St. Charles Divorce & Family Law Blog by Stange Law Firm, PC

Surrogacy is not a new idea. If a Missouri woman is facing possible complications with conception or pregnancy, she may be considering a surrogacy agreement. The process of having a child carried and delivered by another woman can be traced back to the dawn of modern civilization, and examples can even be found in religious texts like the Christian Bible. For a long time, many people viewed surrogacy as something taboo, but in recent years, society is changing its attitude. 

This may be due in part to the positive testimonies being shared by popular celebrities. A few years ago, Kim Kardashian shared her intimate thoughts and experiences on the subject. Since then, more well-known figures have come forward to share their stories. Most recently, Kandi Burress, star on a popular reality television show, gave the world its first glimpses of her child born via surrogate. 

Missouri dads are on a mission to do the best they can for their children. When a baby is born, establishing paternity is a necessary step, but it is far from the last thing on a dad's to do list. Becoming a father might seem overwhelming, but a community outreach program aims to assist. 

Every parent knows that raising a child can be rewarding, but being a good father requires hard work too. In addition to making sure a child is supported both financially and emotionally, many Missouri dads are dealing with other stresses in life. Legal woes, struggling to find steady employment and other hardships might seem discouraging. 

Missouri state Rep. Jim Murphy, from Oakville, recently joined other legislators and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft to discuss various topics currently occupying state lawmakers. The town hall style gathering took place at Grant's View Library Branch in South St. Louis and aimed to engage the public. Rep. Murphy wanted to call attention to child support and the possible misinformation that currently has some residents confused. 

Sometimes, a person may come across a social media post that appears to be a legitimate news source. Unless a person carefully researches the claims made by such a post, he or she may easily be misled by the contents. Recently, rumors that parents will no longer face criminal penalties for failing to pay child support have some residents confused. 

People often view court proceedings as a stressful or negative experience. This is understandable, because in some cases, legal action follows a troubling or traumatic situation like a crime or the end of a marriage. Many people associate family law with matters like divorce or child custody battles. While these are certainly matters that Missouri families may have to face, an annual campaign strives to remind people that there are also happy and positive matters that are handled by family law courts. 

Families are preparing to gather together and celebrate Thanksgiving, so perhaps it is especially fitting that November is also National Adoption Month. For many children, a "forever family" would be a dream come true. The state estimates that there are about 1,200 children waiting to be adopted, and the Department of Social Services wants to bring awareness to the adoption process through education and outreach.