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Is It Better to Wait for the Economy to Improve Before Divorcing in Springfield, MO?

The looming recession has many couples wondering if they should put their plans to divorce on hold. Economic uncertainty can be a significant source of stress for couples; it can also make divorce more complicated and expensive. For people who understand divorce is the best solution for their relationship but still have a high-functioning marriage, the option to wait out the recession may be appealing. However, there are a few different areas to explore before making this decision. The Benefits of Divorcing Earlier Divorcing earlier rather than later can provide some key benefits regardless of the state of the economy.

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What Happens When a Parent Refuses Their Parental Responsibilities in Springfield, MO?

Child custody disputes can be incredibly challenging for any parent in Springfield, but some parents do not try to be as involved in their children’s lives as other parents. Some parents repeatedly fail to uphold their parental responsibilities, such as meeting for custody exchanges or making child support payments on time. While honest mistakes and unpredictable emergencies can happen at any time, any willful violation of a lawful family court order can have severe consequences, especially for a custody order. There are only two methods of legally deviating from a child custody order in the state. The first is through

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Revising an Estate Plan After Divorce in Springfield, MO

Estate planning can be an uncomfortable topic for some people, and it can be difficult for anyone to imagine the end of their life. However, giving estate planning appropriate thought and effort can pay off tremendously for you and your family. A comprehensive and legally enforceable estate plan provides you with peace of mind knowing your family can hopefully avoid a complex probate process after your death. When designed with care, an estate plan can make your wishes known to your family when it comes to how you want to distribute your assets to your beneficiaries and how you would

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FAQs: Property Division in Springfield, MO, Divorce Cases

One of the most contentious aspects of most modern divorce cases is property division, or the formal legal process of dividing marital assets and debts in divorce. Every state enforces different statutes for handling property division, and Missouri is one of many US states to enforce an equitable distribution law. This means a divorcing couple must split their marital property in the fairest possible way. While the equitable distribution principle may seem fair and straightforward, divorcing spouses rarely agree as to what is “fair” regarding the division of their property. State law enables both parties to retain ownership of their

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How to Have a Successful Divorce Mediation: Tips and Tricks

One of the most challenging aspects of divorce is learning how to communicate with your ex-spouse to make important decisions. Because tensions are high, it’s often difficult to have a constructive conversation without the help of a third party. This is where divorce mediation comes in. Divorce mediation is a communicative process where you and your ex-spouse meet with a neutral mediator to discuss the terms of your divorce. The mediator will help navigate the flow of the conversation and keep the sessions on track to discuss key topics, such as child custody arrangements, spousal support, and the division of

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Can a Parent Lose Custody Rights in Springfield, MO?

Child custody cases are inherently difficult for parents. Even under the best possible circumstances, a child custody dispute can result in a parent losing time to spend with their child, and the terms of a custody order vary from case to case. Every situation is unique, and every parent faces different challenges in the custody determination process. While some parents must give up some parenting time due to their custody terms, other parents can lose their parental rights in numerous ways. Custodial parents need to know what can cause them to lose their custody rights. Additionally, all custodial parents need

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Divorce vs. Legal Separation – Which Is Right for Me?

Almost every couple experiences minor disagreements now and then, but no one deserves to suffer in a marriage filled with constant conflict, tension, or abuse. If you believe that ending your marriage is the right choice for your family, know that you have several options for handling your situation. In Missouri, you can file for divorce to dissolve your marriage or pursue a form of legal separation known as separate maintenance. Each of these legal processes has its own set of requirements, benefits, and disadvantages. The information below can help you understand the difference between divorce and legal separation and

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How Does Alimony Work in a Springfield, MO, Divorce?

Divorce involves many complex financial issues, some of which can create uncertainty and persistent economic stress for many years. One of the most contentious issues in any divorce case in Springfield, MO, is alimony, also known as spousal support or spousal maintenance. If there is a significant difference in income between you and your spouse, or if one of you controls far more separate property than the other, alimony could potentially come into play as a key financial element of your divorce order. Missouri is an equitable distribution state in terms of property division in divorce, meaning that judges handling

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