The dissolution of a marriage can be an emotional and financially stressful event. Lack of knowledge about the Missouri divorce process can create uncertainty and anxiety. It is important to connect with an attorney who can answer your questions and assist you in making informed decisions to advocate for your, and any children's, best interests moving forward.

No one gets married with the anticipation of future divorce. Marital law in Missouri recognizes that sometimes the marital partnership just breaks down through no fault of the parties. Fault, or marital misconduct, does not need to be proven in order to dissolve a marriage. However, marital misconduct can impact issues of child custody, child support, spousal maintenance, division of assets, and attorney fees.

It is possible for parties to obtain a divorce without legal counsel. However, unexpected issues often arise even when the parties have the best intentions, which can delay the process and produce unnecessary stress. Missouri statutes and local rules that vary by county can also be difficult for parties to navigate on their own. Hutchinson Family Law, LLC can assist parties to correctly complete the paperwork necessary to obtain a dissolution in order to avoid additional delay and headache.

Hutchinson Family Law, LLC can also advocate for you in contested divorce cases, whether that involves high-asset property division or high conflict custody issues.

Whether a divorce is contested or not, Hutchinson Family Law, LLC can advise and assist you throughout the process with issues involving: custody; parenting schedules; child support and division of expenses; division of assets and debts including real property, stocks and investment accounts, retirement, and businesses; spousal maintenance; and attorney fees.

Paternity actions establish parental rights and responsibilities regarding a child born out of wedlock. In Missouri, until the courts find that a father-child relationship exists, an unwed father does not have any rights to his children.

Paternity actions are used to: legally establish a parent-child relationship; arrange for legal and physical custody of a child; arrange for schedules of of parenting time; establish child support and division of the child's expenses.

Hutchinson Family Law, LLC assists unwed fathers to establish their parental rights, and unwed mothers to establish the father's legal responsibilities towards his children.

An order or judgment regarding child custody, parenting time, and/or child support can be modified when there have been significant changes in the circumstances of the parties and/or children, which make the previous order or judgment unreasonable.

Hutchinson Family Law, LLC can help you to decide if and when a modification of a prior order is appropriate, and assist you in obtaining a modification of a prior order.

If you have been ordered to pay child support, there are certain circumstances that could justify your child support obligation being abated, meaning temporarily paused, or terminated.

Hutchinson Family Law, LLC can advise you if you potentially qualify to have your child support obligation abated or terminated, and assist you in accomplishing that goal.

All parenting plans established in Missouri are required to include Missouri's statutory guidelines for relocating the residence of a child.

Hutchinson Family Law, LLC can assist you whether you are seeking or opposing a relocation of the residence of a child, including any necessary changes to the custody, parenting schedule, and/or support of the child.

Alimony, known as spousal maintenance in Missouri, is typically ordered to be modifiable or non-modifiable in the original order. If the order is modifiable, it can potentially be raised, lowered, terminated, or continued past the date of termination originally ordered.

Hutchinson Family Law, LLC can assist you with potential modifications to a maintenance order whether you are the party receiving or paying maintenance.

When the parents of a child are either "unfit", "unwilling" or "unavailable" to care for a child, the court can appoint a third party to physically and legally care for the child. This does not sever or terminate the parental rights of the child's parent; it delegates responsibilities to someone in a better position to care for the child.

Guardianship may also be appropriate in circumstances in which an adult has developmental disabilities or is incapacitated due to accident or illness.

Hutchinson Family Law, LLC can help you to determine if guardianship and/or conservatorship is appropriate in your situation and assist in the appointment of a guardian and/or conservator.

Adoption severs the parental rights of a parent and grants those rights to another person. Hutchinson Family Law, LLC can assist in certain cases of step-parent and third-party adoptions.

Grandparents can ask the court to order visitation with their grandchildren in certain circumstances. Hutchinson Family Law, LLC can advise you whether or not this is possible in your situation and assist you in obtaining visitation with your grandchildren.

Legal name changes are sometimes needed to change the name of an adult or a minor child. A party can reclaim their prior name within a divorce proceeding. In other circumstances, you would need to file a independent petition with the court.

Hutchinson Family Law, LLC can assist in circumstances in which a petition for change of name needs to be filed with the court and guide you through that process.

There are several potential remedies available to enforce a prior judgment depending on your circumstances.

Hutchinson Family Law, LLC can advise you regarding the potential remedies available to you and assist you in enforcing prior judgments and orders. Hutchinson Family Law, LLC also provides representation in defending against enforcement proceedings such as contempt and family access motions.