. In situations like these, the divorce order is usually granted.
Irrespective of the chosen type of divorce, the court costs are compulsory, and this includes the attorney’s fees and the filing fees. On the average, the filing will cost about $163, although there may be variations based on which county you live in.
A contested divorce is usually more expensive – you will have to pay attorneys a retainer fee before the start of the proceedings, as payment for the initial works of the attorney and their team and which is charged at an hourly rate of $200. Thus, a contested divorce costs considerably more than an uncontested divorce.
As a state of impartial distribution, the Missouri divorce law stipulates that the property involved in a divorce case be split fairly. Fair here doesn’t necessarily mean equality. Real estate
holdings and houses are the most commonly discussed assets under this subject, although there are other defined assets.
They include Business, Bank Accounts, Investment Accounts, Retirement Accounts, Deferred Compensation from an Employer, and Debt Repayment Credit Card assets (e.g., Airline Miles or Points).
Others include Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Vehicles (and RVs and Boats), Timeshares, Collections of Artwork or Antiques, Household Goods and Furnishings, and Insurance Policies
Most of these assets are valued by checking the account total, and for others, further assistance from an expert may be needed.
A Brief Summary of Uncontested Divorce in Missouri
Missouri courts represent divorce as “dissolution of marriage.” The spouse that requests the divorce is the Petitioner, while the other spouse is the Respondent. It is mandatory under the law that at least either of the spouse must have a 90-day Missouri residency before filing for a divorce in the state.
Also, all the self-represented parties involved in the proceedings are required to complete a “litigant awareness program.” There are two options here – reading the materials or watching a video, both online. The successful completion of the program is followed by the filling of a certificate of completion form by the parties, with the circuit court.
Uncontested Missouri Divorce
A divorce in Missouri is said to be ‘uncontested’ when both parties have no conflicting views on all the vital issues raised in the petition, including child support, property division, and custody and visitation. It simply means a total agreement between the petitioner and the respondent. When this happens, the two parties can file a petition collectively, and this is called a joint petition, alongside a copy of the written agreement between them. In situations like these, the divorce order is usually granted.
Cost of Contested vs. Uncontested in Missouri
Irrespective of the chosen type of divorce, the court costs are compulsory, and this includes the attorney’s fees and the filing fees. On the average, the filing will cost about $163, although there may be variations based on which county you live in.
A contested divorce is usually more expensive – you will have to pay attorneys a retainer fee before the start of the proceedings, as payment for the initial works of the attorney and their team and which is charged at an hourly rate of $200. Thus, a contested divorce costs considerably more than an uncontested divorce.
Asset Division and Uncontested Divorce in Missouri
As a state of impartial distribution, the Missouri divorce law stipulates that the property involved in a divorce case be split fairly. Fair here doesn’t necessarily mean equality. Real estate
holdings and houses are the most commonly discussed assets under this subject, although there are other defined assets.
They include Business, Bank Accounts, Investment Accounts, Retirement Accounts, Deferred Compensation from an Employer, and Debt Repayment Credit Card assets (e.g., Airline Miles or Points).
Others include Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Vehicles (and RVs and Boats), Timeshares, Collections of Artwork or Antiques, Household Goods and Furnishings, and Insurance Policies
Most of these assets are valued by checking the account total, and for others, further assistance from an expert may be needed.