QUESTION: HOW DOES A DIVORCE START? ANSWER: A divorce starts with filing a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage in the proper county. The spouse who files the divorce action initially is called the Petitioner. The other party is the Respondent. A Petition for Dissolution of Marriage is meant to give notice to your spouse, and the Court, that you are seeking a divorce. The Petition states general information about you, your spouse, and the marriage. Here are some typical thi

OVERVIEW OF DIVORCE IN MISSOURI- PART 1 So you want to learn more about the divorce process in Missouri? This publication can help. The purpose of this article is to give you a greater understanding of the terms, processes, and procedures involved in Missouri divorce laws. It is not a substitute for personal legal advice from a qualified attorney. Nor does the receipt of this article form any attorney/client relationship. It is for information purposes only. Sir Francis Baco

A guardian ad litem, or GAL as they are commonly called, are attorneys for the children. Whenever abuse or neglect of a child is alleged in a divorce case, a Judge has no choice but to appoint a GAL. The cost of the GAL is most often paid for equally by each party. The GAL is there to make sure the best interests of the children are represented in the divorce. They are also appointed in very highly contested divorce cases. The GAL has the authority to make recommendations