Sarah Edwards is a seasoned legal writer with more than a decade of experience. Edwards has a deep understanding of advanced legal concepts and a knack for conveying complex topics in simple language. She currently resides in Southern California with her husband and two children.
Sarah Edwards
Sarah Edwards is a seasoned legal writer with more than a decade of experience. Edwards has a deep understanding of advanced legal concepts and a knack for conveying complex topics in simple language. She currently resides in Southern California with her husband and two children.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
Reviewed
Jeffrey Johnson, J.D.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
Kansas City is a unique city that sprawls across two states. In some ways, it is similar to a marriage, connecting the two states with a permanent bond.
Unlike a marriage, though, Kansas City is unlikely to ever be dissolved. The average marriage isn’t as lucky. Unfortunately, roughly half of all marriages in the U.S. end. If you need to end your marriage, this list of the best divorce lawyers in Kansas City will help you find an attorney to represent you.
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Best Divorce Attorneys in Kansas City
Compare Top Divorce Attorneys
Filing for Divorce in Missouri
Filing for divorce in Missouri is relatively complex. It is important to be aware of the state’s divorce laws before you begin the filing process. The divorce will have a significant impact on your finances, so it is a good idea to retain knowledgeable Kansas City divorce lawyers to represent you throughout the legal process.
Missouri Divorce Requirements
The requirements to file for divorce in Missouri are minimal. The petitioner must have been a resident of the state for at least 90 days and must affirm to the court that they believe their marriage is irretrievably broken.
That last requirement is usually the sticking point in Missouri divorces. If the judge presiding over the case doesn’t agree that the marriage is irretrievably broken, they can refuse to issue a dissolution of marriage order and instead order a legal separation.
If one spouse does not agree that the marriage is irretrievably broken then the other must prove one of the following to be granted the divorce:
- The other spouse committed adultery and it intolerable to live together
- The other spouse behaved in a way that makes it unreasonable for them to live together
- The other spouse abandoned the filing spouse for six months before the filing
- The spouse have lived apart for 12 months before the filing by agreement by mutual agreement or have lived apart for 24 months before filing
Types of Divorce and Separation in Missouri
Missouri only recognizes no-fault divorces. This means the petitioner doesn’t usually have to show a reason for the divorce. The only types of divorce in the state are:
- Uncontested divorce. When both parties agree about all the issues in the divorce, they only need to go before a judge once to get the divorce approved.
- Contested divorce. If the parties disagree on any points, the judge will determine those elements. When pa
- Legal separation. A spouse can seek a separation by filing a separation agreement or filing a request for separate maintenance. Courts can also a order legal separation if a divorce is requeested but the judge does not accept that the marriage is irretrievably broken.
Child Custody, Support and Visitation in Missouri
Courts make the final determination about child custody, support and visitation in Missouri. Typically, the courts seek to ensure that both parents maintain as strong a relationship with their children as possible and that the best interests of any children are protected.
When determining child custody, the courts favor joint custody in Missouri, but every case is assessed individually based on:
- Wishes of the parents
- Wishes of the children
- Needs of the children
- Relationships the child has with other family and friends
- Which parent is more likely to support the child in having meaningful contact with the other parent
- Where the child lives and goes to school
- Incidents of abuse
- The mental and physical health of everyone involved
Property Division in Missouri
The state of Missouri uses equitable distribution to determine property division in a divorce. Equitable division means that marital assets are not guaranteed to be split 50/50 between the litigants. Instead, the judge splits marital assets based on what they see as a fair distribution.
The state also has no specific guidelines for spousal support. A judge may determine that spousal support is necessary based on the financial situation of both parties. When spousal support is ordered, it typically is for a set amount of time and can be modified if circumstances change for either party.
Filing and Serving Your Divorce Papers
Divorce claims must be filed with the court located in the county where either the petitioner or the respondent resides. You must file a Peition as well as several other forms available on the Missouri Judicial Branch website. IA Kansas City divorce lawyer will know how to fill out the form, where to file it and what other information is needed.
Once the petition has been filed, the respondent must be notified of the petition. Most petitioners serve their spouse either through a process server or sheriff. If your spouse agrees with the divorce and all its terms, they can file an Entry of Appearance and Waiver of Service and do not have to be served.
Finalizing Your Divorce
Even when a divorce is uncontested, you need to attend at least one hearing with the judge, who must approve the dissolution of the marriage. When the divorce is contested, you will usually attend multiple hearings where you will be represented by your Kansas City divorce lawyer.
Once the judgment is signed, the divorce won’t be finalized for 30 days. During this time, you or your spouse can file an appeal. If neither party files an appeal, transfers of property and assets should be performed before the 30 days run out.
How Can an Attorney Help You?
While court clerks in Missouri can direct you to legal documents, they can’t tell you how to fill them out or how to approach your case. Thus, you may have difficulty navigating the legal process if divorce lawyers in Kansas City don’t represent you.
Your Kansas City divorce lawyer will handle all of the court paperwork, ensuring that you don’t miss any deadlines. They will typically also present you with options to resolve an uncontested divorce.
An attorney can explain the entire process and its requirements to you and ensure that your point of view is accurately represented in court.
How to Find the Best Divorce Lawyer in Kansas City, Missouri
The following are factors you should consider when choosing a divorce lawyer to represent your interests.
- How they approach conflict. Some lawyers attempt to negotiate before standing in front of a judge, while others thrive in trials. Educate yourself on the different options and choose a lawyer who fits your needs.
- Financial experience. If you are involved in a high-asset divorce, you need a lawyer who knows how to evaluate business finances and possibly one who can find hidden assets.
- Emotional understanding of divorce. This is an emotional time. You may want a lawyer who has empathy for your situation.
Methodology
To come up with the best divorce lawyers in Kansas City of 2024, Forbes Advisor considered many factors. Forbes Advisor’s mathematical analysis considers and weighs the information collected to calculate a specific rating and reviews these results to find the best attorneys in a given practice area.
Within the model, we take into account factors that legal professionals and consumers value in an attorney’s qualifications. After assigning weighted scores to hundreds of data points, we narrowed the field down to our top choices based on:
- Legal experience
- Special licenses and certifications
- Ethics and bar disciplinary measures
- Legal thought leadership
- Education and employment background
- Scholarly lectures and writings
- Awards and honors
Forbes Advisor collects public data from a variety of sources, including state bar associations, court records and other published sources on the internet. This information should not be considered comprehensive, however. It might not include additional relevant information on an attorney’s legal skills and experience.
Each lawyer listed here has their own merits. Bear in mind that our list relates to these lawyers’ legal backgrounds, but does not evaluate their personalities or their knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
One thing that can’t be quantified, though, is the rapport you establish with your attorney. Personality goes a long way when teaming up with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and potential starting point in your search for the right lawyer for you and your legal concerns.
As Hard As Divorce Might Be, An Online Divorce Service Can Make It Easy
Let a professional, reasonably priced online divorce service help you with all matters pertaining to your divorce.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does adultery affect a divorce in Missouri?
Typically, no. Missouri is a no-fault state, so it doesn’t matter for your divorce if your spouse was unfaithful. However, if a judge doesn’t believe your marriage is irretrievably broken, you can use proof of adultery as evidence that you can no longer stay married to your spouse.
How long does divorce take in Missouri?
That depends primarily on how many issues are in dispute in your divorce and the judge for your case. If you agree on all issues, the divorce should be completed relatively quickly, requiring only a single hearing and 30 days for the divorce to be finalized.
However, if the judge doesn’t accept that your marriage is irretrievably broken or nearly all issues are in dispute, a divorce could take months or more than a year to be finalized.
If attempts to serve a spouse fail, what happens next?
If your spouse can’t be found to be served, you can place a legal notice in a public newspaper for at least 30 days with permission of the court. This will allow a judge to dissolve the marriage. Unfortunately, this doesn’t allow the judge to determine child or spousal support.
