It is rare in Missouri for the Courts to grant an annulment of a marriage, but there is a procedure for declaring a marriage to be invalid that is authorized by the Missouri statutes. An annulment, rather than a dissolution of marriage (divorce), may be proper only in very specific situations, such as: The married parties have a close relationship, typically by blood. One of the parties at the time of the marriage did not satisfy the age requirement and did not receive the court’s consent – in Missouri, the age requirement is 16 with parental consent, or 18 [...]

After a Petition for Divorce (or Dissolution of Marriage as it is called in Missouri) has been filed, the parties can begin the discovery process. “Discovery” is the process by which the parties exchange information and documents to enable the attorneys and parties to prepare for negotiations and/or trial. Discovery can be conducted formally or informally, and it is a useful procedure for ensuring both parties have a complete picture of the marital estate and the finances of both parties. In a dissolution of marriage proceeding, it is important for a party to disclose his or her income and [...]

Social media has increasingly become a major part of our day-to-day lives. We often turn to social media to express our joys and grievances, sometimes without even thinking about what we are putting out into the world. If you are going through the process of divorce, it is important that you are mindful of your social media use. What you post on social media can be used as evidence for or against you during your divorce. Your social media use can have a negative effect on the amount of legal fees you pay in your divorce, the amount of [...]

Prenuptial agreements (also known as antenuptial agreements or “prenups”) are contracts entered into between prospective spouses prior to and in contemplation of marriage. Prenuptial agreements generally determine how property and assets will be divided in event of divorce. These agreements are typically favorable and enforceable under Missouri law. The terms of a prenuptial agreement can include division of real property, individual and marital assets, business assets, and individual and shared debts at death or divorce of the spouses. Prenuptial agreements can also include provisions affecting issues like spousal maintenance and payment of attorney’s fees in a divorce action. On [...]

Along with negotiation and arbitration, mediation is a method of dispute resolution alternative to traditional litigation. Mediation is a process of assisted negotiation involving the use of a neutral third party to help the disputants discuss and resolve issues. While mediation can be utilized as an alternative to traditional litigation, it is also a common tool for reaching a resolution during the process of traditional litigation. In other words, parties may hire attorneys, file a case with the court, and exchange documentation through the process of formal discovery. But they can then attempt to resolve their issues prior to [...]