Divorce can feel like wading into a swamp–a murky, unfamiliar territory of legal to-do’s, paperwork, and major financial decisions, all while carrying on family and work obligations and trying to maintain your sanity. When it comes to making major financial decisions, it can be tempting to take the easiest path forward, simply to avoid prolonged…
When someone owns a business, they often consider it theirs alone. During a divorce, however, several factors determine whether the court will classify a business as separate property, or as marital property that must be divided. Could your ex be entitled to a business you own, or vice versa? It’s certainly possible. Marital property is…
“Marry in haste, repent at leisure” goes the old adage. The same can be said for being too quick to enter into a legal prenuptial agreement or prenup. If you and your betrothed want a prenup, don’t rush. There are numerous good reasons to draw up a premarital agreement. The first is that it prompts…
Divorce is a lonely prospect. Having someone to lean on for comfort and support can make the process a little more bearable–and remind you that there will be a new life after your divorce. But is it actually a good idea to date while getting divorced? From a legal standpoint, it’s not ideal. In actuality,…
In Missouri, divorce is the only method for spouses to end a marriage. A less common option is legal separation, in which the couple remains married. How does a couple choose one over the other? When one or both spouses decide a marriage is irretrievably broken, filing for divorce typically starts the legal process of…
If you’ve ever watched a courtroom drama on television or in a movie, you’ve probably heard one of the attorneys refer to “Exhibit A” as evidence. In a divorce trial, exhibits can take many forms: statements of property and income, bank statements, bills, receipts, printed emails and text messages, telephone records, school reports, lab test…
Financial disclosure is standard procedure in every divorce. Each divorcing party is required by law to list all income, assets, debts and expenses, and then sign an affidavit, swearing under penalty of perjury that the information given is complete and true. Full disclosure is vital for determining a fair division of debt and assets between…
It is not unusual for divorced parents to disagree on some aspects of their child’s medical needs and care, including childhood immunizations. With the rise of the novel coronavirus and the COVID-19 pandemic, however, even co-parents who usually see eye to eye may find themselves on opposite sides. Although currently no COVID-19 vaccine has been…
On February 17, Stephanie Jones spoke at a training for the staff and therapists at Kids in the Middle about “The Divorce Process and the Court System”. The St. Louis agency-based nonprofit organization helps children and adults cope with difficult family transitions. The mission of Kids In The Middle is to “empower children, parents…
Many people view divorce as a painful financial reversal. There’s no doubt that the shift from being part of a two-income household with shared living expenses to a single-earner status poses numerous financial challenges to people at most income levels. But as a recent article, 7 Little-Known Financial Benefits of Divorce in U.S. News and…