Springfield Divorce & Family Law Blog

Estate considerations following divorce

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Family Law on Thursday, September 13, 2018.

Often in the immediate aftermath of a divorce, people in Springfield will scamper to try and locate any financial accounts or holdings they might have shared with their ex-spouses in order to update them to reflect their new circumstances. The motivation behind this is likely the fear that if they do not (and something were to happen to them), then any properties once shared would go back to their ex-spouses (and thus not benefit their children or new spouses). Those who are among the 40 percent of people the American Association of Retired Persons reports as having already begun their estate planning might think to include their wills amongst those items that need to be updated.

While revising one's will after his or her divorce may be a good strategy, it is technically unnecessary (if one's sole concern is to keep his or her ex-spouse from inheriting his or her money). That is because (according to Section 474.420 of Missouri's Revised Statutes), any provisions made in one's will related to his or her spouse are automatically revoked once his or her divorce becomes finalized. From a legal perspective, it would be as though the ex-spouse preceded the decedent in death.

When is separation the right answer?

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Divorce on Thursday, August 30, 2018.

For Springfield-area couples who are struggling with their marriage but not ready to throw in the towel, a legal separation may be the right decision. Along with giving each spouse time and space to think about all the ramifications of divorce, a separation has financial benefits too.

A legal separation is different than what some may consider a "trial" separation, which may be just having one partner move to a different home for a few months, according to Forbes. A legal separation is a binding agreement that covers spousal and child support, visitation and division of debt and assets. Not having an agreement in place means you are still liable for any legal issues or debts that your partner has.

Examining your ex-spouse's claim to your business assets

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in High Net Worth Divorce on Friday, August 17, 2018.

Divorce in Springfield can be a messy affair, particularly if you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse have considerable assets to divide amongst each other. If your business is included in those assets, then like many of those that we here at the Stange Law Firm have previously worked with, you might be worried about how much interest your ex-spouse may profit from it once your divorce becomes final. Answering this concern first requires an explanation of how Missouri handles property division proceedings.

The state follows the philosophy of equitable division, meaning that the parties to a divorce may not necessarily receive an equal share of marital assets, but rather what the court determines will be fair. Marital assets are assets are considered to be those accrued while you and your ex-spouse were together. Thus your ownership stake in your business might not be affected by your divorce if your started the company before you were married. What may be is whatever increase in value your company experienced during your marriage.

Judge in Trump Jr.'s divorce case praises couple's collaboration

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Custody on Friday, August 3, 2018.

Given the emotions that can go into divorce proceedings in Springfield, it may be easy for many to see how and why they can become so contentious. Particular matters (such as child custody) can become particularly nasty due to what is at stake. Yet even with the potential for discord that exist amongst a divorcing couple, the parties involved may be advised to put aside their differences and come to an amicable agreement for the best interests of the children at the center of such disputes.

The judge presiding over the divorce case of Donald Trump Jr. and his estranged wife praised the couple in recent proceedings for being able to accomplish such a task. The couple filed for divorce earlier this year after almost 13 years of marriage. News recently surfaced that they were able to come up with their own agreement regarding the custody of their five children. Their join efforts allowed the couple to complete their initial custody hearing to be completed in just 10 minutes. The pair also appeared to be amiable towards each other during proceedings. The judge commended them for their behavior and even offered assistance in helping them to resolve any future matters. Such cooperation is also expected as the two sort through their financial affairs.

How to create a co-parenting plan

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Custody on Sunday, July 22, 2018.

If you share child custody with your ex, you likely know that co-parenting can be a real challenge. That's why it's essential for parents in Missouri to create a solid co-parenting plan, which provides guidance when making important child-rearing decisions. Psychology Today offers tips on creating a co-parenting plan that works for your whole family.

Cooperation Is a Must

Explaining Missouri's alimony laws

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child & Spousal Support on Friday, July 6, 2018.

When a couple chooses to divorce in Springfield, one (or both) sides might automatically assume that they are entitled to alimony. This is likely due to the notion that many view the rewarding of alimony or spousal support payments as some sort of punitive action. In reality, that is not the case at all. Spousal support is rather a means to help one spouse who might be economically disadvantaged compared to the other support him or herself until such point as he or she is able to secure gainful employment and regain a similar financial standing to the one enjoyed while he or she was still married.

The decision to reward alimony, however, is not automatic. Rather, according to Section 452.335 of Missouri's Revised Statutes, the court considers a number of different factors when determining whether it is even warranted. Some of these include:

The duration of a marriage (as well as the standard of living a couple enjoyed during that time)
The financial resources and earning capacity of each party involved
The obligations and debts each party assumes as part of a divorce agreement
The age and physical capabilities of each party
The amount of time needed for the party requesting maintenance to be trained or educated to the point of being able to secure employment

Judge facing discipline for intervening in custody case

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Divorce on Friday, June 22, 2018.

Divorce proceedings in Springfield can often become emotional given the stakes involved. However, participants in such cases rely on the fair and unbiased guidance of court professional in order to keep things on task. It is this very lack of connection between the parties involved which affords judges and other officers of the court the authority to render valid judgments. Were one such official to have ties to one side, ethical standards may require that he or she excuse him or herself from the proceedings in order to avoid the impression that one party might be privy to favorable treatment.

A recent case involving a judge in New Jersey illustrates why this is absolutely necessary. She has become subject to professional discipline for intervening in a custody case involving a former associate. According to reports, she called a local police station claiming that she was the emergent judge on call, and that an attorney had contacted claiming that his client's ex-husband had taken custody of the children despite a court order saying they were to spend Mother's Day with their mom. It was later discovered that not only was the judge not on call, but that the court order she referenced never existed and the phone call with the attorney never occurred. Subsequent investigations revealed that the judge knew the mother in the case, and that she lied to allow the woman to retain custody during the holiday.

What is "alienation of affection?"

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Family Law on Friday, June 8, 2018.

Of all of the elements that can contribute to a divorce, infidelity might be the most difficult to deal with. Your disappointment in your spouse for allowing another in Springfield to come between the two of you is understandable. Those raw feelings may be matched only by the anger that you feel towards the person with whom he or she had (or has) a relationship. This anger might even prompt you to question whether or not there might be legal recourse that allow you to hold that person responsible for contributing to the end of your marriage.

A legal principle does indeed exist known as "alienation of affection." Such a claim allows people to seek damages from third parties over the loss of affection they enjoyed through their marriages. Typically, those third parties are their spouses' lovers, yet action under this principle can also be brought against in-laws, friends or even relationship therapists.

Should I cash out my IRA during a divorce?

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in High Net Worth Divorce on Thursday, May 24, 2018.

Missouri spouses considering divorce know it is certainly not an easy decision to make, or an easy process to get through. Another significant hurdle in the process of dividing your lives into separate pieces is the division of assets. Divorce is a financial decision as well as an emotional one, and it reaches beyond choosing which spouse winds up with the house and car.

FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, advises divorcing spouses to consider all your options before cashing out retirement accounts. It may seem simpler and easier to liquidate everything, but retirement assets are critical to maintaining as a supplement to Social Security, which may not provide sufficient funds for retirement.

Signs a divorce may be the answer

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Divorce on Friday, May 11, 2018.

Despite many efforts, there is often no simple way of going about a divorce. There are a number of aspects to consider, such as alimony, property settlement and child custody planning, if children are involved. However, some Missouri spouses have trouble acknowledging that a divorce should happen in the first place.

While it is not always the right solution for everyone, a divorce is often the best path. This choice can even open doors to a much happier life chapter for some individuals. What are some of the warning signs that divorce may be the answer?