As the holidays approach, many parents in the process of divorce may be concerned about how a time of year centered on family will be handled now that the family is changing. While it is natural to want to have your children with you for every holiday every year, it is important for children to get to spend holiday time with each of their parents when their parents are no longer together. The parenting plan that you will prepare with your divorce attorney will have a parenting time schedule, which will include a specific schedule for all major holidays. [...]

Child custody and parenting time issues can be complex and emotional for parents. But parents aren’t always the only parties involved in child custody and visitation disputes. In some situations, grandparents may be denied the chance to see their grandchildren or may even want to obtain custody of their grandchildren. In both Missouri and Kansas, there are legal options, albeit limited, that can be pursued for grandparents who find themselves in these situations. In Missouri, grandparents can file for visitation with their grandchildren during or after a divorce or after the death of a parent. However, an award of [...]

For divorced or never married parents who are no longer together, there will likely come a time when one or both parents choose to introduce the children to a new dating partner. It is also common for one or both parents to remarry, adding stepparents to an already complicated co-parenting situation. While most parents make good decisions regarding who they bring around their children, it is not uncommon for a parent to be concerned about the impact the other parent’s relationships are having on the children. Sometimes, the concern is that multiple dating partners are abruptly entering and exiting [...]

Once the Court has entered a custody order in a prior divorce or other custody action, neither party can relocate with the minor child without notifying the other parent at least 60 days in advance of the relocation. The written notice must be sent via certified mail and must include the following information: The intended new residence with the specific address and mailing address. If the address is not known, the city the parent intends to relocate to; The home telephone number of the new residence, if known; Statement of specific reasons for the proposed relocation of the child; [...]

Of late, several states have decided to make moves toward giving both moms and dads equal time with their children. Missouri is one of those states. In other words, under current Missouri law, if parents are living in two separate households and need a custody order, the default will be a parenting plan where dad gets to have the kids in his home half of the time, and mom gets them the other half of the time. While 50-50 is not how it always works in practice, and there are exceptions to the rule, in general, a parent who has been [...]

Like many other states, Missouri has specific rules that cover situations in which a parent in the Kansas City area needs to move. The purpose of these rules is to make sure that, on the one hand, parents who need to make a move for good reasons have the ability to do so without having to worry about losing a relationship with their kids and, on the other hand, the other parent gets to maintain his or her relationship with the children as well, at least to the fullest extent possible. While this post is meant to serve only as an [...]

Missouri parents know that divorce can be extremely difficult on the youngest members of the family. As a parent facing the divorce process, it is likely that one of your main concerns is the protection of your children and allowing them to have a strong and stable future. It can be helpful to understand how child custody works and who makes these important decisions. Parents have the right to maintain a strong relationship with their children after divorce. It is important for you to pursue a final order that respects your rights as a parent while allowing your kids [...]

Parents in Kansas City and throughout our state will always want to place their children and their well-being first. This is especially important when the couple ends a marriage and must determine child custody and visitation. Unfortunately, this is also the most contentious matter in a divorce. Therefore, it is important to have competent and experienced legal advice. Some cases are relatively amicable. In these instances, despite the issues that led to the parents parting ways, they can communicate in a friendly and agreeable manner to serve the best interests of the child. On the other extreme though, couples [...]

Going through a divorce and witnessing the impact that event may have on the lives of one's children can be difficult for a Missouri parent to bear. It is often during negotiations related to the futures of their children that parents zealously fight for what they think with provide their kids with the best possible lives in the wake of divorce. Child custody is one of the biggest topics that a parent will have to address when their marriage comes to its end. Child custody can be divided into two main categories: legal custody and physical custody. A parent who [...]

Family courts in Missouri make child custody decisions based on what is best for the child. In many cases, parents present these decisions to the court after working it out beforehand, and often, parents share child custody as evenly as possible. More studies support the idea that shared parenting is an important part of a child's ability to thrive as an adult. You and your spouse likely considered these factors when you arrived at your custody agreement. However, situations change, and you may be facing the choice of whether to relocate with your children. You may feel it is your [...]