A divorce proceeding in St. Charles, Missouri, is usually governed by state law; but when one or both of the spouses are serving in the military, then federal law may play a part in determining the impact of a divorce on military pensions.
How federal laws apply in cases of military divorce
Missouri Child Custody: Deciding the best interests of the child
Deciding child custody as part of a divorce or as a separate, stand-alone child custody dispute can be a difficult and emotionally-charged ruling for a Missouri judge to make. State law provides some guidance for judges by directing that custody should be decided by taking into consideration the best interests of the child, but it fails to offer a definition of what is meant by best interests.
Children without marriage present unique family legal issues
According to a recent study, "Married with Children" is now more accurately a reference to the TV series than to the majority of relationships in the United States involving children. The study, conducted by the Pew Research Center, shows that less than half of children under the age of 18 live in what was once considered a "traditional" household: a mom and a dad, each in their first marriage, with children born of that marriage.
Imprisonment possible penalty for nonpayment of child support
When contemplating divorce, the custody of any children from the marriage and the payment of child support are two of the more contentious issues. While there are unfortunately many parents who are not active participants in their child's life, even though they agree to pay child support, even worse are those who relinquish custody and then fail or refuse to pay the child support ordered by the court.
