St. Charles Divorce Law Blog

Missouri parents who work hard to support their children may have celebrated the recent news that the state voted to increase minimum wage for workers. Many households, especially single-parent homes, are struggling financially. A parent may find it difficult to cover all the expenses necessary to provide a stable home for his or her children. In many situations, it is imperative to make sure child support payments are collected in a timely fashion. 

New laws recently went into effect to raise the minimum wage from $7.85 to $8.60. While certainly this sounds like terrific news, families are not likely to have "extra" money. Inflation on the cost of goods like food, clothing and housing costs continues to increase. Even though a parent may be paid more, living costs more. 

When a Missouri resident chooses to end a marriage, it may not be a topic he or she cares to discuss. Divorce can be a sore subject for many, and when it comes to a high asset divorce, things just got a bit more complicated. A new tax law is shaking up the way many divorcees proceed financially. 

Traditionally, Missouri courts assume that any assets gained during the course of a marriage belong to both spouses, regardless of whose name is on a particular asset. When a marriage is dissolved, the value of any assets is usually split evenly. This can be tricky, because if an asset is a physical item, such as a house or a car, the asset can obviously not be physically split. Many people opt to pay alimony, which is a monthly payment made to the other spouse honoring their share of any calculated assets. 

Missouri parents surely do their best to make sure the needs of their children are met. Sometimes, whether due to the poor choices of a parent, or circumstances beyond a parent's control, child protective authorities may feel some action is warranted to protect a child. While this may be a difficult situation for a family to face, parents should be aware that child custody is a legal matter, and if they do not comply, they may face serious consequences. 

Recently, the Missouri Division of Children's Services looked into the home life of a 13-year-old boy. Though it was not disclosed what concerns initiated the investigation, it was determined that the state would take custody of the boy. When social workers returned to the home to take custody of him, they discovered he was missing. 

Missouri parents may be among those who assumed the stressful part was behind them when their divorce and custody matters were finally resolved in court. Many parents do not consider that the holiday season can quickly become an emotional burden on their families. The holidays are generally viewed as a time to gather with family and friends, but for those who have experienced a recent change in child custody, it may be difficult to approach the holiday season. 

Fortunately, experts offer a few tips to make the holiday season a bit less stressful. They advise that even though a parent may be upset by the fact that a child may not be around on a certain holiday, the parent should focus on the positives. Parents are encouraged to think of other ways to spend their time without their children. A shopping trip or a lunch date with a friend can help pass the time.