A common cause of anxiety for anyone considering divorce is not knowing what will happen to everything they own: house, car, furniture, gifts from family, inheritance, retirement plans and more. What is considered marital property under Missouri law, and what will happens to the property in a divorce? Generally speaking, under the Missouri statutes, any…
If the family business is among the marital assets to be appraised and divided in a divorce, you’re facing a complex task that could have an impact on your finances for years to come. Often business owners and their fiancés will sign a prenuptial agreement before the wedding to address the issue of the business in…
Tax filing deadline is fast approaching–it falls on Monday, April 18, 2022. For divorcing spouses, this means deciding whether to file as Married – Filing Jointly, or Married – Filing Separately. Although it is not required by law, for the vast majority of legally wed people, it is typically extremely advantageous to file tax returns…
While few of us look forward to filing our taxes, newly divorced parents probably dread it more than most. Filing individual tax returns post-divorce raises the thorny question of which parent may claim a child as a qualifying dependent. Most of the time, a divorce decree or parenting plan will list specifically who can claim…
Parents could get a smaller federal tax refund this year or even owe the IRS if they received the expanded Child Tax Credit in 2021. For divorced parents, this will affect the parent who received the credit last year–that is, the one claiming the child as a dependent on the tax return. The Advance Child…
If you find yourself embroiled in a messy divorce where your ex has hired a nasty attorney to play dirty, doing everything they can to malign and hurt you, you might feel cornered with no choice but to fight back. But there are some excellent reasons not to resort to underhanded practices yourself. For starters,…
Married couples who have a high net worth (defined by Investopedia as $5 million or more) have additional hurdles when they begin divorce proceedings. Below are some ways that a dissolution of marriage involving millions of dollars differs from most divorces: Greater complexity: It is no simple task to identify and appraise the value of…
You’ve probably heard of “no-fault” divorces, but what are they? And, are there any benefits or advantages? In Missouri, no-fault means either spousecan request a divorce without giving a specific reason for the divorce. The filing party may simply cite “irreconcilable differences” or give any reason they wish. Most Missouri divorcing spouses state that the…
The process of discovery is a vital step in litigation. The American Bar Association describes discovery as “a formal process of exchanging information between the parties” regarding the evidence and witnesses each plans to present at trial. According to the ABA: “Discovery enables the parties to know before the trial begins what evidence may be…
Family law firms are witness to a lot of marital conflict involving anger, regret, and heartbreak. While every marriage is unique, among unhappy couples we see many of the same unhealthy communication patterns and issues again and again. A marriage requires care and tending all year round. There are numerous things everyone can do to…