We are often asked whether it is illegal in Missouri to access your spouse’s email account. Like our previous discussion of the potential consequences of tracking your spouse’s actions via spy software, there is a lot of legal gray area surrounding this action; getting into your spouse’s e-mail could both negatively affect the outcome of…
DetailsIn her article “9 Questions to Keep Your Divorce Lawyer Honest,” attorney, mediator and author Diane Mercer advocates asking specific and tough questions of your divorce attorney. Her advice is helpful to anyone going through divorce. However, these are wonderful questions to ask before you hire an attorney. Choosing an attorney is one of the most…
DetailsOver a decade ago, the United States Supreme Court decided Troxel v. Granville, a case that shaped how courts handle grandparents’ visitation rights. Ultimately, the Supreme Court decided that fit parents are presumed to act in their children’s best interests and that no state should interfere to second-guess the decisions of the parents in denying grandparents’…
DetailsThe search for a family law attorney can be overwhelming. Emotions are rampant, stress is tremendous, and the stakes feel incredibly high. However, there are several things to keep in mind when looking for the right attorney to make the process more manageable. Do seek a referral from someone you trust. Pursuing legal counsel is…
DetailsOften, a situation arises in which neither of the child’s biological parents is able to care for him or her. It then becomes necessary for a non-parent to take legal steps to be appointed guardian or custodian of the child. The terms “guardianship” and “third-party custody” are often used interchangeably. However, although the concepts are…
DetailsThe end of a marriage is a tumultuous, stressful time. Emotions run high, resulting in the desire to “dig up dirt” on a spouse in order to gain some sort of advantage in a divorce settlement, especially when there is custody or significant division of assets at stake. This is a dangerous path to tread,…
DetailsIf you are contemplating divorce, it’s tremendously helpful to be as prepared as possible. Here are some tips to help you educate yourself as much as possible. Educate yourself on the divorce, child custody, and property/debt division laws in your state. Create a current inventory of your financial assets (real estate, investments, household goods, vehicles,…
DetailsIn the best of scenarios, divorced parents will agree to work together with their children to plan on how to save and pay for college. In the imperfect world we live in, however, this can become a highly contentious issue that must be settled in court. There are certain things you can expect when this…
DetailsIt’s almost summertime, and living should be easy. However, in families of divorce with children, things can become complicated – especially when planning for summer vacations. Summer vacation can be a major source of contention between divorced parents, because each wants to have the freedom to plan their vacations at will. However, depending upon custody…
DetailsIn the past two decades, the divorce rate for people age 50 and over has doubled, signaling a dramatic shift in divorce trends. In 1990, one in ten divorces involved couples over age 50; by 2009, this number drastically increased to one in four, according to statistics based upon research by sociologists Susan Brown and…
Details
