Preparing for a new baby comes with quite the to do list. Infants will need clothes, furniture, car seats and all sorts of special gadgets to make tasks like bathing and feeding safe and efficient. If the expectant parents are not married, there will probably be some discussion about establishing a Missouri child support order. Before this happens, it is a good idea to officially establish paternity.  There are several ways to go about establishing paternity. Technology has seen major advances in recent years, and now a paternity test can be done before a baby is even born. This test can ..read more

As an unusual school year draws to a close, Missouri families are looking forward to summer vacation, and parents try to think of ways to keep kids entertained. Water activities, special treats or maybe even a trip might be on the horizon. No matter what's on the schedule, parents should ensure that they make healthy choices for their kids and be aware that, sometimes, health issues can affect child custody. Family law attorneys see a wide variety of reasons listed when a parent files for a modification of child custody. Recently, a father sued a mother for primary custody of a young boy becau ..read more

Becoming a grandparent is an exciting adventure. After raising one's own children, it's only natural to enjoy watching the next generation play and learn, and for many children, a visit to a grandparent's house is a special treat. Grandparents try not to overstep, allowing their grown children to raise their own kids as they see fit, but if a parent can't take adequate care of a child, a grandparent may consider filing for child custody.  Recently, a Missouri woman crashed her car. When police arrived, they administered a field sobriety test, and the young lady was not able to complete th ..read more

Becoming a parent can feel a bit overwhelming sometimes. There is a lot to know about raising a child, and expectant parents may not know where to turn. Across Missouri, in addition to pregnancy outreach programs for expectant mothers, special programs just for dads are available too. These programs can help new dads learn the ropes and become educated about fathers' rights. According to the volunteers who provide these critical programs, many new dads are not aware of their rights as the biological father of a child. If a man is uncertain about his legal rights as a parent, he may be tem ..read more

Planning a wedding can be both stressful and exciting, and as the big day approaches, couples try to make sure everything is in order so that the ceremony can go off without a hitch. The ceremony is just the first step in what will hopefully be a long and happy marriage, and Missouri couples may want to do some preparation for the long haul. One way to prevent future marriage trouble is to have a prenuptial agreement in place before a couple says "I do." Though recent trends suggest that millennials are utilizing prenuptial agreements in a higher percentage than previous generations, peop ..read more

Missouri couples have faced unprecedented stress over the past several weeks. Schools, businesses, and even courts have been closed due to the state's response to a global health crisis. For couples that were considering ending a marriage, unexpected circumstances like unemployment or other financial matters may have put divorce plans on the back burner as households entered survival mode. Experts predict a surge in divorces in the coming months, and for people going through a high asset divorce, it may make good sense to act sooner rather than later.  High asset divorces often entail wee ..read more

Missouri parents that feel overwhelmed or apprehensive about financial matters are not alone. Thousands of hard-working adults suddenly found themselves facing loss of employment amid business closures and shutdowns. Parents with a child support obligation may feel frustrated and worried that they may be unable to pay the amount ordered without their regular paycheck.  Fortunately, a parent can take steps to remedy the situation. A person who is ordered to pay child support, called an obliger, can request to have his or her financial situation re-evaluated immediately. Just like ..read more

Each family is unique, and in many households, one or both spouses have children from a previous relationship. In many marriages, a spouse may have child support obligations to another party. Some Missouri couples report frustration with the stimulus payments that were recently issued by the federal government because if one spouse owes back child support, the other spouse may not get a payment either.  The stimulus checks have a stipulation that states that the payment will be applied to back any child support balance if a person is in arrears. The back balance clause kicks in at a certa ..read more

Millions of Americans are receiving a stimulus check from the government, meant to help offset financial struggles many adults are facing due to business closures and loss of wages brought on by the spread of the coronavirus. While this is certainly a relief for people that are struggling to stay on top of household bills and other necessary expenses, the distribution process may be flawed. For Missouri residents that have gone through a high asset divorce in the last tax year, receiving the stimulus money may be a headache.  The stimulus checks are being deposited based on informati ..read more

Missouri parents are facing new challenges during the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A previous post ("Is your parenting plan ready for COVID-19?," March 18, 2020) provided information about handling custody issues while kids are home instead of in school. Now, many parents face another issue that affects thousands of families. Child support payments ensure that parents provide financial support, but the public health crisis has many parents in a bind.  One Missouri father made headlines when he expressed concerns that he would fall behind on child support payments while ..read more